D&D 5E The Fighter/Martial Problem (In Depth Ponderings)

[pemerton]

Part of that is because there is no unified martial mechanic.

Designing a spell expands options for numerous classes. All you can design for all martials is a feat. Everything else has to be a new subclass - or a level 1 fighting style…

Why not a battle master manoeuvre?

 

[FrogReaver]

Why not a battle master manoeuvre?

They only apply to Battlemasters

Or do you mean make that the default universal martial mechanic? I’d be okay with that!

 

[pemerton]

They only apply to Battlemasters

Or do you mean make that the default universal martial mechanic? I’d be okay with that!

I think I mean I slightly misunderstood your post! Or missed your "all" in the phrase "all martials".

 

[Minigiant]

Part of that is because there is no unified martial mechanic.

Designing a spell expands options for numerous classes. All you can design for all martials is a feat. Everything else has to be a new subclass - or a level 1 fighting style…

Why isn't there a unified martial mechanic? Or multiple ones? Or at least one spread across multiple classes or races?

 

[pemerton]

Why isn't there a unified martial mechanic?

There is, isn't there? Multiple attacks. Also fighting styles.

 

[FrogReaver]

There is, isn't there? Multiple attacks. Also fighting styles.

Not really.

Only 3 of the martial classes get fighting styles. Monk, rogue, barbarian do not.

A single level feature that offers no choices underneath isn’t really a unified mechanic.

 

[FrogReaver]

Why isn't there a unified martial mechanic? Or multiple ones? Or at least one spread across multiple classes or races?

I can only speculate…. Too much like 4e maybe?

 

[Vaalingrade]

Sounds like they need booze, not a healing potion!

Not sure how they're canonically made in 5e, but in 3e, they were made with CLW, which is just an infusion of positive energy.

It's not a medical brew, it the mystic equivalent of a stimulant cocktail that can heal you, but also just invigorates you. Positive energy is the same thing you use to animate inanimate objects, so there's no biology required for it to have an effect.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Why isn't there a unified martial mechanic? Or multiple ones? Or at least one spread across multiple classes or races?

Level Up has one.

 

[Minigiant]

Level Up has one.

And its one of the best aspects of Level Up.

However it is Advanced 5e and removed a lot of the simplicity of D&D to give a unified martial mechanic.

I wish D&D had a unified martial mechanic and a unified magic mechanic that could be both pared up and down in complexity, importance, and utility that any D&D fan could delve in the amount they want.