Arcane Half-caster

[Easy_Lee]

This has been discussed before. Does anyone know if WotC has plans to release an arcane half-caster similar to ranger and paladin? Bard used to fill this niche, but they've become full.

I'm aware that you can finagle this with fighter / wizard and similar, but I'm asking to see if there's anything official on the horizon, or if anyone has heard rumors.

[Rfkannen]

From what I've heard, it is something they plan to eventually make probably. Nothing is currently in the works or planned.

So yeah, they know people want it but nothing is planned yet.

[jaappleton]

Nope.

Nothing official, nothing in playtest, nothing on the horizon.

The closest thing to a playtest is the Artificer, which.... isn't what we're all looking for in an Arcane Half-Caster.

At all.

[Falcon X]

What is the other half of the class? That is, if it only has half spell progression, what else does it do to keep up with the other classes?

As it stands, we have a half-arcane progression fighter (Eldritch Knight) and a half-arcane progression rogue (Arcane Trickster).
Do you mean some kind of hedge wizard that only has ow level spells that it uses to high effect?

[Vaz]

Check in Xanathar's Guide to Everything when it's released. If it's in there, it's in there, if it's not, check each new release.

What do you want the Half Caster to do that's not already fulfilled elsewhere? Between refluffing a Paladin or Ranger (UA or otherwise), toning down (houserule, or self imposed limitations) a Bladesinger to only use the new spells progression of a half caster, a Shadow Monk, Warlock, Arcane Trickster, Eldritch Knight Fighter, or even going full Pseudo-caster with Magical Trickster, Spell Sniper, Ritual Casting on some other chassis, all tiers and abilities seem to be catered for.

[Kane0]

Nope, though theres plenty of homebrew to keep you happy. It was second only to fighter/ranger reworks in popularity a while ago.

[djreynolds]

I know this sounds dumb, but just roll up a battlemaster/wizard.
Essentially a half caster.
Battlemaster sorcerer sounds cool actually.
Finagle, but gives what you need

[Rowan Wolf]

I posted this in a homebrew related thread on half arcane casters

Arcane characters in this edition have more combat longivity invested in cantrips as opposed to divine (with a few exceptions one of which borrows arcane cantrips to do so) with falls back on weapon attacks. Half casters for some reason lack cantrips which could further illistrate the divine nature of the magic they wield, while the third casters have cantrips and a arcane (wizard) focused list.

That doesn't stop you from say designing the half caster to recieve cantrips at first level, but no spells until 2nd, but what role would you have the class play and would there need to be a spells known, or spells prepared type. I am still not sure why they went the spells known on the ranger while having paladin be a prepared caster (+ oath spells), besides different for the sake of difference.

[TheTeaMustFlow]

As it stands, we have a half-arcane progression fighter (Eldritch Knight) and a half-arcane progression rogue (Arcane Trickster).

Those aren't half-progression classes. They're 1/3-progression classes. A half-progression class would have up to 5th level spells, like the Paladin or the Ranger.

[Easy_Lee]

It just occurred to me that four elements monks can cast up to fifth level spells with their ki, including cone of cold. So, for the time being, I guess that's our closest thing to a single-classed arcane half-caster.

[Lombra]

Isn't the ranger an "arcane" half-caster? It doesn't have it's powers from the gods, or am I wrong in thinking that druids (because it's the same kind of magic) are not divine casters? Do they belong to a third type of casting?

Or is it just a question like:" why isn't there a CHA/INT half-caster with spells from the wizard's list?"

[Millstone85]

Isn't the ranger an "arcane" half-caster? It doesn't have it's powers from the gods, or am I wrong in thinking that druids (because it's the same kind of magic) are not divine casters? Do they belong to a third type of casting?The PHB p205 divides classes as such:
* Arcane magic: bard, fighter (eldritch knight), rogue (arcane trickster), sorcerer, warlock, wizard.
* Divine magic: cleric, druid, paladin, ranger.

D&D considers the power of nature to be divine. Obtaining it may involve communing with primal spirits or praying to deities like Silvanus.

In 4e, druids were of the primal power source instead of the divine power source. Rangers were of the martial power source, that is to say they didn't have magic.

[Easy_Lee]

For the arcane vs divine, it's more a matter of what the spells do. A half-cleric is different from a half-druid, but both are very different from a theoretical half-wizard. The different casting classes fill different roles.

A half-sorcerer could be cool, but I don't think we need more CHA casters.

[Lombra]

The PHB p205 divides classes as such:
* Arcane magic: bard, fighter (eldritch knight), rogue (arcane trickster), sorcerer, warlock, wizard.
* Divine magic: cleric, druid, paladin, ranger.

D&D considers the power of nature to be divine. Obtaining it may involve communing with primal spirits or praying to deities like Silvanus.

In 4e, druids were of the primal power source instead of the divine power source. Rangers were of the martial power source, that is to say they didn't have magic.

Totally missed that part, I understand now.


For the arcane vs divine, it's more a matter of what the spells do. A half-cleric is different from a half-druid, but both are very different from a theoretical half-wizard. The different casting classes fill different roles.

A half-sorcerer could be cool, but I don't think we need more CHA casters.

I would like another int based class too. But which role would it be used for? A class with 2 subclasses to cover offense and defense? If it's half martial then it should be combat-oriented, or maybe just a class with half spell progression that has perks and abilities unrelated to direct combat?

