A critique and review of the Fighter class

[GMforPowergamers]

Then it's important to you. Nothing wrong with that, I just don't think every class needs to work for every player.

I agree. It's why I keep pushing for a new class. a Martial (no magic) class that has options both at table and at creation/level up and power equal to a full caster.

my personal thing would be to split both the mage and the fighter each into 3 classes and take a step back on cleric to the 2e days... but I doubt I will get that.

I personally will never run a warlock, I don't care for the default themes and the mechanics always felt quite "meh" to me. That doesn't mean I don't recognize that other people enjoy them.

and that class is the class I have seen played the most.

I enjoy playing fighters. Even if in one of my games I appreciate it when the druid casts pass without trace while we explore the jungles of Chult, I don't feel like my PC is any less because I personally couldn't cast the spell. I was just thankful that someone could. On the other hand when we were discussing how to approach the encounter, I was contributing ideas on what to do and how. When it came to execution, I was still part of the group.

and would you have contributed anything less if YOU were playing the druid? would you have still

discussing how to approach the encounter, I was contributing ideas on what to do and how. When it came to execution, I was still part of the group.

*This is admittedly a pet peeve. Any armor that does anything at all is going to be hot, why is only heavy armor called out?

agreed here too... the negatives should be RP "Man it is hot out here" not disadvantage on things

 

[James Gasik]

Because it's a longstanding tradition that there must be a "cost" associated with heavy armor because it's "too good" or something...I mean think about it.

In AD&D, armor was super heavy, but outside of that, anyone who could wear plate did, because there was no reason not to.

In 3e, they added "armor check penalty" and "speed reductions". EDIT: also create "maximum Dexterity bonus" for "game balance", starting a tradition where people thought a guy in armor is suddenly incapable of dodging.

In 4e, a 1st level character with a Strength of 10 could afford and wear plate with no issues.

In 5e, we have "disadvantage to Stealth".

One of these editions is super hated. I sense a conspiracy...j/k.

But seriously, despite lots of evidence to the contrary, heavy armor has been picked on since the game's inception. As if having high AC means you must have some kind of weakness. Meanwhile, light armors get a free pass, despite being super uncomfortable- padded armor can get flea infested, and if anyone has ever worn cuir boilli...yeah.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Then you're comparing combat capability. That's a separate discussion, one that includes paladins not getting second wind, action surge, a couple of fighting styles, etc.

No, I’m talking about the class as a whole, which is this discussion.

What edition are you playing?

“You prepare the list of paladin spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the paladin spell list. When you do so, choose a number of paladin spells equal to your Charisma modifier + half your paladin level, rounded down (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.”

I’m playing the current one.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Edit: Wrrrong thread!

 

[Bill Zebub]

except if that were true then what are we talking about?

Self-validation that WotC needs superfans to tell them how to design RPGs?

 

[Bill Zebub]

This doesn’t speak to the Fighter specifically, but in terms of the long-running “casters > martials” complaint I find it…interesting…that in the Vecna play test thread only one person chose full caster.

 

[James Gasik]

A bunch of nerds played off being big and strong as a disadvantage vs being small and wiry? Shocking.

So that's why Dexterity keeps getting more powerful over time when compare to Strength. Though I'm not sure why Intelligence is so...vestigial in 5e.

 

[James Gasik]

This doesn’t speak to the Fighter specifically, but in terms of the long-running “casters > martials” complaint I find it…interesting…that in the Vecna play test thread only one person chose full caster.

I was going to say that managing a spell list and having the right spells on hand for a task can be a bit daunting for some, but then I thought about it, and I've seen enough Clerics who think their entire spell list consists of Healing Word, Spiritual Weapon, and Spirit Guardians (and enough Wizards who think Fireball is the be all and end all) to know that isn't always an issue.

Maybe they just (rightly) assumed that someone like Vecna was going to be so armored against magic it's better to go after him with pointy stabby things?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Self-validation that WotC needs superfans to tell them how to design RPGs?

I'm not sure what a superfan is, but I would think any developer of anything would want end used feed back. this is the only example I can think of where OTHER end users try to shut down discussion of issues...

When I say "My Iphone XI has X Y and Z issue," I have been met with people asking for details becuse they have not run into it, but I have never run into anyone telling me I am wrong or lying or useing it wrong...

If 5% of all ford focus's have break issues I can't imagine anyone in the 95% trying to shut down that conversation...

But D&D it happens all the time

 

[GMforPowergamers]

This doesn’t speak to the Fighter specifically, but in terms of the long-running “casters > martials” complaint I find it…interesting…that in the Vecna play test thread only one person chose full caster.

Okay so YOUR one game example proves it... what about my counter example of I 9 out of 10 times see either all martial or all caster parties?