D&D 5E Why Not? A Variant Captain Fighter

[Garthanos]

May seem like a distinction without a difference, but I'd phrase it as taking a certain reaction, like an AoO, "without expending your reaction" once/extra attack you're entitled to - use your reaction for something else, it's gone, and you can't take anymore AoOs, even if you "have some left."
Would tend to keep the lid on things.

Sentinel is still very badassed with that how about you may trade out an extra attack for an extra AoO without expending your reaction this allows more attacks of opportunity but the sentinel is then trading for the benefits of extra AoO (stopping more than one trying to swarm by hurray) ... when it comes up.

 

[Garthanos]

Since Attacks of Opportunity are special I guess that means
A warlord if the above were in place then granting an ally an attack could sometimes be more specifically an "attack of opportunity." This would allow synergy with the Sentinel.

 

[Garthanos]

Battle Ready was one of my earliest thoughts I think this discussion of opportunity attacks has perhaps made it more significant.

Battle Ready
You do not necessarily react to battle you plan and predict it you are constantly aware of the possibility of combat and open to attacking adversaries.

• You may use Int/Wis (or Cha for some builds) in place of Dexterity for initiative checks - possible upgrade to apply proficiency
• When Attacks of Opportunity arise you may perform one
  (per round) without using a reaction. This ability begins at level 5 - possible upgrade increase number associated with extra attacks.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It is possible to compose things which may enable some defenderisms, but look at what 5e provided, protection fighting style (use of which is effectively in conflict with opportunity attacks instead of adding to them and in conflict with the sentinel feat (Note how even sentinel in 5e is only going to slow 1 enemy.) and yes the cavalier which does explicitly make exceptions to override reaction limits is largely about extending reactions and opportunity attacks. 5e very much recognizes that the mechanism for defender tends to be reactions.

Arguably being a warlord is about letting allies do their thing more often and usually on the warlords turn now picture every warlord power with an ally must spend their reaction to take advantage of this its a royal nerf bat (you should not be monopolizing your allies actions you are spending you own not theirs)

The defender doesn’t need to do a bunch of individual things off turn. It needs to keep enemies away from squishy allies, and punish them for attacking the defender’s allies, while focusing enemy aggro on themselves.

All of which can absolutely be done without breaking the 5e action economy.

 

[Garthanos]

The defender doesn’t need to do a bunch of individual things off turn. It needs to keep enemies away from squishy allies, and punish them for attacking the defender’s allies .

And the method they use generally speaking and in actual evidence within even 5e is retaliatory attacks which often carry slowing or stopping effect. That is how it is being done currently by fighter types and how it was done by fighter types in 4e too actually.

The 5e one however is far more hamstrung by a reaction limit than the 4e one.

 

[Garthanos]

Also breaking? how is it broken ie dysfunctional if they get more potential reactions? Especially if you are trading an extra attack out for an opportunity attack which is barely a fair trade unless your AoO are somehow enhanced.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

And the method they use generally speaking and in actual evidence within even 5e is retaliatory attacks which often carry slowing or stopping effect. That is how it is being done currently by fighter types and how it was done by fighter types in 4e too actually.

The 5e one however is far more hamstrung by a reaction limit than the 4e one.

Except that isn’t necessary, it’s just the case so far. Quite easy to change, as I’ve already shown.

 

[Garthanos]

Except that isn’t necessary, it’s just the case so far. Quite easy to change, as I’ve already shown.

That is a stylistic difference in some ways i want to fix potentially multiple existing things to better let them serve their obvious goals, with something which seems like a natural thing ie someone being able to act in attack more can react in attack more. 'for me this is a plausibility issue even'

Here is a neat article that breaks down the poverty of the protection fighting style

D&D 5e: The Protection Fighting Style – Brandes Stoddard

www.brandesstoddard.com

Though I am picturing your aura effect cooler for actually a swordmage with an explosive shield . I do want my defending swordmage to be supported. Letting the fighter do it his way and other defenders do some interesting other methods.

 

[Garthanos]

Idea
Maneuvers are often self only on the battlemaster fighter to make him a better team player from the ground up adjust maneuvers to be you or an adjacent ally.

One can write riposte to use opportunity attacks to better integrate with Sentinel for the win. In effect Riposte now defines a new condition one gains an opportunity attack. One might use the meta maneuvers straining or risking an opportunity attack to do this even if you don't have any superiority die available during another creatures turn.

Riposte becomes when a creature misses you or an adjacent ally with a melee attack, you can use your reaction and expend one superiority die to make an opportunity attack against the creature. If you hit, you add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll.

Enhanced form (costing one more CS): doesnt cost a reaction

 

[Garthanos]

Manuever: Sweeping Attack. Requires a two handed or versatile melee weapon? Attack all enemies within 5ft of you. Deal superiority die plus strength or Dex mod to each?

I just noticed how really really poor the default sweeping attack is... sheesh why on earth would someone spend a die on the original i put a like on this one (would a martial artist subclass get to treat two light weapons as two hander I am not sure about putting weapon restrictions in of that sort a whirling dervish type attack is exactly two weapons doing something like this)