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

[ECMO3]

Their 14lvl is the same as valor bards so why was no one thinking about the possiblity of a third attack back then?

Because a Valor Bard does not have a full compliment of Wizard spells and an AC approaching 30.

 

[TiQuinn]

I like it. Removing the armor proficiency in return for the attack and damage roll boost is a nice trade off that probably still benefits the player. I've always thought this was one of the better subclasses.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

As a forever DM, I'd love a chance to play this subclass.

 

[TiQuinn]

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).

It's a slight nerf in that you didn't need Mage Armor previously, and then you'd typically throw in a Shield spell as well. Bladesingers can get some ungodly ACs. This brings it back down to earth a little bit, or now it'll at least cost you to get the armor proficiency.

 

[Shardstone]

I agree with @Zardnaar. It's Green for me, but a waste of space. It didn't need to be updated at all. Would have preferred literally any other Wizard idea.

 

[TiQuinn]

To get better AC, you need to spend your feats on +2 ability scores.

Which means you don't get great weapon master or dual wielder.

You also forgot about HP, and not being able to take any +Con. That's before second wind.

So they still deal less damage and die faster than a martial.

They don't get Nick or two weapon fighting either.

Yes, having played a Bladesinger twice (once as just a single class Wizard, and also as part of a Fighter/Wizard multiclass), I can attest that at the end of the day, the single class Bladesinger is going to get themselves into trouble if they try to be front line too much. Adding some Fighter levels gives you a little bit more staying power at the expense of the spell progression, but damn can they do some cool stuff with Action Surge.

 

[WanderingMystic]

To me it feels like every melee spell caster wants to dip a level into either paladin or fighter.

 

[TiQuinn]

To me it feels like every melee spell caster wants to dip a level into either paladin or fighter.

Which makes sense IMO.

 

[WanderingMystic]

Which makes sense IMO.

Yeah I usually tell players that they are best to start off as a fighter to pick up the con save (and heavy armor if you want) then multi class over to your spell caster. Bladesingers can probably get by on waiting to dip since they can't wear armor and their con save is already boosted.

 

[Blue]

It is not a significant nerf. [Mage armor and slots or scrolls vs. armor that never takes resources removed]

Is it less than they had before? Yes. It's a nerf. If you want to qualify that it's not a big nerf mechanically, that's fine.

But I still disagree with you, losing light armor is a large nerf because in addition to the AC component you mentioned, I continue with my thematic component that you ignored -- bladesingers started as elven fighter/magic-users and have always had access to armor. So this breaks their lore. But I will give you that if you only care about the mechanics of the subclass then it's not that big of a nerf.