Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 parejf63 Nov 19, 2014 21:35:22	Hi there.  Just have a few questions.    1.)  Does a character have to take a Subclass or Archetype? 2.)  When a character takes a subclass, do they gain the level abilities of the subclass and the core class or just one or the other?   These rules are not very clear...   Also, is there an errata coming out or will be have to buy another updated book?  I have a few that need to be addressed, such as the missing spell Trap the Soul, 8th level wizard.     I really enjoy this version, and I have played all but 4th.   Thanks for any responses...
#2 Novacat Nov 19, 2014 22:18:16	1. Yes. When you reach the appropriate level, you must select which subclass you are going to take. So every 3rd level fighter must choose between Champion, Battle Master, and Eldritch Knight. Every 1st level Warlock must select a patron and a pact. Every 1st level cleric must select a domain.   2. Subclasses are just class features. You gain everything for your class at the appropriate level, including subclass features.   3. There is no errata currently released or announced for the future. There may be an FAQ at some point to address such issues. For example, Trap the Soul's functionality was folded into the Imprisonment spell.
#3 parejf63 Nov 19, 2014 22:22:23	Thank You.   Trap the Soul being combined with imprisonment makes sense.
#4 Novacat Nov 19, 2014 22:53:50	Another thing to watch out for, and the only other significant mistake I can think of from the book, is that the 5th level spell, "Destructive Wave" is called "Destructive Smite" in the paladin list. It has been confirmed that Destructive Smite is supposed to refer to the Destructive Wave spell.
(Reply to #2) sadaqah	Novacat wrote:
#6 Grazel Dec 08, 2014 23:58:20	As for errata we may see that in minor forms in the return of the Sage Advice articles, and bigger errata (things beyond minor clarifications and editing issues) will likely come out in some format later on and tied to the surveys they'll be doing next year. I don't think we'll see any large errata soon (like a revamp to stealth like 4e had), but we may start seeing things like addressing the Trap the Soul issue, the XP and some math issues on some MM entries, and other minor editing issues in Sage Advice which may also get corrected in future print runs of the books, though I wouldn't consider any of them enough to warrant rebuying the books. A handy quarterly summary of such tweaks in a pdf would be great. I'm loathe to use tweets and such as official rules/editing corrections and think a unified pdf format to go along wit the basic rules as a better way for them to go. I do think major rules alterations should be presented instead as variants or only in a large annual compilation based on feedback of things that are revealed to be issues that need correcting at a core instead of optional level.   As for the subclasses as others have stated subclasses aren't optional like 1e/2e days, instead they're a focusing of the class that grants variants of the class features in a set. They don't replace class features but instead are like this.   Take Class X. At appropriate level choose a subclass (archetype, domain, etc.) Feature A, B, or C. At various levels when you gain a class feature it may be fixed Feature D or it may be Feature D(A), D(B), or D(C) where Feature D is based on your earlier choice of Feature A, B, or C.   This makes each class have variety but also keeps them streamlined and means new subclasses can be added by just following the format of giving it some base features when it's chosen (usually between levels 1 and 3 depending on the class) and then another feature at certain levels to match the existing sublcasses for that class.   Subclasses in 5e are a melding of classes/subclasses from 1-2e, prestige classes in 3e, and builds/paragon paths/epic destinies in 4e, with a design goal of being more streamlined without being overly restrictive (leaving many of the flavor aspects of prestige classes, paragon paths, and epic destinies free of the class mechanics and instead RP choices).
#7 El_Condoro Dec 09, 2014 2:05:31	The Cleric: Death Domain and Paladin: Oathbreaker (DMG96-97) are good examples of how they do this.