D&D (2024) Should the PHB have an arcane half caster?

[Horwath]

For 5.5e it shoud be:

d12, non-caster
d10, half-caster
d8, 2/3rd caster
d6 full caster.

1/3rd caster should be removed as subclass idea.
spell come too late and too little and it just drains subclass resource pool.
rework arcane trickster/eldritch knight as complete half-caster classes.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I think the bard is also a good source for a fighter subclass (especially if it focused on bardic inspiration, which isn't explicitly magic), so the inspirational fighter could fit the warlord idea.

And a paladin who gives out (bardic) inspiration every time he/she smites a fiend or undead would be the best paladin ever.

 

[Clint_L]

1/3rd caster should be removed as subclass idea.
spell come too late and too little and it just drains subclass resource pool.

Arcane Trickster is widely considered the S tier rogue subclass tho.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Arcane Trickster is widely considered the S tier rogue subclass tho.

Only amongst the Rogues subclasses however. The S-Tier Rogue subclass is not S- or even A- Tier when compared to other classes, particularly casters. Most of the reason that it is considered one of the best Rogue subclasses is that it gets spells.

Ideally we would want the Arcane Trickster to be a half-caster, but the rest of the Rogue class and its other subclasses brought up to the same level as all the other classes.

 

[Minigiant]

There should be an arcane half caster warrior, a divine half caster trickster, a full Ki class and many other class ideas,

Just not in the PHB.

 

[Corinnguard]

There should be an arcane half caster warrior, a divine half caster trickster, a full Ki class and many other class ideas,

Just not in the PHB.

The Magus class from 1st edition Pathfinder is a good example of an arcane half-caster warrior that appeared in PF1's Ultimate Magic. If One D&D/6e ever came out with an official book on magic, this is where their arcane half-caster warrior ought to be put in.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I have no idea why anyone wants an "arcane half-caster" beyond some weird fetish for symmetry, I have to say, and this thread has not enlightened me further on that. It seems more like people who want it want it purely for the sake of having it rather than because it's in any way necessary.

 

[Corinnguard]

I have no idea why anyone wants an "arcane half-caster" beyond some weird fetish for symmetry, I have to say, and this thread has not enlightened me further on that. It seems more like people who want it want it purely for the sake of having it rather than because it's in any way necessary.

I would chalk that up to what 4e did with the classes. Fighter- Martial Defender, Paladin-Divine Defender, Swordmage- Arcane Defender.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I would chalk that up to what 4e did with the classes. Fighter- Martial Defender, Paladin-Divine Defender, Swordmage- Arcane Defender.

What's weird though is a lot of people who have historically been keen on this half-caster idea didn't like 4E, though who knows. 4E also went a lot further to justify the existence of all the given class/role combos than other editions (which was easier to do because of the way 4E's mechanics worked).

 

[Clint_L]

There should be an arcane half caster warrior, a divine half caster trickster, a full Ki class and many other class ideas,

Just not in the PHB.

It's not going to be in the PHB but could come in another book. I like the idea of making an arcane half caster class with subclasses that incorporate what are currently subclasses tacked on to other classes, but I fear that might not work with existing content.