Overall I am pretty happy with the 2024 subclasses, but EK is an exception to this. I hate it.
Eldritch Knight was my favorite fighter subclass by far and it was the fighter I played the most with 2014 rules. Usually I dumped Intelligence, maxed Charisma and multiclassed with a Bard, Sorcerer or Warlock, usually with a 1-4 level dip in one of those.
When played that way in 2014 the class was awesome, Warmagic was not as effective as the Bladesinger extra attack but it was pretty darn fun. On the new EK, Warmagic gets a slight improvement and then a big nerf. It works with the attack action, not requiring an extra action, but it also only works with your Wizard spells. This means Eldritch Blast is not even usable with it and it means if you want to use it in combat you really need to have a good Intelligence, when most fighters dump intelligence.
I have been trying to put together a good EK build and I can't figure one that is going to work for me. I am having trouble figuring why I would ever play an Eldritch Knight when a Valor Bard is available.
Thanks for an interesting thread, ECM03.
My draft shillelagh EK build has one similarity to your 2014 concept, it involves getting extra spells from feats. While an EK is more on the fighter end of the gish spectrum, I like the idea of more spell options for my EK.
For myself, I like the new EK, and I've been spending more time considering 2024 EK builds than any other class. Elsewhere, some have argued that a shillelagh EK may be overpowered (such as in the YouTube comments under D4's "The Eldritch Knight: D&D Ep #193". and Treantmonk's "Eldritch Knight Build Guide"). One person said it could end up with the highest damage and the highest AC. In my opinion, they may have a point, but even if it is nerfed in the future, I think it is fun.
== Int based EK build ==
Int 15+2 Str 8 Con 14+1 Wis 12 Dex 14 Char 8
Weapon: arcane focus staff, built strong enough to be used as a weapon (hoping to eventually get a usable magic staff that can be used as a focus)
Armor: scale->breast plate->half plate
A human with a sage background.
Origin feats:
magic initiate wizard (mind sliver, blade ward, find familiar)
magic initiate druid (shillelagh, guidance, healing word)
EK class spells: booming blade or true strike, witch bolt, shield, ...
Lev 1-4: 2 weapon fighting. Bonus cast shillelagh, hit (1d8+3), scimitar(nick) (1d6+2).
Lev 4: War caster (int->18) Use true strike for opportunity attacks (or booming blade)
Lev 5: Extra attack. Shillelagh=d10
(If table allows casting of shillelagh with shield equipped, then change fighting style to duelling and equip shield)
Lev 6: Fey touched, misty+hex int->19 (for longer fights, cast hex)
Lev 7: replace one attack with true strike (or booming blade).
Lev 8: Shadow Touched (int->20) invis wrathful smite
Lev 11: extra extra attack. Shillelagh=d12
Spells from magic initiate druid with material components may not be able to use an arcane focus staff, but wizard and warlock spells should be able to.
Weaknesses: not great at range. Wisdom and dex saves rely on indomitable
Strengths: reasonable damage and defence. A few extra spells and lots of cantrips.
At level 10, can use Eldricht Strike to force save at disadvantage against low level control spells against a high spell DC.
If improving defence is a priority then can cast blade ward instead of an attack.
Lots of other ways to build:
Maybe polearm master at lev 4 for extra damage
Maybe go for Str 14 and raise to 15 with a feat for plate armour. It means one more AC, but worse dex saving throws, worse ranged, initiative and no option of a stealth build.
Maybe resilient wisdom.
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