Mystic is just WotC releasing a spook to scare off questions about why Spell Point Sorcerer isn’t the default despite being objectively more on brand for the class, change my mind
I adored the playtest for the 5e sorcerer before the 2014 PHB. I haven’t read it in years but my memory is this.
• Hit die were definited by the subclass, with the two example subclasses, wild magic and draconic having a d6 and d8 respectively (look how the DNA of this carried into the PHB with the draconic soul sorcerer getting a +1 per level to hitpoints, but then isn’t explored in any future subclasses.
• Sorcery points and spell slots are a singular meta-currency like spell points.
• Class features generally use spell points too.
• Most excitingly, subclasses have features that come online when you are low on sorcery points.
That final element has this amazing interplay where you feel that you’re burning your humanity (or species neutral equivalent term) as you use magic, and your innate or monsterous side comes through, it was a really cool design and I’d love to see it taken even further with a subclass that also incorporated hitpoints into the flow somehow, meaning that you are a tank before you cast your spells, but literally burn out your life force as you do so, revealing the monster underneath. It could be really cool for a vampire or something else that has an interesting interplay with harm, healing and magic.
The concept didn’t survive playtesting for three reasons, it’s execution wasn’t fantastic, it was far more unique than the other classes and it was far more difficult to learn than other classes. It’s a shame because I’d have loved to see the class iterated on and explored further in playtesting.
I’ve often wondered why I’ve never seen an idea that explores combining Sorcery Points with spell slots but not spell points by using 1st level spell slots as sorcery points and offering far more low level spell slots than currently offered, but still less than the 20 that they have by 20th level. Then lock their subclass features behind having only x amount of spell slots remaining. Sorcerers already fill a niche of being the most reliable low level spell slot slingers with their flexibile casting feature, and with this, they’d have an incentive to burn them up quickly to access the meat of the character fantasy; the subclass.
This would have a totally different resource management to any other class and be narrativly weighted, as to let your true self out (like the avatar state, your vampiric or draconic self, your raw chaos magic etc).
I love the idea of having loads of level 1 slots instead of sorcery points! Gives them ammo for spell slinging Magic Missile/Chromatic Orb/Burning Hands/Thunderwave, helps make up for not having ritual cast, and leans hard into them having innate magical ability. Simple and elegant.
Though it could be hard to balance since sorcerers could specialize in whatever they want and outshine other classes. Divine Soul having loads of cure wounds/healing word comes to mind.
That final element has this amazing interplay where you feel that you’re burning your humanity (or species neutral equivalent term) as you use magic, and your innate or monsterous side comes through, it was a really cool design and I’d love to see it taken even further with a subclass that also incorporated hitpoints into the flow somehow, meaning that you are a tank before you cast your spells, but literally burn out your life force as you do so, revealing the monster underneath. It could be really cool for a vampire or something else that has an interesting interplay with harm, healing and magic.
The Order of the Lycan blood hunter has a similar mechanic. Every blood hunter has abilities with a HP cost, but the lycan might also go berserk if they start the turn with less than half HP.
Mystic is just WotC releasing a spook to scare off questions about why Spell Point Sorcerer isn’t the default despite being objectively more on brand for the class, change my mind
I adored the playtest for the 5e sorcerer before the 2014 PHB. I haven’t read it in years but my memory is this.
• Hit die were definited by the subclass, with the two example subclasses, wild magic and draconic having a d6 and d8 respectively (look how the DNA of this carried into the PHB with the draconic soul sorcerer getting a +1 per level to hitpoints, but then isn’t explored in any future subclasses.
• Sorcery points and spell slots are a singular meta-currency like spell points.
• Class features generally use spell points too.
• Most excitingly, subclasses have features that come online when you are low on sorcery points.
That final element has this amazing interplay where you feel that you’re burning your humanity (or species neutral equivalent term) as you use magic, and your innate or monsterous side comes through, it was a really cool design and I’d love to see it taken even further with a subclass that also incorporated hitpoints into the flow somehow, meaning that you are a tank before you cast your spells, but literally burn out your life force as you do so, revealing the monster underneath. It could be really cool for a vampire or something else that has an interesting interplay with harm, healing and magic.
The concept didn’t survive playtesting for three reasons, it’s execution wasn’t fantastic, it was far more unique than the other classes and it was far more difficult to learn than other classes. It’s a shame because I’d have loved to see the class iterated on and explored further in playtesting.
I’ve often wondered why I’ve never seen an idea that explores combining Sorcery Points with spell slots but not spell points by using 1st level spell slots as sorcery points and offering far more low level spell slots than currently offered, but still less than the 20 that they have by 20th level. Then lock their subclass features behind having only x amount of spell slots remaining. Sorcerers already fill a niche of being the most reliable low level spell slot slingers with their flexibile casting feature, and with this, they’d have an incentive to burn them up quickly to access the meat of the character fantasy; the subclass.
This would have a totally different resource management to any other class and be narrativly weighted, as to let your true self out (like the avatar state, your vampiric or draconic self, your raw chaos magic etc).
I love the idea of having loads of level 1 slots instead of sorcery points! Gives them ammo for spell slinging Magic Missile/Chromatic Orb/Burning Hands/Thunderwave, helps make up for not having ritual cast, and leans hard into them having innate magical ability. Simple and elegant.
Though it could be hard to balance since sorcerers could specialize in whatever they want and outshine other classes. Divine Soul having loads of cure wounds/healing word comes to mind.
This is why I subscribe.
A passionate comment about something I didn’t even know about.
Thanks
The Order of the Lycan blood hunter has a similar mechanic. Every blood hunter has abilities with a HP cost, but the lycan might also go berserk if they start the turn with less than half HP.