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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khozma" data-source="post: 8200378" data-attributes="member: 7029692">The focus on class identity in this thread seems like an overcomplication of a simple concept to me. If an arcane half-caster is supposed to represent an an integration of magic with an armed combat style, then it shouldn't need any more justification to exist than the fighter or wizard themselves do. Why, in a fantasy world where training in armed combat is common, wouldn't there be those who just simply integrate magic with armed combat?Especially in fantasy worlds where at least up to a certain level of magic is either not rare or is accessible to those with the right resources (the vast majority of D&D worlds), it makes no sense that this approach wouldn't be more common than not among those who it is an option for, unless there were very good reasons for them not to learn it; such as in Dark Sun where arcane magic isn't a very desirable pursuit (to say the least of it!), or in Forgotten Realms where bladesinging is explicitly Elvish because humans don't live long enough for the fighting style's form of mixing martial technique and magic to even be worth the time it takes to learn (i.e., it's extraordinarily difficult and thus uncommon).A very specific forced flavour is not only unnecessary, but would reduce the number of ways it would be used by both players and DMs. I think it would also be going against a key part of what many want in such a class, which is a fun, interesting gish that's less bound by flavour or setting specifics than the alternatives (the hexblade and paladin are fine gishes, but with very specific flavours and constraints) – overly specific classes and flavours tend to be less played, less popular, and less well integrated in most settings by most DMs as well, simply put.You don't need an excuse to learn both martial arts and magic, since it's just an obvious, practical combination that has existed in fantasy forever. Eberron has the right idea: magic totally changes what the average war and warrior looks like. If anything, I think all this is why such classes tend not to do well, since they always have weird names, flavours, and strings attached trying to justify something simple when it doesn't need any justification more than the fighter or wizard do. Think of how many ways you can represent them in the game: why should a presumably more versatile combination of both have fewer ways you can use them instead of more?</blockquote>

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