D&D 5E Why Not? A Variant Captain Fighter

[Garthanos]

One could almost write things generically OR if one could make a feat...
Heroic Awareness: Class abilities including maneuvers which normally protect or heal self only can now also be applied to affect an ally. Healing abilities can affect those within 30 feet who can see or hear you. A protection can be conferred within weapon reach up to short range. (ie an arrow shot can interfere with an enemies attack against an ally ie parrying an attack against an ally). Additionally you may gain initiative from a mental stat of your choice in place of Dex. And with a battle cry share initiative with any / all allies who have lower initiative within hearing distance.

 

[Garthanos]

One could almost write things generically OR if one could make a feat...
Heroic Awareness: Class abilities including maneuvers which normally protect or heal self only can now also be applied to affect an ally. Healing abilities can affect those within 30 feet you can see. A protection can be conferred within weapon reach up to short range. (ie an arrow shot can interfere with an enemies attack against an ally ie parrying an attack against an ally). Additionally you may gain initiative from a mental stat of your choice in place of Dex. And with a battle cry share initiative with any / all allies who have lower initiative within hearing distance.

By making the changes to maneuvers separate from the maneuvers ... the ability can either be more special ie restricted availability for instance if its a level 6 class feature or it can be more open to others as a feat it might be capable of adjusting any currently self oriented class. I incorporated the initiative benefits since it is also awareness and potentially sharing the benefits of awareness.

 

[Garthanos]

One could almost write things generically OR if one could make a feat...
Heroic Awareness: Class abilities including maneuvers which normally protect or heal self only can now also be applied to affect an ally. Healing abilities can affect those within 30 feet who can see or hear you. A protection can be conferred within weapon reach up to short range. (ie an arrow shot can interfere with an enemies attack against an ally ie parrying an attack against an ally). Additionally you may gain initiative from a mental stat of your choice in place of Dex. And with a battle cry share initiative with any / all allies who have lower initiative within hearing distance.

5e has big feats ... is this too much

 

[doctorbadwolf]

5e has big feats ... is this too much

It’s contingent enough of specific features that I’d probably be fine with it.

 

[Garthanos]

It’s contingent enough of specific features that I’d probably be fine with it.

It steps on the toes of the Purple Dragoon (basically says you can have that and still learn cool maneuvers or be a crit fishing Champion or a defender Cavalier), If its accepted as a feat it is perhaps saying that subclass PD is a significantly over priced option and should have been part of the root class all along. It also makes the battlemaster even more role flexible.

For me it brings the fighter more in line with what the classic 1e and 2e fighter was supposed to be all about without reconstructing the whole thing. In 4e terms the fighter with this ability starts with foundations for all three a striker, defender and leader.

In 5e land I think perhaps that is a balanced way to make it the definition of best at fighting. (so maybe it should be built in)

If one put the initiative element in a feat that also provide a bonus to intelligence or wisdom along with its initiative effects.