D&D 5E Swordmage! (+thread)

[doctorbadwolf]

Basically the idea is to have a healer archetype for the Swordmage use unicorn symbolism and they can do granting of freedom and granting of mobility too.

I’d be down with a Fey Knight Circle that ramps up the teleportation and also has some heals. Maybe gets a Fey mount.

 

[Garthanos]

I’d be down with a Fey Knight Circle that ramps up the teleportation and also has some heals. Maybe gets a Fey mount.

The ritual that allows one to summon mounts in 4e could be flavored wonderfully

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Okay, I wonder about the potential feedback of some key people who haven’t chimed in, if y’all are willing.

@TwoSix @lowkey13 @dnd4vr feel free to pm if you’d rather not engage in a thread that is having some trouble being a + thread, but what I’m wondering is what you’d be worried about for such a class? What would make it feel samey or fresh and different? As a class that last showed up in 4e, would you as a hypothetical DM have a worry about it being too fiddly and grid dependent?

 

[Eltab]

what I’m wondering is what you’d be worried about for such a class? What would make it feel samey or fresh and different? As a class that last showed up in 4e, would you as a hypothetical DM have a worry about it being too fiddly and grid dependent?

Poof! Surprise - you got somebody you weren't looking for!

My experience with 4e Swordmages was minimal, but what I remember was the ability to swat enemies from a short distance when they attacked the swordmage's ally / allies. Either teleport in-and-out for your reaction attack, or teleport the enemy over to hit you instead of the ally.

Being able to put the abjurer wizard's "force field" on an ally (instead of yourself) might be a class feature. Maybe explicitly use THP, like the Inspiring Leader feat.
Warding Bond and Heroism should be on the class spell list.

if you want to be loosened from DEX/INT, would Unarmored Defense INT + WIS give the flavor you want? You can duck and dodge because you book-learning'ed your swordplay and because you Scry'ed to observe / critique how the enemies fight.

 

[FrogReaver]

It seems to me like the Aegis dictates their style. Therefore, I would set the subclass up to come online at level 3. Level 3 subclasses tend to pack quite a bit of power which will make for some solid abilities.

I have a different take on Swordmage Unarmored Defense -
You may consider your dex bonus for the purpose of determining AC to be +3 unless your dexterity is higher. When you reach level 4 this increases to +4. When you reach level 8 this increases to +5. Additionally, while you have at least one hand free you have +2 AC. This ensures you can use str or dex as a swordmage.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So, basic concept so far.

d10 HD
3 skills, from basic physical skills, investigation, and all the nerd skills
Tools: calligraphers tools and some other artisans tools? (Remember, this a nerd)
Armor: light or none
Weapons: simple, martial

key identity features:

Level 1
Aegis: Your Armor class is equal to 10+Int. This increases by 1 when you attain certain 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th Level in this class. You perform a ritual as part of a short or long rest that determines the nature of your Aegis. (Elemental attunement, protection, mobility, support options, like fighting styles you can change?) Each one has a defensive benefit, and most also have a damage benefit.

Weapon Bond: you bind a weapon to you. If it is a melee weapon it gains the thrown property with a range of 30/60, and returns to your hand when thrown. If it already has a range, that range increase by 30ft, and either returns to your hand when thrown, or creates its own ammunition. Can summon from nowhere as a bonus action if it’s lost. (Whatever, this May need to be split into multiple levels)

level 2: mobility boost
point resource system. 2-4 simple but significant unique abilities. One defensive, one pure offense, one movement/utility, one possible support.
Ritual Casting worded like the feat, but your stat is always Int. Access to spells explained and gained here.

level 3: Circle or School

level 5: Extra Attack makes the Aegis offense benefits scale at this level.

 

[FrogReaver]

3 skills, from basic physical skills, investigation, and all the nerd skills

3 skills seems strange - the wizard only gets 2

 

[FrogReaver]

You perform a ritual as part of a short or long rest that determines the nature of your Aegis. (Elemental attunement, protection, mobility, support options, like fighting styles you can change?) Each one has a defensive benefit, and most also have a damage benefit.

An Aegis coorelates to how you learned to fight. I don't believe you should be changing your aegis on the fly.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

3 skills seems strange - the wizard only gets 2

Not a wizard

 

[FrogReaver]

Not a wizard

Okay, so why would a swordmage be more skillful than a wizard?