D&D (2024) Fighter, support and defense builds

[TorgoTheWhite]

So, I was rewiring how I think of the new Champion. With how versatile heroic inspiration is now I realized, you can use your once per turn inspiration on others as well. You can make a pretty solid defensive stalwart that leads by example and boosts team members.

1) Took def fighting style.. but then protection for the 2nd fighting style to give me a solid reaction.
2) Went spear with shield and polearm feat for the bonus attack.
3) Level 10: prep a sheet of one-liners or free actions (display enemy head/trophy) and hand per combat turn inspiration out like candy
4) bonus if you are alert feat and give your advantage initiative to teammates

Just kind of cool that Champion can have a pretty versatile support option that could be competitive with a battlemaster support build. My party has squeaked by many situations by gifting their heroic inspiration to others. It makes me wonder how many people have just ssimply Dismissed it as solely a: "reroll one of my rolls"

 

[Nikosandros]

So, I was rewiring how I think of the new Champion. With how versatile heroic inspiration is now I realized, you can use your once per turn inspiration on others as well. You can make a pretty solid defensive stalwart that leads by example and boosts team members.

How can you give inspiration once per turn? Heroic Warrior triggers only if you don't currently have inspiration. OTOH, you can give out inspiration only if you gain it while already having it. Unless I misread the rules.

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

How can you give inspiration once per turn? Heroic Warrior triggers only if you don't currently have inspiration. OTOH, you can give out inspiration only if you gain it while already having it. Unless I misread the rules.

Bummer! Haha, back to the drawing board

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

Well, then battlemaster still fills this niche slightly better. Except the 2nd fighting style is pretty nice still in regards to reliability.

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

Since using champs ability for inspiration-based support is out, what are some solid martial support builds?

 

[mellored]

Since using champs ability for inspiration-based support is out, what are some solid martial support builds?

If your human, you can take Alert as well as Musician, and still hand out inspiration, if not as often.

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

Yeah, give him a little bit of Gurney Halleck. Fun little character quirk

 

[Zardnaar]

Since using champs ability for inspiration-based support is out, what are some solid martial support builds?

Generally origin feats with a bit of multiclassing.

Eg human EK with a cleric level for bless and healing word.
Battlemaster right party.

Depends on how strict on martial you are. Clerics and bards generally best support still.

 

[Ancalagon]

It's a 2014 subclass, but the Rune Knight is a very solid defensive fighter, who can use their rune powers for control and protection.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

Since using champs ability for inspiration-based support is out, what are some solid martial support builds?

Depending on your table it might be worth talking to your DM about whether they would allow giving your inspiration to others as a homebrew modification. It's not allowed per the rules but it's also not particularly overpowered, especially if you modified it to only work on others and never on yourself. I think I would probably allow it if it were clear that the player was aiming for homebrewing a support role and not just looking for some min/max powergaming loophole