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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 8333067" data-attributes="member: 92511">If I may follow a bit on this... I think one can safely -and accurately- trace the "arcane warrior" archetype back to Moorcock's "Elric of Melnibone." What, if any, literary inspirations there might be before that falls into the realm of myths and legends, I think. The mystical/magical connections of King Arthur (though we can all agree, Arthur, himself, is not trained in magic use). Gilgamesh was said to be a powerful magic worker along with his physical prowess. (It's early and I've only on coffee one, so that's all coming to mind at the moment.) Oo! The mythic Yellow [first] Emperor of China was said to possess magic powers (along with command armies and battlefields). From there, really, there's no where to go except deific beings who wielded what could be translated into D&D/fantasy RPG terms as "arcane" magic and weapons.So, working from Elric - we've got "special connection/relationship with their sword" [not that all arcane warriors should have a soul-stealing uber weapon]. We've got conjurer/dealer with elementals, and accomplished worker of spells. We've got armor, nimble/fast around the battlefield, and deft in hand-to-hand combat (specifically swordplay). Sounds pretty arcane warrior fighter/magey to me.I also like/appreciate you note "paladins smite. rangers mark." Which leads me immediately to, you're quite right, the arcane warrior class (whatever its name, which is still a problem), needs it's own "signature" feature/mechanic for its flavor damage boosting. Naturally, this needs to include the use of magic/sorcery/energy to increase their effectiveness/damage output. Falling back into Elric lore, plus the added bonus of a term familiar and immediately recognized by D&D players, what immediately came to my mind was "Evocation." Damage dealing magic."The Swordmage [for example's sake] evokes." Calling upon/out the supernatural to do your bidding/assistance. Signature feature [again, name is purely for example's sake]: "Spellstrike Evocations": add energy types to your damage. Add bonuses to your attack roll! Add bonus to your initiative or give yourself a burst of speed [extra movement] to "get the jump" on a foe. Zap prone or magically trip or shove a target on a successful hit. etc... But you get them when paladins/rangers get their signature moves. Increases/choose new ones at whatever levels rangers add enemies or smite damage increases. So, really doesn't have to be a long list of options built into the class (always leave the DMs/players room to homebrew up their own)All of them need to be directly related to actions you take while in combat. All of them the direct reaction of applying arcane energy to your attack/move.The paladin smites. The ranger marks. The swordmage evokes.</blockquote>

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