D&D 5E The Duskblade?

[Weiley31]

So while looking up 3.5 DND info for background/world building lore for 5E, I came upon something interesting about the Duskblades.

Class Chronicles: Duskblades and Knights

Class Chronicles: Duskblades and Knights

archive.wizards.com

Apparently they use a bastardized version of Bladesinging. While I like the lore implications that Bladesingers wouldn't be fond of Duskblades because of that, I started thinking.

Which class would best suit/represent that style? I know the common sense answer would be Eldritch Knight, but then, I thought, would Bard or even Warlock count as a viable option too? It would be reskins, but I could see the Valor/Sword Bard being a good fit for Duskblades.

Thoughts?

 

[Fenris-77]

Buffing the Valor or Sword bard seems like the place I'd start. Depending on the fluff even the college of whispers might work as a base.

 

[Weiley31]

Buffing the Valor or Sword bard seems like the place I'd start. Depending on the fluff even the college of whispers might work as a base.

Yes I thought how the College of Swords Flourishes could be represented of the Martial. And since Bladesinging is a full on Arcane Traditions, I see no probs with them having Bard spells as a contrast.

 

[Fenris-77]

Mechanically you'd need to replace something, and the thing that stands out as a candidate if Bardic Inspiration, at least in part. It depends on how bastardized the blade song is mechanically.

 

[Weiley31]

Mechanically you'd need to replace something, and the thing that stands out as a candidate if Bardic Inspiration, at least in part. It depends on how bastardized the blade song is mechanically.

Oh yeah I wasn't even gonna include the Inspiration: unless the bardic inspiration is reskinned as parts of the bladesong being utilized. But not for support.

I'm not looking to make a whole new class. More reskin.

But I like the idea of Swords Flourishes with Valor's battle magic.

 

[MonkeezOnFire]

While bard the bard chassis is great I think you'd also want to do a face lift on the bard spell list to fit a dusk blade. As it stands bard spells instead focus more support effects or trickster oriented enchantments and illusions. If you want a more thematic spell list for a warrior you'll want to add a healthy amount of evocation, abjuration and transmutation spells. Some examples would include expeditious retreat, magic weapon, shield, shocking grasp.

 

[Weiley31]

While bard the bard chassis is great I think you'd also want to do a face lift on the bard spell list to fit a dusk blade. As it stands bard spells instead focus more support effects or trickster oriented enchantments and illusions. If you want a more thematic spell list for a warrior you'll want to add a healthy amount of evocation, abjuration and transmutation spells. Some examples would include expeditious retreat, magic weapon, shield, shocking grasp.

So a Valor/Sword bard with the spell list modfied. Sounds quite nice. And of course, INT as their spell casting stat.

 

[Weiley31]

Oooh: Perhaps Valor and Sword could be seen as two different disciplines within Duskblade.

Although I still like the Valor theme.

 

[Salthorae]

I love this idea of a human corruption of Bladesinging being the Duskblade.

On the spells/class... it's kind of unfortunate as the EK framework fits the duskblade concept much better with the max cap on spells at 5th level for the Duskblade, while the Valor/Sword bard FEEL much more like a human corruption of Bladesinging

The EK framework actually fits much better as well given that you're limited to wizard evocation and abjuration spells + a small handful of other school spells.

 

[Weiley31]

I love this idea of a human corruption of Bladesinging being the Duskblade.

On the spells/class... it's kind of unfortunate as the EK framework fits the duskblade concept much better with the max cap on spells at 5th level for the Duskblade, while the Valor/Sword bard FEEL much more like a human corruption of Bladesinging

The EK framework actually fits much better as well given that you're limited to wizard evocation and abjuration spells + a small handful of other school spells.

You may have just unintentionally changed the entire concept of 2 characters I had: BOTH practitioners of Bladesinging that SHOULDN'T know it according to the 2nd Edition Bladesinging lore. Heck the one characters race maybe completely changed now.


Uhm anywho, yeah I know, and EK HAS the weapon touch spell trait that Duskblades have.