Mike Mearls Happy Fun Hour: The Warlord

[Mistwell]

4e designs the warlord class for the ‘leader’ role, as an alternative to cleric, at level 1.

So? All classes had powers in 4e as well. This isn't the 4e Warlord, it's the 5e Warlord. 5e classes often build slowly over the first several levels.

 

[Yaarel]

So? All classes had powers in 4e as well. This isn't the 4e Warlord, it's the 5e Warlord. 5e classes often build slowly over the first several levels.

There are 4e fans. The warlord as the primary healer is a must. Even for the lowest levels.

Otherwise, there is no choice. Every group that starts at level 1, must have a magical healer if they want a primary healer.

I want a nonmagical *alternative*, like the 4e warlord was. A real alternative for a primary healer.

That means level 1.

 

[Mistwell]

There are 4e fans. The warlord as the primary healer is a must.

Sure, and the Fighter with Extra Attack is a must, and the monk with Ki is a must, and a Druid with Shapechange is a must, and a Paladin with Smites is a must.

You know what's NOT a must for those in 5e? That it come at first level.

I liked 4e too. This isn't about being a fan or not a fan of 4e. It's about how to adapt this class to the 5e style. And the 5e style is to not dump all the key abilities into first level if you can help it. They tend to spread out over the first 5 levels.

 

[Yaarel]

That gives me an idea.

"When an ally is reduced to 0 HP, and does not die from massive damage, you can use your reaction to have it reduced to 1 HP instead. They also gain THP"

It's not "healing" if they never reach 0.

Evading injury might be a good spell slot equivalent? It sorta reminds me of Feather Fall, being a reaction.

 

[Yaarel]

I liked 4e too.

I know youre a fan of 4e.

Im a fan of a nonmagical healer.

 

[Leatherhead]

Im a fan of a nonmagical healer.

I'm not. But I am also against the idea that combat healing should be a role at all. It totally messes with the narrative flow of combat if people keep having their hp go up and down like a piston. Keeping people from bleeding out is good enough for me. Now if there was some way to become a surgeon, that would be an interesting non-magical healer, but you can't really perform an operation in the middle of a battlefield.

As for what that means for Warlords: Nothing really. A Warlord wouldn't function well as a healer, even if they can give you HP back at level one, because healing involves more than just HP damage. Which is fortunate for Warlord fans, as they seem to be more interested in the shuffling people around and giving out extra attacks aspect of the class to begin with.

 

[Zardnaar]

That gives me an idea.

"When an ally is reduced to 0 HP, and does not die from massive damage, you can use your reaction to have it reduced to 1 HP instead. They also gain THP"

It's not "healing" if they never reach 0.

As a short rest power like half orc sure. Not at will.

 

[Yaarel]

Hmmm.


Every fighter gains Second Wind at level 1. Effectively healing 1d10 + level, per short rest.

What if? The warlord gains the ability to reuse this Second Wind for any team member (including oneself).

This would mean the level 1 warlord would be able to heal about 1d10 hit points per short rest.

This seems to make the warlord effective for a level 1 healer, but at the price of being less tanky than a standard fighter.

Then level 3 gains other healing methods.

 

[Yaarel]

Hmmm.


Every fighter gains Second Wind at level 1. Effectively healing 1d10 + level, per short rest.

What if? The warlord gains the ability to reuse this Second Wind for any team member (including oneself).

This would mean the level 1 warlord would be able to heal about 1d10 hit points per short rest.

This seems to make the warlord effective for a level 1 healer, but at the price of being less tanky than a standard fighter.

Then level 3 gains other healing methods.

Along these lines make this kind healing available to any level 1 fighter.

Second Wind + Fighting Style.

So, say, a ‘Fighting Style’ called Rally grants the fighter the ability to use Second Wind on someone else.

Maybe Rally also allows ‘overheal’ when applying Second Wind to someone.

 

[mellored]

As a short rest power like half orc sure. Not at will.

Well yea. Not at-will.

Maybe 1/ally per long rest.