New D&D Wizard Class | Full Breakdown + Tier Ranking

[@esperthebard]

Spell Mastery (wizard level 18): There is actually a difference between the new version and the 2014 one. You can only select spells that have a casting time of an action. So shield and misty step are no longer options.

[@DavidAndrews-eb7gm]

Small correction. Pact of the Tome Warlock with the Book of Ancient Secrets is king of the ritual casters.

[@nikcantsnipe]

Chill Touch is now a touch spell. Fireball doesn't go around corners anymore. Both got tiny nerfs.

[@DavidAndrews-eb7gm]

I would argue that Chill Touch has been majorly nerfed. 120 feet, d8, repeatable stealth attack that prevents any healing for a turn.

[@MethosJK9]

This is one of the huge nerfs that is a solution to a made up problem and makes the feature so much worse; C Tier at best.

[@arnijulian6241]

I Agree completely that all content since about 2022 became pop cookie cutter nice & personally even much of the contents are unchanged while what is changed I often find bland. Uninspiring to say the least. The only bit I liked was the change to ''servant'' but I still feel getting spells of your school without investment is still little incentive to use them. I always wished they made a mana charge system or something so that using the equivalent of 10 spell level say one 6th level & two 2nd level you can unleash an arcane blast of 15ft self for a bonus action which has damage equivalent to each spell level charged+ intelligence. Each school could have a different damage type for the magical blast: Abjurer=Force. Evoker=fire. Enchanter=Psychic. Necromancer=Necrotic Divination=radiant. Illusion=Lightning. conjuration=Thunder. Transmutation=Acid. Blade singer=magical slashing. War Magic=Magical bludgeoning. I think this would be neat.

[@purplehaze2358]

In terms of modern usage, "sage" is generally just used to refer to a particularly profound and wise philosopher. And given a lot of the fixtures of modern magic are descended from ancient philosophy, that tracks.

[@RealLifeIronMan]

Still prefer Esper's definition. Reminds me of the immortal sages of Tao. Hermits that are one with nature and practically demigods on earth.

[@GamerDude-g3h]

Unless changed, Shield spell cannot be added to spell mastery due to only action spells be applicable. This is quite significant as it basically made Wizards have an AC +5 if they had a reaction.

[@esperthebard]

Good catch!

[@asepsisaficionado7376]

This is what I call the "Blackrock & Vanguard majority shareholder art style"

[@The_Squatch_97]

My thoughts on 2024 PHB: Positives: 1) Backgrounds have mechanical benefit beyond starting gear, proficiencies and features that rarely see usage (Acolyte's free lodgings wherever there's a temple that matches your faith for example.) 2) Feats aren't just an optional rule. 3) Rewording on spells and other effects to be more concise 4) World Tree Barbarian Neutrals: 1) Bastions. This is an interesting feature, not something we've seen mechanics for since... 2nd edition? And that was only a fighter feature 2) Hirelings return. Not much to say here beyond thinking it's kinda neat 3) Weapon masteries. Their cool but ultimately don't bridge the gap between casters and martials enough. 4) Crafting system: *Squidward setting up his chair*. It's so barebones *Squidward packs up said chair and re-enters his house* Negatives: 1) Half-Elves and Half-Orcs, a DND STAPLE: gone. Relegated to a bit of box text that says, "Just be an elf or orc and flavor it." BLECH! 2) The art... To say it looks AI generated would be a compliment. Purple Drow? There was controversy surrounding Orcs possibly being seen as racist stereotypes for black people (I don't see it, plus black humans existed in DND since the beginning), and their response is to turn them into outright Mexican stereotypes. When the artist was called out on it, he blocked the guy (Latino) who did so, too. 3) All classes get their subclass at level 3. So, Sorcerers don't have their bloodline until they have experience under their belt... Same with Warlocks getting their patrons at 3rd level, and Clerics getting their domain at 3rd level. *Head slam on desk* 4) Sanitation of lore: All the edge and sense: GONE! GONE LIKE MY UNCLE WHO HAD PASSED AWAY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO! Racism and Slavery does have a place in fiction. Same with people eaters, and any other problematic elements. WHY? I'LL TELL YOU WHY *long inhale* it's fiction... 5) Mechanics seem to be too simplified, as if Grand Wizards of the Ku Klux Koast want to replace DMs with AI. 6) I take umbrage with Racial AS bonuses being tied to background exclusively. It should be "Fixed +1 based on species, unless you are one with a subspecies, in which case, it would be subspecies (Wood Elf +1 WIS, High Elf +1 INT, Dark Elf +1 CHA), +1 by background, which has a degree of flexibility (For example, Soldier could have +1 STR if you were a pikeman, +1 DEX if you were an archer/crossbowman, +1 CHA if you were a commander/general, but nothing else), and a +1 that could go anywhere" 7) Sharpshooter and GWM are not worth grabbing anymore. A direct nerf to martials

