In another of D&D Beyond's frequent data shares, here is a look at the most popular fighter subclasses currently in use. The Champion leads the pack, followed by Battlemaster, Eldritch Knight, Gunslinger, and Samurai.
In the case of the Arcane Archer I'd settle for them being good at what they're supposed to be good at. I don't build for optimization, but I will simply avoid a class or subclass if on second reading my entire response is well, that kinds sucks, dunnit? The AA was that for me. I even went back and reread again it much later, just to make sure, and yup, sure enough, it still sucked.I know that a lot of people enjoy the character creation "mini-game" where they needle and nitpick every tiniest detail in order to get the absolute maximum bonus to Whatever, and that's fine. (I think they are why the Warlock even exists.) But I always preferred the creative builds, deliberately sub-optimal with visible and important flaws. Heroes who are awesome at everything are dull to me.
Free UA option vs. paid content. And I would say a clearer case of the phenomenon than either the Champion Fighter or the Gunslinger.
Two ways to look at these numbers:
1- the “simple” fighter is by far the single most popular subclass
2- 62% of fighter players wants to do more than just hit things with their sword over and over
So some of the content selected is on the cheaper/free side of a paywall and that one is selected more?Seeing the top 3 be the ones that are in the PHB is hardly surprising. The Champion being most popular is possibly in part down to it being the only one in the Basic Rules.
The strongest fighter class in SCAG is a wizard.The whole SCAG feels outdated.
I know that a lot of people enjoy the character creation "mini-game" where they needle and nitpick every tiniest detail in order to get the absolute maximum bonus to Whatever, and that's fine. (I think they are why the Warlock even exists.) But I always preferred the creative builds, deliberately sub-optimal with visible and important flaws. Heroes who are awesome at everything are dull to me.
But, clearly, we still need to fix the champion...
As a reminder, it is the 4th most popular book in 5th edition, though it looks like Wildemount will pass it in time. Yes, part of this is because it's the oldest of the player-facing books. Another part of it is that most players aren't into whiteboardingThe whole SCAG feels outdated.
Truly that "3rd edition feel"The strongest fighter class in SCAG is a wizard.
I wonder if the Champion is so popular because it's often used as a secondary PC? You know, Merlin the Wizard has Bob the Bodyguard as a henchman?
As a reminder, it is the 4th most popular book in 5th edition, though it looks like Wildemount will pass it in time. Yes, part of this is because it's the oldest of the player-facing books. Another part of it is that most players aren't into whiteboarding
As a reminder, it is the 4th most popular book in 5th edition, though it looks like Wildemount will pass it in time. Yes, part of this is because it's the oldest of the player-facing books. Another part of it is that most players aren't into whiteboarding
Truly that "3rd edition feel"
Dunamancy-using Fighter. Can create a parallel universe/timeline copy ("Echo") of themselves to attack from two places at the same time.The heck even is an Echo Knight? (I haven't picked up the Wildemount book yet, though I plan to eventually.)
I actually allow ALL features of that UA to be used. So paladins/clerics in my games can use Blessed Warrior and druids/rangers can use Druidic Warrior. You can easily Homebrew an Eldritch Warrior fighting style to do the same thing for Bards/Eldritch Knights.I think an easy answer to the Arcane Archer deal would be to make Superior Technique, Blessed Warrior, and Druidic Warrior available to all classes that get Fighting Styles (bonus: Oath of the Ancients Paladin can be more druidic), add additional fighting styles that grant access to cantrips from each of the other caster classes, and let the player choose which ability they cast the cantrips with.
Then you could forgo the Archery fighting style to take Druidic Warrior or Arcane Warrior to fit your character. Just pretend you're casting the cantrip with your sling/bow/crossbow/firearm. You're not as accurate with your shots as a Fighter that chose Archery, but that's the cost of getting bonus cantrips to be able to cast all day long.
Best of all, it wouldn't require errata nor a reprinting of the Arcane Archer to work, since this would go hand-in-hand with the bonus/alternate class features document/book that's being developed.
I actually allow ALL features of that UA to be used. So paladins/clerics in my games can use Blessed Warrior and druids/rangers can use Druidic Warriors. You can easily Homebrew an Eldritch Warrior fighting style to do the same thing for Bards/Eldritch Knights.
They are allowed that choice. So if they go through training, then they can unlock said fighting style for their characters. Characters can also train to unlock the use of the Weapon Mastery feats UA as well.How would you give fighting styles to Clerics and Druids??
In my games, I allow any character with access to the Fighting Style feature to choose from any of the most recent rounds of UA or any published in an official volume.