Hello, I have made a fighter subclass with focus on being able to use ranged weapons in melee range and be fairly complex when positioning and going prone (see below). I would like help balancing/rephrasing the subclass.
My main issue right now is the lvl 10 feature: Combat Stance and it's interaction with the lvl 18 feature: Inexhaustible Warrior essentially giving you access to uncanny dodge without needing to use a reaction. My attempt to balance it was tying hit dice into the cost of the player using the feature, but that feels like going the wrong way about it. Halving damage is powerful and so is flat damage reduction, so I need a way to keep it as an all around defensive feature without it being too powerful or by giving it a heavier cost.
I do want feedback on the other features, but the lvl 10 feature seems the most troublesome.
Anyway, enough rambling, here you go:
Level 3: Flexible Talent You have learned to harness your physical might in ranged combat. You gain the following benefits:
You can now use your Strength modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier for ranged weapon attack rolls and damage rolls.
You no longer suffer disadvantage on ranged weapon attack rolls when within 5 feet of a hostile creature.
Whenever you hit an enemy within 5 feet of you with a ranged weapon attack, you deal bonus damage to them equal to your proficiency modifier.
Enemies provoke a special opportunity attack from you when they enter within 5 feet of you.
Before making this attack, you may immediately stand up from prone.
You have advantage on the attack given by this feature.
This is an opportunity attack, and as such requires the use of a reaction.
Level 7: Precise Hit You gain a number of warfare charges equal to twice your proficiency bonus. These charges refresh after you finish a long rest. As a bonus action, when you hit an enemy with a ranged weapon attack, you can expend one warfare charge to increase the damage dealt to the target by your fighter level.
Level 10: Combat Stance You can now expend one warfare charge, expend one of your hit dice, and use your reaction to halve the damage taken by one instance of damage. Additionally, you gain the following benefits:
You no longer suffer disadvantage when making ranged weapon attack rolls while prone.
You have advantage on ranged weapon attack rolls while prone.
Standing up from prone only costs 5 feet of movement.
Level 15: Center of Mass When you have advantage on a ranged weapon attack roll, you can expend one warfare charge to forgo the advantage and make an additional attack as part of the same action. You can use this feature once per turn.
Level 18: Inexhaustible Warrior You have become an unstoppable force on the battlefield, and as such gain the following benefits:
You no longer require a bonus action to use your Precise Hit (Level 7) feature.
You no longer need to use a reaction to activate your Combat Stance (Level 10) feature.
Your Center of Mass (Level 15) feature no longer has a limit on how often it can be used.
When you use your Action Surge, you regain all expended warfare charges.
Yeah, I know. I think removing the "You no longer need to use a reaction to activate your Combat Stance (Level 10) feature." Entirely might better balance it. In conjunction with the removal of the hit dice cost.
Changing the "Your Center of Mass (Level 15) feature no longer has a limit on how often it can be used." To be "Your Center of Mass (Level 15) feature can now be used once per action instead of once per turn" would help even more so.
Here is a balanced version, though I suspect you won't like it:
Level 3: Point-blank You have learned to harness your physical might in ranged combat. You gain the following benefits:
You can now use your Strength modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier for ranged weapon attack rolls and damage rolls.
You no longer suffer disadvantage on ranged weapon attack rolls when within 5 feet of a hostile creature.
Whenever you hit an enemy within 5 feet of you with a ranged weapon attack, you can increase the die size of that weapon by one size (i.e. 1d4->1d6, 1d6 ->1d8, 1d8->1d10, 1d10->1d12)
Level 7: Precise Hit You gain a number of warfare charges equal to twice your proficiency bonus. These charges refresh after you finish a long rest. As a bonus action, when you hit an enemy with a ranged weapon attack, you can expend one warfare charge to deal extra damage equal to one roll of the weapon's damage die + your Constitution modifier.
Level 10: Combat Stance You gain the following benefits:
You no longer suffer disadvantage when making ranged weapon attack rolls while prone.
You can stand up from prone by using only 5 ft of movement.
