One Dnd Sorcerer: Does it break the game?

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:49 Level 1 and exploding dice
13:11 Level 2 and Metamagic
20:03 Levels 3 to 8
25:03 Levels 9 to 14
31:06 Taking Inventory
33:21 Levels 15 to 20
40:05 Wrap Up

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[jokul_]

Everyone online always goes nuts about these level 18+ abilities and I'm always just feeling lucky when our characters get past level 10.

[_zurr]

Exploding dice are like criticals. Not always a huge damage boost on average, but it sure feels juicy when it happens.

[jspsj]

I like the way that Treantmonk is sneakily reinforcing his brand in the last videos. For me, Treantmonk is about calm and deep analyses based on evidence and math.

[lordminsc]

I think my biggest issue with this sorcerer is simply "what makes this distinct from playing a wizard?" Losing twin spell means losing one of the few things the class could do that wizard could not, and now with wizards getting create and modify spell they are also playing the game of manipulating your spells to do different things. The two feel more similar than before when the sorcerer was already struggling to find a meaningful design space.

[juliendrainville]

Treantmonk, the lone sane voice in a crowd of knee-jerk reactions from people out to confirm their biases.

[jeffreyrankine]

One thing my group thought was fun is that you could use Empower Spell on Arcane Eruption, hoping to get your 3s and 4s to roll LOWER and get that incapacitate effect. Ironically Empower Spells best use might be to…de-power a spell 😂

[jasminebryant]

I do largely agree that the new Sorcerer spells are bad, but I think those QoL improvements are better than you’re giving them credit for. The expanded spell list and increase in spells known was huge. And imo, the new heightened is better than the old twin

[imthestein]

Chris, i swear you're the most reasonable person in the D&D YouTuber Community (though I'd include Dungeon Dudes). I cannot wait to see your take on Wizards considering all the knee jerk responses I've been seeing.

I feel like Sorcerer is pretty good overall but needs some number tweaking

[Deviknyte]

Bonus action spell rule is dumb. You should be able to cast 1 leveled spell and 1 cantrip on your turn, not counting reaction. Shouldn't matter which is the cantrip and which is the bonus action.

[Laykonde]

Main problem with Draconic Exhalation for me is that you add Charisma only against one enemy. If it was possible to add against every enemy damage still won't be great, but at least it would be more impactful in aoe scenarios

[coreyschumacher]

My suspicion is they thought “Sorlocks do too much damage” and decided they needed to be tuned down. Fair enough. But then they (1) linked eldritch blast scaling to warlock level so Sorlocks can’t do it better than warlocks (again, fair) (2) gave sorcerers their own special damage spells to use instead of eldritch blast. Unfortunately, as Chris stated with his usual combination of eloquence and math, the new sorcerer spells suck (except arcane eruption).

[aethyr]

I really like the fact that the community always talks about the martial/caster gap, but when offered solution (nerf) for casters (bad features or spells), people says: "NO! No nerfs! Only balance!"
Slight exageration and sarcasm, but you get my point.
Cool video as always Treanmonk!

[erikhanson]

Seems like they could easily allow Twinned Spell to apply even with concentration spells. I even like the thematic element of that, more than just a way to spam fireball.

[d_andrews]

Maths note: exploding dice are an example of an infinite geometric series. There's a nice formula for the sum to infinity of a geometric series, so you can immediately calculate the expectation of an exploding die by multiplying your non-exploding average by n/(n-1) where n is the number of sides. 3.5*6/5=4.2

[MegaZed]

I will note that, even though many spells we like do have concentration, we sometimes get unlucky with those spells, like when our AOE affects no one or the targets that DO get affected are taken out within a round by our allies. So, Twinned Spell can give us a "second try" at the spell for a discount. This second try can apply to a few other niche spells, like a failed Dispel Magic check on a higher-level spell effect. Twinned Spell is still definitely weaker than before, but I can see why someone would have it as one of their three (or six) options at some point.

[TheRekabNivek]

Interesting to see the Draconic bloodline armor class boost not restrict shield usage. Definitely could see a fun Dex-sorcadin build playing a naked dragonborn

[KatieGimple]

Regarding Twinned Spell: they should allow for further repeat castings, and they should rename it to "Repeating Spell" instead

[mcphadenmike]

Chris always breaks my concentration on work when he drops a new video.

[tomgymer]

One thing worth noting is that the sorcerer in this playtest can prepare spells of whatever level they have, whereas the previous playtests had classes who could only prepare spells in the same ratio as their spell slots. It's unclear if this is just a difference between the classes or a change to the way they are doing it.

[JJV]

Honestly, sorcerers got MASSIVELY boosted JUST because of 1) the # of known spells (something like 28 by level 20 with subclass) and 2) They gained ~90 spells that they can choose from (adding really good ones across all levels). 3) increased metamagic flexibility and metamagic floors. Yes, you're right that nearly EVERYTHING else is a "ribbon feature" but thats okay because they gained so much power in the "boring stuff".