Purple Dragon Knight Retooled as Banneret in D&D's Heroes of Faerun Book

The much-maligned Purple Dragon Knight Fighter subclass is being retooled towards its original support origins in the upcoming Heroes of Faerun book. Coming out of GenCon, an image of a premade character sheet of a Banneret is making its way around the Internet. The classic support-based Fighter subclass appears to have replaced the Purple Dragon Knight subclass, which received a ton of criticism for not resembling the Purple Dragon Knight's traditional lore.

The Banneret's abilities includes a Level 3 "Knightly Envoy" ability that allows it to cast Comprehend Language as a ritual and gain proficiency in either Intimidation, Insight, Performance, or Persuasion (this appears unchanged from the Purple Dragon Knight UA), plus a Group Recovery ability that allows those within 30 feet of the Banneret to regain 1d4 Hit Points plus the Banneret's Fighter Level when the Banneret uses its Second Wind ability. Scrapped is the Purple Dragon companion that the UA version of the subclass had, which grew in power as the Purple Dragon Knight leveled up.

The Banneret was the generic name for the Purple Dragon Knight in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. The Banneret/Purple Dragon Knight was originally more of a support class that could provide the benefits of its abilities to its allies instead of or in addition to benefitting from them directly. For instance, a Banneret's Action Surge could be used to allow a nearby ally to make an attack, and Indomitable could allow an ally to reroll a failed saving throw in addition to the Banneret.

 

[GarrettKP]

right now on facebook, so they change the lore or not, bcs this looks like amethys dragon a that guy is riding on it.

View attachment 413367

They changed the lore but the Banneret didn’t keep the dragon mechanic.

 

[chlopac]

They changed the lore but the Banneret didn’t keep the dragon mechanic.

So it is the worst outcome, they pick the worst of both worlds

 

[GarrettKP]

So it is the worst outcome, they pick the worst of both worlds

Speak for yourself. I love the lore change. If only the Subclass got to keep the pet.

 

[Remathilis]

So it is the worst outcome, they pick the worst of both worlds

Yup. Y'all thought you were vetoing the lore change and all y'all did was nerf the subclass.

 

[I'm A Banana]

right now on facebook, so they change the lore or not, bcs this looks like amethys dragon a that guy is riding on it.

I wonder if this idea has so much internal momentum that they're refusing to course-correct because of a sunk cost.

Pre-survey: "Riding amethyst dragons is a clear win and folks are going to love this new vision of the PDK. We might have some tweaks, but this is obviously better. Order the art!"

Post-survey: "Oh. Well. Nevertheless, time to double down. We already ordered the art!"

 

[GarrettKP]

I wonder if this idea has so much internal momentum that they're refusing to course-correct because of a sunk cost.

Pre-survey: "Riding amethyst dragons is a clear win and folks are going to love this new vision of the PDK. We might have some tweaks, but this is obviously better. Order the art!"

Post-survey: "Oh. Well. Nevertheless, time to double down. We already ordered the art!"

We don’t actually know if the overwhelming feedback was anti-lore related. For all we know, most survey takers don’t actually mind it and just had a separate issue with the subclass mechanics.

 

[Remathilis]

I wonder if this idea has so much internal momentum that they're refusing to course-correct because of a sunk cost.

Pre-survey: "Riding amethyst dragons is a clear win and folks are going to love this new vision of the PDK. We might have some tweaks, but this is obviously better. Order the art!"

Post-survey: "Oh. Well. Nevertheless, time to double down. We already ordered the art!"

How much of it was also "we wrote and developed a whole chapter in the Adventure Guide with this idea in mind and the time and energy to redevelop the whole thing would delay the book, so let's just gut the subclass and call it done."

 

[Necropolitan]

It's as ridiculous as the idea that the Red Wizards, a notorious group of zealot arcane spellcasters dedicated to a tyrannical lich far to the East would show up in every town, city, and village selling potions and minor magical trinkets and not be chased out on a rail the second they showed up in Waterdeep or Silverymoon. But they were. Then they weren't. And now they are again. Lore changes.

You've once again gotten the lore completely wrong.

The Red Wizards were selling below market rate magic items (and illegal drugs) BEFORE Szass Tam's coup as part of the Zulkir council deciding diplomacy would serve them better.

So your comparison actually weakens your argument.

 

[bedir than]

All we know of the new Banneret is the 3rd level abilities, which are significantly improved from SCAG

I'm curious how people reach the conclusion that the subclass is weak while not having seen the subclass?

 

[mellored]

I'm curious how people reach the conclusion that the subclass is weak while not having seen the subclass?

Social inertia.

If you repeatedly hear that Banneret is weak, then you keep thinking that it is weak, until that idea is acted upon by an outside force.