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Tainted Faith: The Blackguard's Guide
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<blockquote data-quote="MonkLover" data-source="post: 6742648" data-attributes="member: 82105"><p><strong>Originally posted by Litigation:</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><p style="text-align: center"><strong><u>Armory of the Tainted Ones: Items</u></strong></p><p></span></p><p></p><p>Just remember that your top priority in every 5-level interval should be to keep your armor, weapon (and implement if you use one) and neck item up to date. Plan it right and you'll still have plenty of room for other nice things.</p><p></p><p><strong>Armor</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 2+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Dwarven</span> (PHB)</strong>: Bonus to Endurance as a property, and a free surge-value heal per day. Good value.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Screaming</span> (AV)</strong>: Bonus to Intimidate as a property, along with a per-encounter attack debuff from range. Nice.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Veteran's</span> (AV)</strong>: Property gives you +1 to attack and all defenses on action point use. This one used to be a lot more powerful, but even now it's still pretty solid.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 3+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Heartening</span> (AV)</strong>: Dwarves and Questing Knights will look at this one for its property granting a healthy amount of THPs.</p><p></p><p><strong>Lifegiving (AV)</strong>: Necrotic resistance with a daily last-resort healing power. Not bad.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Meliorating</span> (AV)</strong>: Better defense every time you reach a milestone in the day. Awesome, especially if you don't have the Dexterity to take full advantage of Agile Armor. And this is in a lower pricing bracket than that one.</p><p></p><p><strong>Versatile (AV)</strong>: At-will lets you sacrifice a point of AC to remove speed and skill penalties. Can be handy, at least until you either take Heavy Armor Agility or get access to plate that lets you ignore such penalties at no cost.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 4+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Armor of Durability</span> (AV)</strong>: Property grants bonus to personal healing surge use. Good one.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Black Iron</span> (PHB)</strong>: Resistance properties against two of the more common damage types used by enemies (fire and necrotic). Solid.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Reinforcing</span> (AV)</strong>: Property grants an +1 item bonus to all defenses when you get hit in melee for the round after. The potential isn't as high as Meliorating, but it's more consistent. Another good choice if you can't take full advantage of Agile.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Salubrious</span> (AV)</strong>: This one is outstanding if you get enough sources of regeneration at some point in your career. Late Paragon and Epic are where this one is likely to really shine. Yet another good one for those who can't use Agile to its fullest.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Verve</span> (AV)</strong>: The property means you don't die as easily. Solid.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 5+</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Agile (AV)</strong>: A <span style="color: #ff0000">trap</span> ... until you close in on Lv. 30, then it becomes <span style="color: #00ccff">awesome</span> if you have any sort of DEX modifier. At that point there are no other masterwork armors a level or two above to grab your immediate attention.</p><p></p><p><strong>Battleforged (PHB)</strong>: Stronger second wind when bloodied. Not bad for a Dwarf or Questing Knight.</p><p></p><p><strong>Shared Suffering (AV)</strong>: Encounter power makes an enemy pay for inflicting you with ongoing damage. Not bad.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Bloodiron</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 item bonus to AC against a target you thump for a round. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 11+</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Dragonrider (D 365)</strong>: If you get a <span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Dragon mount</strong></span> in Epic Tier, all of a sudden this scale armor becomes amazing. Have your Dragon wear Impenetrable Barding and some huge resistance to all damage for you is there for the taking.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 13+</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Coral (AV)</strong>: Worth a look if your campaign involves a lot of water travel.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 20+</u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Spectral Plate</span> (AV2): Ignore speed and check penalties in this plate, along with a daily move action power where you're insubstantial and phasing. Very solid.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 24+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Soulwarding</span> (AV)</strong>: Resist two common enemy damage types (necrotic and psychic) and protection against attacks that make you lose healing surges. Nice.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Weapons</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 2+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Defensive</span> (E:HFL)</strong>: Dwarves and Questing Knights will appreciate this one for the extra defense. Being a common item helps, too, if that matters.</p><p></p><p><strong>Vicious (PHB)</strong>: The basic d12 per plus crit weapon. Decent.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 3+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Frost</span> (PHB)</strong>: Considering your class' penchant for picking up Lasting Frost, going full-time Permafrost isn't much more of an investment than what you had planned anyway. And it's still a top-tier damage option.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Inescapable</span> (AV)</strong>: Stacks bonuses to hit with every miss until you hit the enemy. Solid.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Vanguard</span> (AV)</strong>: Great if you charge.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 4+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Battlecrazed</span> (AV)</strong>: Good damage bonus when bloodied.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Rending</span> (AV)</strong>: Axe only; follow up a crit with a melee basic attack. Solid.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Sunblade </span>(AV)</strong>: A heavy blade with an at-will Radiant keyword and damage option. It can also shed a lot of light to negate concealment in dark places. Your first lightsaber if you're going Lucifer, and a solid option.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Vigilant Blade</span> (D 381):The first of several weapons that serve as a combination of weapon and implement, which reduces your item dependency (and thus saves money). This heavy blade (or, curiously, light blade) lets you shed bright light at-will for dark places and night scenarios, and the per-encounter power that lets you switch places with an ally being attacked and set up combat advantage against the assailant is also nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 5+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Lightning</span> (PHB)</strong>: A flavorful, and finally viable option, thanks to nice things like Storm Sacrifice and (if you're in Eberron) Mark of Storm. Unlike Flaming, this one can be worth the cost.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Cunning</span> (AV)</strong>: If you're into dealing save-ends effects with weapons, you'll want to consider this weapon for the penalty to the first save against it inflicts. Good even after the errata.</p><p></p><p>Disrupting (DA 09): Can be a flail or hammer (or a mace, but you don't use those). Serves as a weapon/implement combo and is more effective against undead. Fair enough, but Crusader's is better.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 9+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Crusader's</span> (AV)</strong>: A hammer that serves as a weapon/implement combo. Half of the damage is radiant, which makes it very good for those who abuse radiant vulnerability.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Githyanki Silver</span> (MOTP): Heavy blade only, and boy is this one nasty. Take the Psychic Lock feat and have fun.</p><p></p><p><strong>Lullaby (AV)</strong>: One of the very few daily-power-only weapons worth a look. In this case, it's because the daily is a Sleep power. Comes in hammer or flail.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 10+</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Blackshroud (AV)</strong>: Concealment when you off an enemy. Comes in axe or heavy blade. Not bad.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 12+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Jagged</span> (AV)</strong>: Crit deals heavy save-ends ongoing damage instead of extra damage die, and it crits on 19-20. Comes in axe or heavy blade. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 13+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Bloodiron</span> (AV)</strong>: Essentially doubles the crit damage dealt, and the d10 per plus figures makes that quite worthwhile.</p><p></p><p><strong>Desiccating (AV)</strong>: Cumulative weakening of Fortitude (save-ends) with every hit. Not bad against Brutes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Farslayer (AV)</strong>: At-will power lets you melee basic attack from 5 squares away. Can come in handy.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Withering</span> (AV)</strong>: Cumulative debuff of AC (save-ends) with every hit. This one is more all-purpose than Desiccating.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 15+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Radiant</span> (AV)</strong>: At-will Radiant keyword switch, just like the Sunblade. When the switch is on, it also deals an extra item bonus to damage, which by itself makes it superior to its far more flavorful counterpart. However, if you're wearing the Iron Armbands of Power, you can stick with the Sunblade, as item bonuses don't stack.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 19+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Blade of Bahamut</span> (AV)</strong>: If you can somehow justify worship Bahamut, this heavy blade is a weapon/implement combo and helps reduce your item dependency. Solid crits, d10 per plus, along with a CHA-based blast 5 attack power that heals your allies a bit.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Moradin's</span> (AV)</strong>: If you can somehow justify worship Moradin, this hammer is a weapon/implement combo and helps reduce your item dependency. It deals great crits, too, d12 per plus.