[Millstone85]

I would like another int based class too. But which role would it be used for? A class with 2 subclasses to cover offense and defense? If it's half martial then it should be combat-oriented, or maybe just a class with half spell progression that has perks and abilities unrelated to direct combat?I think your last two suggestions should be the subclasses. There is the guy who specializes in weapon-related magic, and there is the guy who just uses both weapons and magic.

[Lombra]

I think your last two suggestions should be the subclasses. There is the guy who specializes in weapon-related magic, and there is the guy who just uses both weapons and magic.

So a distinction like valor vs lore colleges for bards.

Except that in this case it is an half caster, so one subclass will promote swing&spell and the other will give perks to spellcasting, or possibly unique mechanics like rune scribing to support the party.

[Millstone85]

So a distinction like valor vs lore colleges for bards.

Except that in this case it is an half caster, so one subclass will promote swing&spell and the other will give perks to spellcasting, or possibly unique mechanics like rune scribing to support the party.If the rune scribing is about putting temporary enchantments on weapons and armors, then it falls under my idea of weapon-related magic. The current versions of the artificer and the forge cleric got a bit of that.

Swing&spell is how I would describe the subclass that doesn't go for any particular connection between its martial and magic halves, other than features like the classic bonus weapon attack after casting a spell.

Though the thing I would be really existed for is not an Int-based half-caster but an Int-based half-psion. First, it offers a way around the problem of 5e half-casters not having cantrips. Secondly, you can really sell the idea that your character just went through a martial training that acknowledged the magic within their body and mind. Very anime, yes, but why shouldn't it be?

[Easy_Lee]

I would like another int based class too. But which role would it be used for? A class with 2 subclasses to cover offense and defense? If it's half martial then it should be combat-oriented, or maybe just a class with half spell progression that has perks and abilities unrelated to direct combat?

If we consider revised ranger, the archetypes are good at scouting and dealing with hordes of weak enemies. Paladins, in contrast, have strong defenses, party buffs, and single-target damage.

An arcane half-caster ought be distinct from either. Some ideas:
- elemental damage (like four elements monk)
- crowd control
- skills (bard used to be this niche)
- buffs not provided by paladin or ranger (ex: things similar to bardic inspiration)
- counter magic (neither paladin or ranger can cast counterspell)
- conditions

Basically, I would make the class do things that paladins and rangers don't.

[Sans.]

A half-sorcerer could be cool, but I don't think we need more CHA casters.

Still think Warlock shoulda been Int-based.

[Easy_Lee]

Still think Warlock shoulda been Int-based.

Agreed. They fluff warlock as bargaining with the patron, but that hardly fits a great old one warlock whose patron may not even know of him.

It doesn't fit the images that come to my mind when I hear the word, either. Warlock makes me think of evil tomes of forbidden magic. The few warlocks I've seen in Forgotten Realms novels fit that image.

[Kane0]

Cue the montage!
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?526515-Prototype-class-Int-Half-Caster
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?532907-Spellsmith-Arcane-Half-Caster-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531608-Swordmage-(5e-Class)-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514179-The-Spellsword-(5e-base-class)-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531125-Swordmage-for-5e
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?529921-Spellblade-a-mix-of-warlock-and-paladin-with-a-bit-of-sorc-for-good-measure-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?456801-Arcane-Blade-Original-Class-(WIP)
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?399246-Duskblade-class-with-Magus-and-Swiftblade-archetypes
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?515265-The-Elemental-Sage-(INT-based-half-caster)-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?415297-D-amp-D-5e-The-Hexblade-(A-New-Class-with-Three-Archetypes-a-Work-in-Progress)
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?424205-5e-Class-Magus
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?486836-(Class)-Spellblade-Master-of-Sword-amp-Spell-Arcane-Halfcaster-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?388951-Eldritch-Knight-Base-Class-with-3-subclasses-(PEACH)
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?412947-5e-Swordmage-(Half-casting-two-subclass-variant)

Nothing official of course, but isn't any different than UA.

[JackOfAllBuilds]

I think a mix of the artificer (with balancing and identity issues addressed) and a revised form of runescribing blended together would make a decent half-caster

(I don't love how they did runes in the UA or how they ended up in SKT)

[Easy_Lee]

Cue the montage!
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?526515-Prototype-class-Int-Half-Caster
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?532907-Spellsmith-Arcane-Half-Caster-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531608-Swordmage-(5e-Class)-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514179-The-Spellsword-(5e-base-class)-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531125-Swordmage-for-5e
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?529921-Spellblade-a-mix-of-warlock-and-paladin-with-a-bit-of-sorc-for-good-measure-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?456801-Arcane-Blade-Original-Class-(WIP)
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?399246-Duskblade-class-with-Magus-and-Swiftblade-archetypes
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?515265-The-Elemental-Sage-(INT-based-half-caster)-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?415297-D-amp-D-5e-The-Hexblade-(A-New-Class-with-Three-Archetypes-a-Work-in-Progress)
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?424205-5e-Class-Magus
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?486836-(Class)-Spellblade-Master-of-Sword-amp-Spell-Arcane-Halfcaster-PEACH
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?388951-Eldritch-Knight-Base-Class-with-3-subclasses-(PEACH)
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?412947-5e-Swordmage-(Half-casting-two-subclass-variant)

Nothing official of course, but isn't any different than UA.

Nice compilation. I took a look. Seems like a lot of people like the weapon bond type features.