D&D 5E Zard's Warlord Concept

[Zardnaar]

The following is my concept of e Warlord in 5E. Not this is only a rough idea as I have not really designed any of the subclass abilities. My major idea was to have the Warlord work around the short rest mechanic like the Warlock which I borrowed as a foundation to work of. IDK if letting the subclasses in at level 1 is a great idea either but oh well one could bump that to level 2 or 3. I'm not 100% sure if the formatting will work as it is a copy and past from Word. Note that the warlord does get an extra feat over the other classes as it is actually a martial class like the Fighter and Rogue. I didn't want to go as far as the fighters bonus ASI/feat but the Rogue gets one so I thought why not. Note the Warlord doesn't get multiple attacks like the Fighter/Ranger/Barbarian/Valor Bard. This was because I wanted more warlord stuff in. I was planning on an exploit the Bravery Warlord could take at level 5 similar to the bladelock ability which give them an extra attack. The other ones would get abilities based around granting extra attacks to others or even letting them cast cantrips. This is because there are so many Warlord concepts out there one could build your own warlord by tweaking or borrowing some of those concept. The Inspiring Warlord would be the best at healing, buffing etc the tactician would be the best at granting extra attacks/damage, while the bravery warlord would be the best at fighting. For example an exlpoit for the Inspiring one might be let an ally add charisma bonus to hit (as a bonus action) on their next atack, the Bravury one gets an exploit allowing an intelligence bonus to damage at level 12 (similar to bladelocks charisma to damage ability), and/or they may get a a fighting style exploit (if you want it) identical to the Fighter/Paladin/Ranger.


Class Features
‣Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per warlord level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per fighter level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Armor: Light armour, medium armour, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Charisma, Constitution
Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Superiority Dice	Exploits Known
1	+2	Warlord Path, Rallying Cry, Combat Superiority	2
2	+2		3	2
3	+2	Rallying Cry (3/short rest)	4	2
4	+2	Ability Score Improvement	4	2
5	+3		4	3
6	+3		4	3
7	+3	Rallying Cry (4/short rest)	5	4
8	+3	Ability Score Improvement	5	4
9	+4	Rallying Cry 5/short rest	5	5
10	+4	Ability Score Improvement	5	5
11	+4	Rallying Cry (2 allies)	5	5
12	+4	Ability Score Improvement	5	6
13	+5		6	6
14	+5		6	6
15	+5	Rallying Cry (3 allies)	6	7
16	+5	Ability Score Improvement	6	7
17	+5	Rallying Cry (4 allies)	6	7
18	+6		6	8
19	+6	Ability Score Improvement	7	8
20	+6	Tactical Brilliance	7	8

[TD="colspan: 3"] Warlord [/TD]

Warlord Path.
You choose a path of the Warlord. You may pick from The Path of the Tactician, Path of Bravery or Path of Inspiration.

Path of the Tactician
Your allies within 30’ of you may add your intelligence modifier to their initiative rolls

Path of Inspiration
You may add your charisma modifier to the hit points restored via rallying cry.

Path of Bravery
You gain proficiency with heavy armour. In addition at 1^st level your maximum hit points increase by 1 and increases again by 1 whenever you gain a level in this class.

Tactical Brilliance
Once per short rest as a bonus action you can coordinate your allies. Until the start of your next turn they have advantage on attack rolls, saving throws and skill checks.

Rallying Cry As a bonus action you can restore 1d8 (2d8 lvl 5, 3d8 lvl 11, 4d8 lvl 17) hit points to an ally within 30’. You may use this ability up to twice per short rest gaining another use of this ability at level 3,7, and 9.

Exploits​

Commanders Supremacy
You gain an extra superiority dice.

Echoes of the Ancient Song
You gain proficiency in the history and investigation skills.

Fighting Style
Prerequisite: Path of Bravery
You may take a fighting style. You may pick from Defense, Dueling, Great Weapon Fighting and Protection styles on page 84 of the PHB.

Improved Rallying Cry
You may use you rallying cry on an extra ally.