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 25+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Brilliant Energy</span> (AV)</strong>: Like the Sunblade, a far more interesting and flavorful lightsaber than the technically superior Radiant Weapon. If you're wearing Iron Armbands of Power then the disparity disappears, and you get solid crit damage of d10s per plus and a very nice encounter power that lets you attack Reflex with an attack that would normally target AC.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Holy Avenger</span> (PHB)</strong>: This weapon, which can also be used as an implement, is great for CHA-based Humans with Virtuous Strike, giving that power some serious extra bite. The bonus damage on that power, and all other Radiant powers as well, applies to both weapon and implement usage. The daily is a +5 to all NADs for potentially the whole party for a turn when you need it. Comes in axe, hammer, or heavy blade. Keep in mind it's a rare item, though, if that matters.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 29</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Sorrowsong Blade</span> (E2 KotG)</strong>: This heavy blade is like Githyanki Silver but even better, as all attacks with it deal half psychic damage, permanently. And now that damage types and keywords have been clarified, what this means is that not only does it work with Psychic Lock, but attacks with this weapon don't lose their original damage type, either. Major win.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Holy Symbols</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 2+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Symbol of Power</span> (PHB)</strong>: -2 penalty to the enemy's first saving throw against a save-ends effect. Since those are mostly daily powers, and since that's mostly what you'll use a holy symbol for, this one's good.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8+</u></p><p><u></u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Symbol of the Champion's Code</span> (AV2): If you're a Human with Ardent Strike, or you have enough mass-DS powers per encounter to be a threat with those marks, this is a great symbol to take. Even if you never make any attacks with it, the bonus to DS damage is quite valuable. Even if your symbol is a plus or two below attack-caliber for your level, it will make a difference.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Neck</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 2+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Amulet of Mental Resolve</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 item bonus to saves against charm, illusion and sleep. Good early on.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Amulet of Physical Resolve</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 item bonus to saves against weakening, slowing and immobilizing. Also good early.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Badge of the Berserker</span> (PHB2)</strong> : No drawing OAs on charges. Perfect for charge optimization, which your class likes to do.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 4+</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Cloak of Distortion (AV)</strong>: Not really worth it in Heroic Tier, anymore. It does get a lot <span style="color: #0000ff">better</span> later, though.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 5+</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Amulet of Life</span> (D 381)</strong>: Encounter power lets you spend an additional healing surge on top of any power that lets you use one. Pretty good, if rather pricey.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8+</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Periapt of Recovery</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 bonus to death saves. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 15</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Brooch of Vitalty</span> (AV)</strong>: Increase your max HPs. Simple, and awesome.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Torc of Power Preservation</span> (AV)</strong>: This can recharge an encounter power. That can be a very nice thing.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 25</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Life Charm</span> (AV)</strong>: Also known as: You (almost) never die.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Arms (Bracers)</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 6</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Bracers of Mental Might</span> (AV)</strong>: CHA-based Blackguards who get their item bonuses to damage from elsewhere (Radiant or Subtle weapons, for example) might want to take this one so they can take one of the STR-based arsenal's better nova powers.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900">Iron Armbands of Power</span> (AV) (6/16/26)</strong>: If you don't have an item bonus to damage from anywhere else, this is your default arms slot item. Period.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 14</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Counterstrike Guards</span> (AV)</strong>: If you got your item bonus to damage from somewhere else (such as a Radiant Weapon), this is a great item to take for its MBA payback from an enemy's miss.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Feet</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 2</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Acrobat Boots</span> (PHB)</strong>: Minor action to stand up from being prone. Good one early.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Boots of Adept Charging</span> (AV)</strong>: Shift after a charge. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 3</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Catstep Boots</span> (AV)</strong>: Half-damage, land on your feet from a fall. Good for this tier.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 7</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Boots of the Fencing Master</span> (AV)</strong>: +1 item bonus to AC and Reflex whenever you shift, and you get to shift 2 squares every encounter. Good one.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Rushing Cleats</span> (AV)</strong>: Increases the distance of your pushes and slides, which is important if you're building around those. Like Polearm Momentum builds.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Boots of Quickness</span> (AV) (8/18/28)</strong>: Untyped bonus to your Reflex defense. There's a version of it at each tier. Reflex is likely to be your weakest defense.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 9</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Boots of Eagerness</span> (AV)</strong>: Extra move action per encounter. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 12</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Battlestrider Greaves (PHB)</strong>: Essentially negates the speed penalty for plate. Not bad.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Dragonborn Greaves</span> (AV)</strong>: Extra defense and speed when bloodied. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 13</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Winged Boots</span> (PHB)</strong>: Your first item that prevents fall damage completely. Also comes with a daily flight power.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 14</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Oceanstrider Boots</span> (AV)</strong>: +1 item bonus to speed and you can walk and stand on water and other non-hazardous liquid surfaces. Very nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 18</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Dimensional Stride Boots</span> (AV)</strong>: +1 untyped bonus to Reflex, with a per-encounter teleportation power. Good.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Phantom Chaussures</span> (AV)</strong>: Concealment for moving 3 or more squares. Awesome.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 24</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Boots of Caiphon</span> (AV2)</strong>: +2 item bonus to Reflex, and you get to sacrifice a little damage in exchange for a nice-distance shift. That damage isn't nearly as much as you'd take from an OA, so a great deal all around.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 25</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Airstriders</span> (AV)</strong>: You get to fly. Along with taking no damage from falls. Great.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Sandals of Avandra</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 item bonus to speed, and shift half your speed at-will. Awesome.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 28</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Boots of Teleportation</span> (AV)</strong>: At-will teleportation. That should say it all.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Hands</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u><strong>Lv. 4</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Gauntlets of Blood</span> (AV) (4/14/24)</strong>: A nice damage bonus against bloodied targets.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 6</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Breaching Gauntlets</span> (AV)</strong>: Reduce some resistance against your attacks. Good for this point.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 9</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Gloves of Storing (AV)</strong>: Interesting, and handy at times.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 10</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Strikebacks</span> (AV)</strong>: Per-encounter immediate reaction attack against an enemy who hit you. It's always a grand idea to have sources of easily triggered extra attacks on hand.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 11</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Gloves of Ice</span> (AV2) (11/21)</strong>: Practically a must if you're playing with the Lasting Frost synergy.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 18</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Gauntlets of Destruction</span> (PHB)</strong>: Makes all your attacks brutal 1. Great option if you're not already using a brutal weapon. Even worth a look if you are, as this puts the brutal 1 effect on all dice you roll for damage, period, not just those directly from your weapon.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 20</u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Many-Fingered Gloves</span> (AV2): Wear an extra ring. Very beneficial.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Head</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 4</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Casque of Tactics</span> (AV)</strong>: Until you can comfortably afford a Helm of Battle, this will do.