For my first DnD5e PC I choose a Human Fighter. Wow, I created him during the first playtests at PAX East in 2012 and to this day I love him so much.
Keeping up with all the playtest updates was a chore, but seeing my feedback have an impact really mattered.
Once the PHB released I was so glad to see the final rules set for the Fighter class. The best parts of 4e were there alongside the improvements on 3e and the spirit of 2e. I never really played 1e back in the day.
I choose Battle Master as my sub-class because the Maneuvers are simply lovely to put into use.
Alongside a Fighter who morphed into a Ranger as the playtest went on, a Rogue, Cleric, and Wizard, our party was so well formed.
Somehow, I found the 'Warlord-like' maneuvers to be most to my liking.. though come on, Parry doesn't have much of an equal.
Still, using the Fighter for defense and support has brought me a lot of joy and definitely put my character in a leadership position amongst our group.
I rolled int as my second highest stat just so i could play up the 'tactician' oriented fighter (and cast spells cause i'm EK). As i engage in combat with my allies i carefully make note of all the abilities they employ, and draft plans on how best to optimize our synergies in future battles. In-game this is because my character was groomed to become a general one day. He has a very sharp mind for tactics and strategy and hates rushing in to battle unprepared, as so many heroes like to do. I try to assume a position of leadership for the benefit of the team, but whether they listen to me or not is another story, lol.
I actually haven't used my fighter to lead yet. My next character I'm thinking a cha heavy fighter to be a faux-paladin. Battle master would be the way to go for me too. I think it'll be interesting and DEFINITELY not a min/max powergaming type character. I'm looking forward to it :)
I had to use my fighter to when our regular 'Face' was away for a few sessions. Due to having 7 CHA I left a slew of confused, bewildered and slightly battered NPCs in my wake but things got done. In combat I like the Battlemaster features though would like more mechanical options unless you compensate RP fights can get a bit boring, but at least I find it fairly easy to control battles especially by taking some choice feats.
My go to Fighter Archetype for a party leader is Purple Dragon Knight with the Inspiring Leader feat. With decent Charisma and their Royal Envoy feature they are good in any interaction that is Persuasion based and between Inspiring Leader, Inspiring Surge and Rallying Cry they have plenty of "leader" style abilities.
I'm using a champion for my first time back in a while, and it is very easy to use.
Being a leader is subjective, I use inspiring leader to try and boost the group in battle. I've got decent charisma (and persuasion), and background of Noble (knight) so the group looks to me in conversing with others (does not always work). And the group does not always listen to what I say!
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Odo Proudfoot - Lvl 10 Halfling Monk - Princes of the Apocalypse (Campaign Finished)
I like the fighter being the combat leader, especially the battle master. It just fits thematically. I usually shout out instructions while I wade into battle for the wizard to focus his spells on a particular enemy. The party members don’t always listen, but it’s my character’s ‘way’
i don’t have high charisma so being the face of the party is much harder. I like to intimidate or be used to intimidate out of combat more than anything. As our rogue is negotiating with an unsavory type, he may say some thing like “See that large chap over there with that very sharp sword? He thinks that you are trying to cheat us with that offer and he REALLY hates to feel cheated” <insert my best scary scowl here or start shaving my arm hairs with my blade>
The character I typically run is a human Cavalier Fighter. As a dedicated fighter whose class features prioritize Strength and Constitution, Ragnis typically never has spectacular Charisma or Intelligence. Despite coming from a noble background, he's not especially erudite and charming--but he typically makes up for what he lacks in knowledge and a silver tongue in being generally likable and determined. As a Cavalier, he's often the biggest/most dedicated tank in the party, drawing the ire of the enemy on himself and away from his allies. I also roleplay him as a classical knight in shining armor--or at least, a nobleman trying to be an honorable knight--often to the point I joke that he's something of a paladin without a concrete oath or divine powers.