[@popularopinion1]

Regarding your negatives, I can't help but agree wholeheartedly. It's almost as if all the corners and hard edges have been sanded off and made child-safe

[@timparks9833]

I agree across the board.

[@purplehaze2358]

"Not a fan of multiverses personally." Yo, based Esper, Esper based??

[@Rells2coolpeoplehavebadtastes.]

Which is funny because DnD has always been a multiverse pretty much. Second edition gave us Plane Scape and I think Spelljamer too The DnD multiverse is core to the game and we had the option to go on adventures throught it, so to see someone who is so pro old school be against it is so funny to me. Such a peculiar man Esper.

[@esperthebard]

@@Rells2coolpeoplehavebadtastes. Indeed, D&D has made reference to a multiverse since very early in the game's history. But that term has shifted gears in more recent years. It is no longer just a general idea of being able to travel between different planes, but now it is travel between different IPs. You can planeshift from Forgotten Realms to Rick & Morty, from Greyhawk to Spongebob Squarepants, and on top of all that, there are infinite echoes of each creature-an endless variety of the same person, just remixed differently within each reality.

[@Rells2coolpeoplehavebadtastes.]

@@esperthebard So more MtG cross overs? Or are really just goona do a Spongbob thing?

[@redfaux74]

To me, it is what killed Marvel and DC. Too much blender. No solid foundation. Anything goes. 🤢🤮 Here matters.

[@nikcantsnipe]

Commenting again for engagement. Conjurer, Enchanter, etc. will likely come in the next year's big "insert name of everything" book. They like selling books. Given the interesting and sudden patch announcement of BG3 suddenly making 12 new subclasses out of nowhere, maybe keep an eye out. Might be a way to get player's and future DMs excited for the next book with said subclasses like Shadow Magic Sorcerer or a newly designed Hexblade. I can absolutely see the Death and Tempest cleric being packed in a new book. Most subclasses have been given a facelift if they're from the old PHB but subclasses ported from Tasha's are either the exact same or have been (in most cases) slightly nerfed.

[@nicka3697]

I feel the same with the art. Too busy, too clean, very Disney.

[@stuartriddell2461]

I was trying to find the words to describe the art, and you just nailed it. Disneyfication.

[@Jaster69]

I’ve always liked the idea of wizard’s having an ability similar to sorcerers metamagic, where during long rest a wizard can pick a number of spells they have prepared in their spell book and label them as their signature spells. Once they’ve picked out what spells are their signature spells they can alter what they do, like damage type, to turning an aoe spell into an attack roll, or reducing range, etc. While Sorcerers can alter their spellcasting on the fly using meta magic, Wizards can alter their spellcasting during long rest because their greater understanding of the arcane arts allows them to manipulate and twist a spell’s formula

[@redfaux74]

I would totally disagree. Casting a mage spell creates an effect. Being loose with that effect basically gives them unending wishes. Mages must be creative when casting their spells. There are limits. There should be. Sorcerers spells are mostly damage anyway to my understanding. Going in that direction basically turns the mages into Dragon Ball Z nonsense to me. It's basically an arrow attack with different colors, lasers, flashy stuff and removes the brains of mages. It's just more dice rolling at the end of the day. That's very boring to me. It turns everyone into fighters.

