I would be interested in hearing from some folks who have played or DMed a Hexblade. My main interest is how the class stacks up with other Melee oriented classes. Can a hexblade fillone of the 4 archtype rolls in a 4 PC adventuring party? Is the class well balanced in actual play experience?
Hexblade
- Thread starter Shadeydm
- Start date
Particle_Man
Explorer
It is a light armored fighter without feats but with a few tricks. That said, you can cheese up a bit to compensate.
The DMG II has the Sudden Stunning weapon enhancement for 2000 gp - the stunning effect has x/day and save DC based on your chr mod, and the latter is also affected by your level (!).
The PHB II has a great alternate ability - the "dark companion" instead of a familiar. This one has no save, so you do things in the following order: Move Cat, Curse, then whack with your Sudden Stunning Greatsword.
You do have social skills so you can be the "Face" of the party, at least.
Avoid "Save or Else" spells. Most foes you fight will make their saves because you get your spells so late. The counter-argument is that you can use your Hex to lower their saves and balance things out. Don't listen to this counter-argument. Your Hex will work a lot better against the dude that your Wizard, Sorceror, Cleric, Druid or Psion buddy is about to use their own "Save or Else" spells/powers vs., and their save DCs won't be crap.
Beg your DM to be able to use the Hexblade feats from Dragon #339, or even the Reserve Feats from Complete Mage, in place of your Hexblade Bonus feats.
Since you are in Light Armor anyhow, you could go for those feats that only work in Light Armor/Light Encumbrance, but that is making a virtue of necessity.
Other than that, roleplaying wise it lets you be a bastard. I am playing a CN Hexblade that actually made and broke a deal with a demon before the demon could break the deal with him.
So I would say Hexblades can be fun, but don't expect to be the power house. It makes an interesting 5th or 6th character since debuffing the enemy is helpful to your buddies in a way similar to, yet distinct from (and stacking with), buffing your friends (the bard's job).
The DMG II has the Sudden Stunning weapon enhancement for 2000 gp - the stunning effect has x/day and save DC based on your chr mod, and the latter is also affected by your level (!).
The PHB II has a great alternate ability - the "dark companion" instead of a familiar. This one has no save, so you do things in the following order: Move Cat, Curse, then whack with your Sudden Stunning Greatsword.
You do have social skills so you can be the "Face" of the party, at least.
Avoid "Save or Else" spells. Most foes you fight will make their saves because you get your spells so late. The counter-argument is that you can use your Hex to lower their saves and balance things out. Don't listen to this counter-argument. Your Hex will work a lot better against the dude that your Wizard, Sorceror, Cleric, Druid or Psion buddy is about to use their own "Save or Else" spells/powers vs., and their save DCs won't be crap.
Beg your DM to be able to use the Hexblade feats from Dragon #339, or even the Reserve Feats from Complete Mage, in place of your Hexblade Bonus feats.
Since you are in Light Armor anyhow, you could go for those feats that only work in Light Armor/Light Encumbrance, but that is making a virtue of necessity.
Other than that, roleplaying wise it lets you be a bastard. I am playing a CN Hexblade that actually made and broke a deal with a demon before the demon could break the deal with him.
So I would say Hexblades can be fun, but don't expect to be the power house. It makes an interesting 5th or 6th character since debuffing the enemy is helpful to your buddies in a way similar to, yet distinct from (and stacking with), buffing your friends (the bard's job).
Three_Haligonians
First Post
I had an NPC antagonist who had levels in Hexblade - he was all based on afflicting the PCs with curses and bad luck and poor re-rolls and what have you. It was a pretty neat encounter, he had some cool tricks up his sleeves and afterwards the party had to spend some resources on remove curse.
Although, I house ruled the hexblade into a PrC that instead of spells used invocations like a Warlock but hey.. it still worked and was very cool. Although I do recomend the Hexblade Class Act in Dragon #339: Full of [Hex] feats and hexblade-centric armour and weapon enhancements.
So yeah, the class has some great flavour that can make really neat encounters but for playing one long term.. I guess if people say they are a bit weak I can see that and agree.
J from Three Haligonians
Although, I house ruled the hexblade into a PrC that instead of spells used invocations like a Warlock but hey.. it still worked and was very cool. Although I do recomend the Hexblade Class Act in Dragon #339: Full of [Hex] feats and hexblade-centric armour and weapon enhancements.
So yeah, the class has some great flavour that can make really neat encounters but for playing one long term.. I guess if people say they are a bit weak I can see that and agree.
J from Three Haligonians
Grenouillebleue
First Post
It might also be interesting to give the hexblade one level of cleric in order to get Divine Might and such like.
High charisma would make it useful
High charisma would make it useful
Brother MacLaren
Explorer
With full BAB and spontaneous casting, it's one way to get into Dragon Disciple.
A level of fighter is nice for the heavy armor proficiency -- who cares about casting spells, you get so few. And there are a couple of V-only hexblade spells in Complete Adventurer (swift invisibility and critical strike).
A level of fighter is nice for the heavy armor proficiency -- who cares about casting spells, you get so few. And there are a couple of V-only hexblade spells in Complete Adventurer (swift invisibility and critical strike).
szilard
First Post
Spell-wise, a Hexblade should probably emphasize self-buffing and/or swift/immediate spells.
The Dark Companion option is a must - though it makes a three-level dip into Rogue very tempting. +2d6 damage on just about all attacks? Mettle and Evasion? Reflex save and skill point boost? Yes, please.
I am generally dissapointed in the class, though.
-Stuart
The Dark Companion option is a must - though it makes a three-level dip into Rogue very tempting. +2d6 damage on just about all attacks? Mettle and Evasion? Reflex save and skill point boost? Yes, please.
I am generally dissapointed in the class, though.
-Stuart
