D&D 5E Fighters should be the social class

Xeviat · Jul 28, 2020

CubicsRube said:
Secondly, a fighter should really be the most common and relatable of the classes amongst common people. Someone who adventures by the strength of their arm should be more understandable and less "weird" than someone who casts magic because they have dragon blood, or even someone who casts magic out of their lute.

I've brought this up a few times before, and definitely once here. I firmly believe the Fighter should be the one who is most relatable to the masses. This is a hard thing to reflect mechanically, though, but in the world fighters tend to be the leaders. In archetypical party building, the fighter easily fits into the role of the "hero". The other classes all have "weirdness" to them, or the perceived dishonesty of the rogue (rogues fight with trickery, not stand up martial talent).

Giving the fighter an extra skill wouldn't hurt; I like the notion that they should have more trained skills than the wizard, your point is solid. I'm not sure I'd expand their skill list, though; as other have pointed out, backgrounds can provide other skills that are needed beyond the base fighter stuff.

I do think the fighter needs a 1st level class ability that speaks to them, and then their subclasses need some more identity. As much as I want to rearrange things so all subclasses are at 1st level, it might make the most sense for it to remain at 3rd for the Fighter, unless one were to make a more generic fighter subclass.

Paul Farquhar · Jul 28, 2020

CubicsRube said:
That's fair.

I identify the fighter with being a kind of everyday man hero in my mind, like an action hero. John McClane vs Rambo. Otherwise I don't see them having much identity.

This is the same John McClane who catastrophically fails to persuade the authorities of the real threat? Whose attempts at deception are quickly seen through by Alan Rickman with a fake accent? Who wins by having a ridiculous number of hit points and killing all the bad guys single handed?

As for Rambo, we have already established he is a ranger not a fighter.

Examples of characters with extreme social skills (I.e. can win, at least sometimes, just by talking): Jean-Luc Picard, The Doctor, Templeton Peck, Gandalf etc.

Tonguez · Jul 28, 2020

CubicsRube said:
Because feudal and faux medieval societies often idolize great warriors, because Beowulf & Conan are the stars of ancient tales. Because as I said before, the common person would be much more able to understand and relate to someone who defeats evil by the might of their arm, rather than occult practices they don't understand, or perhaps fear.

No class is called a "talker", by the way.

Conan was a multiclass Fighter/Rogue High Str, High Dex, Good Int andf Cha, Wisdom was his dump stat.

So no I dont think fighter needs to have more social skills but I would add a Cha-based subclass that is based on Leadership.

Weiley31 · Jul 28, 2020

I'm gonna be crazy when I say this, but the social Fighters are probably gonna be the Banneret, Warlord, and the Noble.

MichaelSomething · Jul 28, 2020

Paul Farquhar said:
I've brought this up a few times before, and definitely once here. I firmly believe the Fighter should be the one who is most relatable to the masses. This is a hard thing to reflect mechanically, though, but in the world fighters tend to be the leaders. In archetypical party building, the fighter easily fits into the role of the "hero". The other classes all have "weirdness" to them, or the perceived dishonesty of the rogue (rogues fight with trickery, not stand up martial talent).

Giving the fighter an extra skill wouldn't hurt; I like the notion that they should have more trained skills than the wizard, your point is solid. I'm not sure I'd expand their skill list, though; as other have pointed out, backgrounds can provide other skills that are needed beyond the base fighter stuff.

I do think the fighter needs a 1st level class ability that speaks to them, and then their subclasses need some more identity. As much as I want to rearrange things so all subclasses are at 1st level, it might make the most sense for it to remain at 3rd for the Fighter, unless one were to make a more generic fighter subclass.

If only there was some type of martial class developed to be a leader of people. That has synergies with Int and/or Cha. That was built to deal with people as well as fight! Wouldn't that reflect what you wanted?

Nah, it would never work. Too many people would hate it...

Xeviat · Jul 28, 2020

MichaelSomething said:
If only there was some type of martial class developed to be a leader of people. That has synergies with Int and/or Cha. That was built to deal with people as well as fight! Wouldn't that reflect what you wanted?

Nah, it would never work. Too many people would hate it...

Odd that the quote said you were quoting someone else.

I very much think the Fighter should have gotten much of the Warlord's identity. I also think the fighter Subclasses need stronger identity. Then we could complain about the barbarian and monk not having much out of combat features.

Eubani · Jul 28, 2020

I love it when people say use a background. Now correct me if I'm wrong but which other class was it that could also do that? I remember....ALL OF THEM. Ditto for role playing and taking social feats.

FrogReaver · Jul 28, 2020

Skills not on the Fighter list that I see as particularly important to SOME fighters:

Stealth (Cunning Fighter)
Deception (Cunning Fighter)
Persuasion (Leader Fighter)
Medicine (Medic Fighter)

Flamestrike · Jul 28, 2020

CubicsRube said:
Yes I frequently use customised backgrounds more than the examples in the PHB.

I don't really have a purpose for this post other than a rant. You CAN make a fighter socially competent. I guess my argument is that it should be the logical default.

A Fighter that does what you assert in the OP here...

Secondly, a fighter should really be the most common and relatable of the classes amongst common people. Someone who adventures by the strength of their arm should be more understandable and less "weird" than someone who casts magic because they have dragon blood, or even someone who casts magic out of their lute.

....has the Folk Hero background.

Feature: Rustic Hospitality
Since you come from the ranks of the common folk, you fit in among them with ease. You can find a place to hide, rest, or recuperate among other commoners, unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them. They will shield you from the law or anyone else searching for you, though they will not risk their lives for you.

Ashrym · Jul 28, 2020

Eubani said:
I love it when people say use a background. Now correct me if I'm wrong but which other class was it that could also do that? I remember....ALL OF THEM. Ditto for role playing and taking social feats.

Relevance?

I love it when people pretend a PC fighter doesn't have the option to pick up a proficiency via background just because other classes can do the same. The fact other classes can do it too doesn't prevent the fighter from doing so. ;-)

As for social feats, have 2 bonus feats other classes do not does favor the fighter picking one up. The problem here is people complain they want social abilities then choose combat instead regardless of having that social option because fighters fight. ;-)

D&D 5E Fighters should be the social class

Xeviat

Hero

Paul Farquhar

Legend

Tonguez

A suffusion of yellow

Weiley31

Legend

MichaelSomething

Legend

Xeviat

Hero

Eubani

Legend

FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog

Flamestrike

Legend

Ashrym

Legend

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