D&D 5E Should martial characters be mundane or supernatural?

[Micah Sweet]

cause some people don't like the idea that their character is some sort of special chosen one (edit: sometimes even if everyone is 'special'), it undercuts the meaning and point of 'just an ordinary person' who get where they are through hard work and graft, it could've been anyone standing where they are against gods and monsters but they were the one who put the effort in to be there.

Which is great, and if you don't have supernatural abilities, then obviously you don't need an explanation for them. But I believe that if you do, you do.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yep. Whilst the "godtouched" might be a good fit for a certain setting and campaign, I definitely wouldn't want it to be the default lore.

Then use a different default lore for your supernatural explanation.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Which is great, and if you don't have supernatural abilities, then obviously you don't need an explanation for them. But I believe that if you do, you do.

it's a good thing that martials aren't supernatural then but just plain extraordinary.

 

[Micah Sweet]

it's a good thing that martials aren't supernatural then but just plain extraordinary.

But what does "extraordinary" mean? Since moving on from 3e, it's lost a game definition.

 

[Maxperson]

Both, I think there should be a progression from everyday hero to superhero

This.

 

[Minigiant]

If there was such a mandate, wouldn't it be found somewhere in the DMG for a DM to find?

It would but isn't.

But that's the core of this discussion,

Some think the martials should be mundanes with magic items.
Some think the martials should be supernatural without magic items.

A class cannot be designed to be both.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Which is great, and if you don't have supernatural abilities, then obviously you don't need an explanation for them. But I believe that if you do, you do.

Well, sort of. But the explanation can simply be that you learned them. The wizard can learn the fireball spell, and the fighter can learn the boulder-shattering blade technique etc.

 

[Maxperson]

Exactly this. It is an easy and simple answer, and allows those who don't want mythic martials to have it by just capping the campaign at certain level.

I mean, if someone wants to call a fighter chopping 30 trees down with a single sword stroke mundane for their game, it doesn't bother me any. I wouldn't play in such a game, but I don't see an issue with them not bothering to cap levels. The default should be mundane to mythic(supernatural), though, so the game makes sense.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

It would but isn't.

But that's the core of this discussion,

Some think the martials should be mundanes with magic items.
Some think the martials should be supernatural without magic items.

A class cannot be designed to be both.

It could. You'd have a subclass that provides supernatural capabilities, and another that gives you free items only usable by you. Not sure if that this would be a terribly good idea, but it could be done.

 

[Scribe]

But what does "extraordinary" mean? Since moving on from 3e, it's lost a game definition.

Theres a thing my wife and I were discussing, when looking at the trials some folks go through, and the various results, with close aged siblings in particular.

Both (or many) can go through many of the same trials/experiences/traumas, but come out wildly different of course. No need to get into the weeds, but a concept of type and temperament, is a thing we have discussed.

Or to go back to just basic old school terms 'made of the right stuff'.

I want my Fighter, specifically actually, to just be a normal guy. No God protecting him. No mutation. No Oath. No Magic. No Animal Companion he talks to.

Just Tika, honestly, from the Inn. Who chooses to step up for the people she cares about.