D&D 5E Giving the arcane gish an identity.

[Aldarc]

Most of the suggestions on how to build the class tell me that the desire for a gish is a desire to dominate a table, not play a story. All of those suggestions are basically "everything the Wizard does with a more fighting and armor"

That's just a desire to be better than your fellow players, not the desire for a class.

From what I can tell, most suggestions are for a half-caster. That doesn't seem like "everything the Wizard does with a more fighting and armor." But I'll grant you that strawmen are easier for your debate than positions people actually hold. Besides it's hardly difficult for a Wizard to acquire fighting and armor: e.g., Bladesinger, fighter dips, etc.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I think I can get some of it working, in contrast to ranger or paladin it is versatile and easy to spec for str or dex.

ascendent weapon, at will imbue your weapon with elemental damage, you can do it without costing spell slots but that eats a bonus action or something per round, if you burn spell slots it will last longer and you get to add more dice to the damage if you wish for a new damage type you must cast it again.

but I also kind of want to make something that will really make it iconic within seconds I am thinking something basically similar to rang in how you use it but also rather different thoughts something that really ties into how it got magic and your subclass.

 

[bedir than]

From what I can tell, most suggestions are for a half-caster. That doesn't seem like "everything the Wizard does with a more fighting and armor." But I'll grant you that strawmen are easier for your debate than positions people actually hold. Besides it's hardly difficult for a Wizard to acquire fighting and armor: e.g., Bladesinger, fighter dips, etc.

Admitting that the Bladesinger already does what you want isn't a push for a new class

 

[Mind of tempest]

Admitting that the Bladesinger already does what you want isn't a push for a new class

it does not do it properly, the itch has been there for years and we want a properly functioning version of an idea in our heads.
we do not want a wizard or a fighter or just a multiclass but something better than that an icon.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Admitting that the Bladesinger already does what you want isn't a push for a new class

Bladesinger and Eldritch Knight lack any of the signiture features people found fun about prior edition and pathfinder gishes.

They would be fine if the wizard spell list was removed from them and a custom spell list was moved into its place.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Most of the suggestions on how to build the class tell me that the desire for a gish is a desire to dominate a table, not play a story. All of those suggestions are basically "everything the Wizard does with a more fighting and armor"

That's just a desire to be better than your fellow players, not the desire for a class.

By that logic, Paladin and Ranger dominate the table and are only played by those wanting to be better than their fellow players.

D8 hit die, two attacks, half caster progression, martial weapons, light/medium armour, and a unique spell list is absolutely not broken and impossible to balance. With lots of spells like searing smite and ensnaring strike which are delivered through weapon attacks.

 

[Mind of tempest]

anyone want to go through and see what we got so far? helps to know what we got?

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Bladesinger and Eldritch Knight lack any of the signiture features people found fun about prior edition and pathfinder gishes.

They would be fine if the wizard spell list was removed from them and a custom spell list was moved into its place.

Or a custom domain of spells added.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

A martial artist you might say? An Adept? A Savant? If only "Kensei" translated to English in one word, but that's the weeb in me thinking of mystical sword techniques.

Kensei to my mind brings up the image of a mystic seeking spiritual enlightenment through the mastery of the body and as a side effect is a top drawer martial artist. I was thinking more Sherlock Holmes but a wizard. (Robert Downey Jnr. version but a swordsman not a boxer and a wizard.)

 

[Mind of tempest]

Kensei to my mind brings up the image of a mystic seeking spiritual enlightenment through the mastery of the body and as a side effect is a top drawer martial artist. I was thinking more Sherlock Holmes but a wizard. (Robert Downey Jnr. version but a swordsman not a boxer and a wizard.)

I was thinking that merge with Deathstroke and some other things to get it all flowing together.