New name for Warlord

[hong]

I think commander and captain are the best suggestions so far.

 

[Reaper Steve]

Because it will be lots of fun explaining how a Warrior and Fighter are 2 different classes than sound nearly identical.

My fictional best guess as how this conversation will go between me and my wife...


Ally: "So, what's the difference between a fighter and a warrior?'
Steve: "Well, a fighter is like a boxer or MMA fighter, he totally relies on his own skills. A warrior is dude that trained to work with others in a fight, like a soldier or the flight lead of a 2-ship of fighter aircraft. He's still a bad@$$, but not quite as much as a straight fighter. In return, he knows know to push/help others to fight better."
Ally: "Ah, OK, got it."

Versus:
Same, subbing 'warlord' for 'warrior,' then...
Ally: OK, but what I am lord of? Where's my army?
Steve: You're not a lord, and you don't have an army. That's just the name they came up with for the class that is a good leader of other combatants.
Ally: Hmmm...I'm confused. I want to be a lord.

 

[Nifft]

Meat-Shield vs. Mr. Shouty -- it should be very clear to newbies how to effectively play their chosen role.

Hammer vs. Anvil vs. Bellows -- These roles would be the Barbarian (hits hard), the PHB-II defensive shield-using Fighter (wall of metal), and the Dragon Shaman / Bard / Aura-guy (gets everyone stoked). Again, intuitive.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Reaper Steve]

As I was contemplating my mock dialogue/explanation, I realized what is the source of my (and maybe others) consternation with the Warlord.

Being able to lead others in combat is a developed skill that comes from experience. It follows logically (IMO) that a warlord/leader type would be a prestige class, fbut or the sake of the game (which is a prime directive, since it is a game) WotC is making a leader class that is playable from 1st level.

So, I think it must be accepted in context. Fortunately, 1st level characters are shaping up to be very competent and clearly above the general populace, from what's been shown. So it may not be too much of a stretch to think that a 1st-level Warlord could have had enough experience in his past to be able to inspire others in combat.

Hmmm...a 1st-level laeder? Yeah, I can accept that, in context. But I still think Warlord is not the right name, even in that context. Oh well, fun to banter about, certainly not worth losing sleep over. Speaking of which....ZZZZZ

 

[Felon]

I guess commander is problematic since that term is in use by the minis game.

 

[Uriens]

There are many viable options, they mainly depend how the powers of this new class work.
If it's going to give orders Noble could be a good choice; or Tactician and Battlesmith (my choice) if you need to free it of the nobility issue.

I don't like Warlord since it's too presumptuous for a character of level lower than 10!

 

[F4NBOY]

I don't like Warlord since it's too presumptuous for a character of level lower than 10!

So is the Paladin.

 

[Chris_Nightwing]

So is the Paladin.

I can easily envisage a 1st level Paladin - they've just joined the holy order, they've picked up a few skills and some fighting prowess, and maybe they've been blessed a little, but they're still novices. Novices who usually get respect and have the authority of their church admittedly, but you don't usually play a childish paladin.

Warlord though, I can't see at a low level, they've perhaps concentrated more on the leadership aspects of being in a militia or city guard? I guess it depends on their abilities, without knowing much more about that I can't really envision the class at all. The trouble is that all the synonyms for a 'leading fighter' have other connotations relating to military rank, noble status or negative terminology. This leaves the more generic terms, or those that refer to ranks you don't come across that often.

Commander (a slightly odd name for a rank, more often used generically)
Officer (separating the class from the other warriors, a little artificial and militarily formal)
Marshal (only confusing when spoken)
Champion (confusing when used generically)
Captain (a rank often used unfortunately)

There is no easy answer..

 

[Zander]

WotC...hear my pleas...promote the Warrior to full PC status in 4e and make him a martial leader class, and have him kill the Warlord and take his stuff before he even shows up!

Then maybe a warlord could be a prestige class/talent tree for the warrior.

Seconded! or is that thirded or fourthed by now?

My preferences (with #1 being my top choice):
1. Warrior
2. Soldier
3. Myrmidon (though, as has been pointed out, that implies they are followers)
4. Knight
5. Warlord

By the way, what's the feminine of "Warlord"? Is it "Warlady"? If so, the female form sounds cooler than the male.

 

[Zander]

Warlord though, I can't see at a low level...

{Stick tongue in cheek}Maybe a low-level Warlord could be known as a Warlad.{/Tongue sticking}