D&D 5E Casters vs Martials: Part 2 - The Mundane Limit

[Stalker0]

Would something like a boon awarded when casters get certain spell levels work?

At most, maybe 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th? But that might be too much, LOL!

You could make any progression you like, and could even make it where different martial class get different numbers of boons and at different times.

I was just rereading a lot of the boons, and frankly a lot of them are exactly in line with ability ideas we discussed earlier. But probably the biggest benefit, it lets the player and DM tailor their level of mythicness. There are epic boons that are awesome but still fairly mundane, and their are boons that are completely supernatural, and its completely up to the player and dm where they want to go with it.

The more I consider this idea, the more I think its a really great way to go about it.

 

[DND_Reborn]

The more I consider this idea, the more I think its a really great way to go about it.

Yep. On the surface, anyway, it is a pretty simple solution to the people who want more power for martial PCs.

Now, check out my new thread for a different concept, which might or might not help, depending on your point of view.

D&D 5E - Some uses for Hit Dice (+)

I am toying around with an idea to kill multiple birdies with a single sling stone... A. More uses for HD, an under utilized mechanic IMO. B. Increasing the power-level for higher level PCs, particularly martials. So, this is a first draft, please, be gentle. ;) Firstly, this uses the concept...

www.enworld.org

 

[Mordhau]

The only issue with boons is that, like the Fighter and Rogues extra ASIs, they somewhat feel like they are way of the designers throwing up their hands and declaring that actual class features are too hard.

(Also what counts as a Martial in 5e? Is it only Fighters and Rogues, and maybe Barbarians, or can Rangers join the party too?)

 

[Vaalingrade]

The only issue with boons is that, like the Fighter and Rogues extra ASIs, they somewhat feel like they are way of the designers throwing up their hands and declaring that actualy class features are too hard.

(Also what counts as a Martial in 5e? Is it only Fighters and Rogues, and maybe Barbarians, or can Rangers join the party too?)

Rangers can join once they decide what they are.

 

[DND_Reborn]

declaring that actualy class features are too hard.

Or to specific? By allowing a choice of boons, for example, instead of set features, you are allowing more diversity.

(Also what counts as a Martial in 5e? Is it only Fighters and Rogues, and maybe Barbarians, or can Rangers join the party too?)

I think for many people it is anything not a full caster. So:

• Barbarians
• Fighters
• Monks
• Paladins
• Rangers
• Rogues

But of course I could be wrong.

 

[Mordhau]

I'm not sure that Martial characters need more power. What they need is more versatility and flexibility.

 

[bert1001 fka bert1000]

My vote is for a lot of very specific capabilities.

@Minigiant I like the direction you're thinking is going!

Finally before I head out, something I thought of the other day when it comes to WotC and the apparent focus of D&D:

View attachment 149006
Each of these highlighted sections focuses on spellcasters for the most part. Very little is commented on as to what other classes are capable of.

It's a pity, really, IMO.

Hadn't gone back to this since I got the PHB, but it is really interesting. The focus on spells (class abilities for some) as the benchmarks and the sometimes mention of other things external to class abilities that any class could do (form a guild, found clans) is pretty illuminating.

That said, it doesn't specifically exclude martials either! And the intent seems to be that "By 17th Level, characters have superheroic capabilities".

 

[bert1001 fka bert1000]

The only issue with boons is that, like the Fighter and Rogues extra ASIs, they somewhat feel like they are way of the designers throwing up their hands and declaring that actual class features are too hard.

(Also what counts as a Martial in 5e? Is it only Fighters and Rogues, and maybe Barbarians, or can Rangers join the party too?)

I sort of agree with this, but only because it was created as an add on system and probably didn't get the kind of love and playtesting as "core class abilities".

But there's no reason boons couldn't be turned into class abilities? And it is important that they are instead of hoping you get them (like magic items).

 

[DND_Reborn]

That said, it doesn't specifically exclude martials either! And the intent seems to be that "By 17th Level, characters have superheroic capabilities".

No, it doesn't, but it really doesn't give examples of the things they might be capable of, compared to spellcasters which get entire paragraphs really.

 

[Minigiant]

The only issue with boons is that, like the Fighter and Rogues extra ASIs, they somewhat feel like they are way of the designers throwing up their hands and declaring that actual class features are too hard

It is less that it was too hard and more that they were too squeamish to declare specifics of what a high level martial was because of past backlashes. And they ran out of time to feel in out in playtest.

(Also what counts as a Martial in 5e? Is it only Fighters and Rogues, and maybe Barbarians, or can Rangers join the party too?)

Typically any class that gets Extra Attack or Sneak Attack as a base class feature.

So Barbarians are Martial because the base class is all martial. Rangers and Paladins are half caster and half martial.

The Artificer isn't martial because neither half of it are Martial (spellcaster nor infusions)