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 6</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Horned Helm</span> (PHB) (6/16/26)</strong>: Extra d6s of damage on a charge attack. Yes, sir.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Circlet of Indomitability</span> (AV) (8/18/28)</strong>: Untyped bonus to Will, and a version comes at each tier. As good as anything.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Coif of Mindiron</span> (AV)</strong>: Per-encounter prevention of daze if Will is attacked. Gets even better in <strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">later tiers</span></strong>, when it also prevents stuns and eventually domination.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 9</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Helm of Battle</span> (PHB)</strong>: Item bonus to initiative for you and nearby allies. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 14</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Goggles of Night</span> (PHB)</strong>: Darkvision is nice if you don't have it already.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Helm of Able Defense</span> (AV2)</strong>: +1 item bonus to Will and an extra +2 to all defenses until your first turn at minimum. Quite good.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 21</u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">Essence of the Wisp</span> (AV2): +2 item bonus to Will, and an at-will power that pulls enemies who dare use ranged attacks against you a couple squares as an immediate action. Can help you reach enemies who prefer to stay at range.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Eye of Discernment</span> (AV)</strong>: Practical immunity to blinding is the main draw here, and that's pretty major.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 22</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Helm of Ghostly Defense</span> (PHB)</strong>: Necrotic resistance and per-encounter insubstantial. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 23</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Eye of Awareness</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 to Will and +5 to initiative. Very good.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Rings</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 13</u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Ring of Giants</span> (D 378): Stronger crits, which is great. The daily power is only for Primal powers, but that's not the important part.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 15</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Ring of Aquatic Ability</span> (AV)</strong>: A ring slot is where you're most likely to put swim speed/underwater breathing properties.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Ring of the Dragonborn Emperor</span> (AV)</strong>: Item bonus to damage on all close attacks. Including close bursts and blasts with your weapon. Note this is not redundant with Iron Armbands of Power since that item applies only to powers designated "melee."</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 16</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">War Ring</span> (AV)</strong>: Stronger crits. Not as good as Ring of Giants, if you have to choose one, but still a good choice in addition.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 17</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Ring of the Radiant Storm</span> (AV2)</strong>: If your main damage type is either Lightning or Radiant, you'll want to take a good look at this one. Rerolling damage and keeping the better result is a nice boost.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 21</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Ring of Tenacious Will</span> (AV)</strong>: Uses Charisma to determine number of healing surges instead of Constitution. Practically a must.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 24</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Ring of Regeneration</span> (PHB)</strong>: Item bonus to healing surge value as a property, and the daily, after a milestone, gives you regeneration 10 and gives you back a healing surge. Good.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 25</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Gargoyle Ring</span> (AV)</strong>: Save against petrification, even when you are petrified. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 27</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Ring of the Phoenix</span> (AV)</strong>: Solid fire resistance property, and a very nice self-resurrection daily power.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Shadow Band</span> (AV)</strong>: Concealment all the time. Great fun.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 29</u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Ring of Free Time</span> (AV2): Resist 5 all constantly is awesome enough. Then there's the one extra minor action per encounter from this ring ... which turns into an extra minor action every single round after the first milestone. Incredible, since you tend to use your minor actions a lot. For certain builds, particularly those with sustain-minor powers, this could even be <span style="color: #ff9900">essential</span>.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Waist</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u>Lv. 2</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Belt of Vigor</span> (PHB) (2/12/22)</strong>: Item bonus to healing surge value. Solid start.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 6</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Cincture of the Dragon Spirit (AV)</strong>: If you're allowed liberal use of the Intimidate skill in combat this could be handy.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 7</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Belt of Sacrifice</span> (PHB)</strong>: Item bonus to nearby allies' healing surge value. Great property. Ignore the daily.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Rope of Slave Fighting</span> (AV)</strong>: Attack normally when prone. Nice. The Paragon Tier version cancels combat advantage when prone as well.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 8</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Belt of Vim</span> (AV) (8/18/28)</strong>: Untyped Fortitude bonus. Comes in a version at each tier. Just a great all-purpose benefit.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 10</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Diamond Cincture</span> (AV2)</strong>: Item bonus to Fortitude with the opportunity to spend more healing surges if you need to. Good one, for sure, but since you can easily pick up ways to use your own healing surges every encounter, it's not the be-all, end-all like it is for some other classes.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 21</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Blue">Baldric of Valor</span> (AV)</strong>: Bonuses to attack, saves and defenses for action point usage. Nice.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 23</u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: DeepSkyBlue">Belt of Vitality</span> (AV)</strong>: +2 untyped bonus to Fortitude, and once per day get back up when you make a death save. Very nice.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 25</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Belt of Titan Strength</span> (PHB)</strong>: A huge buff to damage for a turn once per day when you really need to go nova with a multi-attack sequence. </p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Mount</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><strong><u>Lv. 1</u></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Impenetrable Barding</span> (AV) (1/11/21)</strong>: Sweet, sweet damage resistance for your mount if you equip it with this.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Wonderous Items</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u><strong>Lv. 8</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">Jade Horse</span> (D 393)</strong>: Gives you a steed with the ability to charge without drawing OAs and a Trample that works on enemies of all sizes. Nice if you like being mounted but don't want to take the Celestial Mount, and even if you did that, this is a solid backup, indeed.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Lv. 9</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Backlash Tattoo</span> (AV2)</strong>: Immediate reaction MBA when you get bloodied the first time every fight? Yes, please and thank you.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Dragonshard Augments (Eberron)</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><u><strong>Lv. 2</strong></u></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Eberron Shard of Lightning</span> (EPG) (2/12/22)</strong>: The shard of choice for those who use Lightning Weapons, as well as Avatars of Storm.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff">Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold</span> (EPG) (2/12/22)</strong>: Lasting Frost users go straight for this one.</p><p></p><p><u>Lv. 3</u></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff">Siberys Shard of Radiance</span> (EPG) (3/13/23): Untyped bonus to Radiant damage rolls. You want this as soon as possible if you're going Lucifer. Paragon and Epic Tier versions available, too.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by Litigation:</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><p style="text-align: center"><strong><u>Manifestations of the Tainted: Sample Builds</u></strong></p><p></span></p><p></p><p><strong>Ardent Ravager</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p>This Human takes Ardent Strike and builds around it for the perfect combination of high charging DPR and some single-target Defender capability on top. Like so many Blackguards, he favors cold damage. He also takes the Dreadnought PP for extra durability and a multi-attacking power for an encounter nova.</p><p><strong>Race:</strong> Human</p><p><strong>Vice:</strong> Fury</p><p><strong>Theme:</strong> Guardian</p><p><strong>Multiclass:</strong> Fighter</p><p><strong>Paragon Path:</strong> Dreadnought</p><p><strong>Epic Destiny:</strong> Destined Scion</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Ability Scores</strong></u></p><p>L1: STR 18, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16</p><p>L4: STR 19, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 17</p><p>L8: STR 20, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 18</p><p>L11: STR 21, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 19</p><p>L14: STR 22, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 20</p><p>L18: STR 23, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 21</p><p>L21: STR 26, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 24</p><p>L24: STR 27, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 25</p><p>L28: STR 28, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 26</p><p></p><p><strong><u>At-Will Powers</u></strong></p><p>L1: Ardent Strike</p><p>L1: Vengeance Strike</p><p>L1: Ferocious Strike</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Encounter Power</strong></u></p><p>L11: Inexhorable Advance</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Daily Powers</u></strong></p><p>L5: Blood of the Mighty</p><p>L9: Death Angel</p><p>L12: Bedeviling Assault (replaces Blood of the Mighty via Adept Power)</p><p>L20: Rampaging Bloodlust</p><p>L25: Exalted Retribution (replaces Death Angel)</p><p>L29: Catastrophic Flurry (replaces Avatar of Vice via Adept power)</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Utility Powers</strong></u></p><p>L2: Vice's Reward</p><p>L6: Wrath of the Gods</p><p>L10: Virtue</p><p>L12: Blood Iron</p><p>L16: Divine Aegis</p><p>L22: Rampaging Bloodlust</p><p>L26: Epic Recovery</p><p>L30: Undeniable Victory</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Feats</strong></u></p><p>L1: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade)</p><p>L1: Cunning Stalker</p><p>L2: Heavy Blade Expertise</p><p>L4: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)</p><p>L6: Power of Strife</p><p>L8: Superior Will</p><p>L10: Student of the Sword</p><p>L11: Lasting Frost</p><p>L11: Wintertouched (retrained Cunning Stalker)</p><p>L12: Adept Power</p><p>L12: Battle Awareness (retrained Student of the Sword)</p><p>L14: Action Surge</p><p>L16: Rapid Assault</p><p>L18: Improved Defenses</p><p>L20: Heavy Armor Agility</p><p>L21: Martial Mastery</p><p>L22: Long Step</p><p>L24: Epic Reflexes</p><p>L26: Powerful Charge</p><p>L28: Paladin's Truth</p><p>L30: Promise of Judgment</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Skills</strong></u></p><p>L1: Athletics</p><p>L1: Bluff</p><p>L1: Endurance</p><p>L1: Intimidate</p><p>L10: Streetwise</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Magic Items at L30 (Expected GP = 14,625,000)</strong></u></p><p>L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Frost Fullblade</p><p>L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Dwarven Warplate</p><p>L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Badge of the Berserker</p><p>L26 (1,125,000 gp): Iron Armbands of Power (epic tier)</p><p>L26 (1,125,000 gp): Horned Helm (epic tier)</p><p>L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (epic tier)</p><p>L22 (325,000 gp): Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (epic tier)</p><p>L21 (225,000 gp): Gloves of Ice (epic tier)</p><p>L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier)</p><p>L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (paragon tier)</p><p>L13 (17,000 gp): Ring of Giants (paragon tier)</p><p>L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier)</p><p>Total GP = 9,071,200 gp</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Dark Savage</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p>This Half-Orc has the natural agility to take full advantage of the nastiest weapon in the striking business -- the gouge. Favors the Dreadnought PP for extra durability and an encounter nova option. Once the nova party's over, he loves dealing the pain with high-powered charges, favoring cold damage like so many other Blackguards and attaching Dread Smite to those.</p><p><strong>Race:</strong> Half-Orc</p><p><strong>Vice:</strong> Fury</p><p><strong>Theme:</strong> Guardian</p><p><strong>Multiclass:</strong> Fighter</p><p><strong>Paragon Path:</strong> Dreadnought</p><p><strong>Epic Destiny:</strong> Destined Scion</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Ability Scores</strong></u></p><p>L1: STR 18, CON 10, DEX 17, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 14</p><p>L4: STR 19, CON 10, DEX 17, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 15</p><p>L8: STR 20, CON 10, DEX 17, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 16</p><p>L11: STR 21, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 17</p><p>L14: STR 22, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 18</p><p>L18: STR 23, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 19</p><p>L21: STR 26, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 22</p><p>L24: STR 27, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 23</p><p>L28: STR 28, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 24</p><p></p><p><u><strong>At-Will Powers</strong></u></p><p>L1: Vengeance Strike</p><p>L1: Ferocious Strike</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Encounter Power</strong></u></p><p>L11: Inexhorable Advance</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Daily Powers</strong></u></p><p>L5: Blood of the Mighty</p><p>L9: Death Angel</p><p>L12: Bedeviling Assault (replaces Blood of the Mighty via Adept Power)</p><p>L20: Rampaging Bloodlust</p><p>L25: Exalted Retribution (replaces Death Angel)</p><p>L29: Catastrophic Flurry (replaces Avatar of Vice via Adept power)</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Utility Powers</strong></u></p><p>L2: Vice's Reward</p><p>L6: Wrath of the Gods</p><p>L10: Virtue</p><p>L12: Blood Iron</p><p>L16: Divine Aegis</p><p>L22: Rampaging Bloodlust</p><p>L26: Epic Recovery</p><p>L28: Martial Supremacy (replaces Rampaging Bloodlust via Acolyte Power)</p><p>L30: Undeniable Victory</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Feats</strong></u></p><p>L1: Weapon Proficiency (Gouge)</p><p>L2: Cunning Stalker</p><p>L4: Spear Expertise</p><p>L6: Student of the Sword</p><p>L8: Surprising Charge</p><p>L10: Weapon Focus (Spear)</p><p>L11: Lasting Frost</p><p>L11: Wintertouched (retrained Cunning Stalker)</p><p>L12: Adept Power</p><p>L14: Impaling Spear</p><p>L16: Improved Defenses</p><p>L18: Superior Will</p><p>L20: Heavy Armor Agility</p><p>L21: Martial Mastery</p><p>L21: Battle Awareness (retrained Student of the Sword)</p><p>L22: Long Step</p><p>L24: Spear Mastery</p><p>L26: Ferocious Critical</p><p>L28: Acolyte Power</p><p>L30: Rapid Assault</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Skills</strong></u></p><p>L1: Athletics</p><p>L1: Bluff</p><p>L1: Endurance</p><p>L1: Intimidate</p><p>L4: Streetwise</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Magic Items at L30 (Expected GP = 14,625,000)</strong></u></p><p>L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Frost Gouge</p><p>L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Dwarven Warplate</p><p>L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Badge of the Berserker</p><p>L26 (1,125,000 gp): Iron Armbands of Power (epic tier)</p><p>L26 (1,125,000 gp): Horned Helm (epic tier)</p><p>L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (epic tier)</p><p>L22 (325,000 gp): Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (epic tier)</p><p>L21 (225,000 gp): Gloves of Ice (epic tier)</p><p>L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier)</p><p>L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (paragon tier)</p><p>L13 (17,000 gp): Ring of Giants (paragon tier)</p><p>L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier)</p><p>Total GP = 9,071,200 gp</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Stygian Warrior</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p>Like so many Blackguards, this Tiefling favors the Dreadnought PP and inflicting truckloads of cold damage on a charge. The Tiefling gets to take the cold damage one step further with Icy Clutch of Stygia, which makes Dread Smite an even more devastating tool in rounds 2-4.</p><p><strong>Race:</strong> Tiefling</p><p><strong>Vice:</strong> Fury</p><p><strong>Theme:</strong> Guardian</p><p><strong>Multiclass:</strong> Fighter</p><p><strong>Paragon Path:</strong> Dreadnought</p><p><strong>Epic Destiny:</strong> Destined Scion</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Ability Scores</u></strong></p><p>L1: STR 18, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 16</p><p>L4: STR 19, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 17</p><p>L8: STR 20, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 18</p><p>L11: STR 21, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 19</p><p>L14: STR 22, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 20</p><p>L18: STR 23, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 21</p><p>L21: STR 26, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 24</p><p>L24: STR 27, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 25</p><p>L28: STR 28, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 26</p><p></p><p><u><strong>At-Will Powers</strong></u></p><p>L1: Vengeance Strike</p><p>L1: Ferocious Strike</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Encounter Power</strong></u></p><p>L11: Inexhorable Advance</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Daily Powers</strong></u></p><p>L5: Blood of the Mighty</p><p>L9: Death Angel</p><p>L12: Bedeviling Assault (replaces Blood of the Mighty via Adept Power)</p><p>L20: Rampaging Bloodlust</p><p>L25: Exalted Retribution (replaces Death Angel)</p><p>L29: Catastrophic Flurry (replaces Avatar of Vice via Adept power)</p><p></p><p><strong><u>Utility Powers</u></strong></p><p>L2: Vice's Reward</p><p>L6: Wrath of the Gods</p><p>L10: Virtue</p><p>L12: Blood Iron</p><p>L16: Divine Aegis</p><p>L22: Rampaging Bloodlust</p><p>L24: Martial Supremacy (replaces Rampaging Bloodlust via Acolyte Power)</p><p>L26: Epic Recovery</p><p>L30: Undeniable Victory</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Feats</strong></u></p><p>L1: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade)</p><p>L2: Cunning Stalker</p><p>L4: Icy Clutch of Stygia</p><p>L6: Heavy Blade Expertise</p><p>L8: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)</p><p>L10: Student of the Sword</p><p>L11: Lasting Frost</p><p>L11: Wintertouched (retrained Cunning Stalker)</p><p>L12: Adept Power</p><p>L14: Superior Will</p><p> L16: Improved Defenses</p><p>L18: Dispater's Iron Discipline</p><p>L20: Heavy Armor Agility</p><p>L21: Martial Mastery</p><p>L21: Battle Awareness (retrained Student of the Sword)</p><p>L22: Long Step</p><p>L24: Acolyte Power</p><p>L26: Epic Reflexes</p><p>L28: Rapid Assault</p><p>L30: Bloodhunter's Flank</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Skills</strong></u></p><p>L1: Athletics</p><p>L1: Bluff</p><p>L1: Endurance</p><p>L1: Intimidate</p><p>L10: Streetwise</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Magic Items at L30 (Expected GP = 14,625,000)</strong></u></p><p>L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Frost Fullblade</p><p>L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Dwarven Warplate</p><p>L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Badge of the Berserker</p><p>L26 (1,125,000 gp): Iron Armbands of Power (epic tier)</p><p>L26 (1,125,000 gp): Horned Helm (epic tier)</p><p>L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (epic tier)</p><p>L22 (325,000 gp): Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (epic tier)</p><p>L21 (225,000 gp): Gloves of Ice (epic tier)</p><p>L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier)</p><p>L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (paragon tier)</p><p>L13 (17,000 gp): Ring of Giants (paragon tier)</p><p>L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier)</p><p>Total GP = 9,071,200 gp</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by Litigation:</strong></p><p></p><p>I can feel your anger.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by Litigation:</strong></p><p></p><p>It gives you focus. Makes you powerful.</p><p></p><p>And this is the last reservation. Post away. (Discuss spoilers, I guess?)</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by Rokku:</strong></p><p></p><p>Is it wrong that I'm disappointed you didn't name the handbook "Faith No More"?</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by robertread3:</strong></p><p></p><p>cant wait to see what this class is like, since the cavilier disapointed me so....</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by mellored:</strong></p><p></p><p>Well given that the start with paladin armor/hp/defenses. I assume this isn't going to be a high damage striker (at least by default, char-op will have it's say). Probably closer to the level of the warlock.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by rpzip_:</strong></p><p></p><p>If Blackguards can finagle a way into grabbing the Summon Celestial Charger mount I'm going to be in heaven. I've always had a soft spot for anti-paladins and the like.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by awaken_D_M_golem:</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Mead</strong> is for Paladins. </p><p></p><p><img src="http://bowendragon1.com/zencart/images/248109-01.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by Bargle0:</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The Blackguard has a handful of conditional ways to boost his damage. I played the preview adventure that debuted at DDXP, and I really had to struggle to get the most out of each attack. On the other hand, I didn't get hit in the final fight.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by Mithrus:</strong></p><p></p><p>Would blackguards trade lay on hands for some sort of smite power? Getting some sort of life-steal ability (damage => temps) would also be kinda cool (and closely resemble certain MMO classes, FBOFW).</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by thespaceinvader:</strong></p><p></p><p>Probably not. They're more anti-cavalier than anti-paladin in this instance (in terms of class mechanic with the Vices, and in terms of restricted alignments, where the O-Paladin has none) - and the Cav doesn't have LoH. However, the BG does, if I've heard correctly get an anti-Righteous Shield, which allows him to drop damage on an ally if it would drop him below 0, or something along those lines.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by mc-drowbane:</strong></p><p></p><p>I have to admit, I'm kind of <em>liking</em> the blackgaurd. Giving me that fuzzy feeling reading over him!</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by sirrus21:</strong></p><p></p><p>I'm assuming blackguards can poach Paladin powers, correct? Cuz that'd make the L2 utility Virtue pretty much <span style="color: #ff9900">gold</span> for Domination.</p><p></p><p>Edit: OK, that's a bit hasty, but it's at least very high <span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>blue</strong></span> or <span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>sky blue</strong></span>.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by rpzip_:</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>There's also the level 6 skill power Deliverance of Faith which is pretty much identical.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Originally posted by sirrus21:</strong></p><p></p><p>Ooo, I didn't know that existed. Awesome!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MonkLover, post: 6742648, member: 82105"] [b]Originally posted by Litigation:[/b] [SIZE=6][CENTER][b][u]Armory of the Tainted Ones: Items[/u][/b][/CENTER] [/SIZE] Just remember that your top priority in every 5-level interval should be to keep your armor, weapon (and implement if you use one) and neck item up to date. Plan it right and you'll still have plenty of room for other nice things. [b]Armor[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 2+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Dwarven[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Bonus to Endurance as a property, and a free surge-value heal per day. Good value. [b][COLOR=Blue]Screaming[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Bonus to Intimidate as a property, along with a per-encounter attack debuff from range. Nice. [b][COLOR=Blue]Veteran's[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Property gives you +1 to attack and all defenses on action point use. This one used to be a lot more powerful, but even now it's still pretty solid. [u]Lv. 3+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Heartening[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Dwarves and Questing Knights will look at this one for its property granting a healthy amount of THPs. [b]Lifegiving (AV)[/b]: Necrotic resistance with a daily last-resort healing power. Not bad. [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Meliorating[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Better defense every time you reach a milestone in the day. Awesome, especially if you don't have the Dexterity to take full advantage of Agile Armor. And this is in a lower pricing bracket than that one. [b]Versatile (AV)[/b]: At-will lets you sacrifice a point of AC to remove speed and skill penalties. Can be handy, at least until you either take Heavy Armor Agility or get access to plate that lets you ignore such penalties at no cost. [u]Lv. 4+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Armor of Durability[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Property grants bonus to personal healing surge use. Good one. [b][COLOR=Blue]Black Iron[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Resistance properties against two of the more common damage types used by enemies (fire and necrotic). Solid. [b][COLOR=Blue]Reinforcing[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Property grants an +1 item bonus to all defenses when you get hit in melee for the round after. The potential isn't as high as Meliorating, but it's more consistent. Another good choice if you can't take full advantage of Agile. [b][COLOR=Blue]Salubrious[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: This one is outstanding if you get enough sources of regeneration at some point in your career. Late Paragon and Epic are where this one is likely to really shine. Yet another good one for those who can't use Agile to its fullest. [b][COLOR=Blue]Verve[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: The property means you don't die as easily. Solid. [u]Lv. 5+[/u] [b]Agile (AV)[/b]: A [COLOR=#ff0000]trap[/COLOR] ... until you close in on Lv. 30, then it becomes [COLOR=#00ccff]awesome[/COLOR] if you have any sort of DEX modifier. At that point there are no other masterwork armors a level or two above to grab your immediate attention. [b]Battleforged (PHB)[/b]: Stronger second wind when bloodied. Not bad for a Dwarf or Questing Knight. [b]Shared Suffering (AV)[/b]: Encounter power makes an enemy pay for inflicting you with ongoing damage. Not bad. [u]Lv. 8+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Bloodiron[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 item bonus to AC against a target you thump for a round. Nice. [u]Lv. 11+[/u] [b]Dragonrider (D 365)[/b]: If you get a [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Dragon mount[/b][/COLOR] in Epic Tier, all of a sudden this scale armor becomes amazing. Have your Dragon wear Impenetrable Barding and some huge resistance to all damage for you is there for the taking. [u]Lv. 13+[/u] [b]Coral (AV)[/b]: Worth a look if your campaign involves a lot of water travel. [u]Lv. 20+[/u] [COLOR=#0000ff]Spectral Plate[/COLOR] (AV2): Ignore speed and check penalties in this plate, along with a daily move action power where you're insubstantial and phasing. Very solid. [u]Lv. 24+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Soulwarding[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Resist two common enemy damage types (necrotic and psychic) and protection against attacks that make you lose healing surges. Nice. [/sblock] [b]Weapons[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 2+[/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Defensive[/COLOR] (E:HFL)[/b]: Dwarves and Questing Knights will appreciate this one for the extra defense. Being a common item helps, too, if that matters. [b]Vicious (PHB)[/b]: The basic d12 per plus crit weapon. Decent. [u]Lv. 3+[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Frost[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Considering your class' penchant for picking up Lasting Frost, going full-time Permafrost isn't much more of an investment than what you had planned anyway. And it's still a top-tier damage option. [b][COLOR=Blue]Inescapable[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Stacks bonuses to hit with every miss until you hit the enemy. Solid. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Vanguard[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Great if you charge. [u]Lv. 4+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Battlecrazed[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Good damage bonus when bloodied. [b][COLOR=Blue]Rending[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Axe only; follow up a crit with a melee basic attack. Solid. [b][COLOR=Blue]Sunblade [/COLOR](AV)[/b]: A heavy blade with an at-will Radiant keyword and damage option. It can also shed a lot of light to negate concealment in dark places. Your first lightsaber if you're going Lucifer, and a solid option. [COLOR=#00ccff]Vigilant Blade[/COLOR] (D 381):The first of several weapons that serve as a combination of weapon and implement, which reduces your item dependency (and thus saves money). This heavy blade (or, curiously, light blade) lets you shed bright light at-will for dark places and night scenarios, and the per-encounter power that lets you switch places with an ally being attacked and set up combat advantage against the assailant is also nice. [u]Lv. 5+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Lightning[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: A flavorful, and finally viable option, thanks to nice things like Storm Sacrifice and (if you're in Eberron) Mark of Storm. Unlike Flaming, this one can be worth the cost. [u]Lv. 8+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Cunning[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: If you're into dealing save-ends effects with weapons, you'll want to consider this weapon for the penalty to the first save against it inflicts. Good even after the errata. Disrupting (DA 09): Can be a flail or hammer (or a mace, but you don't use those). Serves as a weapon/implement combo and is more effective against undead. Fair enough, but Crusader's is better. [u]Lv. 9+[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Crusader's[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: A hammer that serves as a weapon/implement combo. Half of the damage is radiant, which makes it very good for those who abuse radiant vulnerability. [COLOR=#00ccff]Githyanki Silver[/COLOR] (MOTP): Heavy blade only, and boy is this one nasty. Take the Psychic Lock feat and have fun. [b]Lullaby (AV)[/b]: One of the very few daily-power-only weapons worth a look. In this case, it's because the daily is a Sleep power. Comes in hammer or flail. [u]Lv. 10+[/u] [b]Blackshroud (AV)[/b]: Concealment when you off an enemy. Comes in axe or heavy blade. Not bad. [u]Lv. 12+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Jagged[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Crit deals heavy save-ends ongoing damage instead of extra damage die, and it crits on 19-20. Comes in axe or heavy blade. Nice. [u]Lv. 13+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Bloodiron[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Essentially doubles the crit damage dealt, and the d10 per plus figures makes that quite worthwhile. [b]Desiccating (AV)[/b]: Cumulative weakening of Fortitude (save-ends) with every hit. Not bad against Brutes. [b]Farslayer (AV)[/b]: At-will power lets you melee basic attack from 5 squares away. Can come in handy. [b][COLOR=Blue]Withering[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Cumulative debuff of AC (save-ends) with every hit. This one is more all-purpose than Desiccating. [u]Lv. 15+[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Radiant[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: At-will Radiant keyword switch, just like the Sunblade. When the switch is on, it also deals an extra item bonus to damage, which by itself makes it superior to its far more flavorful counterpart. However, if you're wearing the Iron Armbands of Power, you can stick with the Sunblade, as item bonuses don't stack. [u]Lv. 19+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Blade of Bahamut[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: If you can somehow justify worship Bahamut, this heavy blade is a weapon/implement combo and helps reduce your item dependency. Solid crits, d10 per plus, along with a CHA-based blast 5 attack power that heals your allies a bit. [b][COLOR=Blue]Moradin's[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: If you can somehow justify worship Moradin, this hammer is a weapon/implement combo and helps reduce your item dependency. It deals great crits, too, d12 per plus. [u]Lv. 25+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Brilliant Energy[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Like the Sunblade, a far more interesting and flavorful lightsaber than the technically superior Radiant Weapon. If you're wearing Iron Armbands of Power then the disparity disappears, and you get solid crit damage of d10s per plus and a very nice encounter power that lets you attack Reflex with an attack that would normally target AC. [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Holy Avenger[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: This weapon, which can also be used as an implement, is great for CHA-based Humans with Virtuous Strike, giving that power some serious extra bite. The bonus damage on that power, and all other Radiant powers as well, applies to both weapon and implement usage. The daily is a +5 to all NADs for potentially the whole party for a turn when you need it. Comes in axe, hammer, or heavy blade. Keep in mind it's a rare item, though, if that matters. [u][b]Lv. 29[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Sorrowsong Blade[/COLOR] (E2 KotG)[/b]: This heavy blade is like Githyanki Silver but even better, as all attacks with it deal half psychic damage, permanently. And now that damage types and keywords have been clarified, what this means is that not only does it work with Psychic Lock, but attacks with this weapon don't lose their original damage type, either. Major win. [/sblock] [b]Holy Symbols[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 2+[/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Symbol of Power[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: -2 penalty to the enemy's first saving throw against a save-ends effect. Since those are mostly daily powers, and since that's mostly what you'll use a holy symbol for, this one's good. [u]Lv. 8+ [/u] [COLOR=#00ccff]Symbol of the Champion's Code[/COLOR] (AV2): If you're a Human with Ardent Strike, or you have enough mass-DS powers per encounter to be a threat with those marks, this is a great symbol to take. Even if you never make any attacks with it, the bonus to DS damage is quite valuable. Even if your symbol is a plus or two below attack-caliber for your level, it will make a difference. [/sblock] [b]Neck[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 2+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Amulet of Mental Resolve[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 item bonus to saves against charm, illusion and sleep. Good early on. [b][COLOR=Blue]Amulet of Physical Resolve[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 item bonus to saves against weakening, slowing and immobilizing. Also good early. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Badge of the Berserker[/COLOR] (PHB2)[/b] : No drawing OAs on charges. Perfect for charge optimization, which your class likes to do. [u]Lv. 4+[/u] [b]Cloak of Distortion (AV)[/b]: Not really worth it in Heroic Tier, anymore. It does get a lot [COLOR=#0000ff]better[/COLOR] later, though. [u][b]Lv. 5+[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Amulet of Life[/COLOR] (D 381)[/b]: Encounter power lets you spend an additional healing surge on top of any power that lets you use one. Pretty good, if rather pricey. [u]Lv. 8+[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Periapt of Recovery[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 bonus to death saves. Nice. [u]Lv. 15[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Brooch of Vitalty[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Increase your max HPs. Simple, and awesome. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Torc of Power Preservation[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: This can recharge an encounter power. That can be a very nice thing. [u]Lv. 25[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Life Charm[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Also known as: You (almost) never die. [/sblock] [b]Arms (Bracers)[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 6[/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Bracers of Mental Might[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: CHA-based Blackguards who get their item bonuses to damage from elsewhere (Radiant or Subtle weapons, for example) might want to take this one so they can take one of the STR-based arsenal's better nova powers. [b][COLOR=#ff9900]Iron Armbands of Power[/COLOR] (AV) (6/16/26)[/b]: If you don't have an item bonus to damage from anywhere else, this is your default arms slot item. Period. [u][b]Lv. 14[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Counterstrike Guards[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: If you got your item bonus to damage from somewhere else (such as a Radiant Weapon), this is a great item to take for its MBA payback from an enemy's miss. [/sblock] [b]Feet[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 2[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Acrobat Boots[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Minor action to stand up from being prone. Good one early. [b][COLOR=Blue]Boots of Adept Charging[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Shift after a charge. Nice. [u]Lv. 3[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Catstep Boots[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Half-damage, land on your feet from a fall. Good for this tier. [u]Lv. 7[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Boots of the Fencing Master[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +1 item bonus to AC and Reflex whenever you shift, and you get to shift 2 squares every encounter. Good one. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Rushing Cleats[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Increases the distance of your pushes and slides, which is important if you're building around those. Like Polearm Momentum builds. [u]Lv. 8[/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Boots of Quickness[/COLOR] (AV) (8/18/28)[/b]: Untyped bonus to your Reflex defense. There's a version of it at each tier. Reflex is likely to be your weakest defense. [u]Lv. 9[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Boots of Eagerness[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Extra move action per encounter. Nice. [u]Lv. 12[/u] [b]Battlestrider Greaves (PHB)[/b]: Essentially negates the speed penalty for plate. Not bad. [b][COLOR=Blue]Dragonborn Greaves[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Extra defense and speed when bloodied. Nice. [u]Lv. 13[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Winged Boots[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Your first item that prevents fall damage completely. Also comes with a daily flight power. [u]Lv. 14[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Oceanstrider Boots[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +1 item bonus to speed and you can walk and stand on water and other non-hazardous liquid surfaces. Very nice. [u]Lv. 18[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Dimensional Stride Boots[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +1 untyped bonus to Reflex, with a per-encounter teleportation power. Good. [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Phantom Chaussures[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Concealment for moving 3 or more squares. Awesome. [u][b]Lv. 24[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Boots of Caiphon[/COLOR] (AV2)[/b]: +2 item bonus to Reflex, and you get to sacrifice a little damage in exchange for a nice-distance shift. That damage isn't nearly as much as you'd take from an OA, so a great deal all around. [u]Lv. 25[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Airstriders[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: You get to fly. Along with taking no damage from falls. Great. [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Sandals of Avandra[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 item bonus to speed, and shift half your speed at-will. Awesome. [u]Lv. 28[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Boots of Teleportation[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: At-will teleportation. That should say it all. [/sblock] [b]Hands[/b] [sblock] [u][b]Lv. 4[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Gauntlets of Blood[/COLOR] (AV) (4/14/24)[/b]: A nice damage bonus against bloodied targets. [u]Lv. 6[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Breaching Gauntlets[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Reduce some resistance against your attacks. Good for this point. [u]Lv. 9[/u] [b]Gloves of Storing (AV)[/b]: Interesting, and handy at times. [u]Lv. 10[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Strikebacks[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Per-encounter immediate reaction attack against an enemy who hit you. It's always a grand idea to have sources of easily triggered extra attacks on hand. [u][b]Lv. 11[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Gloves of Ice[/COLOR] (AV2) (11/21)[/b]: Practically a must if you're playing with the Lasting Frost synergy. [u][b]Lv. 18[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Gauntlets of Destruction[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Makes all your attacks brutal 1. Great option if you're not already using a brutal weapon. Even worth a look if you are, as this puts the brutal 1 effect on all dice you roll for damage, period, not just those directly from your weapon. [u]Lv. 20[/u] [COLOR=#00ccff]Many-Fingered Gloves[/COLOR] (AV2): Wear an extra ring. Very beneficial. [/sblock] [b]Head[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 4[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Casque of Tactics[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Until you can comfortably afford a Helm of Battle, this will do. [u]Lv. 6[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Horned Helm[/COLOR] (PHB) (6/16/26)[/b]: Extra d6s of damage on a charge attack. Yes, sir. [u]Lv. 8[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Circlet of Indomitability[/COLOR] (AV) (8/18/28)[/b]: Untyped bonus to Will, and a version comes at each tier. As good as anything. [b][COLOR=Blue]Coif of Mindiron[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Per-encounter prevention of daze if Will is attacked. Gets even better in [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]later tiers[/COLOR][/b], when it also prevents stuns and eventually domination. [u]Lv. 9[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Helm of Battle[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Item bonus to initiative for you and nearby allies. Nice. [u]Lv. 14[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Goggles of Night[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Darkvision is nice if you don't have it already. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Helm of Able Defense[/COLOR] (AV2)[/b]: +1 item bonus to Will and an extra +2 to all defenses until your first turn at minimum. Quite good. [u]Lv. 21[/u] [COLOR=#0000ff]Essence of the Wisp[/COLOR] (AV2): +2 item bonus to Will, and an at-will power that pulls enemies who dare use ranged attacks against you a couple squares as an immediate action. Can help you reach enemies who prefer to stay at range. [b][COLOR=Blue]Eye of Discernment[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Practical immunity to blinding is the main draw here, and that's pretty major. [u]Lv. 22[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Helm of Ghostly Defense[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Necrotic resistance and per-encounter insubstantial. Nice. [u][b]Lv. 23[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Eye of Awareness[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 to Will and +5 to initiative. Very good. [/sblock] [b]Rings[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 13[/u] [COLOR=#00ccff]Ring of Giants[/COLOR] (D 378): Stronger crits, which is great. The daily power is only for Primal powers, but that's not the important part. [u]Lv. 15[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Ring of Aquatic Ability[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: A ring slot is where you're most likely to put swim speed/underwater breathing properties. [b][COLOR=Blue]Ring of the Dragonborn Emperor[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Item bonus to damage on all close attacks. Including close bursts and blasts with your weapon. Note this is not redundant with Iron Armbands of Power since that item applies only to powers designated "melee." [u]Lv. 16[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]War Ring[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Stronger crits. Not as good as Ring of Giants, if you have to choose one, but still a good choice in addition. [u][b]Lv. 17[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Ring of the Radiant Storm[/COLOR] (AV2)[/b]: If your main damage type is either Lightning or Radiant, you'll want to take a good look at this one. Rerolling damage and keeping the better result is a nice boost. [u]Lv. 21[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Ring of Tenacious Will[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Uses Charisma to determine number of healing surges instead of Constitution. Practically a must. [u]Lv. 24[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Ring of Regeneration[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Item bonus to healing surge value as a property, and the daily, after a milestone, gives you regeneration 10 and gives you back a healing surge. Good. [u]Lv. 25[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Gargoyle Ring[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Save against petrification, even when you are petrified. Nice. [u]Lv. 27[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Ring of the Phoenix[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Solid fire resistance property, and a very nice self-resurrection daily power. [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Shadow Band[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Concealment all the time. Great fun. [u]Lv. 29[/u] [COLOR=#00ccff]Ring of Free Time[/COLOR] (AV2): Resist 5 all constantly is awesome enough. Then there's the one extra minor action per encounter from this ring ... which turns into an extra minor action every single round after the first milestone. Incredible, since you tend to use your minor actions a lot. For certain builds, particularly those with sustain-minor powers, this could even be [COLOR=#ff9900]essential[/COLOR]. [/sblock] [b]Waist[/b] [sblock] [u]Lv. 2[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Belt of Vigor[/COLOR] (PHB) (2/12/22)[/b]: Item bonus to healing surge value. Solid start. [u]Lv. 6[/u] [b]Cincture of the Dragon Spirit (AV)[/b]: If you're allowed liberal use of the Intimidate skill in combat this could be handy. [u]Lv. 7[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Belt of Sacrifice[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: Item bonus to nearby allies' healing surge value. Great property. Ignore the daily. [b][COLOR=Blue]Rope of Slave Fighting[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Attack normally when prone. Nice. The Paragon Tier version cancels combat advantage when prone as well. [u]Lv. 8[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Belt of Vim[/COLOR] (AV) (8/18/28)[/b]: Untyped Fortitude bonus. Comes in a version at each tier. Just a great all-purpose benefit. [u]Lv. 10[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Diamond Cincture[/COLOR] (AV2)[/b]: Item bonus to Fortitude with the opportunity to spend more healing surges if you need to. Good one, for sure, but since you can easily pick up ways to use your own healing surges every encounter, it's not the be-all, end-all like it is for some other classes. [u]Lv. 21[/u] [b][COLOR=Blue]Baldric of Valor[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: Bonuses to attack, saves and defenses for action point usage. Nice. [u]Lv. 23[/u] [b][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Belt of Vitality[/COLOR] (AV)[/b]: +2 untyped bonus to Fortitude, and once per day get back up when you make a death save. Very nice. [u][b]Lv. 25[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Belt of Titan Strength[/COLOR] (PHB)[/b]: A huge buff to damage for a turn once per day when you really need to go nova with a multi-attack sequence. [/sblock] [b]Mount[/b] [sblock] [b][u]Lv. 1[/u][/b] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Impenetrable Barding[/COLOR] (AV) (1/11/21)[/b]: Sweet, sweet damage resistance for your mount if you equip it with this. [/sblock] [b]Wonderous Items[/b] [sblock] [u][b]Lv. 8[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#0000ff]Jade Horse[/COLOR] (D 393)[/b]: Gives you a steed with the ability to charge without drawing OAs and a Trample that works on enemies of all sizes. Nice if you like being mounted but don't want to take the Celestial Mount, and even if you did that, this is a solid backup, indeed. [u][b]Lv. 9[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Backlash Tattoo[/COLOR] (AV2)[/b]: Immediate reaction MBA when you get bloodied the first time every fight? Yes, please and thank you. [/sblock] [b]Dragonshard Augments (Eberron)[/b] [sblock] [u][b]Lv. 2[/b][/u] [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Eberron Shard of Lightning[/COLOR] (EPG) (2/12/22)[/b]: The shard of choice for those who use Lightning Weapons, as well as Avatars of Storm. [b][COLOR=#00ccff]Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold[/COLOR] (EPG) (2/12/22)[/b]: Lasting Frost users go straight for this one. [u]Lv. 3[/u] [COLOR=#00ccff]Siberys Shard of Radiance[/COLOR] (EPG) (3/13/23): Untyped bonus to Radiant damage rolls. You want this as soon as possible if you're going Lucifer. Paragon and Epic Tier versions available, too. [/sblock] [b]Originally posted by Litigation:[/b] [SIZE=6][CENTER][b][u]Manifestations of the Tainted: Sample Builds[/u][/b][/CENTER] [/SIZE] [b]Ardent Ravager[/b] [sblock] This Human takes Ardent Strike and builds around it for the perfect combination of high charging DPR and some single-target Defender capability on top. Like so many Blackguards, he favors cold damage. He also takes the Dreadnought PP for extra durability and a multi-attacking power for an encounter nova. [b]Race:[/b] Human [b]Vice:[/b] Fury [b]Theme:[/b] Guardian [b]Multiclass:[/b] Fighter [b]Paragon Path:[/b] Dreadnought [b]Epic Destiny:[/b] Destined Scion [u][b]Ability Scores[/b][/u] L1: STR 18, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16 L4: STR 19, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 17 L8: STR 20, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 18 L11: STR 21, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 19 L14: STR 22, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 20 L18: STR 23, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 21 L21: STR 26, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 24 L24: STR 27, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 25 L28: STR 28, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 26 [b][u]At-Will Powers[/u][/b] L1: Ardent Strike L1: Vengeance Strike L1: Ferocious Strike [u][b]Encounter Power[/b][/u] L11: Inexhorable Advance [b][u]Daily Powers[/u][/b] L5: Blood of the Mighty L9: Death Angel L12: Bedeviling Assault (replaces Blood of the Mighty via Adept Power) L20: Rampaging Bloodlust L25: Exalted Retribution (replaces Death Angel) L29: Catastrophic Flurry (replaces Avatar of Vice via Adept power) [u][b]Utility Powers[/b][/u] L2: Vice's Reward L6: Wrath of the Gods L10: Virtue L12: Blood Iron L16: Divine Aegis L22: Rampaging Bloodlust L26: Epic Recovery L30: Undeniable Victory [u][b]Feats[/b][/u] L1: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade) L1: Cunning Stalker L2: Heavy Blade Expertise L4: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade) L6: Power of Strife L8: Superior Will L10: Student of the Sword L11: Lasting Frost L11: Wintertouched (retrained Cunning Stalker) L12: Adept Power L12: Battle Awareness (retrained Student of the Sword) L14: Action Surge L16: Rapid Assault L18: Improved Defenses L20: Heavy Armor Agility L21: Martial Mastery L22: Long Step L24: Epic Reflexes L26: Powerful Charge L28: Paladin's Truth L30: Promise of Judgment [u][b]Skills[/b][/u] L1: Athletics L1: Bluff L1: Endurance L1: Intimidate L10: Streetwise [u][b]Magic Items at L30 (Expected GP = 14,625,000)[/b][/u] L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Frost Fullblade L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Dwarven Warplate L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Badge of the Berserker L26 (1,125,000 gp): Iron Armbands of Power (epic tier) L26 (1,125,000 gp): Horned Helm (epic tier) L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (epic tier) L22 (325,000 gp): Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (epic tier) L21 (225,000 gp): Gloves of Ice (epic tier) L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier) L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (paragon tier) L13 (17,000 gp): Ring of Giants (paragon tier) L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier) Total GP = 9,071,200 gp [/sblock] [b]Dark Savage[/b] [sblock] This Half-Orc has the natural agility to take full advantage of the nastiest weapon in the striking business -- the gouge. Favors the Dreadnought PP for extra durability and an encounter nova option. Once the nova party's over, he loves dealing the pain with high-powered charges, favoring cold damage like so many other Blackguards and attaching Dread Smite to those. [b]Race:[/b] Half-Orc [b]Vice:[/b] Fury [b]Theme:[/b] Guardian [b]Multiclass:[/b] Fighter [b]Paragon Path:[/b] Dreadnought [b]Epic Destiny:[/b] Destined Scion [u][b]Ability Scores[/b][/u] L1: STR 18, CON 10, DEX 17, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 14 L4: STR 19, CON 10, DEX 17, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 15 L8: STR 20, CON 10, DEX 17, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 16 L11: STR 21, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 17 L14: STR 22, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 18 L18: STR 23, CON 11, DEX 18, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 19 L21: STR 26, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 22 L24: STR 27, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 23 L28: STR 28, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 24 [u][b]At-Will Powers[/b][/u] L1: Vengeance Strike L1: Ferocious Strike [u][b]Encounter Power[/b][/u] L11: Inexhorable Advance [u][b]Daily Powers[/b][/u] L5: Blood of the Mighty L9: Death Angel L12: Bedeviling Assault (replaces Blood of the Mighty via Adept Power) L20: Rampaging Bloodlust L25: Exalted Retribution (replaces Death Angel) L29: Catastrophic Flurry (replaces Avatar of Vice via Adept power) [u][b]Utility Powers[/b][/u] L2: Vice's Reward L6: Wrath of the Gods L10: Virtue L12: Blood Iron L16: Divine Aegis L22: Rampaging Bloodlust L26: Epic Recovery L28: Martial Supremacy (replaces Rampaging Bloodlust via Acolyte Power) L30: Undeniable Victory [u][b]Feats[/b][/u] L1: Weapon Proficiency (Gouge) L2: Cunning Stalker L4: Spear Expertise L6: Student of the Sword L8: Surprising Charge L10: Weapon Focus (Spear) L11: Lasting Frost L11: Wintertouched (retrained Cunning Stalker) L12: Adept Power L14: Impaling Spear L16: Improved Defenses L18: Superior Will L20: Heavy Armor Agility L21: Martial Mastery L21: Battle Awareness (retrained Student of the Sword) L22: Long Step L24: Spear Mastery L26: Ferocious Critical L28: Acolyte Power L30: Rapid Assault [u][b]Skills[/b][/u] L1: Athletics L1: Bluff L1: Endurance L1: Intimidate L4: Streetwise [u][b]Magic Items at L30 (Expected GP = 14,625,000)[/b][/u] L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Frost Gouge L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Dwarven Warplate L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Badge of the Berserker L26 (1,125,000 gp): Iron Armbands of Power (epic tier) L26 (1,125,000 gp): Horned Helm (epic tier) L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (epic tier) L22 (325,000 gp): Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (epic tier) L21 (225,000 gp): Gloves of Ice (epic tier) L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier) L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (paragon tier) L13 (17,000 gp): Ring of Giants (paragon tier) L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier) Total GP = 9,071,200 gp [/sblock] [b]Stygian Warrior[/b] [sblock] Like so many Blackguards, this Tiefling favors the Dreadnought PP and inflicting truckloads of cold damage on a charge. The Tiefling gets to take the cold damage one step further with Icy Clutch of Stygia, which makes Dread Smite an even more devastating tool in rounds 2-4. [b]Race:[/b] Tiefling [b]Vice:[/b] Fury [b]Theme:[/b] Guardian [b]Multiclass:[/b] Fighter [b]Paragon Path:[/b] Dreadnought [b]Epic Destiny:[/b] Destined Scion [b][u]Ability Scores[/u][/b] L1: STR 18, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 16 L4: STR 19, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 17 L8: STR 20, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 18 L11: STR 21, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 19 L14: STR 22, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 20 L18: STR 23, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 21 L21: STR 26, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 24 L24: STR 27, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 25 L28: STR 28, CON 14, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 26 [u][b]At-Will Powers[/b][/u] L1: Vengeance Strike L1: Ferocious Strike [u][b]Encounter Power[/b][/u] L11: Inexhorable Advance [u][b]Daily Powers[/b][/u] L5: Blood of the Mighty L9: Death Angel L12: Bedeviling Assault (replaces Blood of the Mighty via Adept Power) L20: Rampaging Bloodlust L25: Exalted Retribution (replaces Death Angel) L29: Catastrophic Flurry (replaces Avatar of Vice via Adept power) [b][u]Utility Powers[/u][/b] L2: Vice's Reward L6: Wrath of the Gods L10: Virtue L12: Blood Iron L16: Divine Aegis L22: Rampaging Bloodlust L24: Martial Supremacy (replaces Rampaging Bloodlust via Acolyte Power) L26: Epic Recovery L30: Undeniable Victory [u][b]Feats[/b][/u] L1: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade) L2: Cunning Stalker L4: Icy Clutch of Stygia L6: Heavy Blade Expertise L8: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade) L10: Student of the Sword L11: Lasting Frost L11: Wintertouched (retrained Cunning Stalker) L12: Adept Power L14: Superior Will L16: Improved Defenses L18: Dispater's Iron Discipline L20: Heavy Armor Agility L21: Martial Mastery L21: Battle Awareness (retrained Student of the Sword) L22: Long Step L24: Acolyte Power L26: Epic Reflexes L28: Rapid Assault L30: Bloodhunter's Flank [u][b]Skills[/b][/u] L1: Athletics L1: Bluff L1: Endurance L1: Intimidate L10: Streetwise [u][b]Magic Items at L30 (Expected GP = 14,625,000)[/b][/u] L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Frost Fullblade L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Dwarven Warplate L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Badge of the Berserker L26 (1,125,000 gp): Iron Armbands of Power (epic tier) L26 (1,125,000 gp): Horned Helm (epic tier) L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (epic tier) L22 (325,000 gp): Siberys Shard of Merciless Cold (epic tier) L21 (225,000 gp): Gloves of Ice (epic tier) L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier) L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (paragon tier) L13 (17,000 gp): Ring of Giants (paragon tier) L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier) Total GP = 9,071,200 gp [/sblock] [b]Originally posted by Litigation:[/b] I can feel your anger. [b]Originally posted by Litigation:[/b] It gives you focus. Makes you powerful. And this is the last reservation. Post away. (Discuss spoilers, I guess?) [b]Originally posted by Rokku:[/b] Is it wrong that I'm disappointed you didn't name the handbook "Faith No More"? [b]Originally posted by robertread3:[/b] cant wait to see what this class is like, since the cavilier disapointed me so.... [b]Originally posted by mellored:[/b] Well given that the start with paladin armor/hp/defenses. I assume this isn't going to be a high damage striker (at least by default, char-op will have it's say). Probably closer to the level of the warlock. [b]Originally posted by rpzip_:[/b] If Blackguards can finagle a way into grabbing the Summon Celestial Charger mount I'm going to be in heaven. I've always had a soft spot for anti-paladins and the like. [b]Originally posted by awaken_D_M_golem:[/b] [b]Mead[/b] is for Paladins. [IMG]http://bowendragon1.com/zencart/images/248109-01.jpg[/IMG] [b]Originally posted by Bargle0:[/b] The Blackguard has a handful of conditional ways to boost his damage. I played the preview adventure that debuted at DDXP, and I really had to struggle to get the most out of each attack. On the other hand, I didn't get hit in the final fight. [b]Originally posted by Mithrus:[/b] Would blackguards trade lay on hands for some sort of smite power? Getting some sort of life-steal ability (damage => temps) would also be kinda cool (and closely resemble certain MMO classes, FBOFW). [b]Originally posted by thespaceinvader:[/b] Probably not. They're more anti-cavalier than anti-paladin in this instance (in terms of class mechanic with the Vices, and in terms of restricted alignments, where the O-Paladin has none) - and the Cav doesn't have LoH. However, the BG does, if I've heard correctly get an anti-Righteous Shield, which allows him to drop damage on an ally if it would drop him below 0, or something along those lines. [b]Originally posted by mc-drowbane:[/b] I have to admit, I'm kind of [i]liking[/i] the blackgaurd. Giving me that fuzzy feeling reading over him! [b]Originally posted by sirrus21:[/b] I'm assuming blackguards can poach Paladin powers, correct? Cuz that'd make the L2 utility Virtue pretty much [COLOR=#ff9900]gold[/COLOR] for Domination. Edit: OK, that's a bit hasty, but it's at least very high [COLOR=#0000ff][b]blue[/b][/COLOR] or [COLOR=#00ccff][b]sky blue[/b][/COLOR]. [b]Originally posted by rpzip_:[/b] There's also the level 6 skill power Deliverance of Faith which is pretty much identical. [b]Originally posted by sirrus21:[/b] Ooo, I didn't know that existed. Awesome! [/QUOTE]
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Tainted Faith: The Blackguard's Guide
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