Hawk Diesel
Adventurer
Is it really any bigger than what you've proposed?
I'm sorry, but I disagree with this. Especially since the Hexblade gets armor, shields, martial weapons, and an ability that not only replicates the Fiend Patron, but also increases crit threat range and increased damage. Why would anyone choose to use a Fiend Patron if Hexblade is available? There is often a saying that if a new option makes other obsolete, it is probably overpowered or otherwise unbalanced.
Let's compare. Hexblade gets improved armor and weapon proficiencies and can use their spellcasting stat for melee attacks and damage. IN ADDITION, they get a once per short rest version of Super Hex that doesn't even require concentration. Are you honestly telling me this is ok in comparison with a Great Old One that gets telepathy or the Archfey that gets a single ability once per short rest?
If we are trying to create balance so that all options are usable, then we do have to consider what the archetype is trying to accomplish, but also how well they do against each other. If Great Old one gets telepathy and Archfey gets a short rest charm/fright, these abilities need to stack up against the Hexblade. Either the Hexblade gets the armor and weapon proficiencies, or they get the short rest Super Hex (minus the ability that is directly stolen from the Fiend Patron), or they get Charisma to attacks and damage on melee attacks. Any one of those abilities could be argued to roughly stack against its Patron Peers. All of them combined just don't balance.
[MENTION=1003]Irda Ranger[/MENTION]
Pact of the Blade
If you don't already have the Eldritch Blast cantrip, you gain it when you take this pact. In addition, when you use this cantrip while engaged in melee, you may do so without disadvantage as normal.
[MENTION=6866167]Thurmas[/MENTION] I'm sorry, but we can't really look at any class or ability in a bubble. Any bubble is artificial, because each class and ability is interconnected. If we are to believe a concept of mechanical balance exists, then it seems to me a kind of fallacy to attempt to look at any particular class or ability in a bubble. Alternatively, if a bubble were to exist, anything you put in that bubble is balanced. Balance, power level, underpowered, overpowered, these are terms that identify a relationship between things. If there is a bubble, there is no relationship. A thing just is.
[MENTION=5889]Stalker0[/MENTION] That could work. I'd say you still should have flexibility to use either the ranged or melee version. But maybe just that while you are engaged in melee if you try the ranged version to attack some else at a distance it would still be at disadvantage. Essentially make it two cantrips. Eldritch Blast and Eldritch Weapon.