Sorcery with Swords?

[Aisede]

So I was just looking through Lentil Sponge's most recent ad, and noted one of the applicants was a (soon-to-be) Bladesinger wizard. And that got me thinking: how many magic classes have a melee option?

The only other classes I can think are the Warlock, with Hexblade/Pact of the Blade, and the College of Swords Bard.

What other classes can adopt a blade, that aren't typically a melee class?

[jj_wolven]

"that aren't typically a melee class"
does limit it.

The ones with it really built in are magus and cleric (Pathfinder)

-me

[Admin Dirk]

"What other classes can adopt a blade, that aren't typically a melee class?"

Almost any class can adopt a blade, their abilities with it can range from poor to good. And classes that aren't typically melee is very open to definition. Is a rogue typically melee? Depends on how you play one, doesn't it? I'm playing a ranger right now that's survived three encounters without being in melee.

Wizard
Witch
Druid
Bard
sorcerer (eldritch scrapper)
Inquisitor
Magus?
Omdura
Oracle
Shaman
Skald
Warpriest
Summoner

[Aisede]

Hmm... Allow me to rephrase: What classes- such as ranged or spellcasting classes -have melee-focused subclasses? Such as Bladesinger, and Hexblade.

[Admin Dirk]

Well, given that clarification...

Ranged Classes with melee abilities
Zen Archer Monk
Ranger (the original bow/sword & board
Archer Bard

Spellcasters with melee ability
Wizard (sword binder)
Witch (white haired witch)
Druid
Bard
sorcerer (eldritch scrapper)
Inquisitor
Magus
Omdura
Oracle
Shaman
Skald
Warpriest
Summoner

[jj_wolven]

Can you specify the system?
DnD 3.5? 5e?
Pathfinder? 2e?
non d20?

-me

[Aisede]

I hadn't even thought about the system. I'm thinking of D&D. I'm not sure what system witches come from.

[Admin Dirk]

Originally Posted by Aisede

I hadn't even thought about the system. I'm thinking of D&D. I'm not sure what system witches come from.

Pathfinder. Great class. One of my all time favorite classes.

[Aisede]

So what about D&D classes?

[Admin Dirk]

Originally Posted by Aisede

So what about D&D classes?

I don't understand the question. What about DnD classes?

Pathfinder is DnD.

[Aisede]

It's the same question! What D&D classes, that aren't usually melee, have melee subclasses! I feel like I've asked the same question like three different ways now.

[Admin Dirk]

Originally Posted by Aisede

It's the same question! What D&D classes, that aren't usually melee, have melee subclasses! I feel like I've asked the same question like three different ways now.

and I, at least, feel like I have answered it a couple times too.



Ranged Classes with melee abilities
Zen Archer Monk
Ranger (the original bow/sword & board)
Archer Bard removed because these are usually melee, but the question these were in answer to was "ranged or spellcasting classes".

Spellcasters with melee ability
Wizard (sword binder)
Witch (white haired witch)
Druid
Bard
sorcerer (eldritch scrapper)
Inquisitor
Magus
Omdura
Oracle
Shaman
Skald
Warpriest
Summoner

[Aisede]

Originally Posted by Admin Dirk

and I, at least, feel like I have answered it a couple times too.



Ranged Classes with melee abilities
Zen Archer Monk
Ranger (the original bow/sword & board)
Archer Bard removed because these are usually melee, but the question these were in answer to was "ranged or spellcasting classes".

Spellcasters with melee ability
Wizard (sword binder)
Witch (white haired witch)
Druid
Bard
sorcerer (eldritch scrapper)
Inquisitor
Magus
Omdura
Oracle
Shaman
Skald
Warpriest
Summoner

None of these classes are in D&D? Except for Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard.

EDIT: Oh, I... Guess they are? But they're not included in any class lists I've ever seen. Are these all subclasses?

[zevonian]

@Dirk - OP is likely asking for DnD 5e (WOTC)
based classes and would probably like answers to exclude Pathfinder 1e or 2e (Paizo) based publications.

@Aisede- Have you had a chance to look through the Classes, and Feats, in the 5e Players Handbook and come up with some sword based builds?

If you want a melee build, not specifically a "big metal sword" build, Druid is a possibility. Shillelagh as your main cantrip, 1st level character and up attack. Wild Shape has a few options starting at 2nd level. And Flame Blade spell at 3rd level character.

[Aisede]

Originally Posted by zevonian

@Dirk - OP is likely asking for DnD 5e (WOTC)
based classes and would probably like answers to exclude Pathfinder 1e or 2e (Paizo) based publications.

@Aisede- Have you had a chance to look through the Classes, and Feats, in the 5e Players Handbook and come up with some sword based builds?

If you want a melee build, not specifically a "big metal sword" build, Druid is a possibility. Shillelagh as your main cantrip, 1st level character and up attack. Wild Shape has a few options starting at 2nd level. And Flame Blade spell at 3rd level character.

I don't even own a player's handbook, and neither do I have a PDF. I've mostly been running with what I pick up here, and through other sources like BG3, and some random YT videos.

I'm also trying to find something flavorful that's still decent mechanically. This doesn't quite count as "magic but melee", but the idea that sparked this search was Devotion Paladin + Hexblade Warlock, combining Sacred Weapon with Hex Warrior. I'm just picturing this lady with a super powerful weapon brimming with righeous magic crusading towards her goals. And I was thinking "What other classes could I achieve something similar through?" That's when I saw a character application that used Bladesinging, and I liked the aesthetic and basic idea. A wizard, but they use ancient magic to enter some trance and become a boss swordsman.

I also like the idea of combining features from different classes that compliment each other, but I don't know enough about any class to make an informed decision.