Blackguard

Reading the paladin again, it seams that channel divinity IS the paladin oath feature at 3rd level, not in addition to like I was thinking, so I just have to buff up the Dark Corruption 3rd level features.
Not necessarily Buff Up, as I was thinking it was in addition as well. Mechanically the Paladin (@3rd) gains Bonus Spells and One once/short rest powers from a choice of 2. So we need powers that are either:
1) equivalent 1/short rest powers
2) slightly weaker At-wills
3) Slightly more powerful usable 1/day

So with that said...

Shadow Weapon - Same as listed, but add " In addition, you can have your shadow weapon ignore all resistances, but not immunities. This is for all attacks made by you on your turn. After using this ability, you must complete a short or long rest before using it again."

This original version you had...
Shadow Weapon – You can manifest a weapon out of pure shadow as a bonus action. Another bonus action can be used to dismiss it. This shadow weapon acts exactly like a weapon of your choice, except it has no weight, is treated as magical and deals necrotic damage. If the shadow weapon takes the form of a weapon that fires projectiles, it creates its own projectiles. Thrown weapons and fired projectiles disappear at the start of your next turn.
This is already an improved version of the warlock's "Pact of the Blade", getting to summon as a bonus action rather than an action, and dealing necrotic damage vs normal weapon damage, and lastly can be a ranged weapon versus only melee. I'd honestly say that its a good enough At-Will ability as-is to replace Channeling.

Skeletal Minion - Same as listed, but add " In addition, on your turn, you may split your skeletal minion in two. Until the end of your next turn, you have two skeletal minions with the same statistics, and you may use a bonus action to have each either attack or move. Once the effect ends, one of the minions disappears and the skeletal minion that is left is returned to full hit points. You must complete a short or long rest to use this ability again."
As above, I think the Undead Pet is a decent at-will feature trade for Channeling.

Fiendish Magic - Same as listed, but add " In addition, on your turn you can use an action to cast a spell and make a weapon attack. You must complete a short or long rest to use this ability again."
This one I'm on the fence with. You've given them an at-will ranged spell attack. Now you are in effect giving them fighter's 7th level War Magic ability at 3rd level to boot. I somehow feel that is too OP to be getting at 3rd level.

Perhaps this:

Fiendish Legacy - At 3rd level, you gain one of the following cantrips as a known spell that is always considered prepared: Acid Splash, Chill Touch, Fire Bolt, Poison Spray, Ray of Frost, Shocking Grasp.
Additionally, you gain resistance to two of the following: cold, fire, lightning, poison.​

Fiendish Talent – At 7th level, when you use your action to cast your fiendish legacy cantrip, you can make one melee attack as a bonus action.
 

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Not necessarily Buff Up, as I was thinking it was in addition as well. Mechanically the Paladin (@3rd) gains Bonus Spells and One once/short rest powers from a choice of 2. So we need powers that are either:
1) equivalent 1/short rest powers
2) slightly weaker At-wills
3) Slightly more powerful usable 1/day

So with that said...



This original version you had...

This is already an improved version of the warlock's "Pact of the Blade", getting to summon as a bonus action rather than an action, and dealing necrotic damage vs normal weapon damage, and lastly can be a ranged weapon versus only melee. I'd honestly say that its a good enough At-Will ability as-is to replace Channeling.


As above, I think the Undead Pet is a decent at-will feature trade for Channeling.


This one I'm on the fence with. You've given them an at-will ranged spell attack. Now you are in effect giving them fighter's 7th level War Magic ability at 3rd level to boot. I somehow feel that is too OP to be getting at 3rd level.

Perhaps this:

Fiendish Legacy - At 3rd level, you gain one of the following cantrips as a known spell that is always considered prepared: Acid Splash, Chill Touch, Fire Bolt, Poison Spray, Ray of Frost, Shocking Grasp.
Additionally, you gain resistance to two of the following: cold, fire, lightning, poison.​

Fiendish Talent – At 7th level, when you use your action to cast your fiendish legacy cantrip, you can make one melee attack as a bonus action.

Yeah, I only came up with these since you said that the lack of Channel Divinity was a problem. I'll just scrap the first two and think on your suggestion for the third. I may think up something different entirely. I should look over the various MM fiends for inspiration! Thanks for all the ideas.
 


hate to rez old posts, but since i been digging for a good long while looking for any mention to more classes coming out for 5th, i found this and think its the best blackguard i seen yet for 5th. 1 question though, what level is the shadow weapon? it reminds me of shadow blade from second ed
 

hate to rez old posts, but since i been digging for a good long while looking for any mention to more classes coming out for 5th, i found this and think its the best blackguard i seen yet for 5th. 1 question though, what level is the shadow weapon? it reminds me of shadow blade from second ed
As it stands, it is the first Dark Corruption (Shadow Master subclass) feature, so 3rd level.
 

As it stands, it is the first Dark Corruption (Shadow Master subclass) feature, so 3rd level.

alrighty thanks, im tryin to talk my dm into letting me play this one, he is worried its going to be op since its not from the book directly. half thinking of getting a side thing to happen to kill off my paladin and have him resurrected and this is what he becomes after seeing the other side.
 

alrighty thanks, im tryin to talk my dm into letting me play this one, he is worried its going to be op since its not from the book directly. half thinking of getting a side thing to happen to kill off my paladin and have him resurrected and this is what he becomes after seeing the other side.

Neat story idea. Hopefully you can get to try it out.
 




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