D&D 5E Some thoughts on fighting styles

[Eubani]

Most of the fighting styles are generally thought of as worthwhile for what they do except for Protection. How could Protection style be remodelled to better represent and be effective as other styles?

After the last UA on skill feats it got me thinking about style feats that improve/further a fighting style the character has.

Currently fighting styles are based off arms/shield being used would also basing styles off method open up worthwhile space that could be aimed to further character flavour. eg Mobilty Fighting style +2 damage if the character moves 10ft+ prior to attacking or Guerrilla Warfare if attacking whilst hiddederoll damage dice a second time and pick best result.

Is the fighting style mechanic being used or leveraged designwise as well as it could be? What more can be done or what is currently being done could be done better?

 

[cbwjm]

I like the general idea of the protection fighting style but I can see the argument that at higher levels, with enemies making multiple attacks, it isn't as useful.

Your two suggestions I think could definitely be made into a fighting style, whether as is or in a modified to make them comparable to the others. There have been a few fighting styles in UA that were quite different, Mariner gave +1 AC and a swim speed if you aren't using heavy armour or a shield, tunnel fighter allowing you unlimited opportunity attacks as well as a reaction attack against anything that moves more than 5ft while in your reach, and close quarters shooting which made you quite deadly at point blank shooting. I think the last one was generally considered overpowered but I can't really recall the discussion around any of them.

 

[Caliban]

I think the Protection fighting style would be more useful if you used your reaction to impose disadvantage on all attacks against a specific ally you are adjacent too, until the start of your next turn. Then they either have to target you, or move you and your ally apart to end the effect.

Or perhaps giving a specific creature disadvantage on all attacks against creatures other than you.

 

[Xeviat]

I think the Protection fighting style would be more useful if you used your reaction to impose disadvantage on all attacks against a specific ally you are adjacent too, until the start of your next turn. Then they either have to target you, or move you and your ally apart to end the effect.

Or perhaps giving a specific creature disadvantage on all attacks against creatures other than you.

Or marking them for one round!


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[Horwath]

I would just give GWF +1d6 damage per attack with two handed melee weapon.

 

[Eubani]

So would it be a worthwhile exercise to make feats that further expand a fighting style with the fighting style as a prerequisite? How would such a feat look?

 

[Horwath]

So would it be a worthwhile exercise to make feats that further expand a fighting style with the fighting style as a prerequisite? How would such a feat look?

We already have those feats, more or less.

GWM is going with GWF style.

Archery style is going great with sharpshooter, some would say that +2 bonus is what makes sharpshooter so great.

Defense goes great with heavy armor mastery as it double dips on protection value. Same with defensive duelist.

And ofc, Dual wielder and TWF style.

 

[Caliban]

Or marking them for one round!

I didn't play much 4th edition. Is that what marking did?

 

[Eubani]

I didn't play much 4th edition. Is that what marking did?

In the edition that dare not be mentioned when a Fighter struck an opponent they were marked and received a penalty (-2) to hit anyone but the fighter and there was other abilities that triggered off actions from marked enemies.

 

[Xeviat]

I didn't play much 4th edition. Is that what marking did?

In 5E terms, not using the Marking from DMG, I'd do this:

Protection Style
As a bonus action, you can choose a target within reach of your melee weapon. Until the end of your next turn, that target suffers disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you. If the target does target a target other than you with an attack, you may make a melee attack against it as a reaction.

Costing a bonus action each round is more expensive than 4E's mark (which was automatic after attacking something), but it would fit in more with 5E's style.

A potential reaction attack sounds like a lot, but it would just be a slightly more common opportunity attack. Most targets would just attack you.