Inspired Attack
Prerequisite: 5^th level, Path of Inspiration
Starting at 5th level, your leadership allows you and your allies to strike in unison. Once per turn when you take the attack action, one ally within 30 feet can use his or her reaction to make a single weapon attack against a valid target of your choosing.

Inspiring Strike
Prerequisite: Path of Inspiration
As a reaction when an ally within 30’ of you makes an attack you may grant them a bonus to hit equal to your charisma bonus.
Extra Attack
Prerequisite: 5^th level, Path of Bravery
You can attack twice, instead of once, when you take the attack action on your turn.

Furious Smash
If you take the attack action on your turn, you can use a bonus action to try and shove a creature within 5’ of you with your shield. You must be using a shield in order to use furious smash.

Coordinated Attack
Prerequisite: 5^th level, Path of the Tactitian
When you take the Attack action, you can choose not to make any attack. If you do this, two of your allies can make a weapon attack against an enemy of their choice or cast a cantrip targeting an enemy of their choice.

Timely Warning
Prerequisite: Path of the Tactitian
As a reaction when an ally within 30’ who can see and hear you within 30’ is attacked may add your intelligence modifier to their armor class.

Voice of All

The range of your rallying cry doubles to 60’.

 

[mellored]

IMO: too much healing, not enough dice.
also, you say he doesn't get multi-attack, but then he does.

otherwise seems fine.

 

[Zardnaar]

IMO: too much healing, not enough dice.
also, you say he doesn't get multi-attack, but then he does.

otherwise seems fine.

I was going to make multi attack an option via an exploit for the Bravery Warlord. The other 2 would get the option of something like when they attack an ally gets yo use a reaction to attack as well.

THe healing thing was there as I was aiming for less than a cleric or life cleric but more than say a Paladin.

 

[Satyrn]

You've got Extra Attack on the chart at level 5.

I don't think you mean to.

 

[Zardnaar]

You've got Extra Attack on the chart at level 5.

I don't think you mean to.

I noticed that late last night. I put the wrong one up that was an earlier draft. I'll fix it now. I have not made up many exploits for the class yet but I put a few in to give people an idea of how it works.

I'm looking through my 4E PHB for exploits for high level. Some will be for certain paths, others will be for any warlord.

 

[Bawylie]

Well, we appear to have a consensus on HP, HD, most skills, saves, and proficiencies.

So even if we learn nothing else, we have some sketch of what this guy should look like.

 

[Miladoon]

Zard, you not only have uncovered the way a warlord class could be built, you have shown us tinkerers that engineering any class from a warlock template is not only doable but probably fun.

 

[Aldarc]

Well, we appear to have a consensus on HP, HD, most skills, saves, and proficiencies.

So even if we learn nothing else, we have some sketch of what this guy should look like.

Not to sidetrack this thread too much, but there seems to be less of a consensus with save proficiencies. I have seen Wisdom, Constitution, Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma offered for the Warlord. Five out of six. This may, in part, stem from attempting to decide whether the emphasis should be on the Warlord's mental prowess (Wisdom) or physical prowess (Constitution) as well as the tactical prowess (Intelligence) or inspiring prowess (Charisma). I often see Strength paired with Wisdom when someone wants to emphasis their mental prowess (Wisdom) but also highlight their warrior nature (Strength).

 

[Bawylie]

Not to sidetrack this thread too much, but there seems to be less of a consensus with save proficiencies. I have seen Wisdom, Constitution, Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma offered for the Warlord. Five out of six. This may, in part, stem from attempting to decide whether the emphasis should be on the Warlord's mental prowess (Wisdom) or physical prowess (Constitution) as well as the tactical prowess (Intelligence) or inspiring prowess (Charisma). I often see Strength paired with Wisdom when someone wants to emphasis their mental prowess (Wisdom) but also highlight their warrior nature (Strength).

I figure we agree Dex is out and Cha is in. So it's down to which ST is the W's bread & butter? And honestly between Con & Wis, I'd be ok either way.

 

[Miladoon]

For what it is worth, me thinks CHA and WIS.