In gaming, I find that a lot of players enjoy the idea of a warrior with a few key magic tricks.  It's been expressed in one form or another in plenty of games, but often more of a half and half thing, rather than edging heavily towards the warrior.  See early D&D "elf" or something like the "spell sword" in various games.  Or, if it is expressed more towards the warrior, then it's wrapped up in something specific.  See the D&D paladin and ranger in many editions, for example.

I'm trying to get to the base archetype.  Or discover if there even is a base archetype of mostly warrior with light magic tricks?  If there is, what would you call it?

Quote from: Steven Mitchell;1143980In gaming, I find that a lot of players enjoy the idea of a warrior with a few key magic tricks.  It's been expressed in one form or another in plenty of games, but often more of a half and half thing, rather than edging heavily towards the warrior.  See early D&D "elf" or something like the "spell sword" in various games.  Or, if it is expressed more towards the warrior, then it's wrapped up in something specific.  See the D&D paladin and ranger in many editions, for example.

I'm trying to get to the base archetype.  Or discover if there even is a base archetype of mostly warrior with light magic tricks?  If there is, what would you call it?

I don't know that it's precisely an archetype of its own without some of that wrapping that makes it (in D&D) a paladin, ranger, or even a bard. 5e gives us the Eldritch Knight, but the flavor there is offense (evocations)/defense (abjurations) rather than tricks (most of the other schools). You can get there by multiclassing too, but I don't like having to build to get to an archetype and prefer multiclassing for breaking out of archetypes--even though I know that's not how the optimizers do it.

There is the Magus class in Pathfinder.

Quote from: Shasarak;1143983There is the Magus class in Pathfinder.

Battle Magus in Rifts too.

I dunno what I would call it, but I can think of some examples from literature off the top of my head: Corwin of Amber (Zelazny), Dilvish the Damned (Zelazny), Sparhawk (Eddings), Aragorn (Tolkein, debatable), Raven (Cook).  That seems like there's enough that it ought to be an archetype.  Mechanically, though, to me, archetype suggests class systems, and I don't think this archetype is best handled by a dedicated class.  I would do it as a fighter with some cross-class magic skills, or even better, use a skill based system.

In my own system there are a number of ways you could get there depending on the tricks you want.

I specifically give an example of a warrior who studies utility magic but puts his faith in the steel of his weapons and armor for combat as an example of a fighter class with the Arcanist background. Similarly, the Exotic Tutor boon for the Aristocrat background or Esoteric Experience boon for the Traveler background would allow you to select a limited number of cantrips or utility spells.

If you're looking for more combat related magic, the multi-classing talent will allow limited access to the abilities of a spellcasting class of choice and follow-on talents can increase that access to whatever level you wish.

Conversely, if you want something more combat spellcaster who also uses some weapons and armor then the Militant or Zealous Astral, Big Lug or Monkeywrencher Gadgeteer, Potent or Swift Primal, or War Wizard spellcasting paths are all viable ways to obtain that (war wizard is bar none the best option for someone who puts equal focus on weapons and spells).

Quote from: HappyDaze;1143985Battle Magus in Rifts too.

4e had the Swordmage.

Rather then multiclassing there are also Gestalt Characters which are essentially characters with two classes.

Quote from: Shasarak;11439894e had the Swordmage.

Rather then multiclassing there are also Gestalt Characters which are essentially characters with two classes.

5e has Magic Initiate, a feat that anyone can learn, it grants a cantrip and a single spell. There are a few other things like that for specific races, like Wood Elf Magic that allows any Wood Elf a couple of Druid/Ranger spells even if their class doesnt usually allow such.

I love the idea of a mystical warrior types, but have often found making such characters in D&D frustrating and barely effective--specially in WotC's editions, where multi-classing wizards and warriors makes both classes less effective. I largely gave up on the idea of playing such characters years ago, even though they're my favorite concept for an ideal character.

My go-to term for warriors with magical abilities is "Mystical Warrior". Though, how exactly one would define such characters can vary widely, and their specific set of abilities can also vary by story, with some some stories portraying them as having no spell casting abilities at all, but rather magical powers that enhance their combat abilities or grant them prophetic dreams or insight, as in the case of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Neo in the Matrix or MK from Into the Badlands. Most "Savior" type characters tend to embody this type of archetype, which tends to be more akin to a D&D monk in some respects, but with full blown combat abilities, rather than limited "THAC0/BAB" or being restricted to just unarmed combat and "monk weapons". Berserker warriors could potentially also fall into this category, as their portrayal in legend tends to paint them as having almost magically enhanced battle prowess, though, such characters tend to be portrayed as completely mundane "Barbarians" in D&D.

Quote from: HappyDaze;11439915e has Magic Initiate, a feat that anyone can learn, it grants a cantrip and a single spell. There are a few other things like that for specific races, like Wood Elf Magic that allows any Wood Elf a couple of Druid/Ranger spells even if their class doesnt usually allow such.

A single spell is pretty magic light but I guess a signature shocking grasp or some such could give you a little bit of magic warrior feel.

Quote from: Shasarak;1143997A single spell is pretty magic light but I guess a signature shocking grasp or some such could give you a little bit of magic warrior feel.

Seen a Strength-based Ranger with relatively low Dex but fairly respectable Wisdom make good use of thorn whip for an at-will 30' melee attack that pulls the target 10' closer. Not an optimizer's dream, but it worked out well enough.

i think its easier to do in a skill based rather than class based system, in D6 for example you would simply put some dice into magic attribute/skill and learn a couple simple spells with low cast difficulty and keep on truckin.

Quote from: Slipshot762;1144001i think its easier to do in a skill based rather than class based system, in D6 for example you would simply put some dice into magic attribute/skill and learn a couple simple spells with low cast difficulty and keep on truckin.

GURPS does this too. I don't think it's in Dungeon Fantasy though, because that tries to funnel characters into tighter classes so you don't get things like teleporting/blinking swashbucklers.

That does remind me though that, in Earthdawn, all of the PC types had some magical tricks. Humans could even add in the magical tricks of other character types, a potentially very powerful ability that could also be very expensive in XP cost.

Quote from: HappyDaze;1143999Seen a Strength-based Ranger with relatively low Dex but fairly respectable Wisdom make good use of thorn whip for an at-will 30' melee attack that pulls the target 10' closer. Not an optimizer's dream, but it worked out well enough.

A ranged melee attack, not bad.  Always handy when you need to get a quick defenestration and the look on the DMs face: Priceless.

Quote from: Shasarak;1143983There is the Magus class in Pathfinder.

Not the greatest example. Magus is basically a weaker fighter with better damage output because he can apply touch spells with an attack. And 90 percent of his available spells are just that; combat spells.

Most builds focus on upping his crit chance because the critical applies to any spell he strikes with as well as his weapon.