Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Diffan Feb 10, 2015 6:35:02	I just got done writing up my version of the Bladesinger for 5E. It's not a full-class write but a sub-path of the Wizard called the School of Bladesong. Here's my reasoning for a sub-path in lieu of a full-class writeup.    ·  A full class write-up needs significantly more substance in it's features and should follow the same method of other classes. ·  A sub-path is easier to incorporate and easier to balance against similar features. ·  Sub-paths don't rely on feats and features that aren't incorporated into the Basic, free-download version. ·  Sub-paths add to the basics of the main class, putting the heavy lifting mechanics-wise instead of the sub-path.   When I decided to convert the Bladesinger there were a myriad of possibilities available to use. Feats was one avenue to explore however I didn't want to put THAT much power into one singular thing that could be picked up in 1 level. There's just too much to convert that would make such a feat almost an ALWAYS choose option (something I wanted to avoid). And like I said above, I wasn't a fan of re-creating an entire class with it's own mechanics and sub-paths that branched off of it. This left me with the sub-path. Question now was, which class to base it off of.  At first I was going to use the Bard. Song, Singing, Art, Dance, etc. are all tenets of the Bladesinger and it made sense from that perspective to just take some features there. But when you look at the College of Valor, it pretty much does this already. Then there's the Fighter and it has a HOST of features that make it excel at combat, but they already have the Eldritch Knight. What I wanted to do is make the Bladesinger distinct because I could already just re-flavor either of those two as "bladesinger" and it would generally work. Then I came across the Wizard and it's Arcane Traditions. The wizard isn't built for melee combat at all (no proficiency in armor, weapons, d6 Hit Die, etc.) but that sort of plays into the Bladesinger idea, that he's not a stand-n-fight soldier. He uses quick strikes, spells, and maneuverability in combat and doesn't want to be around when the bad-guy starts swinging. So a d6 HD isn't all that bad of a thing IMO. Further, high-elves pride themselves on arcane might and power that's derived from Intelligence. Unlike the Bard (who's Charisma-based), a Wizard has spells and studies his books to gain the arcane might, something I felt was more in-tune with what a Bladesinger would also do. Now the wizard does cast 9th level spells and most Bladesingers don't cast really high level spells. Unfortunately there's no real easy way to eliminate 7th thru 9th level spells the Wizard has access to in lieu of another feature, so we're sort of stuck with these spells as a class feature.    So without further ado, here's my version of the Bladesinger as an Arcane Tradition:   SCHOOL OF BLADESONG  Elves, since they’ve learned the ancient Art of magic, have been blending its effects alongside the use of swords and other martial ways. This art-form is collectively known as Bladesinging or Bladesong. The use of this style is unique among the elves and is highly cherished, and kept secretive, to only those of their blood-lines. In more recent times, as the elven nations fell and their presence in the world reduced, they have started training those with only half-blood this ancient art-form. However this attitude isn’t shared by all elves and many believe such teachings to those who are “tainted” has in itself tainted the practice. Prerequisite: If one wishes to learn the art of Bladesong they must be an Elf (high or wood) or Half-elven and find an instructor who’s willing to teach them the way.   MARTIAL FOCUS Beginning when you select this school at 2nd level, you gain proficiency with light armor and the Performance skill. Additionally you can treat longswords as a finesse weapon. BLADESONG STYLE Starting at 2nd level when you select this school, you gain a +2 shield bonus to your armor class so long as you are wielding a longsword or rapier in one hand and nothing in the other and are wearing light or no armor. If you don medium or heavier armor, wield something in your off-hand, or are unconscious you lose the benefits of Bladesong. SONG OF CELERITY  Beginning at 6th level, when you use your action to make a weapon-based attack, you can cast a cantrip as a bonus action. SPELLSONG Starting at 10th level, you have advantage on Constitution-based checks when maintaining your concentration. SONG OF FURY Starting at 14th level, whenever you cast a 1st through 5th level  spell you may also make a weapon-based attack that uses your Bonus Action.    As you can see ther eare similarities to the College of Valor and the Eldritch Knight (mostly in the use-spell + attack ability). What I'm not sure on is how powerful this school is compared to other schools of Wizards and similar features given to other classes of similar style. For example, Song of Celerity is granted at 6th level but the Bard's feature is granted at 7th, so would this be "broken"?    Another thing is Bladesong feature, is a +6 shield bonus + max Dex AND prof. with light armor TOO much? Should I reduce Bladesong to 1/2 Proficiency bonus (rounded down) instead? I was also thinking of limiting the schools a Bladesinger had access to such as restricting ALL spells from the school of Necromancy. Would this be a good move (even  though it's in-tune with what has been writen about Elves and their distain / distrust of "dark" magic?    Last, but not least, does this overshadow or out-right negate the Eldritch Knight sub-path? That's something I really don't want to do, make a path or feature straight-up better than a similar style. Re-reading the Eldritch Knight, it gets a LOT more features and does really impressive stuff like Teleport, call weapons to their hands and the like but is that any comparison to 7th through 9th level wizard-spell access?       Or maybe I'm going about this the wrong way and should just re-flavor an Elf Eldritch Knight or Bard of Valor into a Bladesinger and role-play the rest? It's the easiest route but definitely not the most fulfilling.      EDIT: Changed some of the features to reflect the ideas and concerns on power-balance.
#2 Cyber-Dave Feb 10, 2015 8:56:33	Diffan wrote:
#3 mellored Feb 10, 2015 9:11:22	Still like it as a paladin best.  You need smite-type spells.
(Reply to #2) Diffan	Cyber-Dave wrote:
#5 Cyber-Dave Feb 10, 2015 14:54:28	Diffan wrote:
#6 lawrencehoy Feb 12, 2015 21:50:52	Diffan wrote:
#7 JohnLynch Feb 12, 2015 22:30:30	What does this bring to the table that we don't already have with the bard?   Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of a Fightery wizard archetype (fighter's get a wizard archetype so it only seems fair). However for the bladesinger specifically, the bard seems like such a good fit. I'd probably rename this warmage or battlemage.
(Reply to #6) Diffan	lawrencehoy wrote: