D&D (2024) Not a fan of the new Eldritch Knight

[CreamCloud0]

Intelligence is not a core ability of a Fighter

of the base fighter, no, however it is far from uncommon that subclasses can and will bring their own expected core abilities, you should not presume INT is not expected for the Eldritch Knight purely because the foundation of the fighter doesn't require it.

 

[bedir than]

No it is like saying I don't want to play a low Intelligence Arcane Trickster .... a subclass which I also play a lot, also always dump Intelligence, and which is not screwed up in a similar fashion by the 2024 rules.

Intelligence is not a core ability of a Fighter, and playing a low dex, single-classed Rogue is quite viable, both as an Arcane Trickster with high Intelligence and as any of the other subclasses in a melee-oriented fashion.



I think the real problem is this makes the entire Fighter class less attractive for me. It is not like what I was doing is broken, it is not even close to top tier in terms of character power and while it may be a more generally optimized Eldritch Knight fighter when it comes to being a caster, it is not an optimized character overall nor even an optimized Gish.

But you aren't wanting to play a fighter. You are wanting to play a multi-class rules exploit that has no narrative reason to exist

 

[ECMO3]

But you aren't wanting to play a fighter. You are wanting to play a multi-class rules exploit that has no narrative reason to exist

What is so "exploitive" about it?

It is casting a cantrip as part of an attack action, something that is already doable on at least 2 other subclasses without restriction.

 

[bedir than]

What is so "exploitive" about it?

It is casting a cantrip as part of an attack action, something that is already doable on at least 2 other subclasses without restriction.

But the Eldritch Knight can do that without need for multiclassing with an INT dump

 

[cbwjm]

If I am not dumping Intelligence I struggle with why you would play a Fighter instead of a Wizard or Artificer, esp since the best parts of a fighter are available on a 2-level dip.

Well the last EK I had started with 16 intelligence and I wanted to play a fighter, not an artificer or a wizard and I had a lot of fun with it.

I feel like if you can't see a reason to play a high int EK the just don't, play a wizard or artificer instead.

 

[ECMO3]

In a scenario where you scale with Str/Int, why are you still pumping Cha?

Drow High Magic feat mostly, and low level Sorcerer or Warlock or Bard spells.

The Wizard spells are ideal for using with a low Intelligence - Shield, Protection from Evil and Good, Find Familiar, Feather Fall ..... and they don't scale fast enough on an EK to use effectively in combat. Finally you are limited to 2 Fighter Cantrips (until 10th level). On a high Intelligence character that is going to be Truestrike and Bladeward giving you nothing for utility. Putting a multiclass in there allows you to get Truestrike and Green Flame Blade and two more (minor illusion, Resistance ...) on the multiclass, and get Mage Hand or Prestidigitation on the Fighter in addition to Blade Ward.

Moreover Charisma is just a better ability, tieing to the entire social pillar. People on this board complain all the time above fighters being one-dimensional and not being able to contribute in the other pillars. The changes to this subclass encourage this one-dimensional play.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Even if I dump both Constitution and Wisdom, I am still going to be hard pressed to get the Intelligence, Strength and Charisma to make it work.

Then play something else, cause you clearly don’t and never did want to play an eldrich knight.

 

[ECMO3]

But the Eldritch Knight can do that without need for multiclassing with an INT dump

No not like those other classes. EK is limited to "Wizard cantrips" and the text would imply that means specifically those gained through the EK subclass. The other subclasses can cast any Cantrip.

Same with the 18th level EK ability; Wizard spells only.

The Arcane Trickster Magical Ambush is usable with any spells you cast.

Also an EK only gets 2 Cantrips until 10th level.

 

[ECMO3]

Then play something else, cause you clearly don’t and never did want to play an eldrich knight.

Well I have played a lot of them in the past. It was the coolest Fighter to play previously.

 

[Zardnaar]

Drow High Magic feat mostly, and low level Sorcerer or Warlock or Bard spells.

The Wizard spells are ideal for using with a low Intelligence - Shield, Protection from Evil and Good, Find Familiar, Feather Fall ..... and they don't scale fast enough on an EK to use effectively in combat. Finally you are limited to 2 Fighter Cantrips (until 10th level). On a high Intelligence character that is going to be Truestrike and Bladeward giving you nothing for utility. Putting a multiclass in there allows you to get Truestrike and Green Flame Blade and two more (minor illusion, Resistance ...) on the multiclass, and get Mage Hand or Prestidigitation on the Fighter in addition to Blade Ward.

Moreover Charisma is just a better ability, tieing to the entire social pillar. People on this board complain all the time above fighters being one-dimensional and not being able to contribute in the other pillars. The changes to this subclass encourage this.

5E gimoed intelligence and there's really only 1 class that uses it.

2 archetypes that might use it and the Artificer added later.