D&D 5E The Warlord shouldn't be a class... change my mind!

[Tony Vargas]

If Warlord is a base class, then one would expect one of it's subclasses to be more of a front-line fighter. That could be your Vanguard.

Sounds like the Bravura build, just a less exotic name.

 

[Xeviat]

Without having read all 17 pages, so I'm hoping I'm not retreading material, I was curious who are the example warlords in fiction AND why they aren't just high level fighters? I feel like I'm thinking of some smart or leadership oriented support characters, or even heroes, but the point that is often made is that the Fighter can't be the Warlord because the Fighter has too much combat ability of it's own and the Warlord shouldn't be as good as the Fighter toe to toe, 1 on 1.

This came to mind as I was watching The Mandelorian and I was wondering if he was more of a skilled Ranger or just a high level Fighter (or Hunter vs Soldier, I don't remember the Star Wars classes).

 

[Garthanos]

Sounds like the Bravura build, just a less exotic name.

Sort of Bravura is not just front line he takes risks and and enhances others if they are willing to take risks.

 

[Mecheon]

Without having read all 17 pages, so I'm hoping I'm not retreading material, I was curious who are the example warlords in fiction AND why they aren't just high level fighters?

Pretty much military commanders. They're the tacticians, the ones giving orders but not necessarily hitting things with their weapons, or sources of inspiration for those they fight alongside

A fighter hits you with their sword. A warlord hits you with their fighter.

 

[cbwjm]

Without having read all 17 pages, so I'm hoping I'm not retreading material, I was curious who are the example warlords in fiction AND why they aren't just high level fighters? I feel like I'm thinking of some smart or leadership oriented support characters, or even heroes, but the point that is often made is that the Fighter can't be the Warlord because the Fighter has too much combat ability of it's own and the Warlord shouldn't be as good as the Fighter toe to toe, 1 on 1.

This came to mind as I was watching The Mandelorian and I was wondering if he was more of a skilled Ranger or just a high level Fighter (or Hunter vs Soldier, I don't remember the Star Wars classes).

I'm actually one of those who thinks it's fine for the warlord to just be another fighter subclass, that because I always considered them as a different type of fighter back in 4e.

I can't think of any warlord characters to use as archetypes, mainly because the warlord is tactical and anyone I think of seems more strategic. I guess you could make the argument that characters like Laurana were a warlord but it's been a while since I've read the books. Personally though, I don't really need a fictional character to represent an archetype to have it included in a game.

The Mandalorian would probably be a soldier/bounty hunter in the star wars RPGs. I'd be tempted to have him as a fighter in 5e though a ranger would probably work well, especially if the optional class variants in the UA and the options made by Mike Mearls on the happy fun hour were used.

 

[Garthanos]

Strangely enough Alexander the great was both genius class tactician with a similarly brilliant strategist father and prone to diving into the frontlines to inspire his troops. Basically the overall plan was his fathers adjusting and implementing situationally that is the tacticians ability

 

[Don Durito]

Without having read all 17 pages, so I'm hoping I'm not retreading material, I was curious who are the example warlords in fiction AND why they aren't just high level fighters? I feel like I'm thinking of some smart or leadership oriented support characters, or even heroes, but the point that is often made is that the Fighter can't be the Warlord because the Fighter has too much combat ability of it's own and the Warlord shouldn't be as good as the Fighter toe to toe, 1 on 1.

This came to mind as I was watching The Mandelorian and I was wondering if he was more of a skilled Ranger or just a high level Fighter (or Hunter vs Soldier, I don't remember the Star Wars classes).

Odysseus is one example. Sure he's a badass fighter - but if you put him in a party with Achilles or Ajax, he would be overshadowed in straight up fighting.

King Arthur vs Lancelot would be another. If they are both fighters than Lancelot would be higher level, so they wouldn't be in the same party.

Tanis Half-Elven from Dragonlance, he was a fighter, but his skill with arms was never a part of the character which was ever much emphasised.

Basically any mundane leadery character who can hold their own in a fight but is not necessarily the most badass figure around.

 

[Garthanos]

I never thought I would see an explicit lazylord character in fiction. However I was wrong an anime from 2016 in the show Tenkyou no Alderamin is very much a Lazy Lord to the degree that he has a companion who is straight up duo weapon fighter/ranger class character whom he arranges to be at the right place at the right time in scene one. Characters comment about his physical inadequacy but its massively offset both by his ability to influence (including other hero class characters) and tactical acumen both large and small scale. His strategic behavior is about conserving his troops energy for when they need it the most which 4e identified as a different build but actually fits the theme well and he actually gets called the Lazy General.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Odysseus is one example. Sure he's a badass fighter - but if you put him in a party with Achilles or Ajax, he would be overshadowed in straight up fighting.

King Arthur vs Lancelot would be another. If they are both fighters than Lancelot would be higher level, so they wouldn't be in the same party.

Tanis Half-Elven from Dragonlance, he was a fighter, but his skill with arms was never a part of the character which was ever much emphasised.

Basically any mundane leadery character who can hold their own in a fight but is not necessarily the most badass figure around.

Yep. Also, Captain America.

 

[Eubani]

I never thought I would see an explicit lazylord character in fiction. However I was wrong an anime from 2016 in the show Tenkyou no Alderamin is very much a Lazy Lord to the degree that he has a companion who is straight up duo weapon fighter/ranger class character whom he arranges to be at the right place at the right time in scene one. Characters comment about his physical inadequacy but its massively offset both by his ability to influence (including other hero class characters) and tactical acumen both large and small scale. His strategic behavior is about conserving his troops energy for when they need it the most which 4e identified as a different build but actually fits the theme well and he actually gets called the Lazy General.

How about Lelouch Vi Britiania aka Zero from Code Geas, I would certaing count him as a Warlord.