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

[SteveC]

I'd love to see a full on warlord or "commander" class, and I think the Warlock chassis would work really well in terms of design. I think the thing that is holding the class back is the notion that "martial is not magical and must be inherently inferior". So much of that discussion is just semantics: what are hit points? What does it mean to heal something? What level of ability can you allow martial characters to get to?

4E had a consistent system for healing that all of the healing (leader) classes used. 5E doesn't use that in response to people not finding that acceptable, so I don't know that this can really be fixed without addressing that attitude. If a high level fighter can have upwards of 200 hit points that they recover overnight and that somehow doesn't break the suspension of disbelief, I honestly don't see how a warlord couldn't have a healing word "get back in the fight!" ability.

I'd definitely like to see a warlord or commander based on the Warlock engine.

 

[mellored]

Let's get rid of niche protection in its entirety while we're at it.

It is dumb and limiting.

That's kind of the point of having "classes". Each have their own set of strengths.

If the sorcerer could go into melee just as well as a barbarian, what would be the difference?

 

[Vaalingrade]

That's kind of the point of having "classes". Each have their own set of strengths.

But not to lock everyone else out of it and make them requirements for playing.

If the sorcerer could go into melee just as well as a barbarian, what would be the difference?

How they go about it? The Flavor?

Why Can't my sorcerer be magic Colossus from X-men while the barbar is Arnold in his prime? Why's that a problem?

 

[mellored]

But not to lock everyone else out of it and make them requirements for playing.

How they go about it? The Flavor?

Why Can't my sorcerer be magic Colossus from X-men while the barbar is Arnold in his prime? Why's that a problem?

Because then there is no difference between classes.

What you have is a point buy system where people can add their own flavor.

Which can work of course, and I am sure there are systems out there that do that (GRUPs?). But it's not exactly "DnD".

 

[CreamCloud0]

That's kind of the point of having "classes". Each have their own set of strengths.

not to the point that only one class is ever allowed to be good at one thing, just because the cleric exists that doesn't mean the druid, paladin, bard and ranger shouldn't also be allowed to have access to healing magic, different classes can fill the same niche but in different ways.
niche protection is somewhat important so that classes don't all become capable of doing the same things, so that they all have their own identities and place on the team, and so that the wizard doesn't become a better frontliner than the fighter, but it's important to not go overboard.

 

[mellored]

not to the point that only one class is ever allowed to be good at one thing, just because the cleric exists that doesn't mean the druid, paladin, bard and ranger shouldn't also be allowed to have access to healing magic, different classes can fill the same niche but in different ways.
niche protection is somewhat important so that classes don't all become capable of doing the same things, so that they all have their own identities and place on the team, and so that the wizard doesn't become a better frontliner than the fighter, but it's important to not go overboard.

Sure.
Other classes should be able to heal.

But clerics should be best at healing.

 

[Vaalingrade]

But it's not exactly "DnD".

Good.

Trying to uphold 50 years of tradition that's changed every 5 or so years is a bad way to design anything.

 

[mellored]

Good.

Trying to uphold 50 years of tradition that's changed every 5 or so years is a bad way to design anything.

Trying to maintain status quo for the worlds best selling TTRPG is not a bad idea.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Trying to maintain status quo for the worlds best selling TTRPG is not a bad idea.

Tell that to the last 12 iterations of the World's Best Selling RPG.

 

[mellored]

Tell that to the last 12 iterations of the World's Best Selling RPG.

Which has always had classes, with different strengths.

Again. There are other games out there.

Or just play a barbarian and call yourself a "sorcerer".