D&D (2024) Martial/Caster fix.

[Corinnguard]

Honestly Level Up A5E almost swings the divide the other way, which is saying something.

So, Level Up A5e came out swinging and knocked the ball out-of-the park for you?

 

[CreamCloud0]

No I mean spell slots and spells prepared.

They are still martials, Rangers and Paladins all cast spells, would you say they are not martials? So do Arcane Tricksters, Eldritch Knights, several Monk subclasses and any characters with a species that gives them spells.

i would call rangers, paladins and artificers half-casters rather than martials, because that's what they are.

arcane tricksters and eldritch knights and the like are martials, but they're explicitly martials that dip into magic, the concept of the martial that supplements their physical capabilities with magic is a separate and distinct concept from those heroes who manage without resorting to spellcraft or sorcery, and people deserve to be able to play that concept while also playing an effective character and not being limited to a mere fraction of the options in the game to play that concept.

casting that comes from species is tangential to making your character a caster, it is a fraction of what goes into the character, amongst species there is at the very least a decent selection of nonmagical options and is a separate avenue of thematic choice to what class provides.

Plenty of martials cast spells in the game and as a matter of fact martials that don't cast spells are the exception.

it consider it one of the major failings of 5e that making a purely nonmagical martial is so difficult in this edition, so many things were unnecessarily designed as casting that didn't need to be, they managed to provide a sufficient array of pure martials in previous editions did they not? by that measure is 5e not the exception here?

I don't think very many people like non-casters.

i take personal offence to this statement, speak for yourself please.

 

[Corinnguard]

I don't think very many people like non-casters.

Where did you get this idea that many people don't like non-casters?

I think another poll is in order to see if this is true or not. And a new thread.

 

[Chaltab]

The fact that Rangers and Paladins are half-casters merely points out that the martial/caster issue resides on something of a spectrum with non-casters and full casters sitting at both ends, and everyone else in between. However, as a full caster levels up at higher tier levels, they can out-do the martials by using more powerful spells that are limited only through the number of available spell slots. .

To give the martials, an edge, they can be equipped by their own version of spells- the combat maneuvers. Like the ones provided by Level Up's Combat traditions, which steadily become more powerful with each degree (the equivalent of a spellcasting level) they attain. There are even a couple of Combat traditions that do make use of a little magic like Arcane Knight and Cutting Omen.

So, the Ranger and the Herald (the A5e version of the Paladin) are basically Half-Caster/Half-Combat Maneuver specialists.

Rangers in A5E aren't half casters.

 

[Scribe]

They are still martials, Rangers and Paladins all cast spells, would you say they are not martials?

Yes. If you cast spells, you are not a martial.

 

[Corinnguard]

Rangers in A5E aren't half casters.

Except for those who have the Wildborn archetype.

I think A5e's combat traditions would work well with the 5e Ranger.

 

[Clint_L]

Where did you get this idea that many people don't like non-casters?

I think another poll is in order to see if this is true or not. And a new thread.

Can look at DDB data - fighters are the most popular class by a wide margin, and together fighters, rogues, monks, and barbarians are over represented. This is a pretty broad data point to interpret, but it at least does not indicate an aversion towards martial classes.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Rangers in A5E aren't half casters.

One of the great things about A5e is an increase in martial classes.

 

[Distracted DM]

Except for those who have the Wildborn archetype.

I think A5e's combat traditions would work well with the 5e Ranger.

Slight correction, Wildborn are 1/3 casters.

 

[Corinnguard]

One of the great things about A5e is an increase in martial classes.

Not just what they could do with the combat pillar, but with the exploration and social interaction pillars as well. They were too focused on the combat pillar back in previous editions of D&D. Which is good when the party found themselves in the middle of combat. Outside of combat, they were something of a wallflower. They were there, but didn't contribute much when dealing with exploration or interacting with others outside of their party.