As for the times when he's wound up being something approaching the party face, it's typically because of his status as a noble scion and his Lawful Good nature often makes him the most approachable member of an otherwise quirky or shady party. From a more meta perspective, there have been at least two campaigns he's been in where he's wound up being the only remaining member of the original team to either have survived or stayed in the group for the entire campaign. This has resulted in him filling the role of a leader more or less by default, as his presence ropes the newer party member into the plot of the campaign. This has become especially prevalent in the Drakkenheim campaign we're currently playing, as Ragnis' association with the Hooded Lanterns right from the get-go more or less guided the party towards ultimately aligning with them. After a certain point, the party more or less recognized him as their leader, though I try to make sure not to let that get to my head and act more as a first among equals rather than a commander and his subordinates. Very recently, the entire rest of the party's roster got switched around as players left, joined, or switched to new characters more or less within two sessions--leaving Ragnis as the only remaining party member of the group to welcome the new PCs. Two of them were specifically introduced to Ragnis to join the party, while another approached him to join as well.
In summary, whenever he is made the leader--nominal or otherwise--Ragnis typically is less of a tactician and is more the dependable frontline tank who keeps the enemy occupied so that the rest of the party might shine in their individual way. Despite his noble status, he never puts himself above the other PCs nor presumes to command them, preferring to act as their protector in battle and their face in social interactions, barring the presence of a more charismatic character. Otherwise, his style of leadership most around him being the most driven and dedicated to the mission at hand, whilst respecting the autonomy of his fellow party memebers.
Hello, hello!
For my first DnD5e PC I choose a Human Fighter. Wow, I created him during the first playtests at PAX East in 2012 and to this day I love him so much.
Keeping up with all the playtest updates was a chore, but seeing my feedback have an impact really mattered.
Once the PHB released I was so glad to see the final rules set for the Fighter class. The best parts of 4e were there alongside the improvements on 3e and the spirit of 2e. I never really played 1e back in the day.
I choose Battle Master as my sub-class because the Maneuvers are simply lovely to put into use.
Alongside a Fighter who morphed into a Ranger as the playtest went on, a Rogue, Cleric, and Wizard, our party was so well formed.
Somehow, I found the 'Warlord-like' maneuvers to be most to my liking.. though come on, Parry doesn't have much of an equal.
Still, using the Fighter for defense and support has brought me a lot of joy and definitely put my character in a leadership position amongst our group.
How have all of you used your Fighters to lead?
Twitter @berlingsbeard
blog berlingsbeard.com
Hello friend!
It's my first time DMing, and my players just reached level 3.
So we went looking for the new level's perks and we found these maneuvers.
At first glance they seemed very overpowered compared to the "Champion" which only adds 5% of a critical hit.
You think that's the case? Or am I missing something?
Greetings from Brazil.
I rolled int as my second highest stat just so i could play up the 'tactician' oriented fighter (and cast spells cause i'm EK). As i engage in combat with my allies i carefully make note of all the abilities they employ, and draft plans on how best to optimize our synergies in future battles. In-game this is because my character was groomed to become a general one day. He has a very sharp mind for tactics and strategy and hates rushing in to battle unprepared, as so many heroes like to do. I try to assume a position of leadership for the benefit of the team, but whether they listen to me or not is another story, lol.
Hi, Saint7!
I have found the Champion to be a very helpful subclass for players who do not want to track resources.
The Champion has passive powers which are always active.
The Battle Master has very active powers which are passive until activated. Mechanically, this subclass has more complexity surrounding it.
For me, I choose the Battle Master. For one of my players who is about 5 years of age, I gave her the Champion.
Have fun! Greetings from the USA!
Twitter @berlingsbeard
blog berlingsbeard.com
I actually haven't used my fighter to lead yet. My next character I'm thinking a cha heavy fighter to be a faux-paladin. Battle master would be the way to go for me too. I think it'll be interesting and DEFINITELY not a min/max powergaming type character. I'm looking forward to it :)
I had to use my fighter to when our regular 'Face' was away for a few sessions. Due to having 7 CHA I left a slew of confused, bewildered and slightly battered NPCs in my wake but things got done. In combat I like the Battlemaster features though would like more mechanical options unless you compensate RP fights can get a bit boring, but at least I find it fairly easy to control battles especially by taking some choice feats.
