doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
I actually think there is room for 2 gish classes, that are meaningfully different.
While it would be quite a time-sink, @Parmandur and others’ comments about artificers and runes has me wondering if the artificer’s chassis isn’t a good starting point for a swordmage. Runes in place of Infusions, cantrips and round up half casting, maybe no extra attack in the base class, etc. Or, just to encourage some new ideas with nomenclature 5e isn't using yet, call the infusion inspired features Dweomers, and make sure the class has spells like Glyph of Warding and Magic Circle. This Dweomer Mage would have a lot of abjuration, and a lot of stuff that boosts them or creates areas, and rely on weapons boosted by magic for offense. This speaks to the "get ready for battle and then wreck it" gish. Maybe boosted versions ofthe SCAG cantrips instead of a choice of cantrips? So when Booming Blade goes off, it's a 5ft radius, and green flame blade hits multiple targets with the secondary burn or it has greater reach. Something like that.
My other idea is still to rewrite the monk as a swordmage, because a lot of what the monk does is swordmagey stuff, and the thing they have in common is that they’re all mystical/esoteric warriors.
This allows both the inclusion of a gish base class that feels like the very good and well received Swordmage, and is a rework of the monk that is less orientalist, while still having room for all the existing subclass concepts. If I can design it to be able to use those subclasses with minimal conversion (Ki will have a rename, for instance, but will still be 1/class level. Probably spend 10 minutes to regain all Focus, PB/Long Rest)
Instead of Unarmored Defense, you'd have an Aegis ability that at it's base is you using your intellect and awareness to avoid attacks, meaning you choose Intelligence or Wisdom as your spellcasting ability modifier, and add that ability score modifier to your AC, with a static number replacing dexterity. This is because you will still need a physical stat to attack with like most gishes, and doing it this way allows you to more easily make that Strength or Dexterity. If instead we are using Int for attacks, leave the AC calculation as 10+dex+int or wis.
You'd still get martial arts, I think, but with a less restricted weapon list, and you can either make an unarmed strike or a melee spell attack as a bonus action. Basically, you'd gain a 1d4+stat bonus action attack that can either be unarmed or a blast of magical energy. This is where I'd put the bonded weapon feature. Perhaps 3 features to choose from, so you don't have to be weapon based but you can be. Regardless, you can make some kind of bonus action attack that deals 1d4+stat.
Deflect Arrows would broaden to work against any attack, and you can counter-attack with a melee or ranged spell attack if you reduce the damage to 0. I might also buff Patient Defense somehow, but I wouldn't combine them.
Flurry of Blows would remain the same, which means that it can use an unarmed strike or spell attack. You'd also have more options, including a smite-style damage boost, a line attack where you throw your weapon, a reaction teleport when an ally takes damage within x feet of you, and a couple others. Step of The Wind definitely stays.
You also get spellcasting at level 2, which the kifeatures are folded into. ie, "you can spend Focus to cast a spell, or use an Esoteric Technique. Esoteric Technique costs are listed in their description, and spells cost Focus equal to the level at which the spell is being cast. The Swordmage class table tells you how many Focus points you have, what level spells you can learn and prepare, and the limit to the number of Focus you can use to upcast spells."
Unarmored Movement might become an at-will teleportation ability that uses your speed rather than an action or bonus action? idk. needs workshopping.
Keep Slow Fall. Drop Stunning Strike entirely. Maybe add it back in as a spell, but it's not as needed now, and could even live in the Open Hand Subclass.
6th level all your attacks are magical, why not.
Keep Evasion. Stillness of Mind is fine I guess. Definitely willing to ditch it.
9th level either as is, or upgrade the teleport ability to allow bringing a friend. Or choose one.
Tongue of The What is The Deal With This Feature can actually stay, but with a new name.
Diamond Soul could also use a rename, but is fine. Replace if something better comes up.
Timeless Body becomes a choice of 3 ability, for sure.
Perfect self rename but keep.
Something in the last few levels needs a boost IMO.
Spell list would be decent, and include some new spells for all the gish characters, but some would be just for the Swordmage. These would be spells that are cast as an action, include a weapon attack, and apply a magical effect to that weapon attack. This is how the Swordmage does a nova. Bonus Action damage boost, action attack spell, boom goes the dynomite.
