The Legionnaire idea is interesting, but I think it's harder to do in a way that isn't either redundant to Defense (a blanket +1 to AC), or stronger than a Fighting Style probably should be. I did use a few similar mechanics with the Guardian, though, which as a subclass had a bit more space to give to the idea.
Polearms, I had some thoughts about, but my best ideas just felt like a mini-Polearm Master.
If it's alright can I request an alternate version of the mod that unlocks all the Fighting Style Options for all classes? So Fighters, Bards, Rangers, and Paladins can choose any of the newly added feats?
Sure. I've quickly tossed in a second file that changes the mod to give everyone everything. Note that this doesn't change any proficiencies or so forth. (So Bards should probably try not to specialise in weapons and equipment they can't use, unless they're getting proficiency from somewhere else.)
Hi, I love laserllama's content too, I didn't expect you to have done so much! Regarding Fighting Styles, he seems to have another table linked from his Rogue file. Would you be interested in expanding on that?
It depends. I think these were designed with his Alternate classes in mind, but there's not really any balance difference between them and the Fighting Styles here. (Archery and Druidic Warrior, for instance, remain exactly as they were in 5e.)
The main thing is that the remaining ones either use mechanics that are tricky to replicate in BG3, or have semi-official alternatives. There are other mods that add Tasha's Blind Fighting, Unarmed Fighting, and Druidic Warrior styles. So, you know, I could go port Brawler, or someone interested in an Unarmed Fighter could just install those. Meanwhile, anything with grapples, mounts, swimming/climbing speeds is probably out on principle (although there is a decent Grapple mod!), unless I come up with an inventive alternate mechanic to replace them.
Of what remains, I don't mind Bardic/Eldritch Warrior, but it does feel like they're there largely to fill a gap. They're not bad, and there might be some builds interested in them, but I wouldn't consider them amazingly interesting Fighter options. Could probably throw them in, but I might have to specify what spells you get, which I think would kill some of the fun.
Melee Marksman and Standard Bearer are definite possibilities. The game's a bit fiddly with ranged attacks and disadvantage, but I think Ranger did get a bit shortchanged here. I'm probably not going to actually implement a new banner equipment option, but I could probably get away with just forcing you to have a free hand and reflavouring it a bit (maybe put the focus on being a commander issuing orders). The question is whether cozying up to a teammate's going to feel fiddly within the world of BG3, something I ran into with the Guardian.
I'm also using the Additional Fighting style and Tasha Fighting style (and Drkelly's grappling mod). It would make sense to implement laserllama's other unique styles outside of these mods, so that they can be compatible with them!
I can also understand some adjustments to it, because his table seems to be different from the main page in some parts, such as Classical Swordplay (it feels like he later nerfed it, so I think the description on the page you reference should be used as the standard). Some of the overlap, such as Melee Marksman seems to have a similar one in the Additional Fighting style, which can be overwritten or differentiated. So I think maybe Bardic/Eldritch Warrior can be adjusted to follow the official extended Druidic Warrior style, and change to two utility cantrips, otherwise it may be a bit strong. If you want to fully implement player choice, perhaps refer to what pactbound did for the pact of book, and provide spell containers, and let the player use them to choose skills. I think interaction with teammates is the missing link in BG3, especially skill interaction of martial arts characters. To adjust this, I also used Drkelly's mod to make commander order correctly start outside teammates' turns. But it's still too little, so I'd also like to get more interactive skills (like your Command Academy).
I'd like to know what you think. In any case, I'm very happy for any additional expansion!
On reflection, I think when you combine Arcane/Bardic Warrior, with the limited amount of cantrips in BG3 and crossover between Wizard/Bard -- it's not too bad a selection, even if I fix your choices. If Bardic does Friends and Minor Illusion, it's a decent "utility" pick. (Could also go Mage Hand, but I think it's fiddlier. Vicious Mockery is a sad loss, but it's not something most Fighters would realistically use over a bow.)
What to give Arcane is a bit trickier, if it's not just doing the same utility options. If you were a player picking between Wizard cantrips, trying to be as powerful as possible, the best choice would be Booming Blade. Larian made Booming Blade work with Extra Attack, so it's just shamelessly the most obvious pick for a Fighter. The problem, then, is that grabbing the cantrip and dealing an extra 2d8 Thunder damage with any weapon is just, pretty much better than Dueling.
