D&D 5E Experience with a bladesinger?

[CapnZapp]

There used to be a drow elf form of Bladesong that worked with two swords in 2nd edition I believe, back when drow were renowned for two-weapon fighting. 3rd edition watered down the drow ability to fight with two weapons and 4E and 5E pretty much eliminated the ability to the point where it wasn't unique in any fashion.

That Drizzt is a special snowflake is one thing, but generalizing his traits to cover all drow is too much.

It's much better that Drizzt breaks the rules alone. So I endorse the described change!

 

[Sacrosanct]

There used to be a drow elf form of Bladesong that worked with two swords in 2nd edition I believe, back when drow were renowned for two-weapon fighting. 3rd edition watered down the drow ability to fight with two weapons and 4E and 5E pretty much eliminated the ability to the point where it wasn't unique in any fashion.

I don't think it was 2e. The blade singer first appeared in 2e in the Complete Book of Elves in 1993. I'm not aware of an additional drow modification that came afterward in 2e. I don't recall drow being especially reknown for two weapon fighting either. That's purely a Drizzt thing.

 

[aarduini]

That Drizzt is a special snowflake is one thing, but generalizing his traits to cover all drow is too much.

It's much better that Drizzt breaks the rules alone. So I endorse the described change!

The Drow ability to fight with two weapons came from their monster description in the Fiend Folio. At the time they were the only warriors that could do it. Drizzt using two scimitars was a result of that description. If you read the homeland books, his father fought with two weapons as did most of the other warriors described in the city. Drow fighting with two weapons came before Drizzt hit the scene.

it had nothing to do with Bladesong though

 

[Kalshane]

Except that wouldn't allow a Bladesinger to make use of Elven Chain, if that matters.

Personally, I think I'm just going to treat Elven Chain as light armor as well as saying you don't need proficiency. Otherwise the Dex penalty would make it a bad choice for Bladesingers even if it were light.

I understand that can be a problem, but just flat out making it light armor and not requiring proficiency means every wizard and rogue in the world wants to get ahold of it, rather than it being the iconic armor of fighter/mage types. Of course, I also made this rule change before the Bladesinger was released and haven't made any changes to it, so that is something for me to consider.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

...but just flat out making it light armor and not requiring proficiency means every wizard and rogue in the world wants to get ahold of it...

Just like they want a girdle/belt of giant strength.

If this were 3e that would be a problem, but as I use primarily random magic items in 5e...they can keep wanting.

 

[devincutler]

I wonder if people are forgetting that both multiclassing and feats are optional rules? If you do not one or both, does that change the utility of the Bladesinger?

 

[Sword of Spirit]

If anything, I'd say Bladesinger is better in a game that doesn't allow multiclassing and feats. (I think it's fine in any event.)

 

[n00b f00]

Yeah I think the best value is in a game without multiclassing. A wizard with two levels in fighter has medium armor, shields, martial weapons, +1 AC, and action surge.

With the shield spell, a rapier, and GFB. Dude is harder to hit than a blade singer, can drop two fireballs in one round, the features of a different magic school, and in melee hit almost as hard. The only obvious mechanical advantage is not being 2 levels late in spell slot unlocks.

That said it still seems like a pretty chill subclass on paper, just maybe shouldn't be mixing it up in the fray as your primary source of damage.

 

[Celtavian]

That Drizzt is a special snowflake is one thing, but generalizing his traits to cover all drow is too much.

It's much better that Drizzt breaks the rules alone. So I endorse the described change!

Well, Capn, the two-weapon fighting ability of the drow preceded Drizzt. Salvatore took that from the drow, not the other way around. I guess people's hatred of Drizzt clones ruined a unique fighting element of drow warriors that existed prior to Drizzt. Now they fight like everyone else, nothing unique or interesting about them. Even their magic resistance is gone to make them playable. The only thing that stands out about drow now is their appearance, culture, and I guess some spell-like abilities. The drow used to be a scary, mysterious race when they first appeared way back in Against the Giants.

 

[Unwise]

From personal experience, I loved my Bladesinger. It was a playstyle thing, not their power level that made the PC great for me. The main things I loved were:

A) I could lead with a big fight changing spell, then mop up decently. I did not like the way my other wizards felt lame at mopping up with their cantrips after their main casting.
B) I could capatalise on my own spells. Control spells tend to set things up for the fighting classes, I felt like I was also setting up control effects then capitalising on them myself.
C) I was not afraid to use my spell slots up, since I was still a passable contributor in fights even when I was empty. I seldom ended a day with spells left, unlike my other wizards.
D) I took damage. Almost every hit I take is another than the rest of the team was not. Given that I have the option to stay out of a fight, my HP are in some ways less valuable than the fighter's. My other wizard's HP were an untapped resource. Also, taking damage is fun.
E) I made a front line when needed. We had one real fighter and a valor bard. My melee contributions turned our front battle line from ewww to meh.