[@Jaster69]

@@redfaux74 First, I don’t know how long you’ve personally played spell casters for, though it obviously hasn’t been as long as I have. I know this because you think giving the wizard, the poster boy for arcane magic, the master of arcane power, the arcane scholar class the ability to manipulate and alter their prepared spells in unique ways would remove any creativity and limits from them. Sorcerer’s have the ability to change the damage of their damaging spells on the fly using meta magic, so why are you being up DBZ and attacks that are just different colors and lasers? You know wizard can just grab meta magic adapt and change their spells damage already, right? The idea of a wizard having the ability to sit down, assign a spell their signature spell and decide if they’d wanna change it’s damage type to a damage type they know brings layers of thought processing to preparing your spells as a wizard! And rolling more dice? What are you even talking about? Making fireball do cold damage doesn’t involve rolling anything. If you turn it into an attack roll you’ve basically tossed away your AOE spell for a powerful attack roll spell, which adds more risk, but also reward. A wizard would have the ability to have so much creativity with their spells, and each wizard would feel unique and interesting due to the player having the ability to alter their spells in certain ways. Obviously you wouldn’t be able to do whatever you want with a spell, simply put down some things the wizard can do to said spell, and as they level up maybe they can do more. You’d never know what the wizard could pack with them, or what plan they might put together using their altered spells. Like, we literally have Magic Missile and Jim’s Magic Missile in the game. It took an auto hit spell and turn it into an attack roll spell which does more damage.

[@Jaster69]

@@redfaux74 And to correct you a final time, every wizard wouldn’t be like a fighter, because with this feature whenever a player decides to make a wizard, their spells and battle strategies will always be unique and different from other players. You could run a full acid damage build, or a cold damage build. With how wizard is today, it’s rather boring after a while, as you don’t have any features that really separate you from other spell casters. Sure, you have the most spells and can copy spells, though having more spells doesn’t make you different. Wizard’s should have an ability to show that they’ve studied the craft of arcane magic perfectly. The ability to take magical formulas already made and alter them to your liking, like Magic Missile and Jim’s Magic Missile.

[@redfaux74]

@Jaster69 - I played Mages for over 15 years in multiple campaigns. I usually combined them with High Priests and/or Psionicists. I also DMed many campaigns that lasted over 7 years each. But I'm not going to compare my underwear to yours. My first was a necromancer. Favorite was a Paladin (multi classed always) of the god of magic. I had a character back in 1990 that started researching new spells by the old rules. It created an explosion in our group of mostly fighters and thieves. All but one of them ditched their characters and started over with new spell casting characters. I had several 3¹/² inch three ring binders full of spells up to and past 9th level. Mage and priest. We had sorcerer's before DnD had them officially, but we never allowed actual spells to change beyond the restrictions they were given, beyond simple adjustments like range, area of effect, etc. There were magic items to blow those effects away but they weren't common. I called them D'nyrachs (magic tokens that could alter spell effects, maybe bones of dead deities, chiseled into fine treasure). Some lesser, some greater or in between. My intent was not to start an argument. Just an opinion.

[@redfaux74]

@Jaster69 - I do agree with your premise. The way you describe it vs. the way 5E is today.... The entire 5E mage system to me sucks. The idea that 3rd level Fireball is the best attack spell is ludicrous. Back in the 1990's there was a 5th level Fireball spell that did 40 foot AOE with 1d8 plus 2 per level of the mage, no cap on damage. In all my games, we had spells up to 9th level that did a crap ton more than 20d6 damage. One of my players researched magic missile from 1st to 9th, every level. In my game, a 2nd level spell was slightly better than two 1st level spells and so on. That made the 5th level spells 4 times more damage dealing than any Fireball. Of course, it depended upon whether the spell allowed a save, did it have a save modifier, its range, are of effect, etc. Everything was bigger exponentially. Not everything had a save. Sometimes, you had to have a reason to get a save. But I think 5E is really horrible. Next thing you know they'll have dust type damage. It really comes down to colors now. Fusia damage. Medium gray damage. "Psychic" damage. Like a card game.

[@TTDundee]

43:49 the see invisibility spell also gives the ethereal sight, so this version has just combined the 2 options from 2014

[@meluckycharms321]

I am excited to see your full list of class breakdowns.

[@edwardsimson3771]

Nice Edgar Allan Poe book marker

[@deepspaghett6446]

I'm not very happy with the 2024 updates to 5th edition, but it was fun to watch you go through it and rank it. I also found the art direction is quite uninspiring and milquetoast and personally feel there has been a decline in the art quality of the more recent d&d books, roughly around the Rime of the Frostmaiden adventure module and Tashas Cauldron of Everything.

[@redfaux74]

It looks very feminine, gender neutral at best. 🤢🤮 I like medieval art in DnD. Sanitized is not something that says "Orcs be here".

