Nov 7, 2018 9:57 pm
I wanted to get some feedback on a homebrew to make the Battle Master's Combat Superiority feature available to all martial classes. My goal is to make martial classes have a little more utility. The basic idea is to count the number of "martial levels" the character has and grant combat maneuvers and superiority dice based on that.
I hope that this change comes off as extremely simple and consistent with the rest of 5e.
Link to the writeup on GM's Binder: https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-LQjbFRpqkU-6YrcMqbc
Combat Superiority
Warriors train hard, constantly improving their skill with weapon and tactics to employ against their enemy. This homebrew rule enhances all martial classes by allowing them access to the Battle Master Combat Superiority feature.
All martial classes gain the Battle Master Combat Superiority feature when they reach 3rd-level in martial classes. Your knowledge of combat maneuvers and size and number of superiority dice depends on your combined levels of all martial classes. Classes that focus entirely on martial expertise gain martial levels faster than those that trade off time studying spellcasting.
Martial level. You determine your character's martial level by adding together all your levels in the fighter class, half your levels (rounded down) in the barbarian and rogue classes, and a third of your level in the paladin and ranger classes. If you have the Eldritch Knight feature then you add only half your level for the class. If you have the Arcane Trickster feature then you add only a third of your level for the class.
For example, if you are a fighter 3/paladin 7 then you count as a 5th-level character when determining your combat superiority level.
Maneuvers
When learning maneuvers, you may select from all maneuvers listed in the PHB (pg 74) in addition to the following:
Student of War
You gain proficiency with one type of artisan's tools of your choice.
Know Your Enemy
Prerequisite: 7th martial level
If you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with another creature outside combat, you can expend one superiority die to learn certain information about its capabilities compared to your own. The DM tells you if the creature is your equal, superior, or inferior in regard to two of the following characteristics of your choice:
* Strength score
* Dexterity score
* Constitution score
* Armor Class
* Current hit points
* Total class levels (if any)
* Fighter class levels (if any)
Relentless
Prerequisite: 15th martial level
When you roll initiative and have no superiority dice remaining, you regain 1 superiority die.
##### Combat Superiority
| Martial Level | Maneuvers | Superiority Dice |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| 3rd | 3 | 4d8 |
| 4th | 3 | 4d8 |
| 5th | 3 | 4d8 |
| 6th | 3 | 4d8 |
| 7th | 5 | 5d8 |
| 8th | 5 | 5d8 |
| 9th | 5 | 5d8 |
| 10th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 11th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 12th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 13th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 14th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 15th | 9 | 6d10 |
| 16th | 9 | 6d10 |
| 17th | 9 | 6d10 |
| 18th | 9 | 6d12 |
| 19th | 9 | 6d12 |
| 20th | 9 | 6d12 |
I hope that this change comes off as extremely simple and consistent with the rest of 5e.
Link to the writeup on GM's Binder: https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-LQjbFRpqkU-6YrcMqbc
[ +- ] Full Text
Combat Superiority
Warriors train hard, constantly improving their skill with weapon and tactics to employ against their enemy. This homebrew rule enhances all martial classes by allowing them access to the Battle Master Combat Superiority feature.
All martial classes gain the Battle Master Combat Superiority feature when they reach 3rd-level in martial classes. Your knowledge of combat maneuvers and size and number of superiority dice depends on your combined levels of all martial classes. Classes that focus entirely on martial expertise gain martial levels faster than those that trade off time studying spellcasting.
Martial level. You determine your character's martial level by adding together all your levels in the fighter class, half your levels (rounded down) in the barbarian and rogue classes, and a third of your level in the paladin and ranger classes. If you have the Eldritch Knight feature then you add only half your level for the class. If you have the Arcane Trickster feature then you add only a third of your level for the class.
For example, if you are a fighter 3/paladin 7 then you count as a 5th-level character when determining your combat superiority level.
Maneuvers
When learning maneuvers, you may select from all maneuvers listed in the PHB (pg 74) in addition to the following:
Student of War
You gain proficiency with one type of artisan's tools of your choice.
Know Your Enemy
Prerequisite: 7th martial level
If you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with another creature outside combat, you can expend one superiority die to learn certain information about its capabilities compared to your own. The DM tells you if the creature is your equal, superior, or inferior in regard to two of the following characteristics of your choice:
* Strength score
* Dexterity score
* Constitution score
* Armor Class
* Current hit points
* Total class levels (if any)
* Fighter class levels (if any)
Relentless
Prerequisite: 15th martial level
When you roll initiative and have no superiority dice remaining, you regain 1 superiority die.
##### Combat Superiority
| Martial Level | Maneuvers | Superiority Dice |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| 3rd | 3 | 4d8 |
| 4th | 3 | 4d8 |
| 5th | 3 | 4d8 |
| 6th | 3 | 4d8 |
| 7th | 5 | 5d8 |
| 8th | 5 | 5d8 |
| 9th | 5 | 5d8 |
| 10th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 11th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 12th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 13th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 14th | 7 | 5d10 |
| 15th | 9 | 6d10 |
| 16th | 9 | 6d10 |
| 17th | 9 | 6d10 |
| 18th | 9 | 6d12 |
| 19th | 9 | 6d12 |
| 20th | 9 | 6d12 |