If you take damage while prone, you can use your reaction to expend 1 warfare charge to half that instance of damage.
Level 15: Center of Mass When you have advantage on a ranged weapon attack roll, you can expend one warfare charge to forgo the advantage and make an additional attack as part of the same action. You can use this feature once per turn.
Level 18: Inexhaustible Warrior You have become an unstoppable force on the battlefield, and as such gain the following benefits:
You no longer require a bonus action to use your Precise Hit (Level 7) feature, but it can still only be used once per turn.
You regain all expended warfare charges when you finish a short or long rest.
This subclass does not pursue your stated attempt of being able to use ranged weapon while in melee. After 3rd level, the features seem to abandon that.
If you want an archer who does well face-to-face with enemies, I think that could be handled as a feat.
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Hello, I have made a fighter subclass with focus on being able to use ranged weapons in melee range and be fairly complex when positioning and going prone (see below). I would like help balancing/rephrasing the subclass.
My main issue right now is the lvl 10 feature: Combat Stance and it's interaction with the lvl 18 feature: Inexhaustible Warrior essentially giving you access to uncanny dodge without needing to use a reaction. My attempt to balance it was tying hit dice into the cost of the player using the feature, but that feels like going the wrong way about it. Halving damage is powerful and so is flat damage reduction, so I need a way to keep it as an all around defensive feature without it being too powerful or by giving it a heavier cost.
I do want feedback on the other features, but the lvl 10 feature seems the most troublesome.
Anyway, enough rambling, here you go:
Level 3: Flexible Talent
You have learned to harness your physical might in ranged combat. You gain the following benefits:
Level 7: Precise Hit
You gain a number of warfare charges equal to twice your proficiency bonus. These charges refresh after you finish a long rest. As a bonus action, when you hit an enemy with a ranged weapon attack, you can expend one warfare charge to increase the damage dealt to the target by your fighter level.
Level 10: Combat Stance
You can now expend one warfare charge, expend one of your hit dice, and use your reaction to halve the damage taken by one instance of damage. Additionally, you gain the following benefits:
Level 15: Center of Mass
When you have advantage on a ranged weapon attack roll, you can expend one warfare charge to forgo the advantage and make an additional attack as part of the same action. You can use this feature once per turn.
Level 18: Inexhaustible Warrior
You have become an unstoppable force on the battlefield, and as such gain the following benefits:
Um.. yeah... no... this is just extremely OP in a lot of ways. You do you on this one.
Yeah, I know. I think removing the "You no longer need to use a reaction to activate your Combat Stance (Level 10) feature." Entirely might better balance it. In conjunction with the removal of the hit dice cost.
Changing the "Your Center of Mass (Level 15) feature no longer has a limit on how often it can be used." To be "Your Center of Mass (Level 15) feature can now be used once per action instead of once per turn" would help even more so.
Here is a balanced version, though I suspect you won't like it:
Level 3: Point-blank
You have learned to harness your physical might in ranged combat. You gain the following benefits:
(i.e. 1d4->1d6, 1d6 ->1d8, 1d8->1d10, 1d10->1d12)
Level 7: Precise Hit
You gain a number of warfare charges equal to twice your proficiency bonus. These charges refresh after you finish a long rest. As a bonus action, when you hit an enemy with a ranged weapon attack, you can expend one warfare charge to deal extra damage equal to one roll of the weapon's damage die + your Constitution modifier.
Level 10: Combat Stance
You gain the following benefits:
Level 15: Center of Mass
When you have advantage on a ranged weapon attack roll, you can expend one warfare charge to forgo the advantage and make an additional attack as part of the same action. You can use this feature once per turn.
Level 18: Inexhaustible Warrior
You have become an unstoppable force on the battlefield, and as such gain the following benefits:
I do like those changes, they do sound good. I'll playtest again with friends later.
This subclass does not pursue your stated attempt of being able to use ranged weapon while in melee. After 3rd level, the features seem to abandon that.
If you want an archer who does well face-to-face with enemies, I think that could be handled as a feat.