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.

 

[bedir than]

give everyone a pet thus avoiding the party balance issue.

While my world doesn't do this with dragons, it does do it with 'normal' beasts which can include drakes and other non-intelligent dragonkind.
Everyone in the party has an animal (or a Feat boosting their power).

 

[Eubani]

I think people need to accept outside of epic level games a dragon alongside a character will never fit the power level. You will only get something unsatisfying that is skinned to look like a dragon.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think people need to accept outside of epic level games a dragon alongside a character will never fit the power level. You will only get something unsatisfying that is skinned to look like a dragon.

What matters is the role play. The power is irrelevant.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

What matters is the role play. The power is irrelevant.

Cool. Then you can buy your character a horse and roleplay that it is a dragon.

 

[Mecheon]

Cool. Then you can buy your character a horse and roleplay that it is a dragon.

I mean, back in Journey to the West that kinda just how it be

mind I think said horse forgot he was a dragon prince like. 90% of the time

 

[ECMO3]

What matters is the role play. The power is irrelevant.

For players to roleplay a Dragon pet, in a fashion consistent with what people understand a dragon to be, it needs to be powerful.

I actually see very little roleplay coming out of this or really any similar type of pet. If they publish a class it could work mechanically, but it will be for those mechanical reasons it is successful/desired (flying, breath weapon etc), not because it is a Dragon, especially when it is an obscure Dragon type that is unheard of in most campaigns.