D&D 5E The Warlord shouldn't be a class... change my mind!

[doctorbadwolf]

Lets see . . .
Most basic damage cantrip. No riders that might cause confusion: Fire Bolt
Damage at level 11: 3d10, or 17ish.
Extra attack with a longbow (closest equivalent). Assume stat at 20 but not magic or other bonuses.
Damage at level 11: 2d8+10, or 19ish.

So it looks like we're both wrong. Extra attack at level 11 doesn't stay level with cantrip damage. It surpasses it.

Sure, it surpasses it, but barely, and without EA, it would fall dramatically behind.

but that is the intended trade off. Higher At Will damage vs versatility and at Will magical damage.

 

[Tony Vargas]

The reason that I mentioned Extra Attack at level 11 is that that would be where it would stay level with cantrip damage.

Yeah, that sounded more reasonable.

Riders are generally worth around 1 or two points of damage per die, if you compare cantrips to each other. In terms of having multiple different riders to choose from, bear in mind that most warrior-types carry more different weapons than most casters have attack cantrips.

But the choice of weapon doesn't make much of a difference. There's the odd case where you might want bludgeoning rather than piercing or something. It'd be cool if it did, if choice of weapons & techniques let you throw around interesting options.

So it looks like we're both wrong. Extra attack at level 11 doesn't stay level with cantrip damage. It surpasses it.

Better'n I expected. Assume an 18 DEX and looks like it'd come out just right.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

But the choice of weapon doesn't make much of a difference. There's the odd case where you might want bludgeoning rather than piercing or something. It'd be cool if it did, if choice of weapons & techniques let you throw around interesting options.

Melee vs Ranged weapons, however, do make a difference.

 

[Hussar]

Melee vs Ranged weapons, however, do make a difference.

It makes a difference to the fighter, but, to casters? Virtually all combat cantrips are ranged. There are only a couple that are melee. And, as an added bonus, many of the ranged cantrips can be used in melee without penalty, something fighters with ranged weapons cannot do.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

It makes a difference to the fighter, but, to casters? Virtually all combat cantrips are ranged. There are only a couple that are melee. And, as an added bonus, many of the ranged cantrips can be used in melee without penalty, something fighters with ranged weapons cannot do.

Different cantrips have different riders however.

 

[Fenris-77]

Different cantrips have different riders however.

That's true, and important, but it doesn't change that cantrips have some flexible use parameters that ranged weapons need a feat to match. I'm not sure how important that is, but there you go.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Melee vs Ranged weapons, however, do make a difference.

A difference comparable to that between a cantrip that takes an attack roll vs one that calls for a DEX save. Not comparable to the different riders on cantrips, which, as you note, "cost" a point or two of damage, in general.

That's true, and important, but it doesn't change that cantrips have some flexible use parameters that ranged weapons need a feat to match. I'm not sure how important that is, but there you go

I suspect it's given very little weight in 5e design.

 

[generic]

Can we make it to 50 pages?

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Garthanos]

I suspect it's given very little weight in 5e design.

moving somebody 10 feet if no flanking rules are in place....