Gishes themes, classes, paragon paths and concepts

[Hassassin]

The gish should be called the spellsword. That's the coolest name by far, before looking at more specific concepts like the bladesinger.

I think the default spellsword class should be the Bard, which I would tweak more to the direction of Kvothe from the Name of the Wind. Something like kits is a good way to adapt it to other concepts (remove music, add whatever).

 

[erleni]

The 4e shadow assassin is basically a sort of gish-theme too and a pretty good one.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The word "gish" must die here and now!

Unless you are a githyanki, you are not and cannot be a gish! End of discussion!

Use "swordmage" or "F/MU" if you're so in need of a shorthand.

/rant

.

Um Gish has become a generic term for use weapon and cast spells
It is not even a new thing... Back in the 90's when aol was hosting the tsr boards the term was in use...

 

[Alan Shutko]

Um Gish has become a generic term for use weapon and cast spells
It is not even a new thing... Back in the 90's when aol was hosting the tsr boards the term was in use...

It was on AOL, so it must be OK!

 

[GMforPowergamers]

It was on AOL, so it must be OK!

I would say after 20 years it is ok

 

[Stormonu]

While the call goes out for a F/Mu mix, let's not forget about a decent Thief/Mu mix as well, ala Grey Mouser - Hexblade?

We have decent F/Cleric mix with the Paladin, a F/Druid with the Ranger, and a F/Cleric/Mu/Thief in the Bard, so I don't see reason for F/Mu to have any opposition. However, like with the name change of antipaladin to blackguard, I think we'd be well to do with an acceptable name for this combo class - and I'm not quite fond of spellsword/spellblade. Mainly as I'd like to see such characters wielding axes, polearms or even bows, slings and whatnot and not be confined to "a blade" (and yes, I have the same issue with the Hexblade name).

I'm off to look for synonyms that might fit - "Gish" sounds like some Russian meal to me, not a class type (Goulash + dish).

 

[paladinm]

I believe the original "gish" was the elf "class"?

So if 5e Does have a discrete class that combines weapons and spells, what restrictions should get put on armor? Or does the "gish" need to take an armored mage feat or some such?

 

[BobTheNob]

Honestly people. Who cares the origin of the word, we all know what he means, so respond to his post instead of griping over the usage of a made up word (its like listening to the nerds off The Simsons arguing who was better, Picard of Kirk).

To the OP. I have wanted the return of the Gish style character. I just love the image and I honestly havent liked the feel of any of them since the 2e F/Mu, and maybe the Eldritch Knight in PF.

Wasnt a fan of the swordmage. I like my magic users to be chaos incarnate, to use magic to re-write the terms of the encounter. The swordmage was "magical" thematically, but it was just "magic to be a tank". That chaos feel I was after just wasnt there.

 

[the Jester]

The word "gish" must die here and now!

Unless you are a githyanki, you are not and cannot be a gish! End of discussion!

This, a billion times this.

 

[the Jester]

Honestly people. Who cares the origin of the word, we all know what he means, so respond to his post instead of griping over the usage of a made up word (its like listening to the nerds off The Simsons arguing who was better, Picard of Kirk).

I'd say it's closer to people arguing whether Lancelot was more a mobster or an x-wing pilot.

I'm happy to discuss fighter/magic-users, bladesingers, swordmages, spellswords, eldritch knights or whathaveyou. I'm happy to discuss spellcasting swordsmen.

The only context I'm happy to discuss gish in, is githyanki.

If the utter and complete misuse of the term "gish" bugs a fair number of posters enough that they aren't willing to participate in a thread like this other than to rant about and decry its misuse, why not simply use one or more of the (probably dozen or more) already established, actually accurate terms for the concept instead? Especially on a forum in which there are threads that go on for dozens of pages arguing about what something like "attack" means in the context of the game?