[@eradl7487]

Finally someone make breakdown for 2024 dnd classes

[@connorrobson4965]

You mention the art style being too clean and digital. Is this a new thing you’ve observed just within the new 5.5e materials, or how far back do you think this dates?

[@creedence2587]

Look at the Beholder from the 2014 MM. you will see the difference.

[@bastionsea2829]

Specialization (wizard) and domain (cleric) just feel like the creators got lazy. Those aren't subclass level distinctions Classes are not the start of the person, a cleric has been involved in the church before deciding to be an adventurer and becoming a 'cleric', that's why backgrounds exist Adepts, Experts and Warriors (those are the NPC classes in 3.5) are the base training before the PC classes take over as the person decides to adventure

[@bastionsea2829]

The d&d 'multiverse' isn't a new thing, the prime material plane and the plane of elemental air are part of the d&d 'multiverse', each plane is it's own universe

[@nikcantsnipe]

53:50 you're missing the fact that it is being cast as an illusion spell, so the range of your phantasmal summons is increased and you donit without any verbal components. I'm pretty sure the design idea is here trying to hint at your final ability, where you can make illusions "real" as an illusionist. So you've gotten halfway there, where your illusions cam now harm people but only as these beasts that you can create. The good thing about them being stat blocks means that you can flavour them as eldritch entities or nightmares or brain breaking phantasmal creatures. So maybe you could think of it as the wizard on their halfway journey as an illusionist using these "creatures" as crutches. At its core, d&d is just make belief. Is it hard to imagine it as borrowing creatures from the world of illusion or something or maybe the ethereal plane? Now I personally probably would have also changed their damage type to psychic to reflect this but a DM can definitely handwave it. The main boost is the 3rd level feature where the range is increased and you're getting a partial subtle spell effect. P.S. The boon of energy resistance may be worth more now that there's a limit on spellcasting. Are you going to waste it on absorb elements? Given you cant get spell mastery on reaction spells anymore?

[@krishollow]

I'm really not feeling 2024, even the art, everything is so... not fantasy I feel? I don't know.

[@krishollow]

Looking forward to listening!

[@esperthebard]

It definitely has a more modern or cosplay look to it.

[@redfaux74]

Neon, anti medieval. 😢

[@timparks9833]

It’s Critical Role fan art. Which is fine for that, but Critical Role isn’t a dungeon delving group. They’re a super hero drama.

[@Lakefront_Khan]

You're the only I REALLY trust to break these books down.

[@samwhary5498]

I got monstrous heroes. Still waiting to play my first monster but I'm very optimistic

[@Candyapplebone]

What’s monstrous heroes? Is that a book?

[@samwhary5498]

@Candyapplebone yes. It's a book Esper himself authored

[@dizzykincade7831]

90’s High School me would call the artwork Gay. It kinda is, too. I mean, the game doesn’t need to be Uber masculine, but it is a fantasy game played largely by men, so…remember how good Attitude Era Raw was?

[@tommiskey]

Esper, I have created some homebrew for the 2024 PHB, and one of the changes I made was to improve some of the capstone abilities that were lack-luster. One of those was the Wizard's. I said that the two 3rd level spells may be cast AT WILL instead of just once per day without a spell slot at the base potency, just like the Mastered 1st and 2nd level spells gained at 18th level. And also like them, you may exchange 1 of them per day with another 3rd level spell in your book. Remember that you may cast only 1 spell using a spell slot per round, but it may cast along with another spell that does NOT use a spell slot. That could be a cantrip or one of these "at will" spells...

[@JohnSmith-nd9oh]

was the hesitation to open that book, existential dread about the inevitable change to a beloved game?

[@ethans9379]

We haven’t had a perfect edition (and still don’t)

[@ShurikenSean]

another change to the arcane ward that is technically a nerf is that the abjuration spell has to use a spell slot for it to regain hit points. in 2014 it instead simply said the spell had to be 1st level or higher. meaning if you had a feature that allowed you to cast an abjuration spell at will you could recharge your ward for free if you had the time between battles. examples being, warlock's invocation to cast mage armor infinitely, or Svirfneblin Magic feat that let deep gnomes cast nonerection at will. it was a niche case but certainly allowed your wizard to tank more damage, I can see why they changed it if that wasn't intended, but I always thought it was an interesting combo

[@DanielM7979]

And yes, as far as Illusions go that was the design goal to avoid "Mother may I?" Features.

