D&D 5E [Homebrew] Warlord as a fighter sub-class.

mellored

Legend
I've tossed the idea of trading attacks for support around for a while. Figured i'd see how this looks filled out. You get higher level maneuvers by trading out more attacks.

Though this puts off being a lazylord until level 3. Though you run around using the help action until then.


Level 3:
Tactical: Unless otherwise noted, all warlord abilities have the range of 10* your Int modifier.

Maneuvers: When you take the attack action, or an opportunity attack, you can trade your attack for support maneuvers. If you have multi-attack, treat each attack individually. Higher level maneuvers can only be done with multi-attack and require you to trade more then 1 attack. You can mix and match, such as a level 20 warlord doing a 1 attack maneuver, a 2 attack maneuver, and making an attack himself.

1 Attack:
*Help action.
*An ally who can see and hear you gains THP equal to your Cha modifier + your proficiency bonus.
*An ally can use his reaction to move upto 5*Int or their speed (which ever is lower).
*Choose an ability such as wisdom. An ally gains +Int on saving throw using that ability until the start of it's next turn.
*An ally gains +Int to their AC against the next attack, or until the start of your next turn.
*An ally can use their reaction to make a stealth check.

2 Attacks:
*One ally who can see and hear you gain THP equal to your Cha modifier + your proficiency bonus.
*Ally can use their reaction to make an attack.
*All allies can use a reaction to move upto 5*Int or their speed (which ever is lower).
*Each time an enemy takes damage before the end of the next turn, increase the damage by Int.
*An ally is immune to fear until the start of your next turn.

3 Attacks
*Choose an ability such as wisdom. All ally gain +Int on saving throw using that ability until the start of it's next turn.
*An ally gains +Int to their AC until the start of your next turn.
*Help action to every creature in range.
*All allies can use their reaction to make a stealth check.
*An ally can use a reaction to move upto 5*Int or their speed (which ever is lower), and then make an attack.

4 Attacks
*Upto Int modifier allies can make an attack as a reaction.
*All allies who can see and hear you gain THP equal to your Cha modifier + your proficiency bonus.
*An allies are immune to fear until the start of your next turn.

Call to Action: When you use your action surge, you let an ally immediately take an action instead of you.
Inspiring Word: When you use second wind, you can distribute the hit points to any creature in range. For instance, if you had 11 hit points, you could give 3 to one PC, 6 to another and 2 for yourself.

Level 7:
Powerful presence: You gain expertise in persuasion and intimidation.

Level 10:
Indomitable Ally: An ally can use your indomitable.
Timely Advice: As a reaction, when a creature is hit or missed, you can add your +Int to the attack roll or AC for that attack, potentially changing the results.

Level 15:
Rapid Command: You can perform a 1 attack maneuver as a bonus action.

Level 18:
Allies gain +Int to their death saving throws. This does not change rolling a 1 or 20.



There's room for more maneuvers.
Thoughts?
 
Last edited:

log in or register to remove this ad


At a glance, for the design space available to a fighter sub-class, that's fair. Obviously, no substitute for an actual class, but a reasonable alternate 1/3rd-Warlord fighter sub-class to the Battlemaster, FWTW. Like the battlemaster-as-1/3rd-Warlord it prettymuch gives you one possible character, or did I miss some implied customizeabilty?
 
Last edited:

At a glance, for the design space available to a fighter sub-class, that's pretty good. Obviously, no substitute for an actual class, but a reasonable alternate 1/3rd-Warlord fighter sub-class to the Battlemaster, FWTW.
Except you can spend every turn doing support stuff, unlike the battlemaster.
 

Add some fluff to this, perhaps. Something seems weird to me, like this is some kind of tactical battle droid. Maybe a little too gamey for my taste buds.

Is the level 7 ability persuasion, or is this a new skill?
 

Add some fluff to this, perhaps. Something seems weird to me, like this is some kind of tactical battle droid. Maybe a little too gamey for my taste buds.
Yea it needs fluff.

But it's more of balance / mechanic test. Seeing how much warlord i can put into a sub-class without making it OP.

More then i expected, not sure if it's enough though.

Is the level 7 ability persuasion
Yes.
 

Except you can spend every turn doing support stuff, unlike the battlemaster.
Nod. Which means it can't be quite as dramatic in effect as if they were limited, but still, a 1/3rd Warlord class, and an alternative to the Battlemaster. I'll allow that it's better than the Battlemaster for that purpose, faint praise that it is, if you like.
 

What about basing it off of ColorX Dragon Knights. A Black Dragon Knight smacks my sensibilities much more than a purple dragon knight. It is not setting specific and you can add variables to the subclass similar to the draconic sorcerer subclass. Maybe consult the dragon shaman for some fluff ideas.
 

Nod. Which means it can't be quite as dramatic in effect as if they were limited, but still, a 1/3rd Warlord class, and an alternative to the Battlemaster. I'll allow that it's better than the Battlemaster for that purpose, faint praise that it is, if you like.
Well...

If i push the Int/Cha more, then you have a much harder decision point with your feat. You will have flexibility in your build, but not in play. You could be...
A fighter with some support (20 str, 20 con, 14 int, weapon feats).
A warlord with cantrip damage (14 str, 20 int, 20 cha, support feats).
Flexible, but all around weaker (18 str, 18 int, 18 Cha, no feats).

Edit: Made it much more Int heavy.
 
Last edited:

What about basing it off of ColorX Dragon Knights. A Black Dragon Knight smacks my sensibilities much more than a purple dragon knight. It is not setting specific and you can add variables to the subclass similar to the draconic sorcerer subclass. Maybe consult the dragon shaman for some fluff ideas.
Black dragons arn't known for their support features.

Maybe silver dragons knight. They work in groups.
 

Remove ads

Top