My go to Fighter Archetype for a party leader is Purple Dragon Knight with the Inspiring Leader feat. With decent Charisma and their Royal Envoy feature they are good in any interaction that is Persuasion based and between Inspiring Leader, Inspiring Surge and Rallying Cry they have plenty of "leader" style abilities.
I'm using a champion for my first time back in a while, and it is very easy to use.
Being a leader is subjective, I use inspiring leader to try and boost the group in battle. I've got decent charisma (and persuasion), and background of Noble (knight) so the group looks to me in conversing with others (does not always work). And the group does not always listen to what I say!
Odo Proudfoot - Lvl 10 Halfling Monk - Princes of the Apocalypse (Campaign Finished)
Orryn Pebblefoot - Lvl 5 Rock Gnome Wizard (Deceased) - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Deceased)
Anerin Ap Tewdr - Lvl 5 Human (Variant) Bard (College of Valor) - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
I like the fighter being the combat leader, especially the battle master. It just fits thematically. I usually shout out instructions while I wade into battle for the wizard to focus his spells on a particular enemy. The party members don’t always listen, but it’s my character’s ‘way’
i don’t have high charisma so being the face of the party is much harder. I like to intimidate or be used to intimidate out of combat more than anything. As our rogue is negotiating with an unsavory type, he may say some thing like “See that large chap over there with that very sharp sword? He thinks that you are trying to cheat us with that offer and he REALLY hates to feel cheated” <insert my best scary scowl here or start shaving my arm hairs with my blade>
The character I typically run is a human Cavalier Fighter. As a dedicated fighter whose class features prioritize Strength and Constitution, Ragnis typically never has spectacular Charisma or Intelligence. Despite coming from a noble background, he's not especially erudite and charming--but he typically makes up for what he lacks in knowledge and a silver tongue in being generally likable and determined. As a Cavalier, he's often the biggest/most dedicated tank in the party, drawing the ire of the enemy on himself and away from his allies. I also roleplay him as a classical knight in shining armor--or at least, a nobleman trying to be an honorable knight--often to the point I joke that he's something of a paladin without a concrete oath or divine powers.
As for the times when he's wound up being something approaching the party face, it's typically because of his status as a noble scion and his Lawful Good nature often makes him the most approachable member of an otherwise quirky or shady party. From a more meta perspective, there have been at least two campaigns he's been in where he's wound up being the only remaining member of the original team to either have survived or stayed in the group for the entire campaign. This has resulted in him filling the role of a leader more or less by default, as his presence ropes the newer party member into the plot of the campaign. This has become especially prevalent in the Drakkenheim campaign we're currently playing, as Ragnis' association with the Hooded Lanterns right from the get-go more or less guided the party towards ultimately aligning with them. After a certain point, the party more or less recognized him as their leader, though I try to make sure not to let that get to my head and act more as a first among equals rather than a commander and his subordinates. Very recently, the entire rest of the party's roster got switched around as players left, joined, or switched to new characters more or less within two sessions--leaving Ragnis as the only remaining party member of the group to welcome the new PCs. Two of them were specifically introduced to Ragnis to join the party, while another approached him to join as well.
In summary, whenever he is made the leader--nominal or otherwise--Ragnis typically is less of a tactician and is more the dependable frontline tank who keeps the enemy occupied so that the rest of the party might shine in their individual way. Despite his noble status, he never puts himself above the other PCs nor presumes to command them, preferring to act as their protector in battle and their face in social interactions, barring the presence of a more charismatic character. Otherwise, his style of leadership most around him being the most driven and dedicated to the mission at hand, whilst respecting the autonomy of his fellow party memebers.