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 |
Why a Martial Level?
Fighters and Wizards (or martial vs caster) have always been at odds with one another in D&D. Generally fighters shine at lower levels and wizards dominate at higher levels. Thankfully this problem has been greatly diminished in 5e compared to previous editions.
However, wizards are still unparalleled when it comes to options available to control the battlefield at high levels. Giving all martial classes access to combat maneuvers enhances their utility in a greater number of situations. Having these options keeps the game interesting when you would otherwise be forced to repetitive attacks.
No Battle Master
The Battle Master subclass becomes redundant with these changes and should not be selected by players.