[@ShurikenSean]

an interesting interaction between abjuration wizard and changes to healing spells is they are now categorized as abjuration spells, so if you gain access to healing magic through multiclass or feat the abjuration wizard could heal or buff allies with those spells at the same time as healing their ward. which I think is an interesting combo.

[@BeatchBall]

Yes, yes, yes! I love these ranking videos. So much insight and thought.

[@ShurikenSean]

Been hoping that this would return for the 2024 classes

[@michaelharlow1872]

Invisibility, the wizard who runs away lives to fight another day.

[@BLynn]

Chill Touch has changed, before it conjured a floating hand that you made a ranged spell attack with then it did the damage. Now it is a range touch spell at the name suggests & you make a melee spell attack with it.

[@RocKnight11]

Generally, I don't really have too much of a problem with the new rules. But I don't like the art. My biggest problem with the art is the super expressive facial features. Also too much bright colors. Personally, the last D&D art I liked was the 3.0/3.5 era. Although, 4th edition did have some pretty good monster art.

[@redfaux74]

I can't understand why they keep changing stuff? I thought the originating advanced system was great. If a person cannot understand that then I'm worried about them in general. It's just a little math. Very little. Numbers less than 100, often less than 30, most of the time less than 20. What was the problem? Everytime I hear "have advantage".... I want to throw up. Are these people telling me, getting 2 rolls of the same dice are better than a +8 modifier? 😢 That's just bizarre. Keeping the same initiative roll thru the entire combat is a good idea? You roll bad to start and have to keep that the entire combat sequence? That's crazy.

[@jacobmonroe3899]

Phantasmal creatures should have changed the damage to psychic and given a chance to fear on hit. This would have made it more clear and thematic that they were not actually creatures, but illusions that were causing trauma to their targets. It could even take the form of its victim’s darkest fear. Similar to a boggart from Harry Potter.

[@MawsParasite2]

Is that Edgar Allen Poe sticking out of your book?

[@marcussawyer4751]

I have recently started playing an Illusionist and i think the only feature i'll never end up using will be the 6th level one... i've always found the Tasha summons to be an extremely bland nerf to conjuration, and they even killed any summoner option to be "spirit guardians/spirit shroud" lookalikes. Conjure Woodland beings was really good... they could have simply reduced the amount of creatures so DMs aren't overwhelmed and players don't need to wait hours for turns, but decided to just coup de grace the entire concept for simple extra damage. The art is one of the things i dislike the most: except for a pair of cool images, all of them look like stock pics that could fit any kind of pop/modern game as opposed to being distinctly Dungeons And Dragons. (About Illusionist, the level three feature is really good. I have recently created the illusion of an Owlbear - adding the appropriate smell by casting prestidigitation and keeping my character's hand inside the illusion - to avoid people getting injured by an actual Owlbear. The monstrosity basically focused on the illusion till we were able to bring it back to its cage and the 60+ feet range meant it could outrun the real counterpart)

[@michaelpettersson4919]

One type is what I call "barley wizards". This is just about anyone one with a miniscule wizardry in them like a multiclass with a single or so levels in wizard. However it only count if that little wizardry are useful. Even cantrips can be helpful for normal people.

[@joshuawilliams8310]

Phantasmal Creatures could have been a really cool addition to the class if they didn't nerf the hit points of the creatures, and if they didn't limit the free casting to once a day. Having a free cast would have made it great for spell slot economy, and just overall would have made it pretty special. But that's just my take, it think the almost deception type aspect of it makes sense to me.

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Now spells that are described as always prepared don't count against your number of prepared spells, so they are a huge advantage.

[@Shadowslave604]

game sounds so homogenized now. there was a reason in older versions classes got different choices from each other. subclass at 3rd sounds ok you do some adventuring and then decide what you want to do. i understand what they are trying to do as you need time to decide what you want to be. biggest change to d&d i do not like was when they made everyone level at the same time.

[@Candyapplebone]

What do you mean, “make everyone level at the same time”?

[@DrLipkin]

@@Candyapplebone Presumably they mean milestone leveling instead of XP, but that wasn't an actual rule change. XP leveling just fell out of fashion because it was more work for the DM in a system that already piles work upon them.

[@Shadowslave604]

@@DrLipkin exactly thanks was not sure of the term.

[@yungminiwheat1406]

2024 has a delicate balance between horizontal vs exponential power increase. I think they prefer a feature either adds a new element to the character’s retinue of abilities or give slight improvements to base abilities, but nothing that gives astronomical power like earlier editions. That’s my preference honestly, but my main gripe is the overly clinical prose for all the class features.

[@sputnik90]

Interesting that your takeaway was that the Wizard got a slight improvement, as this was WotC's stated goal for this class in particular. I'll be interested to hear if you think other class' improvements are only slight, as they were all meant to get bigger improvements than the Wizard.

[@markmongan]

Very cool :)

[@redfaux74]

I agree with your assessment on the art. ❤ It all seems very bright neon, much more feminine than masculine, clean, cluttered and joyful. It says something when a person buys a DnD book and doesn't look at it for weeks. When you dread the system..... you know things have turned dark. It's like "paying" taxes. You wait until the very last day. "I'm not giving them my money until I have to." It is an omen for sure. In days gone by, you bought a new DnD book, cast your spell "Disappear", upcast it to make it last 8 hours and giggle with glee as you wide-eyed explore its depths. 🤓 And then thru the week, did the same for 3 additional times, 4 hours each. 🤪

[@blaringsea8923]

Again... There is no reason to buy this if you already have the 2014 version of D&D 5th edition.

[@jeffreyjay2899]

I wish there were subclass features for ALL classes at level 1, 6, 10, 14 and 18.

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Potent cantrip used to be only for evocation cantrips, now it's for ALL cantrips!

[@andrzejkulakowski]

The subclass change is meh; other changes are here and there, but the art (for the most part) is just atrociously "unmagical"... original WoW art style from 2004 was great, and this art here is just repelling.

[@redfaux74]

There is art..... and then there are cartoons. 😢 And this current stuff is bizarre. It's like Sponge Bob. I've watched that before, wondering why kids watch it. Trying to figure out, what it is about that cartoon that is disturbing. I still can't figure it out. There is something about it that tells me..... something is wrong here.

[@joedan5366]

And now we stand here and wait to see this next change will alter the community

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Sculpt spells says you can choose a number of creatures EQUAL to the level of the spell plus one! This means you MUST use it on that exact number or not use the feature! See the problem, the word EQUAL means identical! No more, no less!

[@joeschlosser687]

I know I’m in the minority here, but I actually really like the changes in 2024…and I like the art. Granted, it can be kind of “basic” for some of the art, but some other art, such as the one for the Circle of Stars Druid, is plain beautiful. Of course, we are all allowed a different opinion and I really enjoy your vids, but I feel like 2024 needed a little defense in the comments. Love the vids Esper!

[@sketchasaurrex4087]

I really hate how they changed Bigby into a gnome. He was human, that really is aggravating. Overall, I really dislike the new book.

[@arcanefeline]

I really dislike the Illusionist stepping on the Conjurer's toes.

[@michaelharlow1872]

I played for 25+ years and my group stopped with 3.5 , which in my opinion is the best system out there. With all of the books it by far the most detailed system. I read some of the fifth edition books and was very disappointed.

[@michaelharlow1872]

The only problem with 3.5 is teaching new guys as it is very complicated to the first time player.

[@michaelharlow1872]

On another note I really enjoyed your adventure videos of the group of four . The ones who were left from the giant attack and set out on their own.

[@redfaux74]

I stopped at 2E but even then I tweaked everything as the DM. I'm amazed that people think adding a few modifiers together for combat is difficult. After a few games, it gets smooth and very quick. The experienced players always helped the new ones and it became SO easy. I don't know if it is a generational thing today? I know most young people I meet from 15 to 25 cannot even make change, add simple numbers, know what a paragraph is, know how to punctuate a sentence, write almost anything, spell.... 😒 It's bizarre.

[@viniciusassis8161]

Waiting for the warlock!!

[@callumarmitage4828]

Ehhhhhh tier lists back. Awesome

[@patrickmcathey7081]

The epic boon can also be a feat and should be ranked the same or better then a feat

[@THEFabianValenzuela]

Hi Esper!

[@747GhostDogg]

so a wizard can use a reaper small sword class?

[@gymhayes4613]

Definition of sage....a profoundly wise man especially one who features in amcient history or legend. 2nd def. Having showing or indicating profound wisdom. Seems to me in dnd a sage should be a priest not a wizard as they mention wisdom and not intelligence.

