Path of the Warlord

War is not a new thing. Since the dawn of time, creatures have disagreed, and when words failed them they would fight, shedding oceans of blood in an effort to make the world reflect their designs.

A Warlord is not born. Propelled into battle by a furious rage at their voice not being heard, they quickly learn what needs to be done to succeed in battle. A warlord is not born, they are forged. Just as rage drives the blade of a barbarian, experience tempers it, guiding the blade to the place most vulnerable. For only when the other voices are silenced, can yours be heard.

Warlords exist in many cultures, but are commonly found in monstrous ones that invade, conquer, and battle other creatures. Gnolls, Orcs, Hobgoblins and Bugbears are all common races for a Warlord Barbarian.

War Tactics

Beginning at 3rd level, your experience in battle has bore fruit. You learn maneuvers that represent your understanding of combat.

Maneuvers. You learn one maneuver of your choice, which is detailed in the maneuvers section below. Many maneuvers enhance an attack in some way. You can use only one maneuver per turn and can only use a maneuver while raging.

You learn an additional maneuver at 6th,  10th, and 14th level. Each time you learn a new maneuver, you can also switch one you know with a different one.

Saving Throw. Some of your maneuvers require your target to make a saving throw to resist the maneuver's effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Maneuver save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier.

Goading Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can attempt to goad the target into attacking you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target has disadvantage on all attack rolls against targets other than you until the end of your next turn.

Lunging Attack

When you make a melee weapon attack on your turn, you can increase your reach for that attack by 5 feet.

Pushing Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can attempt to drive the target back. If the target is Large or smaller, it must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, you push the target up to 15 feet away from you.

Rally

On your turn, you can use a bonus action to bolster the resolve of one of your companions. When you do so, choose a friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature gains temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier.

Tripping Attack

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can attempt to knock the target down. If the target is Large or smaller, it must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, you knock the target prone.

Scout The Battlefield

Beginning at 3rd level, your time spent on battlefields has taught you to read them. You can spend 10 minutes searching any area of recent conflict. You learn the following information:

• How many parties were involved in the conflict. For instance, a battle between bugbears and priests of a small town would be a battle between two parties.

• Who won the conflict, if any, and whether the victory was hard fought or an overwhelming victory.

• If you would know, you learn the parties involved. For instance, a Warlord with experience fighting goblins might understand their tactics enough to spot their mark on a battlefield.

Additionally, you have advantage on checks made to track creatures leaving a conflict.

Deflect Blows

Beginning at 6th level, experience has tempered your rage, allowing you to protect yourself to keep the fight going. Whenever a creature hits you with a weapon attack while you are raging, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage by an amount equal to 1d10 + half your barbarian level (minimum 1).

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining spent uses on a short or long rest.

Warlord's Vigor

Beginning at 10th level, you've learned to succeed where once you would have failed. If you fail a saving throw while you’re raging, you can reroll it, and you must use the new roll. You can use this ability only once per rage.

Give As Good As You Get

Beginning at 14th level, your prowess on the battlefield leaves no openings for your foes. Whenever you reduce the damage of an attack using your Deflect Blows feature, you can make a weapon attack against the creature that dared to strike you. When you make a weapon attack in this way, you can use a maneuver for that attack even if you have already used a maneuver this turn.