D&D 5E What is a Warlord [No, really, I don't know.]

[MoonSong]

That's right too. Good point. I forgot that. Sigh. Still learning the game.

But, then again, that's a pretty easy way to limit our potential warlord no?

Indeed. I used the same restriction for my Noble, except for the capstone that works once a Day that is basically "All together now"

 

[doctorbadwolf]

With the caveat that I'm on the anti-warlord committee, but perhaps with the perspective that gives me, the most non-negotiable and thus most contentious characteristics seem to be:

1) The general ability to support/buff your allies, but most specifically by sacrificing one of your Actions in order to grant a bonus Action to somebody else.
2) The general ability to heal, but specifically without using magic*. Some proponents seem to be ok with temporary hit points or even damage mitigation, but that's not consensus. Many insist it must be healing equal to a cleric.
3) The description of the class as an "officer" who "inspires" his allies with "natural leadership" while "commanding" them to do stuff. Few people will come right out and admit this is an intrinsic part of the class, but that fluff is always there.
4) Otherwise it looks like a Fighter.

*(There is some suspicion that the "non-magical healing" stuff is just a proxy fight over whether hit points are meat or not.)

3) That might be because basically no one that wants a 5e Warlord wants that to be part of it. While some proponents use those types of characters as examples, not all of us do, and even those who do aren't married to that part of the example character.

4) IMO, no more so than the Rogue "otherwise looks like a fighter" once you get sneak attack and expertise out of the way. In other words, perhaps, but only insofar as all non magical weapon users are going to have things in common.