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

[Bolares]

Got a pet in Martials Power.

4e Cares (tm)

Wasn't on Primal power? Can't remember

 

[Neonchameleon]

Got a pet in Martials Power.

4e Cares (tm)

Indeed. The 5e "make the class a lot more flexible through subclasses" approach was pioneered in 4e.

(And it was Martial Power; the primal striker was the barbarian)

 

[Bolares]

(And it was Martial Power; the primal striker was the barbarian)

Thanks, I could never remember who was in wich book

 

[Neonchameleon]

Thanks, I could never remember who was in wich book

The Barbarian and Ranger could have both gone either way. But the Barbarian benefited massively from being primal and this allowing their rages to be supernatural even if the designers made sure you didn't have to do this because there was enough simple hitty stuff. The 3.X barbarian was a one trick pony while the 5e barbarian has taken and built on the 4e approach. (The 1e barbarian is very different and I don't think there was a 2e one).

 

[Undrave]

Someone suggested 'Arknight' as a name, but what about Arcaknight? It's like a portemanteau of 'Arcanist' and 'Knight'? You could even stylize it as Arcanite if you wanted.

ranger needs to be split into the rogue-ish half caster and two martial subclasses for fighter and rogue receptively so no one is angry and everyone gets something they like.

Well, we already have the Scout for the Rogue, so we really just need a Woodsy Fighter class now, maybe 'Skirmisher'? 'Marauder'? Something that's more like the 4e Ranger hit-and-run style.

The arcane dish is different.

This is why we're using Stabnerd now.

The Barbarian and Ranger could have both gone either way. But the Barbarian benefited massively from being primal and this allowing their rages to be supernatural even if the designers made sure you didn't have to do this because there was enough simple hitty stuff. The 3.X barbarian was a one trick pony while the 5e barbarian has taken and built on the 4e approach. (The 1e barbarian is very different and I don't think there was a 2e one).

4e's Primal Power source was probably my favourite addition to the lore, and I think it REALLY helped make the Barbarian pop as a proper class. Without that infusion of lore, the Barbarian might as well have been a Fighter subclass come 5e.

I just wish they would tap into the Warden some more for new Barbarian subclass. I want a Barbarian who's rage creates a zone of difficult terrain around them! A lot of the Warden Dailies would make excellent inspiration for Barbarian subclass features. Form of the Laughing Killer, Form of the Winter's Herald, Form of the Harvest King, etc...

 

[Mind of tempest]

Someone suggested 'Arknight' as a name, but what about Arcaknight? It's like a portemanteau of 'Arcanist' and 'Knight'? You could even stylize it as Arcanite if you wanted.


Well, we already have the Scout for the Rogue, so we really just need a Woodsy Fighter class now, maybe 'Skirmisher'? 'Marauder'? Something that's more like the 4e Ranger hit-and-run style.

This is why we're using Stabnerd now.

4e's Primal Power source was probably my favourite addition to the lore, and I think it REALLY helped make the Barbarian pop as a proper class. Without that infusion of lore, the Barbarian might as well have been a Fighter subclass come 5e.

I just wish they would tap into the Warden some more for new Barbarian subclass. I want a Barbarian who's rage creates a zone of difficult terrain around them! A lot of the Warden Dailies would make excellent inspiration for Barbarian subclass features. Form of the Laughing Killer, Form of the Winter's Herald, Form of the Harvest King, etc...

I would go with reivers for fighter ranger, or maybe hunter.
I do want a roguish half caster who at least has a sub class themed around nature, might want a more godly one as well as if the templars get to be paladins then why not have divine assains that would be cool.

have we got a list so far of what the stabnerd is to be?

 

[Mind of tempest]

Most prior arcane gishes have had them do intense training to learn how to blend magic and martial ability together.

"You studied and practiced for years to master your skills. You mastered the fundamentals of arcane magic and combined this academic study with endless hours of physical training." - From the swordmage description.


How is the arcane dish different to other kinds of dishes?

Are there any good recipes to follow? What kind of ingredients are needed for the food to count as arcane?

and did it really capture the imagination? no so clearly something is missing in the formular.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

and did it really capture the imagination? no so clearly something is missing in the formular.

I mean exactly. There definitely needs to be more than just 'you can stab and magic' for the class identity.

Only fighter, rogue, and wizard can get away with being so vague. All other classes have some kind of hook which draws them in. Though imo the paladin and warlock are too overbearing. Trying to force a singular story and theme, and often requiring the DM to allow you to ignore it.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I mean exactly. There definitely needs to be more than just 'you can stab and magic' for the class identity.

Only fighter, rogue, and wizard can get away with being so vague. All other classes have some kind of hook which draws them in. Though imo the paladin and warlock are too overbearing. Trying to force a singular story and theme, and often requiring the DM to allow you to ignore it.

so it needs to be something way easier to go rouge from but still, needs thematic strength?

how about if they are not born but made? people with the right set of traits taken and made into something more?
maybe bonded to some sources of magical power? with the different subclasses being based on what you were bound to?

 

[Frozen_Heart]

so it needs to be something way easier to go rouge from but still, needs thematic strength?

how about if they are not born but made? people with the right set of traits taken and made into something more?
maybe bonded to some sources of magical power? with the different subclasses being based on what you were bound to?

That would kind of match with the original plan for 5e, where the sorcerer was the half caster arcane gish. Just bonded rather than bloodlines.

It could either be done as part of an initiation to an organisation, a ritual, or by random chance. Which leaves it very open in how it happened. It could just be a set of runes infused into you in a training ritual, and forgettable after that (for wanting to ignore the class theme). Or you could have fought an elemental and ended up changed when its unravelling magic went into you instead (for wanting to play into the class theme).

It's not even exclusive with the guardian aspect either.