[@pirwzy]

my group is calling the new rules 5E24

[@DavidAndrews-eb7gm]

Sith (5.1th) edition.

[@dizzykincade7831]

Cleric next plz!?!

[@creedence2587]

Can we just train some AI on Elmore and Caldwell and let them crank out immersive, fantasy art? The whole book reeks of woke agenda. They spent more time on decisions like choosing your Background before your Race, during Character Creation. (That’s right, I refuse to call it Species). Then they did addressing legitimate problems with game mechanics. 85-90% of Spells had no material changes. Go back and listen to the pre release promos. You would think you were getting a complete rewrite. Of the 4 Wizard Subclasses, Illusion was the only priority rewrite (and that had more to do with the lack of mechanics for Illusions than the Subclass). Transmutation, Conjuration, and Necromancy all needed significantly more attention than Divination, Abjuration, and Evocation. For the people who will undoubtedly follow this post with “you don’t like change”. I actually love change. Weapon Mastery was a great change to mechanics. As was Rogue Cunning Action. I would have loved 4 new subclasses for each class. Change is great. What I don’t love, is the destruction of immersive fantasy games by inserting a few individual’s RL political/social agendas. The “expanding to a broader modern audience” defense has been proven repeatedly to be a complete and utter farce. How’s that working out for Disney Marvel and Star Wars? Indiana Jones? Must be better in video games you say? Concourse and Veilguard are killing it! Comic books? Apologies for the rant. I had high hopes for these new books. And my heart is broken at how much of a disappointment they are.

[@redfaux74]

Yes! The art looked very non masculine, very feminine, gender neutral, anti medieval. 🤢🤮

[@Terker2]

Didnt think the sweatiest of neckbeards made it to Espers channel. Woke agenda. Concord. Star Wars. This reads like Chat GPT if it was fed on nothing but post gamer gate loser forum posts.

[@MethosJK9]

How can the art be both gender-neutral and feminine simultaneously? Those are mutually exclusive traits. Pick a lane with your criticism.

[@redfaux74]

@MethosJK9 - Maybe you don't understand. Feminine, gender neutral can be on the DMs team if they are against the masculine. Portraying a man as non manly can be neutralizing. Making men feminine can be neutralizing. Blurring the lines against the masculine can be gender neutralizing. When I saw the art in the Athas campaigns, years ago, it was very steroid masculine, testosterone extreme. Even the females were chiseled, highly muscled. Today it is the opposite. Both have their places. But both extremes are bad.

[@TVMAN1997]

Art looks good, but I agree they don't look like adventurers.

[@gymhayes4613]

Spells should be ten minues per spell level to memorize. You shouldnt be able to memorize 9th level spells in a few minites. They are supposed to be the pinnacle or spells and shpuld be taking much longer to memorize than a rest at the campfire.

[@redfaux74]

Yes, but..... A 1st level mage is new to their spell book. A 20th level mage is not new at all to their book. A mage who is 20th level should only be glancing at the 1st level spell "light" to memorize it. He's done that one a thousand times. Not so with his 9th level "Meteor Swarm" (even tho that spell sucks). In my game I modified the rule that 1 hour in the beginning of the day was good enough for memorizing your total spell allotment (modified by their Int). Smarter mages should be able to get it done faster than others. Most of the time the mage would be focusing on his higher level spells that are new to him, decreasing in time as the level of the spells lessened. Making it more complicated than that would cause actual mathematical problems and make it mathematically impossible for ANY mage of power to memorize his full roster of magic. And I don't think that makes sense. A 25th level mage ought to have time to go from empty to full in an hour or so max or it is pointless for a mage to have three 9th level spells at all.

[@WalkOnNick]

Wizard is kind of a weird choice for this type of video as they changed the least.

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Illusion, Enchantment, and Divination magic ALL rely on the DM and campaign! With the wrong DM they are nerfed into the ground!

[@overlordb1989]

Only dnd-tuber that isn't cringe

[@dave-daveson]

Though I can't see me and my party switching to the new edition, I just love getting videos with you dissecting it in detail. I already commented it on previous videos but this videogamey, pop-culture appealing artwork is such a huge turn-off for me (as are many character artworks over the last years found on reddit etc). I know it's kinda dumb to base my decision on something rather superficial but if another style of artwork got my (positive) attention I might have given this edition a shot.

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Spell mastery got a major nerf. People used to choose Shield and Misty Step. Now? Nope.

