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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 7321381" data-attributes="member: 22779">[MENTION=6801328]Elfcrusher[/MENTION] - I would highly recommend actually reading the description of the Warlord in the 4e PHB before you make up your mind.  I think you will find that the whole "giving orders to PC's" thing is largely an artifact of edition warring and people trying to prove that warlords are bad.  There's a reason that warlord fans, like myself, don't describe warlords the way you do.  Because we've actually READ the class, know what the class is all about, which is largely either inspiration (inspiring warlord is an actual 4e class, very similar in feel to a bard) or a tactical warlord (my personal favorite - someone that, because of training, knows how to keep his head under fire and suggest (not order, suggest, as in offer advice) on when and how to strike.Virtually none of the actual 4e warlord powers revolve around the warlord telling anyone to do anything.  All they do is create opportunities.  Hammer and Anvil, for example, was one of my favorite powers.  The warlord hits an opponent and an adjacent ally gets a free shot at the opponent as well.  It's precisely what you are saying you don't have a problem with.  The warlord is distracting the NPC to grant a PC an extra attack.  And, the vast majority of warlord powers work exactly like this.  Or, as another example, Wolfpack Tactics.  I make an attack and an adjacent ally gets to shift 5 feet so we can gang up on a baddy.  Now, that's a power that isn't so useful in 5e since tactical combat is less of a thing, but, again, I'm knocking the baddy off balance so you can move up.  It's pretty genre fitting.Like I said before, context matters.  Your rogue example works because rogues are actually (at least in part) described as nasty buggers who stab people in the back.  It's right there in the description of the class.  Doesn't have to be, true, but, it is right there.  But, the whole idea that I'm telling you what to do as a warlord isn't actually true for the most part.  The vast majority of powers follow what you say you don't have an issue with - the warlord does something to the NPC and an ally gets to do something.  For S&G's, I dug out my 4e PHB.  Here's the flavor text for the first bunch of powers for a warlord:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Commander's Strike:  With a shout, you command an ally to attack.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Furious Smash - You slam your shield into your enemy... your anger inspires your aly to match your ferocity</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Viper's strike - You trick your adversary into making a tactical error that gives your comrade a chance to strike</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wolf Pack Tactics - Step by step you and your friends surround the enemy</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Guarding attack - With a calculated strike you knock your adversary off balance and grant your comrades some protection ...</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hammer and Anvil - You land a ringing blow against your foe, inspiring a nearby ally to strike a blow of his own</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Leaf on the wind - Like a leaf caught in the autumn wind your foe is driven by the flow of battle.  Your fierce attacks force him to give groung</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Warlord's Favor - With a caculated blow, you leave your adversary exposed to an imminent attack from one of your closest allies</li> </ul>So, yeah, there's a couple in there that might be a bit problematic with the idea of telling another player how to feel, but, again, most don't.  The majority of powers for warlords work like the ones I just listed.</blockquote>

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