PHB2: Duskblade

[Erekose13]

Yay for PHB2 being available now. How about allowing the Duskblade? He'd my favorite, but I've seen a lot of discussion about him being a bit over powered.

 

[Patlin]

Heh, beat me to it, have you?

I mentioned the Knight wasn't my personal cup of tea. The Duskblade, on the other hand, totally is. I love magically fuelled fighting types.

I wonder how this class measures up to the psychic warrior in actual play?

I'd be really tempted to give this one a try if it's passed.

 

[stonegod]

I haven't seen these really in play all that much. PsiWar would be an appropriate comparison, but I think PsiWar comes off weaker by comparison.

 

[Bront]

I think we should make sure that the Duskblade does not gain access to any spells that could cause problems, as I've heard some of the touch attack spells that are in the Complete series would be fairly broken in the hands of a Duskblade.

As I've not had a chance to use any PHBII stuff (as I don't have it, and all my home gaming has been kaput), I am not in a position to comment on this beyond voting once others have.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I haven't seen these really in play all that much. PsiWar would be an appropriate comparison, but I think PsiWar comes off weaker by comparison.

Psiwar is a buff-up combatant, like a Cleric. Duskblade is more like a Rogue or maybe a Barbarian in that it specialises in hitting for a lot of damage.

@Bront--those spells in the SC don't say Duskblade on them, so the Duskblade can't learn any of them (it has a very specific list of choices)

 

[Erekose13]

I'm playing one on the boards but we haven't gotten into combat yet. As RA pointed out, like the rogue they can dish out a lot of damage in one hit. Their spell list is very specific and while I haven't looked much beyond 2nd level spells on the list nothing is jumping out as overpowered to me.

 

[Bront]

@Bront--those spells in the SC don't say Duskblade on them, so the Duskblade can't learn any of them (it has a very specific list of choices)

I'm aware, we probably should just make that clear.

 

[Rystil Arden]

It should also be noted that a strict reading of the "Full Attack->Multispell" power indicates that it only affects each target of your full attack a single time. So attack a dragon four times, get one spell to zap it, but attack four werewolves once each and all of them get zapped.

 

[EternalSword]

Speaking as someone who plays a Duskblade in a home campaign, they are balanced with most spells outside of PHB and PHBII that are balanced in the hands of a decently built multiclass gish. I've been using lesser sonic orb for my projectile, and that hasn't been a problem, although we house-ruled SR back onto the orb spells. Do keep them away from save-or-dies, with the amount of slots they get and their BaB, anything like that is too strong. Personally, things outside of PHB I/II should probably have to be researched or otherwise acquired ingame. You might want to think carefully about sonic shield, though.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Speaking as someone who plays a Duskblade in a home campaign, they are balanced with most spells outside of PHB and PHBII that are balanced in the hands of a decently built multiclass gish. I've been using lesser sonic orb for my projectile, and that hasn't been a problem, although we house-ruled SR back onto the orb spells. Do keep them away from save-or-dies, with the amount of slots they get and their BaB, anything like that is too strong. Personally, things outside of PHB I/II should probably have to be researched or otherwise acquired ingame. You might want to think carefully about sonic shield, though.

Yeah, anything outside of the specific list given in the PHII would have to be proposed specifically to add to the Duskblade list (after being proposed and accepted normally) and is unlikely to get a 'yes' from me. The Duskblade has a restricted list of spells but better BAB and specials than an Eldritch Knight, and I think it should stay that way.