Okay! This thread is here for the specific purpose of brainstorming and workshopping a 5e Swordmage, as an arcane half-casting warrior, whose primary identity is that of a warrior-scholar who either has invented or was trained up in a tradition of warcraft that makes martial prowess and magic into one indistinguishable thing, rather than a multi-tasking of the two. This is not a thread for arguments about whether or not such a class is good, necessary, or worth developing.
Remember, it's homebrew. You don't have to use it.
That said! Let's build a Swordmage!
Basic idea is described above, in terms of identity.
Basic mechanical goals:
*Magical abilities that add to, rather than replace, the attack action.
*New spells that combine an attack with a magical effect, or are simply a magical effect flavored as using your weapon, like throwing your sword and it slices at every creature in a 20ft sphere, or whatever.
*No reliance on armor, but still a class that has reason to consider strength. (unarmored defense, but maybe a wide weapon list and shields?)
*Intelligence secondary, about as important as Cha for Paladins.
*Room for a really nerdy subclass, and at least one that barely qualifies as a scholar.
Things I'm considering, for this.
*Spellbook
*Ritual casting without prep
*A 1st or 2nd level feature that adds elemental damage to attacks, and makes the weapon deal that damage type instead of it's normal damage. This immediately sets them apart from any other gish, or weapon user.
*Unarmored Defense (int) and possibly a new spell or two that are defensive. Possibly an AC calculation that bypasses Dex, like 8+Int mod+proficiency bonus while not wearing armor, and a feature that lets you burn a spell slot to create a shield that boost your AC and maybe lets you soak damage and deal it back to enemies, with the number scaling by spell slot level. Something like, whenever you take damage from an attack, you reduce that damage by 1d4+int mod, and gain a bonus to damage with your next weapon attack equal to the result of the roll.
*An Aegis feature. maybe the above feature set is your Aegis?
—————update—————
Okay here is the idea so far. Note that all names other than Swordmage, and Aegis, are up for debate, but should live in the same conceptual space.
HD d10
No armor, no shields
Most weapons
Skills 2 or 3 from a broad list
Tools calligrapher’s (for drawing those fighting manual diagrams)
maybe 2 skills and a feature similar to jack of all trades but less extreme in scope. Then again, give this guy Counterspell and dispel magic and jack of all trades, why not right?
we can determine the full scope there as the class develops.
Level 1:
Aegis. As a ten minute ritual you can perform as part of a rest or as a bonus action by spending X [points], you can cast a specialized version of Mage Armor, giving yourself AC equal to 13+Int mod. This may scale at the main tier levels, or not. Choice of 2-4 Aegis features that give different defensive benefits, and attune you to a damage type.
Bond-Weapon. Similar to Hexblade, pct blade, or Eldritch Knight weapon, but tuned toward a specific weapon type. Thrown weapons throw farther, one handed Melee gain thrown (30/60), ranged weapons lose the ammunition property, not sure about two-handed weapons. Any thrown weapon returns to your hand after thrown. Weapon does the damage type you’re attuned to instead of its normal damage. Can reforged a lost or broken Bond-Weapon as a 1 hour ritual.
Level 2:
Hermetic Geometry. ritual casting and Esoteric Techniques. “Points, Brendin. Points.” You get points, and things to use them on. You record these techniques in a book, called a Manual Esoterica, or something like that. You learn a number at 2nd level, and 1 at each level thereafter, and can learn more by training with a master or finding and studying a manual that describes the technique.
Wild idea!
What if, instead of starting with a lot of proficiencies, the class gets jack of all trades, possibly renamed to Enlightened Study or soemthing, and they can learn new weapons, languages, and tools, the same way they learn techniques? (So, same modeled after ritual caster feat)
we would probably want to define different time and money costs, and maybe even track how many you’ve learnt and make the cost and time increase or something, but I think it would perfectly encapsulate the idea of a renaissance master who seeks knowledge in a wide range of topics and skills.
Something to consider.
