D&D General why do we not have an arcane half caster?

[tetrasodium]

The overuse of concentration & general number of "unused by design" buff type spells also hinders the niche for a half caster arcane. back in 3.5 you could trade like reduced bab & such but still make up for it with buffs

 

[DEFCON 1]

And the Hexblade still only gets a bit of the concept, because it only has one story, outside of directly reflavoring things. Also, the Hexblade was a Warlock in 4e, they didn’t go back to 3.5, it’s a pretty direct port from 4e.

The Hexblade is from 3.5 Complete Warrior.

 

[Scribe]

The Hexblade is from 3.5 Complete Warrior.

Indeed, right down to the focus on the Curse mechanic. Which is my issue with the class really.

 

[jmartkdr2]

As for the ''job'' of a swordmage, I quite like the idea behind the Malec-Keth Janissary paragon path from 4e, in which you were a bodyguard for elemental lord (mostly genies).

I modified the text a little to fit more general swordmages, I kept the term Janissary, since it sounds to me a nice equivalent to the Paladin:

''Janissaries are products of the elite arcane and military practices and experimentations taught in the war-magic academies in the City of Brass, Abeir, lost Netherese enclaves or other planar metropolises. Highly disciplined and rigorously trained, Janissaries have a fighting style demonstrative of their mastery of mind and body. They learn offensive and defensive techniques to protect their wards, and they also study music, art, and language.

Many Janissaries are servants to powerful masters, both humanoid and elemental, fey and undead. Proud and loyal, janissaries are single-minded in defense of their allies and masters. They favor a modest appearance; the only distinguishing mark a janissary bears is the tattoo of single blue flame on the brow that declares him or her a graduate of a planar academies. Those who wear the mark of janissaries are known far and wide among the elemental or other planar realms for their determination and deadly skill with spell and blade.

Many powerful lords and ladies favor janissaries as bodyguards for their defensive abilities and courtly grace. Other janissaries owe allegiance to no clear master, preferring to use their training to further their own ambitions.''

I'm actually liking Janissary for the whole class, since the real-world term conjures a lot of what I like in terms of being 1. a warrior 2. a special kind of warrior 3. not entirely a volunteer warrior.

It doesn't imply magic at all, but that's less of an issue than a class name that doesn't imply weapon use, I think.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

The Hexblade is from 3.5 Complete Warrior.

You must not have read what I wrote.

 

[fearsomepirate]

The Swordmage gained plenty of traction. That’s why the EK and arguably the Hexblade are in the game. It didn’t remain in the game because wotc didn’t want to put a “4e class” in the PHB, and tried to make the EK and AT fit the bill, which they don’t

RIP Swordmage, Warden, Warlord, Avenger, and Shaman. We hardly knew ye. Oh yeah, and the PHB3 classes. Never saw anyone use those.

I think a Swordmage could still work as a class, something with no better than medium armor proficiency, and relying on magic to modify attacks and defenses, but they really seem into subclasses rather than new classes.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

RIP Swordmage, Warden, Warlord, Avenger, and Shaman. We hardly knew ye. Oh yeah, and the PHB3 classes. Never saw anyone use those.

I think a Swordmage could still work as a class, something with no better than medium armor proficiency, and relying on magic to modify attacks and defenses, but they really seem into subclasses rather than new classes.

Yeah I like allowing light armor, with an AC bonus for leaving a hand free. Perhaps with a different buff for wielding an arcane Spellcasting focus in the off-hand?

Right now, my Swordmage is fully Unarmored, but...hmm...this will require further thought.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Yeah I like allowing light armor, with an AC bonus for leaving a hand free. Perhaps with a different buff for wielding an arcane Spellcasting focus in the off-hand?

Right now, my Swordmage is fully Unarmored, but...hmm...this will require further thought.

I am telling you you will want a heavily armoured subclass.

 

[DEFCON 1]

You must not have read what I wrote.

Or more likely, you weren't clear on what you were trying to say and I misunderstood you.

 

[fearsomepirate]

Yeah I like allowing light armor, with an AC bonus for leaving a hand free. Perhaps with a different buff for wielding an arcane Spellcasting focus in the off-hand?

Right now, my Swordmage is fully Unarmored, but...hmm...this will require further thought.

Without armor proficiency, Swordmage is going to pretty MAD. Rather than fiddle with conditional buffs the way 4e did, I'd just use existing classes as a template. There's the monk/barbarian way, or just give him better armor. What are you doing about Aegis? Given what it did in 4e and the power level of 5e, seems like it should work something like Channel Divinity as a short rest power.