FORGOTTEN REALMS: HEROES OF FAERUN Part 1: All Them Subclasses

If you've ever wondered what happens when three grown adults argue passionately about grammar, moonbeams, seagulls, and the metaphysics of Strahd's horse, all before actually starting the podcast, this episode is for you. Join us as we journey into Heroes of Faerûn, where the subclasses are shiny, the Rangers are frosty, and the Fighters are apparently running a full unionized workplace. Grab your bag of rats (don't ask), center your Moonbeam, and enjoy the chaos.

Show Notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew continues their deep-dive review of Dungeons & Dragons Heroes of Faerûn, the first major D&D 2024 splatbook offering new character options, subclasses, spells, epic boons, and setting lore. Building off Part 1's work, the hosts, Randall James, Tyler Kamstra, and Ash Ely, dig into the subclass content of the book with their usual combination of mechanical rigor, Shakespearean comedy, and at least one argument about whether it's a hero or an hero.

The team analyzes each of the eight new Heroes of Faerûn subclasses, comparing their final published versions to the Unearthed Arcana playtests and to classic 2014 analogues:

• College of the Moon Bard blends druidic flavor with support-focused magic, teleportation, and weirdly effective Moonbeam healing loops involving birds and french fries.
• Knowledge Domain Cleric, updated from 2014, remains a powerhouse of divination, foresight, and skill mastery—Tyler's official religion.
• Banneret Fighter, once the Purple Dragon Knight, is reborn as a charismatic battlefield commander who turns every Second Wind and Action Surge into a team-wide buff. "This is our subclass, comrade."
• Oath of Noble Genies Paladin channels elemental smites, shifting resistances, and the magic of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water into a versatile new oath.
• Winterwalker Ranger arrives as a chilly striker specializing in cold damage, Hunter's Mark synergies, and making Frostraven Conservationists everywhere cry.
• Additional discussion previews the Sign of the Three Rogue, Spellfire Sorcery Sorcerer, and Bladesinger Wizard, with the team offering insights into where each subclass sits within the new 2024 design philosophy.

Along the way, the hosts recount a dramatic Curse of Strahd in-game betrayal, debate 1990s kids' TV fever dreams, and reveal how a basket of fries can become an infinite healing engine. It's a glorious mess. It's D&D. It's RPGBOT.

Materials References in This Episode

• Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun (affiliate link)
• Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun (affiliate link)

Key Takeaways General

• Heroes of Faerûn is the first true D&D 2024 character-option splatbook, in the tradition of Xanathar's and Tasha's, packed with subclasses, feats, spells, and lore.
• The majority of subclasses saw significant nerfs from Unearthed Arcana, reinforcing WotC's new balance philosophy.

College of the Moon Bard

• A hybrid support bard borrowing from druidic themes.
• Strong teleport-invisibility support, limited offensive tools, and a wild Moonbeam healing mechanic ripe for table shenanigans.

Knowledge Domain Cleric

• A faithful update of the 2014 version.
• Expertise in two knowledge skills, powerful divination tools, short-rest spell economy, and endgame foresight.
• One of the strongest "planning" subclasses in D&D 2024.

Banneret Fighter

• A complete reimagining of the Purple Dragon Knight, now an excellent party leader and tactical commander.
• Shares Second Wind healing, grants team-wide advantages, and enables coordinated movement and attacks through Action Surge.
• Simple to play, powerful in groups, great for new players wanting high impact.

Oath of Noble Genies Paladin

• The "elements paladin," using Elemental Smites for flavorful battlefield control.
• Highly flexible and accessible, though spell list may feel inconsistent.

Winterwalker Ranger

• Cold-focused striker with explosive damage potential toned down from UA.
• Hunter's Mark dependency remains but gains flavorful ice-themed tools.
• Solid, straightforward, and thematically cohesive.

Overall

• Subclass diversity in Heroes of Faerûn sets a strong precedent for future 2024 design.
• Party-support subclasses (Banneret, Moon Bard) shine particularly bright.
• This book positions itself as the real launch point for 2024 character customization.

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Meet the Hosts

• Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix.

• Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme.

• Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy.

Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos.

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati