TrippyHippy
Hero
It should have been in Xanathar's Guide as well, instead of the Hexblade.
D&D 5E At my table: Hexblade removed, Pact of the Blade enhanced
Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
I would have preferred that, yeah.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
Yeah, would have been great to update it too.
Most of the subclasses in SCAG are woefully underpowered.
mellored
Legend
Hexblade with EB is about as powerful as Fiend with EB.
Hexblade being better against bosses (bonus damage to 1 target per rest), and Fiend being better against groups (a constant supply of THP, and good AoE spells).
It's certainly good, but it's not the automatic choice. Fiend's repelling blast + wall of fire still does more damage, as does archfey spamming greater invisibility on your fighter.
As for flavor. Yea. That part is pretty poor.
It seems to me the easiest fix would be a minor change just to hex blade. People seem to dislike hexblade because it works just as well with EB. So, make it only work with weapon attacks.
Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits:
You gain a bonus to weapon attack damage rolls against the cursed target. The bonus equals your proficiency bonus.
Any weapon attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).
Literally adding those two words seems to fix most complaints. Sure, it is still good for any Warlock, but it's not the overwhelming damage boost to EB spam it was before. Just an armor boost, the occasional temp hitpoints and a sub par extended spell list. Seems about even with the other patrons. But it still shines for someone that is melee focused.
Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits:
You gain a bonus to weapon attack damage rolls against the cursed target. The bonus equals your proficiency bonus.
Any weapon attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).
Literally adding those two words seems to fix most complaints. Sure, it is still good for any Warlock, but it's not the overwhelming damage boost to EB spam it was before. Just an armor boost, the occasional temp hitpoints and a sub par extended spell list. Seems about even with the other patrons. But it still shines for someone that is melee focused.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
Why though? If you're removing EB, you're effectively forcing them into melee (or at least ranged weapons). But the hexblade doesn't allow them to use two handed weapons (by itself) and gain all the benefits, removing most ranged weapons plus all the melee weapons capable of using GWM. They should be allowed to defend themselves. I don't see it as any different then clerics having medium armor, since they are expected to wade into the thick of it too. Those paltry two spell slots aren't enough to defend themselves.
ad_hoc
(they/them)
How do regular Warlocks, or Wizards, or Sorcerers defend themselves? Why do clerics wade into the thick of things? It's because they can.
Just because a class could be given everything doesn't mean it should.
That's how it ends up being overpowered. Even with Curse damage being restricted to weapon attacks it is still better than any other patron (and they still get a heal from Curse so it is still somewhat useful).
Also, if you take Pact of the Blade you can use 2-handed weapons.
Warlocks shouldn't have a base AC of 19. (Bladesinger shouldn't have Light Armour either while we're at it. The +3-5 AC is enough, make them spend the Mage Armour/Shield if they want it)
If we just make all classes have 18-20 AC where is the variety? We lose the vulnerable spellcaster archetype. If your argument is that clerics have good armour so Warlocks should too, then how is that different than saying all classes should have good armour?
Ancalagon
Dusty Dragon
The goal of the hexblade and pact of the blade is to allow another variation of the "gish" - the spell-slinging swordsman. Like Elric, or the Red Mage. 5e has a few variants - the EK, the bladesigner, the valor or sword colleges bard. It's a different flavor on one of those archetypes, and a valid one I think...
... as long as that's what the PC actually creates, and not as a way to get +5 AC on the cheap.
P.S. the best gish in 5e is the paladin...
ad_hoc
(they/them)
Valor Bard is the example we have of a full caster with light armour getting medium armour and shields. And this is their full subclass.
At 3rd level they get the armour, weapons, and another way to use their Bardic Inspiration which isn't very good. Lore Bard gets the good use in exchange for skills which aren't as good as the armour. Keep in mind they get a different option for Bardic Inspiration not more of it.
Then at 6th level they get extra attack which isn't terribly great on a full caster who has upgraded cantrips already.
The Hexblade gets Curse 1/short rest, medium armour and shields, weapons, and cha to hit/dmg (The Valor Bard wishes they got that). Then at 6th level they get a cool ability and can choose whether to take the extra attack.
If they're getting Medium Armour, Shields, and Cha to hit/dmg they shouldn't get Curse as well.
They could get Hex Warrior at 1st and then Curse at 6th instead of the other ability which is still very good. 5th is when Hex is not worth the spell slot anymore as it competes with 3rd level spells so there is good timing there.
Just compare the Hexblade to the other Patrons, their abilities are fairly minor. Hexblade is huge.
