perhaps the thought process is that damage a battlemaster gets is essential to keep up with the Paladins is the world. In which case desiring both the damage and more social abilities is what the actual Request is. That’s a request I don’t find at all unreasonable.
Paladin damage relies on expending daily slots that compete with utility spells. Fight damage still comes from the extra attack and action surges from short rests.
Fighters don't need battle master for good damage it's just better damage, which I think demonstrates my point that given a choice people take damage instead of social.
It is still UA, but the Battlemaster got a few things in the Class Variants UA that solve this. Like Studious Eye and Silver Tongue. Which gives a fairly decent bonus comparable to the Royal Envoy ability.
I am aware. I gave negative feedback on a subclass front loaded with goodies adding those compared to other subclasses. I would expect better combat abilities to be added to those subclasses if the social aspects are added to battle master.
Rune knight would be the way to go with UA but neither is official, regardless.
What Chaosmancer said. They're also infinitely more interesting than your Royal Envoy ability... AND it doesn't actually make you weaker in combat to pick those options, you still have the same ammount of dice that recharge on a short rest. all you give up is some flexibility in the maneuvers you gain access to, but the bonus damage remain so it's a fair trade to me. After that, it's just a question of managing your rests properly.
The royal envoy ability does what's requested. If you don't find it interesting that's no the same thing.
Also, flip the coin: the bannaret does not make the PC weaker in social encounters like a battle master does. Both are relative.
No subclass makes a fighter weaker in combat. They each add. Adding less combat than another subclass in favor of social aspects is trading off one for the other. Neither has made the base class weaker. Wanting the damage of one and the social benefits of another is wanting to eat your cake and have it too.