D&D 5E (2024) Bladesinger, is it Green, Yellow, or Red?

[Henadic Theologian]

Bladesinger, is it Green, Yellow, or Red?

 

[pukunui]

This one is green. A big improvement over the 2014 version. The only change I'm not happy about is dropping light armor. I think that's a mistake and said as much in my survey feedback.

 

[Zardnaar]

Probably a green all things being relative.

Overall probably a waste.

 

[CleverNickName]

I'd give it the green. None of my players have ever been interested in playing one, but that's their loss.

 

[ECMO3]

It is way more powerful, not sure if that is green or red. The only problem with the new Bladesinger is it can make non-casters feel irrelevant. That has never been a problem in my campaigns, but other people here say it is in theirs.

The old Bladesinger could compete with non-caster martials for the martial tank role. The changes to Bladesinger, combined with the changes to 2024 spells and monsters, means the new Bladesinger, when optimized for using weapons will be substantially better at that role that any non-caster in most campaigns.

If you are building a melee character, the loss of light armor is going to meaningless in the vast majority of campaigns and situations. It might be a bigger deal if you are building a Gish type player that wants to be a controller with better defenses. The reason is Mage Armor gives you a better AC than light armor anyway and if you are hard into melee you are going to want the higher AC and won't need as many spell slots.

 

[Yaarel]

I finally got a chance to read the UA Bladesinger. I love it.

I like the armorless flavor. The Int+Dex+Mage Armor is sweet.


At the same time, I want a background-feat "Fighting Style" that grants at-will Mage Armor. This armor can appear in any armor style the player wishes (plate, cloth, whatever), or as an invisible force. The "ancient elves" traditionally make this Mage Armor appear as if a silky fine mithral chain mesh − and this spell is actually what "Elven Chain" is. Anyone, especially a Wizard (not yet a Bladesinger), Fighter (not yet Eldritch Knight or Psi Warrior), Rogue (not yet a Trickster) can take this "Fighting Style" for their background feat at level 1.


Did any character optimizers look at the bonus action attack at level 14? Is this a good feature at this level? Are there any interesting combos with this?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Did any character optimizers look at the bonus action attack at level 14? Is this a good feature at this level? Are there any interesting combos with this?

I believe that the discussion is around whether the cantrip that you get to cast as part of your extra attack makes you eligible to make the bonus action attack or not.

 

[mellored]

I'd rather see a new subclass or update one that needs it than polishing one that's already in good shape.

But no complaints about the changes.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

A++ Green from me. Bladesinger has always been one my favorite subclasses in the game, and I love the changes.

Bladework was sorely needed, and now added. Weapons as a spellfocus was sorely needed if your table actually cared about this, and now added. Adding proficiency in all one-handed weapons is really nice vs the old method of only giving 1 proficiency, but isn't huge since you may still take a Fighter dip anyways if you want weapon mastery

Banning light armor is a nerf that I can get behind - Wizards should be in robes not studded leather armor (and is it even a nerf? Mage Armor exists).

Song of Victory got a major nerf but I can get behind that too - I'd much rather have Bladework at Level 3 than the old Song of Victory at 14, and stacking them was obviously not realistic. And the new version of Song of Victory is actually really nice for when you are torn between wanting to do melee damage because it's more fun but knowing that Wizard spells are far more powerful

 

[TheSword]

I also think bladesinger is very useful in a smaller group where you can’t afford to have a soft goey center because everyone is on the outside.