Fighter: Banneret (Purple Dragon Knight) | D&D Subclass Review

[@dakila101]

Your thumbnail designs for the last 3 fighter videos are so good. I find myself instinctively clicking on them. Hope you keep them! 😁

[@Machiavelli225]

Got my own redesign for the Banneret that I use at my table. *Rallying Cry* Starting at 3rd level, as a bonus action, you can choose up to three creatures within 60 feet of you that are allied with you. Each of them gains temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). You may use this feature a number of times per day equal to your proficiency bonus. Regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest. *Royal Squire* Starting at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion. *Inspiring Presence* Starting at 7th level, you gain proficiency in Charisma saving throws. Additionally, when your allies receive the benefit of your Rallying Cry, they may use their reaction to move up to half of their speed without provoking attacks of opportunity. *Royal Envoy* At 7th level, choose a skill from the Royal Squire feature list. You double your proficiency bonus with any ability check with the chosen skill. *Surge of Perseverance* Starting at 10th level, when you use your Action Surge feature, choose three allies within 60 feet of you. Each of them gain a bonus to their AC equal to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down). This benefit lasts for 1 minute, or until you’re incapacitated. *Living Bulwark* Beginning at 15th level, when your allies receive the benefit of your Rallying Cry, you may end any effect causing them to be charmed or frightened. *Seasoned Ingenuity* Beginning at 18th level, when you roll for initiative, choose a number of allied creatures equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one) that are within 60 feet of you. These allied creatures have advantage on their initiative rolls. Additionally, if your total for an initiative roll is less than your Charisma score, you can use that score in place of the total.

[@WalkOnNick]

I don't think the agency problem of inspiring surge is really a thing. You can simply ask beforehand. There is bound to be one ally within 60 ft. that WANTS to trade their reaction for an attack.

[@Indestructoboy]

Sure, but the playfeel is just off for that and it's not really doing enough for you here.

[@falrexion7709]

I'm inclined to agree but I'd rather it have been something more along the lines of "you can forgo up to the three attacks when you would take the attack action against a creature within 30ft of you and bloater your allies with your strength instead. Any ally within 60ft of you can make additional attacks on their turn, until the number of additional attacks take is equal to the number of attacks you did not make, or until the start of your next turn" Much more wordy but more interesting in my opinion. This said, if they wanted to lean into the wisdom modifier a bit more, they could just have given something like the war priest feature for your allies.

[@godminnette2]

It's more the issue that it's a bonus that's already conditional on expending a somewhat scarce resource (action surge). An improvement to a scarce resource, especially at 10th level, should not be conditional in that way. It's not like you can give this reaction somewhat commonly; there are likely to be cases where it would be best to action surge but where this does not apply, especially if you don't have someone with ranged weapon attacks in the party.

[@ODDnanref]

@@godminnette2 Yeah, at that point just make it a separate feature that you consume to grab this ability. If you are going to make it consume and be conditional, then give the player another one. Though, with action surge it is already strong. Having more is a bit too much for other builds. Then again, it is really high in level.

[@designatedvillain738]

Love these guides! Great work as always

[@SharinganVizard07]

Mixing Class Features with Subclass features sounds kind of neat, but in practice, it feels like if you already burned your uses of those abilities early on in a session, it feels like you don't really have a subclass

[@Indestructoboy]

Correct

[@misterright4528]

Great breakdown! The fighter is definitely missing a 'knightly' subclass. I almost think you could mash the cavalier with the banneret and get something we are all wanting

[@richardchisenhall387]

Ive been trying to rework the banneret to make it more up to snuff while also being balanced but idk where to post it. There's some boosts to the second wind ability, gaining 3 superiority die at lvl 3 and learning connecting presence, rally, and commander's strike it's a complete rework while retaining the spirit of the class and not stepping on the battle masters toes

[@toufexisk]

Cant wait to see what oneDnD will do for this one (hopefully they will). It has so much potential!

[@nathanwood1561]

I think if you tack on some ability like the Unearthed Arcana Tandem Tactician or the Masterminds Help action ability at 3rd level, but also give it some kind of Feywild Hobgoblin tacked on ability. Maybe let it spend a Hit Dice for healing, or add a d8 to their attack or damage. Maybe some kind of reposition for half movement and their reaction. Or something similar to what the Expert sidekick does. Then at level 7 allow them to replace any of their extra attacks with a help action each turn. I think the Help action is underutilized in Subclasses and it could be explored to give a more battlefield commander vibe.

[@RETRODIBUS]

This subclass feels like they only thought about "a dragon breathes fire on the whole party, the fighter helps them succed the saving throw, heals them and commands multiple party members to pepper the dragon with attacks". Just that one round/turn/scene and called it a day

[@SilvrSavior]

The 3rd level second wind feature should also allow any ally next to an unconscious ally you wish to apply the healing towards to take a reaction to facilitate 'wake' the person up.

[@jasontodd433]

I like that it ties in with what the fighter is already doing but I think it needs a bit of help. 3rd lvl: you get the proficeny and expertise that was original at 7th lvl, in addition to another use of Second Wind 7th lvl: You get Inspiring Surge and an additional use of Action Surge 10th level: You get Bulwark and an additional use of Indomitable but the wording changes to "When a creature other than you fails a saving throw while withing 60ft of you and you aren't incapacitated, you can expend a use of Indomitable and each creature (including yourself) of your choice within 60ft of you can re-roll the saving throw and add your PB to their roll." 15th level: You gain "Fighting Spirit - as an action you may let loose a valiant cry, any number of creatures of your choice other than you within 60ft of you adds your Cha modifier to their "to hit" roll and spell save DC for the duration. Fighting Spirit lasts for 5min and returns on a short rest" 18th lvl: You gain one additional use of Second Wind, Action Surge, Indomitable, and Fighting Spirit

[@adibaby96]

In a hypothetical rewrite I would want inspiring surge to be one of two things: your ally can spend a reaction when you action surge and they can do something that normally requires an action or a reaction, or I would keep it as an attack of some kind (I’d include cantrips in there as well) and just have it be something they can do for free on your turn. I’d prefer the former though that is very powerful, either more utility or less resource expenditure.

[@LoLotov]

Kind of like with necromancer wizards and other hard summoning leaning characters, I feel like this class is best for one on one dnd, which is ironic for a class with such social flavor. Surely a great time for that, but needs to be easier to use in a party.

[@danielmattos2813]

I like the subclass in concept cause it feels like it intends to be a support class. But yes I think that it is underpowered

[@jacobyullman5005]

Ah, the Banneret. Or as I like to call it, the one everybody forgets even exists. Seriously though, this subclass is so undesirable that, not only have I never seen it played, most players I've talked to about the subclass forgot it was even a thing. It's not even an option in most players' minds. The only other subclass that even comes close to being as straight up FORGOTTEN as the Banneret, would be the Battlerager Barbarian. These two subclasses have to be the worst designed, least played, and most forgotten subclasses in all of D&D5e. Even most other "lackluster" subclasses don't suffer the way these two suffer. I've at least seen, or heard of, players attempting to play things like Arcane Archer Fighter, Four Elements Monk, or Storm Herald Barbarian, and try to make something out of them. NO ONE plays Banneret or Battlerager.

[@spatha08]

Inspiring surge is great for a Rogue to get another sneak attack in a turn. I agree 10th level way to late for the ability.

[@witchBoi_Connor]

Ah yes... the subclass I hate the most in all of 5e, on my most hated class in 5e. This thing sucks. (And yes I've played it, it was in fact the first class+subclass I ever played.)

[@noahabbe7960]

NPC mercenarys can gay a lot out of thid