The ongoing rollout ofDungeons and Dragons' 2024 ruleset has already given fans plenty to play and experiment with. ThePlayer’s Handbookmade major changes to classes, species, and background; theDungeon Master’s Guideadded new magic items to the game and introduced rules for crafting and building bases; and theMonster Manuallooks like it will make designing combat encounters easier than ever when it is released on February 18. A pleasant surprise for many players, recent playtest material for the 2024 rules also made updates to one ofD&D5e’s most unique classes.
It was announced this past December thatthe Artificer class would be returning to the game via Unearthed Arcana. The Artificer is a type of tinkerer that uses their intellect to create mechanical devices and magic items to aid them on their adventure. The class joins the Wizard as the second Intelligence caster in the game. Having another Intelligence-based class will add some needed diversity to the playstyles offered inD&D2024. Since Strength, Wisdom, Dexterity, and Charisma each serve as the recommended primary attribute for multiple classes, non-Wizard characters with an Intelligence focus are almost non-existent. Once the Artificer moves pastD&D’s playtest phase, Wizards of the Coast should consider designing a class based around another underappreciated ability score.
Giving Constitution More Attention in D&D 2024
Constitution is an ability score that receives plenty of attention from players but little attention from D&D’s designers. Boosting a character’s Constitution score is essential for anyone looking to play combat-oriented classes like paladins, barbarians, andfighters inDungeons and Dragons, since the score determines a character’s hit points. However, with the score tied into such an integral part of a character’s stat block — as well as the frequency of Constitution saving throws in the average adventure —D&Dmakes Constitution a high priority ability score for every other class in the game, too.
For an ability score that necessitates so much attention, though, Constitution is easily the game’s most passive stat. Every other ability score in the game plays a role incharacters' skill bonuses, attack rolls, or spell effectiveness — or all of the above. There are no skills associated with Constitution. It is only used to determine a character’s hit points and the modifier they have on saving throws for Constitution and concentration. This makes Constitution an important ability score, but one that bestows little satisfaction on anyone who chooses to prioritize it.
How a Constitution-Focused Class Could Make Big Waves
There are tank classes inD&Dthat already place an emphasis on high Constitution scores, but they primarily rely upon other scores to fulfill their roles. Paladins, barbarians, and fighters typically showcase their Strength more than any other stat.Charisma is also important for paladins, and Dexterity is used as the primary attack modifier for certain fighter builds.
Wizards of the Coast could give Constitution its time in the sun while simultaneously adding more variety to the frontlines during combat with one solution: a dedicated tank class. Unlike the previously mentioned classes, this new class wouldn’t be a half tank that primarily focuses on DPS. Its role would instead be to draw attention and absorb damage for teammates.
Not only would this class naturally need the number of hit points that a high constitution score would grant, but WOTC could incorporate the Constitution score into its combat abilities as well. Imagine having a bulwark of a character on the battlefield that could channel their Constitution to draw aggro, stun enemies instead of just damaging them, and give AC bonuses to allies. This would make Constitution a genuinely desirable and intriguing stat instead of one that players just feel obligated to sink one of their higher scores into.D&D2024would benefit from adding greater diversity to its classes, and exploring a Constitution-focused class could be a great way to do so.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
