D&D 5E (2024) What should the 15th Class be?

[Minigiant]

As the man said “who?”

The only one of those I know is Shazam, and he is identical to Superman apart from being Magic Origin rather than Natural Origin (CoH forever!).

Your Who explains it all.

D&D is so old and big there are fans very familiar with new media and some not at all

You could have 2 groups arguing whether Asta is a Gish and a 3rd group completely lost.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Your Who explains it all.

D&D is so old and big there are fans very familiar with new media and some not at all

New? The only reason I know Shazam is he was my dad’s favourite superhero!

I shouldn’t need to point out that D&D is not a superhero game, but if you look at actual superhero games they typically give the same powers to superheroes with very different origins. Is it magic? Is it tech? Doesn’t matter, the effect is the same.

 

[Minigiant]

New? The only reason I know Shazam is he was my dad’s favourite superhero!

I shouldn’t need to point out that D&D is not a superhero game, but if you look at actual superhero games they typically give the same powers to superheroes with very different origins. Is it magic? Is it tech? Doesn’t matter, the effect is the same.

The other names are magic warriors from video games or manga. From nonsuperhero fantasy series.

 

[Hussar]

I think you have to be someone who relies on both physical weapons and arcane magic to count as a gish. Artificers are known more for their magical innovations. Can someone like the Ranger and the Paladin count as divine gishes?

But, isn't that what most artificers do? Whether you're the SUmmon the TUrret artificer blasting away with your arcane turret, or the pet artificer whose golem attack dog is doing force damage all day long.

I thought the definition of gish was a character whose magical powers enhance their combat abilities. Endlessly blasting away with your energy firing crossbow seems to fit the bill.

 

[DavyGreenwind]

New? The only reason I know Shazam is he was my dad’s favourite superhero!

I shouldn’t need to point out that D&D is not a superhero game, but if you look at actual superhero games they typically give the same powers to superheroes with very different origins. Is it magic? Is it tech? Doesn’t matter, the effect is the same.

5e essentially is a superhero game, imo.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Maybe I'm a bit thick here, but, isn't arcane gish an Artificer? I mean, they've got the spells, powers and extra attack. In what way isn't an artificer an arcane gish?

Are they gishes? Technically yes (at least the weapon-using ones).

Do they fulfill the gish fantasy? No, or there wouldn’t be half of us arguing that there should be another attempt at a gish.

 

[CreamCloud0]

As the man said “who?”

i recognize erza and byakuya and though it's been a good while since i read either of those series i think i can recall their abilities well enough, edit: i don't know if it'd be my first inclination to call either a gish/swordmage though, even if they are both technically swordfighters who also use magic in their fighting styles.

erza is called a mage but is basically a fighter in a series where everyone's a mage and magic comes in so many forms so the term mage is a little loose, but her magic lets her instantly swap out her magic weapons/armour between various themed sets, which come with associated effects and buffs.

byakuya's main trick is turning his sword into a thousand flying razorblades.

 

[Minigiant]

i recognize erza and byakuya and though it's been a good while since i read either of those series i think i can recall their abilities well enough, edit: i don't know if it'd be my first inclination to call either a gish/swordmage though, even if they are both technically swordfighters who also use magic in their fighting styles.

erza is called a mage but is basically a fighter in a series where everyone's a mage and magic comes in so many forms so the term mage is a little loose, but her magic lets her instantly swap out her magic weapons/armour between various themed sets, which come with associated effects and buffs.

byakuya's main trick is turning his sword into a thousand flying razorblades.

I used Ezra because she is a good example of weapon and especially armor buffs as she casts spells to swap armor.

And many Bleach shikai and bankai are pretty much D&D spells that only warrior types could effectively use as you often attack to use many of them or are just bizarre weapons.

 

[Remathilis]

Look go EK 16str 16int. Take magic iniate wizard at first(if human take whatever you think is witchery) and then take gfb and maybe fireball and shield as your first lvl spell.then take a mix of strength and int boosting feats. For the strength ones whatever str feats you think a wicther would take. For the int feats, take the ones which give you a c1/cast and allows you to prepare them. I prefer to grab utility spells and misty step. And maybe magic nissile(maybe).

Me: I think a Witcher would be a martial character who has supernatural powers but doesn't use spells.
Everyone: why don't you play a [insert gish class/subclass] with [insert spell list]?
Me: what part of "doesn't use spells" was not understood?

I want a martial class that has overt supernatural powers. Not a fighter/mage, not a fighter with five abilities in a subclass. Bloodhunter is an example, but hardly the only one. And if the base fighter is shackled by mundanity, then a new class can opt for that blend of supernatural powers and martial prowess.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Me: I think a Witcher would be a martial character who has supernatural powers but doesn't use spells.
Everyone: why don't you play a [insert gish class/subclass] with [insert spell list]?
Me: what part of "doesn't use spells" was not understood?

I want a martial class that has overt supernatural powers. Not a fighter/mage, not a fighter with five abilities in a subclass. Bloodhunter is an example, but hardly the only one. And if the base fighter is shackled by mundanity, then a new class can opt for that blend of supernatural powers and martial prowess.

thematically, witchers are just rangers who can actually brew their own desired potions IMO, the fact that Wizards chose to design rangers who can't brew things and also they and most every class with abilities beyond 'i stab things' rely on spells doesn't change that, it'd be great if we had the extraordinary ranger without spells as default, i'd love that! but 5e doesn't seem to be in the business of extraordinary effects without casting.