D&D 5E Swordmage! (+thread)

[doctorbadwolf]

If that's the case I think you may be trying to cram a little to much into the base archetpye. It reads more to me like a lot of disjointed ideas instead of something clean and clear-cut. Usually subclasses are the place to expand on the primary class idea like that.

It’s not an expansion, it is the primary class idea.

I really don’t grok what the issue is, here.

The concept is an esoteric, hermetic (ie alchemist), sword-master. That = a magical swordmaster in D&D, because those guys were combining math, physical sciences, and mysticism.

That is the concept.

 

[FrogReaver]

The concept is an esoteric, hermetic (ie alchemist), sword-master. That = a magical swordmaster in D&D, because those guys were combining math, physical sciences, and mysticism.

That is the concept.

You have added about 10 things to that concept since the OP. It keeps growing. Eventually it will be so top heavy it crumples under it's own weight so much so that no D&D class will be able to hold enough abilities to actually create it. Let's avoid that pitfall.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

When in doubt about what we are designing I go back to the OP:



We can design around the extra attack feature (though I'm kind of digging a half-caster class that uses a melee cantrip with features and spells that enhance that - if this thread doesn't produce something similar to that I may try)

New spells that combine an attack with a magical effect. Easy!

No reliance on armor - 13+Int defense calc solves that. Possibly add in ways to get a little more.

Intelligence secondary. Basing AC on int already solves this as well.

Room for a nerdy subclass - sounds like subclass is the place to add in scholarly stuff

Well, what I actually said is room for subclass that is practically full nerd mode, and a sub that is barely a scholar. Both are still warrior-scholars.

Otherwise, I’m on board with your thoughts here.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

You have added about 10 things to that concept since the OP. It keeps growing. Eventually it will be so top heavy it crumples under it's own weight so much so that no D&D class will be able to hold enough abilities to actually create it. Let's avoid that pitfall.

I haven’t, though. I’ve clarified that the whole synthesis thing includes hermetic mysticism and mathematics in the tradition of Agrippa and Thibault and others, but the concept is exactly as in the OP.

 

[Garthanos]

Swordmage riposte in 4e was called the White Lotus Riposte

 

[FrogReaver]

I haven’t, though. I’ve clarified that the whole synthesis thing includes hermetic mysticism and mathematics in the tradition of Agrippa and Thibault and others, but the concept is exactly as in the OP.

Clarified = addition to the OP

Because as it stands the OP allows me to make a class that doesn't rely on hermetic mysticism or mathematics as it's foundational concept.

I suggest you add that requirement to your OP.

 

[Garthanos]

Swordmage riposte in 4e was called the White Lotus Riposte

Technically not theirs but one of those feats that sort of had their name all over it in fine print.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Clarified = addition to the OP

Because as it stands the OP allows me to make a class that doesn't rely on hermetic mysticism or mathematics as it's foundational concept.

I suggest you add that requirement to your OP.

I really don’t understand the things that you focus on, man.

I think, instead of doing that, I’m just gonna try to build the class out a few levels on homebrewery today, and post it in the OP, and just delete most of the existing OP.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Okay, I was unclear about the concept, and other stuff, and I want to clear things up.

I've done about half of a rough draft, on homebrewery. I think the core concepts are clear now, but let me know if I need to explain them better still in the document.

All feature details are up for debate, but the basic concepts represent my mechanical and conceptual goals for the class.

Swordmage rough draft

For the Esoteric Techniques, the list right now is very rushed and way incomplete. The choices are there to represent the sort of things I want it to be able to do, though it's missing conjuration spells. Gonna make a 3rd level technique that conjures lesser elemental critters that do your bidding, I think. Probably using the UA style stat block.

For the Schools. White Lotus is the closest to the classic swordmaster. Guardian is a tanky defender with Aegis Auras. Dervish is an elemental damage focused guy. Hermeticist is the most scholarly Swordmage, maybe gets expanded spell access? I do wonder about a semi-divine School. It would make sense. Get access to cleric rituals, radiant Aegis...could be legs there.

The Aegis is basically a magical fighting style with secondary elements as you level. Your Aegis determines what your bread and butter techniques are. There might be a high level feature or a School that lets you change your Elemental Aegis during a rest.

Absorb Elements, Arcane Parry, and Armor of Agythis, give three low level options to increase your defense at the cost of Aether.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

@FrogReaver does the new into fluff do a better job of explaining the concept?