Alternate Fighter Class v3.0.0 - Patron Update!
Added 2023-09-03 12:30:41 +0000 UTCAfter a year in the making, I am very excited (and a little nervous) to share the 3.0.0 version of my Alternate Fighter Class! This is just the beginning of a massive update to my series of Alternate Martial Classes.
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THE ALTERNATE FIGHTER
Design Goals. While the Player’s Handbook Fighter isn’t “underpowered”, I’ve always felt that it was a bit bland in play. To solve this, I’ve readjusted a few of the base class features, added the Battle Master Archetype into the base class, and rebalanced the Fighter around a system I call Martial Exploits.
Martial Exploits. Based on the short-rest resource of Exploit Dice, Martial Exploits allow your Fighter to feel like a true master of battle. Disarm your foes, employ tactics and strategy, and defend you allies in combat! Exploits also give your Fighter meaningful ways to contribute outside of combat ~~gasp~~!
Rebalanced Class Features. To make room for Exploits in the “budget”, Action Surge has been moved back to 6th level (also helps deter multiclassing dips), and the “bonus” Ability Score Increase at 6th level has been cut. Extra Attack scales at the same level as cantrips (5th/11th/17th), and most importantly, Indomitable is now just Legendary Resistance!
Updated/Rebalanced Archetypes. The base class includes five Archetypes designed specifically for the Alternate Fighter: the Arcane Knight (Eldritch Knight), Champion, Commander (Banneret), Marksman (Original), and Master at Arms (Battle Master update).
For the first time ever, I've also included Alternate versions of every official subclass for the Fighter: the Knight Errant (Cavalier), Mystic (Psi Warrior), Ronin (Samurai), Runecarver (Rune Knight), Shadowdancer (Echo Knight), and Sylvan Archer (Arcane Archer)!
Changes this Update. Major changes with v3.0.0 include tweaks to certain Fighting Styles (Great Weapon Fighting, Protector, and Versatile Fighting), improvements to Know Your Enemy and Relentless, and a new 11th level feature to make you feel like a Master of Battle - Martial Superiority!
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CHANGE LOG v2.5.0 ---> 3.0.0
- Multiclassing // Added Multiclassing rules for Exploits
- Fighting Style // Featherweight Fighting // Damage bonus reduced to +1
- Fighting Style // Great Weapon Fighting // Completely reworked.
- Fighting Style // Protector // NEW Style (replaced Protection).
- Fighting Style // Versatile Fighting // Reworked around bonus actions.
- Know Your Enemy // Removed the “Fighter levels” and “proficiency bonus” option (useless IMO). Added “Walking Speed”. Buff at 14th level now lets you use it on hit with a weapon attack.
- Warrior Archetype // Explained how the additional Archetypes work clearly.
- Martial Superiority // NEW feature! More consistent Exploit Dice!
- Relentless // Regain all Exploit Dice on initiative.
- Arcane Knight // War Magic // Reverted to PHB version.
- Arcane Knight // Legendary AK // Clarified the spell must be 1 action to cast.
- Arcane Knight // Spell List // Cut frost fingers, armor of agathys, darkness, tiny hut. Wanted to focus on elemental damage spells.
- Champion // Remarkable Strength // Renamed (Remarkable Athlete). Reworked around all Strength checks and moved up to 3rd level.
- Champion // Paragon of Battle // NEW - grants a thematic Fighting Style.
- Commander // Commander Exploits // Now you must pick a leadership mod.
- Commander // Student of War // Reworked (Commander’s Presence got cut).
- Commander // Strategic Command // Scales on your Leadership mod.
- Commander // Inspiring Commands // Scales on your Leadership mod.
- Commander // Legendary Commander // Merged with Heroic Surge.
- Marksman // Archetype Exploits // Updated to reflect Exploit changes.
- Marksman // Marksman’s Focus // No longer costs a bonus action, but you must choose to focus at the beginning of your turn.
- Marksman // Reliable Shot // No longer overlaps with Sharpshooter, instead it increases the normal and long range of your ranged attacks.
- Marksman // Legendary Marksman // Clarified how this interacts with Focus.
- Master at Arms // Advanced Technique // Combined Archetype Exploits and Fluid Stances with this feature. Bonus Exploit Dice reduced by 1 (to 1), but you can pick your “Archetype Exploits”.
- Master at Arms // Consistent Skill // CUT (base class with Martial Superiority).
- Master at Arms // Warrior of Legend // “Free” d6 Exploit is limited to your turns in combat (no skill monster). Cut the ability to replace a Fighting Style, but you can replace an Exploit over the course of 1 hour.
