D&D 5E What the warlord needs in 5e and how to make it happen.

[Hussar]

The 4e Avenger is an unarmored holy warrior that added wisdom mod to defense and attack and damage, and had an at-will version of the vengeance paladin's channel divinity Oath of Emnity. They specialized in being hard to get away from, and punishing your for trying, but in a striker way! It was fun.

Fair enough. I have no real issues with repurposing names though. It just doesn't bother me overmuch, and, considering how much actual classes have been reworked in 5e, it really doesn't bother me.

Avenger is just a cool name. Then again, Vindicator might work as well. It's a synonym, sounds pretty cool and gets the point across. Or perhaps Guardian?

Actually, thinking about it, I like Guardian. It has all the right connotations, doesn't imply any sort of disparate power relation between the PC and other classes, and hits the right notes for a sort of "warrior" class.

I nearby nominate Guardian for the next warlord.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Fair enough. I have no real issues with repurposing names though. It just doesn't bother me overmuch, and, considering how much actual classes have been reworked in 5e, it really doesn't bother me.

Avenger is just a cool name. Then again, Vindicator might work as well. It's a synonym, sounds pretty cool and gets the point across. Or perhaps Guardian?

Actually, thinking about it, I like Guardian. It has all the right connotations, doesn't imply any sort of disparate power relation between the PC and other classes, and hits the right notes for a sort of "warrior" class.

I nearby nominate Guardian for the next warlord.

Wouldn't a "guardian" be some sort of defender-type class?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Look at the Kensei Monk UA. May require bit of getting your head around, but it gives you a fast unarmoured guy who can swing a greatsword despite the physique of an 8- or 80-year old, and who can get round, through, or over anything between them and the subject of their wrath.

Yeah, and the hexblade warlock, as well, if you want to play up the supernatural aspect, and flavor the actual Patron as a Holy Avenger weapon, or the like.

I don't really dig the Kensai's actual mechanics, especially for using non finesse, non Monk weapons, but I'll take a second look.

 

[mellored]

I nearby nominate Guardian for the next warlord.

Ehh... It's a good name, and someone should get it, but it brings to mind a guy in heavy armor and a large shield.



IMO, we need a fighter class that follows the mystic's example. Mainly, you have an wide open base class, an a bunch of specialization (maneuvers) which are a like disciplines or 3.x's' feat trees. You then pick a few areas you want to specialize, and you get better at that area. Some of those are warlord-y abilities.

i.e.
Pick 4 specializations from leadership, tactics, inspiration, grapple, two weapon fighting, archery, heavy weapons, duelist, throwing, shield bash, trip, protection, medic, tank, ect...

Each specialization go from novice (level 1), to grand master (level 17). Getting better at whatever it is and giving you special tricks at whatever.

 

[Paul Smart]

IMO, we need a fighter class that follows the mystic's example. Mainly, you have an wide open base class, an a bunch of specialization (maneuvers) which are a like disciplines or 3.x's' feat trees. You then pick a few areas you want to specialize, and you get better at that area. Some of those are warlord-y abilities.

i.e.
Pick 4 specializations from leadership, tactics, inspiration, grapple, two weapon fighting, archery, heavy weapons, duelist, throwing, shield bash, trip, protection, medic, tank, ect...

Each specialization go from novice (level 1), to grand master (level 17). Getting better at whatever it is and giving you special tricks at whatever.

I agree but I would split that into two base classes a Warlord class with Leadership, Tactics, Inspirtation etc. and a Warrior class with Archery, Heavy Weapons, Duelist etc. I would then have a Gish base class with different levels of caster at 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 and different arcane focuses (like a warlock).

 

[mellored]

I agree but I would split that into two base classes a Warlord class with Leadership, Tactics, Inspirtation etc. and a Warrior class with Archery, Heavy Weapons, Duelist etc.

I don't see any reason to separate them unless they had different core mechanics. Like if one had short-rest dice and the other was just at-will.

I would then have a Gish base class with different levels of caster at 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 and different arcane focuses (like a warlock).

It wouldn't be hard to add a 'teleporter' or 'evoker' specialization that let you cast spells.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I don't see any reason to separate them unless they had different core mechanics. Like if one had short-rest dice and the other was just at-will.

It wouldn't be hard to add a 'teleporter' or 'evoker' specialization that let you cast spells.

I would certainly want them to have different core abilities. Subclasses are really quite small, most of the time. You can't really escape the core. An Eldritch Knight is a Fighter. Full stop. No way around it. By far, most of what it does is from the core class.

 

[mellored]

I would certainly want them to have different core abilities. Subclasses are really quite small, most of the time. You can't really escape the core. An Eldritch Knight is a Fighter. Full stop. No way around it. By far, most of what it does is from the core class.

I'm not suggesting the usual subclass.

Rather similar to the mystics, which has only a very few core abilities, and then everything else is chosen.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I'm not suggesting the usual subclass.

Rather similar to the mystics, which has only a very few core abilities, and then everything else is chosen.

Could work, although I see little reason to restrict design by making them have to share even the small number of core mechanics. I don't see how there is a downside to two separate classes.

 

[mellored]

Could work, although I see little reason to restrict design by making them have to share even the small number of core mechanics. I don't see how there is a downside to two separate classes.

It would make it harder to mix.

You could, for instance, take archery, tactics, and stealth, and reach high levels in all 3 areas. Same way you can take mantle of command, diminutive, and nomad disciplines.

Otherwise you need to multiclass.