[@geoaltman9344]

Wizard, is this a new class...?

[@alonivercuthalion9902]

That's so dumb limiting the SPELLCASTER to 1 SPELL per round. So now I'm useless the moment I cast anything that already has a chance of failing. I can't defend myself, I can't defend others, I can't be he battlefield controller like Wizards are supposed to be. Great hate the 2024 rulebook. Never using it

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Figment means creation, so...

[@adamflaherty9909]

Thanks, I hate it. Counterspell and shield are now useless and the ability of a Wizard to use counters to help the party during crucial moments might as well be taken out of the game at this point. Only dispel magic retains any usefulness. Necromancer, Abjuration and Death cleric are my favorite classes are taken out of the game or might as well be in the case of Abjuration. No doubt D.K and necro are going to be introduced back to the game in watered-down, overpriced expansions. More modern-day sludge when it comes to the art. What's the point to playing DND unless you are homebrewing everything and spending hours a week of your time to fix the slop WOC puts on our collective dishes?

[@Terker2]

If only shield, one of the strongest and always picked spells in all of 5th edition even got a slight nerf. I am glad that they atleast got to nerfing counterspell though ill still happily use it as a contingency.

[@internetcatfish]

The first two campaigns I ever played in were Pathfinder and D&D 5E. 1st edition Pathfinder reminds me a lot of 5E, and I basically see the two systems as being different flavors of the same operating system. Recently my group has been shifting towards the old school rules, which at first I didn't like as much. However, seeing some of the rules changes they've made as well as the general direction D&D is going, I'd be more likely to lean into OSR or move to a different system entirely than start up a 5E campaign. D&D lost me on the worldbuilding when they went to this multiverse crap, and now they're losing me on the base rules as well. I remember you talking about wanting to make your own system, and I support that entirely. Competition makes the entire community better.

[@owenveighey1765]

D&D has always had a multiverse in the sense that the Prime Material Plane is home to multiple unconnected worlds. 🧐💯

[@jeffreyjay2899]

Find Familiar is significantly better.

[@underfire987]

I always enjoy your videos in all aspects, i am very far done with wotc i wont support people who hate me. I hope you will begin looking into reviewing and checking out the OSR movement some fantastic stuff and so much stuff for you to cover and use in your own games i think you will greatly enjoy what the OSR has to offer RPG players!.

[@redfaux74]

Are you talking about straight white men? 😂😂😂 Agreed.

[@baronaatista]

I feel like you really don’t want to like this book. I understand, it’s not easy to happily support a product of WoTC / Hasbro these days, especially in the tabletop sphere. But it’s a good book and I think over time you will see it. They’ve basically just improved almost every part of 5e; clarifying, simplifying, and …overall, balancing the game much better. Memorize spell is C tier? Are you crazy? That is an S tier ability for a Wizard. The versatility it adds to a class that is truly all about versatility is pure chefs kiss. I don’t really think you can rate a class without properly understanding it in relation to the other classes, and the overall game. I respect your opinions and love your videos, but I’d much prefer you to spend some time with the game before posting a ‘review’ like this.

[@muddywater4505]

You should make a better game.

[@redfaux74]

I agree with that. ❤ His mind could fix 99% of the sanitized, neutral, non medieval blah.

[@Terker2]

Still dont understand the gripes with the art personally. Maybe its a language barrier thing but none of the words you've used like busy or clean make a lot of sense to me ä, they even seem contradictory. I like the art well enough, but I also felt a stark difference in appeal to art ypu gushed over from 4E which to me looks ugly in the wrong kind of way. Ill just put this down to personal preference as a lot of people seem to share your sensibilities. :)

[@gymhayes4613]

If you arent playing a pugilist necromancer you havent wizarded yet.

[@mixelplix]

I'll say it, screw Hasbro. I'll never play 2024. If I could get everyone in my group to switch to Pathfinder that would be preferred.

[@creedence2587]

This

[@drakeclaw8872]

Why? Do you just not like hasbro or is there a problem with the edition as a whole?

[@mixelplix]

@@drakeclaw8872 Not worth explaining here, go read what they've been doing for years to creators and customers

[@Terker2]

Have fun i guess.

[@mixelplix]

@@Terker2 Go learn, read, shit watch any of the 1000's of video on how evil Hasbro is.

[@t.h.2906]

No Necromancer, no interest.