D&D 5E New Fighting Styles That Don’t Overshadow Existing Ones

[doctorbadwolf]

So, any time I see proposals for new Fighting Styles, they just do much more than any existing option.

I’d like to expand the list, while avoiding that.

So, first, what’s missing? UA gives us an unarmed style that kinda sucks due to some misguided belief that the Monk’s niche needs protecting, some cantrip options, and a manuevers option. Cool.

We don’t have a gish Fighting style. We need a Fighting Style that adds magic to the Attack Action, not one that replaces it.

we don’t have a support fighting style, either.

We don’t have a hampering fighting style.

we don’t have a counterattacking fighting style.

I have ideas for some of these, but I’d love to read the ideas of others first, so the thread doesn’t become all about my ideas.

 

[Don Durito]

There's no polearm fighting style. You can't do all that much with reach without a feat.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

There's no polearm fighting style. You can't do all that much with reach without a feat.

Great point!

I'd also like to see a fighting style that changes how certain versatile weapons work...

I wonder if it would have been better, as an aside, to limit the finesse weapons more, and give rogues and monks a choice of fighting styles, including a Finesse style that makes more weapons Finesse. Or maybe there should still be one, and it should make Spears, Longswords, Handaxes, and a few others, Finesse, and give a damage bonus to the weaker Finesse weapons.

A Throwing style that increases your ranged weapon attack range by a factor of your Strength, and allows throwing any 1-handed weapon with a range of 20/60, and Versatile weapons with a range of 15/40, would be cool, too.

Anyway, Polearm style could do a variety of things, what would be a good simple benefit that is compatible with the feat? Maybe use a bonus action to increase reach by 5ft, or brace and gain the ability to OA in response to something?

Also, a style that buffs grappling, tripping, and disarming, could be cool. Gotta have a hand free, and/or be wielding certain weapons like handaxe, battleaxe, warpick, whip, etc?

 

[Don Durito]

Anyway, Polearm style could do a variety of things, what would be a good simple benefit that is compatible with the feat? Maybe use a bonus action to increase reach by 5ft, or brace and gain the ability to OA in response to something?

Some ideas:

• +1 AC (boring but reflects the defensive advantages of reach)
• Enemies that move through your reach to attack you have disadvantage (Too strong? Imposing disadvantage could be a reaction but that would clash with polearm master - not something that would bother me personally though).
• Take the shove action for free on a critical hit.
• Can disengage as a bonus action if opponents lack reach.

 

[Minigiant]

Ultimately, I think every basic weapon property should have corresponding a nonfeat fighting style that doesn't overlap with the feat. Although they can share.

Ammunition- Archery
Armor- Defense
Finesse
Heavy
Light- Two Weapon Fighting
Loading- Archery
Range- Archery
Reach
Shield- Protection
Special (Lance)-
Special (Net)-
Thrown- UA Thrown Weapon Fighting
Two Handed- Great Weapon Fighting
Versatile- Great Weapon Fighting

I can think of a lot of options for Reach or Finesse but I cannot choose.

I think if Heavy Weapon Fighting should give a bonus to shoving either the distance/proneness or the check. I prefer the distance/proneness. That makes a great comparison with Great Weapon Fighting where one increases damage and the other with battlefield control.

Heavy Weapon Fighting
If you successfully shove a creature, you may push the creature 10 feet away from you. If you choose to knock the creature prone instead, the creature's speed is also reduced by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. You must be wieldng a heavy weapon to gain this benefit.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Some sort of Mounted Combat style would go with lance. Jousting Style? How would you do that?

 

[Shiroiken]

I'd like a fighting style that actually encourages using versatile weapons.

 

[Minigiant]

Some sort of Mounted Combat style would go with lance. Jousting Style? How would you do that?

Jousting
You do not suffer disadvantage when you attack a target within 5 feet of you with a lance.

Sweet and Simple for the Lady!

 

[DND_Reborn]

Jousting
You do not suffer disadvantage when you attack a target within 5 feet of you with a lance.

Sweet and Simple for the Lady!

I would add you double the d12 if you charge 20 feet or more before the attack. We do that now without the style, but it could be part of it.

 

[Minigiant]

I would add you double the d12 if you charge 20 feet or more before the attack. We do that now without the style, but it could be part of it.

That's more like a feat if you get both. A fighting style is like half a feat in strength.