Should be closer to the upper tiers of classes, but still under the Paladin.
While it would be quite a time-sink, @Parmandur and others’ comments about artificers and runes has me wondering if the artificer’s chassis isn’t a good starting point for a swordmage. Runes in place of Infusions, cantrips and round up half casting, maybe no extra attack in the base class, etc. Or, just to encourage some new ideas with nomenclature 5e isn't using yet, call the infusion inspired features Dweomers, and make sure the class has spells like Glyph of Warding and Magic Circle. This Dweomer Mage would have a lot of abjuration, and a lot of stuff that boosts them or creates areas, and rely on weapons boosted by magic for offense. This speaks to the "get ready for battle and then wreck it" gish. Maybe boosted versions ofthe SCAG cantrips instead of a choice of cantrips? So when Booming Blade goes off, it's a 5ft radius, and green flame blade hits multiple targets with the secondary burn or it has greater reach. Something like that.
My other idea is still to rewrite the monk as a swordmage, because a lot of what the monk does is swordmagey stuff, and the thing they have in common is that they’re all mystical/esoteric warriors.
This allows both the inclusion of a gish base class that feels like the very good and well received Swordmage, and is a rework of the monk that is less orientalist, while still having room for all the existing subclass concepts. If I can design it to be able to use those subclasses with minimal conversion (Ki will have a rename, for instance, but will still be 1/class level. Probably spend 10 minutes to regain all Focus, PB/Long Rest)
Instead of Unarmored Defense, you'd have an Aegis ability that at it's base is you using your intellect and awareness to avoid attacks, meaning you choose Intelligence or Wisdom as your spellcasting ability modifier, and add that ability score modifier to your AC, with a static number replacing dexterity. This is because you will still need a physical stat to attack with like most gishes, and doing it this way allows you to more easily make that Strength or Dexterity. If instead we are using Int for attacks, leave the AC calculation as 10+dex+int or wis.
You'd still get martial arts, I think, but with a less restricted weapon list, and you can either make an unarmed strike or a melee spell attack as a bonus action. Basically, you'd gain a 1d4+stat bonus action attack that can either be unarmed or a blast of magical energy. This is where I'd put the bonded weapon feature. Perhaps 3 features to choose from, so you don't have to be weapon based but you can be. Regardless, you can make some kind of bonus action attack that deals 1d4+stat.
Deflect Arrows would broaden to work against any attack, and you can counter-attack with a melee or ranged spell attack if you reduce the damage to 0. I might also buff Patient Defense somehow, but I wouldn't combine them.
Flurry of Blows would remain the same, which means that it can use an unarmed strike or spell attack. You'd also have more options, including a smite-style damage boost, a line attack where you throw your weapon, a reaction teleport when an ally takes damage within x feet of you, and a couple others. Step of The Wind definitely stays.
You also get spellcasting at level 2, which the kifeatures are folded into. ie, "you can spend Focus to cast a spell, or use an Esoteric Technique. Esoteric Technique costs are listed in their description, and spells cost Focus equal to the level at which the spell is being cast. The Swordmage class table tells you how many Focus points you have, what level spells you can learn and prepare, and the limit to the number of Focus you can use to upcast spells."
Unarmored Movement might become an at-will teleportation ability that uses your speed rather than an action or bonus action? idk. needs workshopping.
Keep Slow Fall. Drop Stunning Strike entirely. Maybe add it back in as a spell, but it's not as needed now, and could even live in the Open Hand Subclass.
6th level all your attacks are magical, why not.
Keep Evasion. Stillness of Mind is fine I guess. Definitely willing to ditch it.
9th level either as is, or upgrade the teleport ability to allow bringing a friend. Or choose one.
Tongue of The What is The Deal With This Feature can actually stay, but with a new name.
Diamond Soul could also use a rename, but is fine. Replace if something better comes up.
Timeless Body becomes a choice of 3 ability, for sure.
Perfect self rename but keep.
Something in the last few levels needs a boost IMO.
Spell list would be decent, and include some new spells for all the gish characters, but some would be just for the Swordmage. These would be spells that are cast as an action, include a weapon attack, and apply a magical effect to that weapon attack. This is how the Swordmage does a nova. Bonus Action damage boost, action attack spell, boom goes the dynomite.
Should be closer to the upper tiers of classes, but still under the Paladin.
