D&D (2024) How should the Swordmage be implemented in 1DnD?

[Neonchameleon]

These days I’d prefer fighter 6 / wizard 6 over fighter 12. Going from fighter 6 to fighter 12 just adds so little.

Third attack and an extra feat is a long way from nothing. But I'd have a very hard time unless my character concept was very precise not giving up on fighter 6/wizard 6 (with no more than 3rd level spells even if you get 4th level slots) and going Hexblade Warlock 12.

I like the general direction but it’s a fine line to balance around. What keeps a fighter from just dipping to steal these spells and ending up a better sword mage than a single classes sword mage?

Level requirements?

 

[mellored]

I like the general direction but it’s a fine line to balance around. What keeps a fighter from just dipping to steal these spells and ending up a better sword mage than a single classes sword mage?

I expect the Eldritch Knight to get them.
Or the Acane Trickster
Or the Pact Blade
Or the Bladesinger
Or the Valor Bard
Or the Battle Smith Artificer.
Or a War Cleric
Maybe even a Paladin (though they already have smites).
Could even see a dragon sorcerer with claws getting them.
Heck. Maybe even a Barbarian similar to the Moon Druid, where it gets a select few spells to cast while raging.

... so any class really. With a few primal themed ones for the druid and ranger. Ensnaring Stike exsists at least.

 

[mellored]

One thing I really want is a couple of alternative Invocations to Lifedrinker for e.g. a psychic blade or elemental blades where you pick the element.

Warlocks have shadow blade and spirit shroud.
So psychic, necrotic, radiant, or cold.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Warlocks have shadow blade and spirit shroud.
So psychic, necrotic, radiant, or cold.

Shadow Blade alas clashes with Pact of the Blade and Hexblade. Spirit Shroud works and works well assuming it's not OP under the 2024 rules.

 

[mellored]

Shadow Blade alas clashes with Pact of the Blade and Hexblade. Spirit Shroud works and works well assuming it's not OP under the 2024 rules.

IMO Shadow Blade should work. Hopefully that will be fixed. I would allow it in my game at least.

I expect balance tweaks.

 

[Neonchameleon]

I've double checked the D&Done warlock because I had faint memories, and they turned out to be true.

• Pact of the Blade already does Necrotic, Radiant, or Psychic damage or its normal type. I still want an Elemental Blade Invocation (which, as I said, should be incompatible with Lifedrinker)
• Fiend Patrons now don't just give the temp hp when you take someone down but when someone takes an enemy to 0hp within 10' of you. Which makes them much more able to dive or leap into the midst of enemies as part of a group.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Due to not participating in the previous editions my standard of what defines a swordmage may differ from the DnD standard that seems to focus on short range teleportation to supplement standard attacks

My concept of a swordmage is one who’s weapon is used as the medium to deliver various magical strikes and effects, existing spells I would highlight would be booming blade, green flame blade, zephyr strike, lightning arrow and elemental weapon, some of the smite spells too, ice knife is close to their wheelhouse

to elaborate on this a little more on the mechanical side, i'd make the spellsword a similar build to an arcane ranger, a half-caster that can dedicate to either STR or DEX builds, it'd only have a single attack but a bunch of spells/abilities that do AoE/multi-target damage or effects.

 

[Corinnguard]

Laserllama Magus class is the best spellblade class and its free.It solves all the problems brought up in this thread and has been olaytested a ton.

You beat me to what has to be the best gish for 5e. I was about to suggest it again for this thread.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

One problem with just throwing more weapon strike and martial augmenting abilities into the wizard list, is that it benefits the wizard far more than it would ever benefit an eldritch knight.

There is a good reason for cleric not getting the paladin spells, and for druid not getting the ranger spells.

 

[Kurotowa]

One problem with just throwing more weapon strike and martial augmenting abilities into the wizard list, is that it benefits the wizard far more than it would ever benefit an eldritch knight.

I don't know how much it benefits Wizards, given that the consensus around Bladesinger seems to be "You're still primarily a caster, act like it, and only use weapon attacks if forced to." But the weapon cantrips have certainly been incorporated into a lot of builds for a lot of classes. Which on the one hand, that sort of creative freedom is fun, but on the other hand, it's a lot more of a balance headache than class features that are more targeted than a new spell. There are just so many ways to borrow spells in 5e, new spells take a lot more care.