D&D 5E How would you do the sword mage in 5e?

[Shades of Eternity]

I'm guessing somebody already beat me to it (in which case, post here), but I'm curious.

I really liked the idea of a dedicated gish class and was wondering what it would need.

I got some ideas, but want to see what people say first.

 

[tetrasodium]

I'm guessing somebody already beat me to it (in which case, post here), but I'm curious.

I really liked the idea of a dedicated gish class and was wondering what it would need.

I got some ideas, but want to see what people say first.

I think they should make sorcerer con based , maybe fractional caster that leans into their bloodline heritage in somewhat gishy ways

 

[aco175]

I would likely have fighter and add a subclass similar to eldritch knight. It would not be what you wanted at first level, but you would get some things at 3rd level.

 

[ECMO3]

It depends on what you mean by a Swordmage. I think Gish is already covered quite well in a lot of different ways. I think you can do a pretty good single classed Gish already on the Paladin as well as many subclass options with Artificer, Ranger, Bard, Wizard, Fighter and Warlock in addition to numerous multiclass builds to really tune it how you want it.

I think a tier1 and 2 dedicated more "wizardy" Gish Chassis is easy. Take the Paladin Chasis and change as follows:
Change the casting stat to intelligence, use Wizard spell list with addition of the smite spells, proficiency in all armor and shields.
Level 1: Trade Divine Sense for proficiency in Arcana or Acrobatics. Trade Lay on Hands for Ritual Casting
Level 2: Fighting Style (allow all fighter styles), Divine Smite
Level 3: Trade Divine Health for two Wizard cantrips.
Level 4: ASI
Level 5: Extra Attack
Level 6: Trade Aura of Protection for ability to use your weapon as a focus for spells
Level 7: Get a third Wizard Cantrip
Level 8: ASI
Level 9:
Level 10: Trade Aura of Courage for the Bladesinger version of Extra Attack

In terms of power it would be a relatively weak class, with better spells than the Paladin but not as many abilities and way behind a Bladesinger Gish in raw power. It would not afford the high level spell options you get on a bladesinger and the temptation to pull you away from Gish into a more traditional Wizard though

In terms of thematics though I think it would be spot on and it would be viable.

 

[Stormonu]

I didn't specifically do a swordmage for my game, but I did do a battlemage. They are a 3/4 caster so they get up to 7th level spells at the end. Subclasses are Arcane Archer (ranged spells), Arcane Blade (melee spells), Bladesinger (light armor skirmisher), Chi Warrior (maneuvers & spells), Death Warrior (necromancy & fighting), Duskblade (sneaky), Gish (heavy armor arcane smiter), Golembound (magic companion), Janissary (elemental magic), Mystic Warrior (Jedi), Sorcerous Blade (Sorcerer Hexblade).

Homebrewery Link.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

I think they should make sorcerer con based

honestly i think they should just do this anyways, turning it into a gish or not.

as for the OP's question, i'd probably do something like laserllama's magus (which in turn seems to be based off pf1/2e's magus using the paladin's chassis). i don't know if i'd use llama's writeup wholesale (when my current 5e dm and i went through it we thought it was a fair bit too powerful), but my first instinct would absolutely be something similar.

 

[Corinnguard]

The Magus Class by laserllama This is a homebrewed class of Laser Llama's on GM Binder. One of my fellow players said that it looks like a cross between the Fighter's Eldritch Knight and the Wizard's Bladesinger.

 

[Corinnguard]

honestly i think they should just do this anyways, turning it into a gish or not.

as for the OP's question, i'd probably do something like laserllama's magus (which in turn seems to be based off pf1/2e's magus using the paladin's chassis). i don't know if i'd use llama's writeup wholesale (when my current 5e dm and i went through it we thought it was a fair bit too powerful), but my first instinct would absolutely be something similar.

Great minds think alike.

 

[cbwjm]

A started something which was basically an arcane paladin or ranger. A d10 hit die, medium armour, half-caster with cantrips. Spellcasting gave them a spellbook, they had access to all wizard spells, and their weapon could sub in for an arcane focus.

At level 5 they got the bladesinger extra Attack. At level 20 this upgraded allowing them to cast any spell in place of an attack.

Level 7 I gave them an ability called "inured to magic" which let them add their intelligence bonus to saves against magic.

Most of their 1st level abilities were tied up in their arcane order. If I wanted to create the Swordmage from 4e, then I'd include an ability to shield an ally, and teleport next to an enemy that attacked the shielded ally.

It still needs a lot of work.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Great minds think alike.

refreshing the page really went like