So, how about them Hexblades?

[Li Shenron]

Strange, this thread seems to point out that Hexblades' flavor is great while the mechanics needs fixing.

I haven't see one in a game to be honest, but my opinion from reading the description in CW has always been that the mechanic of the class was very well balanced: for example comparing it with the Paladin (it's a bit like its arcane/evil version) or with the Fighter (comparing the extra features with missed bonus feats), thet seemed to me quite equal in practice.

OTOH the flavor of the class never bought me. It's absolutely fine as a flavor itself, but I don't think it adds anything to what is already possible to be with PHB classes flavor-wise. I always thought that the Hexblade class is just one (of many) attempts at making the Fighter/Wizard or Fighter/Sorcerer concept stronger than the multiclass solution.

So my (experience-less) opinion is that the class design is fine, but the concept is nothing original, and actually it's even limiting considering that the purpose of the class could be that above.

 

[Scharlata]

Strange, this thread seems to point out that Hexblades' flavor is great while the mechanics needs fixing.[...]

Hi!

It may be quite the base class for your Dragon Disciple.
(Good Will Save and good BAB; Spells)

Kind regards

 

[Ashanderai]

But hexblade is the only non-prestige-class class with Mettle. The only other way to get Mettle is to prestige class into a Pious Templar (CW).

The Sohei also grants the Mettle ability, but at a later level than the Hexblade. In fact, the Sohei was the first class printed with the Mettle ability.

 

[RigaMortus2]

I'd rather play a Bard.

 

[Lobo Lurker]

I can't believe that no one has suggested this... the feat Practiced Spellcaster seems like it might be particularly well suited to Hex Blades (and paladins & rangers as well).

I have to admit that I've never played one, but on first glace of thier hex ability my reaction was 'that's it?' Full BAB and a d10 hit die helps out in melee and they have strong will saves which is unusual in a warrior type. Mostly it seems that, mechanically, the class lacks focus. Is it about hexing? (then why so weak?) Spellcasting? (then why only 4th level spells & 1/2 caster levels?). Or being a warrior (where is the heavy armor?)

Those are my coppers. Take them for what they're worth.

 

[green slime]

Will saves???

A full BAB class, needs good Fort saves, if it is to be any real use in the front line. IMO, the majority of threats facing a frontliner are Fort based: poison, disease, and similar.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Some other threads:

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=150903
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=132355

 

[Dr_Rictus]

A full BAB class, needs good Fort saves, if it is to be any real use in the front line. IMO, the majority of threats facing a frontliner are Fort based: poison, disease, and similar.

I can't for the life of me see how this affects your ability to be useful in the front line. Essentially none of these things will actually take you out of a fight, unlike many, many Will save effects. They just don't take effect fast enough.

Sure, you'll be exposed to more poisons and diseases and such, but frankly those things aren't a serious threat after 4th level or so.

 

[FEADIN]

I saw one but a first level, I was the DM and it was a strange group of three, a hexblade, a favored soul and a rogue!
No casualties but it's in fact a fighter without all the powers at low level.
As said before maybe it's a good class to enter a PrC without multiclassing.

 

[Wish]

The primary uses for the hexblade class seem to be in multiclass combos. It's a great base or certain prestige classes, such as the Dragon Disciple that somebody mentioned above, because it gets full BAB and arcane spellcasting starting at level 4. The other ability worth taking it for is mettle, a very handy ability to have in a lot of mutt-type fighting builds, and the good will saves with full BAB make it a useful defensive addition to a front line fighter build. But, by itself, it doesn't seem very interesting. Even mettle isn't that useful to a class with poor fort saves, and the spellcasting is too weak to be worth much of anything except as a pclass prerequisite.