If it comes down to it, I'll lean towards fun over strict balance in a single-player game, but if I can do both I'll go for it. So I could just ignore Booming Blade and give you Blade Ward / Firebolt instead, which makes it feel a bit more distinct from Bardic Warrior, but is also a lot more overtly situational. Weighing things up.
Without considering the complete implementation, it is indeed a very concise approach (after all, the other one is also implemented in this way), and I fully agree with this solution.
If I had to choose, I would probably choose Friends + Vicious Mockery. Because it is a Bard signature cantrip, and Larian has made a lot of interesting voices for Vicious Mockery, maybe it will be more interesting to choose it. And it won't seem that the entire combat style can't improve combat diversity. I use the 5r Arcane Knight mod. So I can use one attack to replace it with a cantrip, and it won't be wasted. It depends on your opinion. I think both are good.
13 comments
Polearms, I had some thoughts about, but my best ideas just felt like a mini-Polearm Master.
If it's alright can I request an alternate version of the mod that unlocks all the Fighting Style Options for all classes? So Fighters, Bards, Rangers, and Paladins can choose any of the newly added feats?
Regarding Fighting Styles, he seems to have another table linked from his Rogue file. Would you be interested in expanding on that?
The main thing is that the remaining ones either use mechanics that are tricky to replicate in BG3, or have semi-official alternatives. There are other mods that add Tasha's Blind Fighting, Unarmed Fighting, and Druidic Warrior styles. So, you know, I could go port Brawler, or someone interested in an Unarmed Fighter could just install those. Meanwhile, anything with grapples, mounts, swimming/climbing speeds is probably out on principle (although there is a decent Grapple mod!), unless I come up with an inventive alternate mechanic to replace them.
Of what remains, I don't mind Bardic/Eldritch Warrior, but it does feel like they're there largely to fill a gap. They're not bad, and there might be some builds interested in them, but I wouldn't consider them amazingly interesting Fighter options. Could probably throw them in, but I might have to specify what spells you get, which I think would kill some of the fun.
Melee Marksman and Standard Bearer are definite possibilities. The game's a bit fiddly with ranged attacks and disadvantage, but I think Ranger did get a bit shortchanged here. I'm probably not going to actually implement a new banner equipment option, but I could probably get away with just forcing you to have a free hand and reflavouring it a bit (maybe put the focus on being a commander issuing orders). The question is whether cozying up to a teammate's going to feel fiddly within the world of BG3, something I ran into with the Guardian.
It would make sense to implement laserllama's other unique styles outside of these mods, so that they can be compatible with them!
I can also understand some adjustments to it, because his table seems to be different from the main page in some parts, such as Classical Swordplay (it feels like he later nerfed it, so I think the description on the page you reference should be used as the standard).
Some of the overlap, such as Melee Marksman seems to have a similar one in the Additional Fighting style, which can be overwritten or differentiated.
So I think maybe Bardic/Eldritch Warrior can be adjusted to follow the official extended Druidic Warrior style, and change to two utility cantrips, otherwise it may be a bit strong. If you want to fully implement player choice, perhaps refer to what pactbound did for the pact of book, and provide spell containers, and let the player use them to choose skills.
I think interaction with teammates is the missing link in BG3, especially skill interaction of martial arts characters. To adjust this, I also used Drkelly's mod to make commander order correctly start outside teammates' turns. But it's still too little, so I'd also like to get more interactive skills (like your Command Academy).
I'd like to know what you think. In any case, I'm very happy for any additional expansion!
What to give Arcane is a bit trickier, if it's not just doing the same utility options. If you were a player picking between Wizard cantrips, trying to be as powerful as possible, the best choice would be Booming Blade. Larian made Booming Blade work with Extra Attack, so it's just shamelessly the most obvious pick for a Fighter. The problem, then, is that grabbing the cantrip and dealing an extra 2d8 Thunder damage with any weapon is just, pretty much better than Dueling.
If it comes down to it, I'll lean towards fun over strict balance in a single-player game, but if I can do both I'll go for it. So I could just ignore Booming Blade and give you Blade Ward / Firebolt instead, which makes it feel a bit more distinct from Bardic Warrior, but is also a lot more overtly situational. Weighing things up.
I use the 5r Arcane Knight mod. So I can use one attack to replace it with a cantrip, and it won't be wasted.
It depends on your opinion. I think both are good.