soldier instead of warlord

[Nifft]

I don't get the hate for warlord. It seems absolutely neutral to me, so much so that it isn't even era specific.

warlord
n : supreme military leader exercising civil power in a region
especially one accountable to nobody when the central
government is weak

You're right, it is setting and era neutral... but it also has nothing to do with what people expect to do in D&D.

I mean, unless you want to run a political campaign...

Cheers, -- N

 

[HP Dreadnought]

Soldiers take orders. Officers (like a warlord) give them.

Wrong. You're drawing the line between officer and enlisted. Both are types of soldiers.

Soldiers at the bottom of the chain take orders. Soldiers at the middle and the top of the chain give orders. A four-star general is still a soldier, as is the lowliest private.

Hmmmm. . . seems like a good fit to me. The class formerly known as warlord. . . at low levels would be more likely to take orders and use his tactical expertise as directed. At high levels he would be more likely to give orders.

If that's not the current "flavor" of the warlord class. . . no big deal. All it requires is some minor changes to fluff text and possibly ability names and PRESTO! You have a soldier class and a name that fits.

 

[HP Dreadnought]

Not to mention you will have FINALLY plugged a hole in the D&D fighting-class pantheon.

Since the earliest days of the game, Fighters have always been about consummate skill at arms. . . . NOT about about military leadership, strategy, and tactics. Yet fighters have always been shoehorned into the soldier role. . . even though their skills and abilities didn't reflect that specialty.

FINALLY WotC can create a dedicated soldier class with abilities focused around tactical combat and leadership. . . instead of simply being very good with a sword.

The soldier doesn't necessarily have to be associated with a particular military organization. . . most adventuring soldiers would simply be "Soldiers of Fortune"/Mercenaries.

I really hope that WotC doesn't miss this opportunity.

 

[The Little Raven]

Hmmmm. . . seems like a good fit to me. The class formerly known as warlord. . . at low levels would be more likely to take orders and use his tactical expertise as directed. At high levels he would be more likely to give orders.

Who would he be taking orders from? The 1st-level fighter? Nah. He's the guy giving the orders from the beginning. It's his job to provide leadership, and his abilities support that supposition.

 

[Scarbonac]

How about "Veteran"?

It has that "military" feel that so many seem to desire, without the "rank" or "tyrannical leader" aspect that many of us find objectionable (even though I, too am a big fat Travis Morgan and John "Warlord of Barsoom" Carter fan), and it has history with the game as it was once one of the level titles for Fighter back in the 1e days.

Hell, who wouldn't watch a few dozen war movies (especially any featuring John Wayne, Audie Murphy, Lee Marvin or Jimmy Coburn) and not be hyped to play a tough, war-hardened Veteran?

 

[The Little Raven]

How about "Veteran"?

This implies experience. A warlord taking to the field for the first time would be far from a veteran.

 

[Nifft]

How about "Veteran"?

"Hi, my name is Joe, and I'm a 1st level Veteran."

Hmm. Slightly less incongruous than "1st level Warlord", but there's still a bit of a gap.

Cheers, -- N

 

[psionotic]

Marshal > Warlord > Soldier > Veteran > Peon.

That is all.

 

[Scarbonac]

Who would he be taking orders from? The 1st-level fighter? Nah. He's the guy giving the orders from the beginning. It's his job to provide leadership, and his abilities support that supposition.

To paraphrase myself from a different thread, any Player who decides to have his Character give anyone orders based on what class he's chosen should get his ass bounced to the street.


Leadership, in an adventuring party, comes as a gift from the party to the "leader".

 

[The Little Raven]

To paraphrase myself from a different thread, any Player who decides to have his Character give anyone orders based on what class he's chosen should get his ass bounced to the street.

We're talking about game mechanics. As a Leader class, the warlord is supposed to be buffing his allies and healing them. He does this through martial training, which would likely take the form of shouting orders, since it isn't some magic spell that allows him to grant his rogue buddy a +2 to attack someone. He has been trained to be some kind of combat officer, whether it's through an actual army, crime group, or whatever.

It has nothing to do with who decides whether you're going to Shadowdale or not.