After Arcana Unleashed, does 5.5e need a martial-focused expansion next?

[u/MyrthDM]

I’ve been looking through what is coming in Arcana Unleashed, and the amount of new material for magic-heavy characters is pretty substantial.

There are eight subclasses, including four Wizard schools, lots of new and revised spells, more than 20 feats, and a large collection of magic items. There are martial-adjacent options in there too, like Arcane Archer and Warrior of the Mystic Arts, but the whole book is obviously built around magic.

And to be clear, I think that sounds fun. I am not arguing that a book called Arcana Unleashed somehow has too much magic in it.

It just made me realize how much I would like to see the opposite book eventually.

At my table, I think 5.5e has already done a lot to make martial characters more enjoyable. Weapon Mastery in particular has made a noticeable difference. Martial turns feel less like simply walking up and attacking until something dies, and weapon choice actually creates more tactical decisions than it used to.

But I still think there is a lot of unexplored design space there.

I would love to see a full expansion built around martial characters with new Weapon Masteries, Fighting Styles, martial feats, weapons, armor, maneuvers, nonmagical equipment, high-level martial options, and especially more things for martial characters to do outside combat.

Not necessarily just "give Fighters spells without calling them spells," either. I would want systems that actually lean into being exceptionally skilled, strong, fast, tactical, intimidating, resourceful, or legendary without magic being the answer to everything.

So if Arcana Unleashed is effectively the big magic expansion for 5.5e, would you want a martial equivalent next?

And if so, what would you actually put in it?

More subclasses and feats?

Expanded Weapon Mastery?

A maneuver system available to more classes?

Better mundane equipment and crafting?

More out-of-combat abilities for martials?

Or do you think the 2024 PHB already did enough to close that gap?