- Exploits // CUT // Commander’s Presence, Keen Observation, Survivalist’s Craft.
- Exploits // 1st // NEW // Cunning Instinct, Eloquent Speech, Inquisitive Eye, Rustic Intuition.
- Exploits // 1st // Aggressive Sprint // Renamed (Aggressive Strike). Moved to 1st-degree, but scales at 5th level.
- Exploits // 1st // Arresting Strike // Renamed (Crippling Strike). Can now be used with ranged attacks.
- Exploits // 1st // Brace Up // Reduced temp hit points to 1 + your Exploit Die.
- Exploits // 1st // Feat of Strength // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 1st // Subtle Con // Renamed (Charlatan’s Guile).
- Exploits // 1st // Feint // Reworked to be closer to the Battle Master version.
- Exploits // 1st // First Aid // Reworked. Scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 1st // Hurl // Clarified wording. Range increase at 11th level.
- Exploits // 1st // Lightstep // No longer works with Initiative rolls.
- Exploits // 1st // Menacing Shout // Added CHA prerequisite. Also ends early if you are incapacitated.
- Exploits // 1st // Mighty Leap // 10-foot start. Scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 1st // Mighty Thrust // Clarified wording. Is now a “touch Exploit”.
- Exploits // 1st // Parry // Renamed (Riposte). Clarified that you must be wielding a melee weapon or shield. Attack on a miss moved back to 5th level.
- Exploits // 1st // Reposition // Moved to Alt Fighter: Expanded.
- Exploits // 1st // Ruthless Strike // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 1st // Scholarly Recall // Renamed (Scholar’s Insight). Replaced Nature with History skill.
- Exploits // 1st // Shield Impact // Moved to 1st-degree, scales with multiple dice, uses STR.
- Exploits // 2nd // Blinding Debris // Renamed (Blinding Strike). Now 2nd-degree. Added DEX prerequisite.
- Exploits // 2nd // Concussive Blow // Clarified it must be a weapon attack. Now inflicts disadvantage on attacks rolls and ability checks.
- Exploits // 2nd // Crippling Strike // Renamed (Suppressing Strike).
- Exploits // 2nd // Dirty Hit // Limited to melee attacks, now knocks prone.
- Exploits // 2nd // Execute // Reworked.
- Exploits // 2nd // Martial Focus // Moved up to 2nd-degree.
- Exploits // 2nd // Rending Strike // Renamed (Crushing Strike). Changed to a DEX save. Repairs on a long rest.
- Exploits // 3rd // Disorienting Blow // Imposes disadvantage on DEX saves.
- Exploits // Heroic Focus // Added a CON save to avoid the lethargy.
- Exploits // 3rd // Mythic Athleticism // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 3rd // Mythic Resilience // Renamed (Resilient Body). Scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 3rd // Thunderous Shot // Added STR prerequisite. Scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 4th // Staggering Blow // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice. Effects and full damage are now gated behind a Wisdom saving throw.
- Exploits // 4th // Unbreakable // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 5th // Storm of Arrows // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Exploits // 5th // Steel Wind Slash // Now scales with multiple Exploit Dice.
- Alternate Archetypes // NEW section bringing the official Archetypes in line.
- Knight Errant // NEW Alternate Archetype to replace the Cavalier
- Mystic // Renamed (Mystic Warrior). Moved to main Alt Fighter doc.
- Rune Carver // NEW Alternate Archetype to replace the Rune Knight.
- Shadowdancer // NEW Alternate Archetype to replace the Echo Knight.
- Sylvan Archer // NEW Alternate Archetype to replace the Arcane Archer.
- Wanderer // NEW Alternate Archetype to replace the Samurai.
Comments
I'm enjoying most of the update, but I just have one issue with your version of one of my favorite fighter subclasses; the echo knight. I feel as if the alternate echo knight (Shadowdancer) has been made to be somewhat underwhelming. You removed unleash incarnation, one of its more powerful features, and left what remained to be what feels like a less interesting version of the original echo knight. The changes it has aside from unleash incarnation being removed are inconsequential and don't really succeed at making the subclass feel like an "alternate" version of the original. Of course it's understandable that some things had to be nerfed to make room for exploits, but the subclass nonetheless feels like nothing but a downgrade from the original. I even like the flavoring of it being an undead themed subclass less than the original version being chronomancy themed. (Giving the shade a stat block with a creature type automatically limits the many ways that the echo originally could be flavored. Does the shade being undead make it affected by turn/destroy undead? or by a paladin's divine sense?)
Brooke Abramson
2023-09-03 23:15:58 +0000 UTC
