D&D 5E (2024) 4/26 Playtest: The Fighter

[Eubani]

Regardless of the thoughts on the various class updates the Fighter has obviously had the least amount of effort and thought put into it. The designers must of used all their time on the Mage classes and passed the Fighter on to Danny the Intern at the last minute.

 

[Azzy]

Well, it's a marginal improvement. Nothing to really write home about, though.

My first D&D character was a fighter and it's remained my favorite class. However, I've been distinctly disappointed by 5e's fighter. It's boring and it's compounded by the fact that the core rules don't even have any of the combat maneuvers (aside from grappling and shoving) that were present in 2e and 3e/3.5e (and, I assume, 4e—I didn't play that edition).

Weapon Mastery is nice. It's a callback to BECMI/RC. But I don't see the need to have any more Masteries beyond the initial 3 (especially when you can swap them out on a long rest). That leaves feats (again) as the defining feature of the class. Problem is, though, there are no fighter-only feats, nor are there any higher-level (8th-, 12th-, 15th-, 16th- and 19th-level), more powerful feats (so you're fated to pick the also-ran feats that you didn't want at the earlier levels). The shame is that there's tons of inspiration to be found for potential higher-level feats (or other features) in 3.5e's Tome of Battle and in 4e's fighter exploits.

Adding Persuasion to the skill list is nice, but it's literally the least that they could have done to give the fighter something non-combat related (and with Charisma not being at the top of a fighter's Ability Score priorities, it's not that great).

Also, the Champion remains boring.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I'm not that impressed. Especially as the optimum is juggling weapons every turn like you're at the circus. I preferred just picking a mandatory feat if you wanted more damage.

Of course that wasn't great either. That power attack functionality should be baseline for martials.

 

[Eubani]

If they just folded maneuvers into the fighter including the ones added later on that boost certain skills that would of solved most if not all the fighter issues. Maneuvers + mastery would scratched the tactical choice itch and fix the out of combat need. I would of kept indomitable as it was except expand it to reroll ability checks. Bang done Fighter fixed.

 

[Eubani]

Also another thing which the designers utterly failed at for the Fighter is regarding GWM & SS feats had the +10 damage element removed, stating that they wanted the damage to be in the base class not feats. Where is it? There is no extra damage built into the class. That would make the statement a lie.

 

[deganawida]

If they just folded maneuvers into the fighter including the ones added later on that boost certain skills that would have solved most if not all the fighter issues. Maneuvers + mastery would scratched the tactical choice itch and fix the out of combat need. I would have kept indomitable as it was except expand it to reroll ability checks. Bang done Fighter fixed.

Like they did in Next? Totally agree.

 

[deganawida]

Gotta love how they removed the ability for Fighters to use Action Surge for anything but combat, and at the same time giving Barbarians the ability to use Rage for more than combat. Assuming positive intent, the developers must not realize what a double standard that is.

EDIT: "Assuming positive intent" is my way of not attributing a bad decision or action to malice, ignorance, or stupidity.

 

[Eubani]

Gotta love how they removed the ability for Fighters to use Action Surge for anything but combat, and at the same time giving Barbarians the ability to use Rage for more than combat. Assuming positive intent, the developers must not realize what a double standard that is.

EDIT: "Assuming positive intent" is my way of not attributing a bad decision or action to malice, ignorance, or stupidity.

After 40 odd years of the same mistakes with the Fighter I would only strike one of the 3 negative options out and that would mainly be due to the Dunning Kruger Effect.

 

[OldSchoolGamerGirl]

Regardless of the thoughts on the various class updates the Fighter has obviously had the least amount of effort and thought put into it. The designers must of used all their time on the Mage classes and passed the Fighter on to Danny the Intern at the last minute.

I agree... can we get the guys to stop gutting the warlock and move them to the fighter, then give the intern 'warlock is great make minor changes'

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Gotta love how they removed the ability for Fighters to use Action Surge for anything but combat, and at the same time giving Barbarians the ability to use Rage for more than combat.

I think the intend was removing double spellcasting. Same reason for reworking twin spell (which I dislike to some intend).

Maybe readding the study and influence actions would be a good idea. Or just saying flat out: the extra action may not be a magic action.