D&D 5E (2014) For the Record: Mearls on Warlords (ca. 2013)

[ChrisCarlson]

Speaking of "intractable needs" or else 5e is a failure...

I need warlock levels to stack with wizard levels because I used to play a warlock/necromancer in previous editions. Why can't WotC see that this is necessary for my realized concept to be playable?!? It's not fair.

True story.

 

[MechaPilot]

I just don't see you getting it. That's my point. The devs, in every instance presenting inspirational healing, have done so by awarding THPs. Not real healing. I don't think they have the same mindset you do. So you are probably not going to get what you are looking for.

If WotC finally figures out the licensing then I won't have to get it from them. I don't owe any particular loyalty to WotC, and if there was a third party "PHB" with its own version of races and classes that I liked better than the WotC ones, I'd use them in a heartbeat and look at the WotC PHB only to answer rules questions.

 

[MechaPilot]

Speaking of "intractable needs" or else 5e is a failure...

Where did that or else part come from? I don't think you were quoting me, and i don't recall anyone using that particular hyperbole.

 

[Shasarak]

Speaking of "intractable needs" or else 5e is a failure...

DnD is Dead!

Long live DnD!

 

[ChrisCarlson]

Where did that or else part come from? I don't think you were quoting me, and i don't recall anyone using that particular hyperbole.

You admitted to having two intractable needs (post #170). The second being the reason you will likely never get what you want. The rest is just me being a good line read betweener.

As for 3rd party publishing, sure. If that ever happens, I'm betting there will be lots of stuff that gets published that will be hackneyed crud. Just like in the past few editions that allowed for the same.

Heck, nothing stopping you from making your better-than-a-cleric warlord now. Homebrew away. I hope you post it here so we can all take a look and let you know our thoughts.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Most movie leaders give their speeches before a battle, not during or after. It invigorates the soldiers (sounds like temp HP) to fight on.

Inspiring leader represents "they will never take our freedom" or "there may come such a day, but this is not that day" or "today, we celebrate our Independence day" speeches. Which I'm cool with. Leave the patching up soldiers who took blows to medics and casters, not speeches.

Until dnd gets a morale mechanic other than hp, hp is at least in part morale. Also, the Marshall/warlord/Captain is about playing the guy who charges headlong into the weakest point in the line to bolster it and turn the tide of battle, for example.
Imo, the morale boosting should come as much or more as riders on attacks, rather than as their own actions. A character that naturally inspires courage and action and even loyalty, leader or not.
Things like lead the charge, or boost skill checks for party upon success, etc.

 

[ChrisCarlson]

Imo, the morale boosting should come as much or more as riders on attacks, rather than as their own actions. A character that naturally inspires courage and action and even loyalty, leader or not.
Things like lead the charge, or boost skill checks for party upon success, etc.

Then the question might be... If I'm playing a battlemaster fighter (with warlord-y maneuvers, the soldier background to represent a grizzled veteran, and bothered to put points in charisma--all fairly common and do-able options), why am I not able to lead a charge like the guy over there? Did he go to a special, super-secret, how-to-lead-a-charge class that I didn't know about when I was in training?

 

[mellored]

you can have insperational healing without being better then the cleric. just depends on the numbers. though i still think hit dice would be the way to go. might as well stick with tradition.
i.e.
inspiring word: as a bonis action, one creature can spend a hit die, and gain an extra 1d6 hit points. you can use this twice per short rest. 3 times per short rest at level 11.
that doesn't outclass the cleric.

 

[mellored]

Then the question might be... If I'm playing a battlemaster fighter (with warlord-y maneuvers, the soldier background to represent a grizzled veteran, and bothered to put points in charisma--all fairly common and do-able options), why am I not able to lead a charge like the guy over there? Did he go to a special, super-secret, how-to-lead-a-charge class that I didn't know about when I was in training?

same reason why the eldrich knight can't cast wish. she was training to multi-attack, action surge, and fighting style, spending less time reading a spell book or studing tactics..

 

[MechaPilot]

You admitted to having two intractable needs (post #170). The second being the reason you will likely never get what you want. The rest is just me being a good line read betweener.

I have never said or believed that 5e is a failure because it doesn't have the warlord I desire. If you read that between the lines, then you have placed your assumptions about my motivations between the lines instead of accurately intuiting my personal feelings on the issue.

As for 3rd party publishing, sure. If that ever happens, I'm betting there will be lots of stuff that gets published that will be hackneyed crud. Just like in the past few editions that allowed for the same.

Sure, there is always the potential for bad material from any publisher. There's even some of it in WotC's 5e PHB.

Heck, nothing stopping you from making your better-than-a-cleric warlord now. Homebrew away. I hope you post it here so we can all take a look and let you know our thoughts.

I never said the warlord needs to be better than the cleric. You are again reading your assumptions about my motivations and desires instead of my words and my intent. If I do homebrew a warlord (there are other homebrew items on my plate ahead of the warlord class) I will post it here for the review and input of the community.