What do you think of the Duskblade?

[rgard]

Playing a Duskblade now. My only beefs are that the class needs one of the following:

Slightly faster spell progression
OR
Slightly more variety in spells.

I'd be happy with the slow learning curve if there was a little more choice for some utility spells. I don't want Wraithstrike, fireball, invisibility or any of that, but I wouldn't mind having Knock or Shield or Flight (not just swift fly).

It's an ok class, but if I had to do it over, I'd go more of the Gish route for more spells, even if it's less per day.

Another way around this would be to create a Domain-like feat for the Duskblade. Go through the Cleric Domains and Domain Wizards lists (UA) and find a domain to apply. I would keep the domain power (as per cleric domains) as part of the feat as you are only getting the benefit of 5 different spells added to the known list.

Edit: Also, limit the Duskblade to taking this feat at first level and limit it to one feat even if the character has two feats as a human.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[rgard]

Another way around this would be to create a Domain-like feat for the Duskblade. Go through the Cleric Domains and Domain Wizards lists (UA) and find a domain to apply. I would keep the domain power (as per cleric domains) as part of the feat as you are only getting the benefit of 5 different spells added to the known list.

Edit: Also, limit the Duskblade to taking this feat at first level and limit it to one feat even if the character has two feats as a human.

Thanks,
Rich

I'll write this up in feat form sometime soon when I get some time.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[EricNoah]

I love the idea of a fighter/magic-user; and I'll get to see one in play starting Saturday as a new player joins my group. I agree that it seems like there are very few touch spells on the list, and as that's a major part of his schtick I would want to remedy that.

 

[blargney the second]

I'm feeling a little hypothetical. If a Duskblade knew Empower Spell and Shocking Grasp, would it be bad to let him use one of his spells known to learn a standard action empowered shocking grasp as a third level spell?

 

[DreadArchon]

I'm feeling a little hypothetical. If a Duskblade knew Empower Spell and Shocking Grasp, would it be bad to let him use one of his spells known to learn a standard action empowered shocking grasp as a third level spell?

That could work. Isn't there a "Spontaneous Metamagic" feat anyway, though?

 

[Razz]

Expanding the Duskblade spell list doesn't overpower them compared to a Fighter. They only get 1 spell per level, 20 spells max. The expanded spell list simply gives them more OPTIONS. They should be allowed that. They shouldn't have to sacrifice anything to acquire that. Just an understanding of which spells should be Duskblade and which shouldn't.

The Fighter has more options everytime new feats come out. Why not the duskblade whenever new spells come out? The Psychic Warrior is equal to, and sometimes is even better, than a Fighter but no one complains when they get new psionic powers added to their power list.

 

[Pierson_Lowgal]

From the FAQ

Do temporary hit points from two applications of the
same effect stack? What about from different effects? If I
have temporary hit points from multiple sources, how
should I apply damage?

Temporary hit points from two applications of the same
effect don’t stack; instead, the highest number of temporary hit
points applies in place of all others. Temporary hit points from
different sources stack, but you must keep track of them
separately.
For example, imagine a character who gained 15 temporary
hit points from an aid spell. After taking 8 points of damage,
she has 7 temporary hit points left from the spell. If another aid
spell were cast on the same character granting 12 temporary hit
points, this total would replace the other spell’s total, meaning
the character would now have 12 temporary hit points (rather
than 19). If the character then cast false life on herself, she
would add the full benefit of that spell to the temporary hit
points from the aid spell.
This also applies to temporary hit points gained from
energy drain and similar special abilities. Each successful
attack counts as one application of the effect (meaning that an
attack that bestows 2 or more negative levels still counts as
only one application of the effect). For example, a wight gains
5 temporary hit points each time it bestows a negative level
with its slam attack. If it bestows another negative level while it
has 2 temporary hit points remaining from the first attack, the
new temporary hit points would replace the old ones.
Temporary hit points are “first-in, first-out.” Damage
should be taken off the oldest temporary-hit-point-granting
effect first; when that effect is exhausted, apply damage to the
next oldest effect. For this reason, you must track each supply
of temporary hit points separately.

 

[DM-Rocco]

They have several spells that are ranged. The duskblade is flexibility with using only a few spells that are consistantly channeled through the sword. Their higher level spells are for defense or ranged attack.

Touch of fatigue
Blade of Blood
Chill Touch
Shocking Grasp
Ghoul Touch
Touch of Idiocy
Vampiric Touch

Typically the higher level spells will be used for lower level one that can be channeled. I pulled a trick tonight using a quick casted scorching ray followed up by a standard cast scorching ray. I was able to do 16d6 with 4 rays which is all ranged attacks. Channeling is just one of many tools that this class has.

I guess what I meant to imply was taht the arcane channel ability is not able to be used for ranged combat and that effects the classes design to be more melee than ranged. While I understand the they have many ranged spells, they can channel any spells into ranged weapons. I got the impression that the other individual was going to make feats that strengthed channeling into three catagories, melee, ranged and buffing.

I may have misunderstood his intent.

For the record though, I think they should be able to channel into ranged weapons. If a Arcane Archer can do it, why can't a Duskblade?

 

[DM-Rocco]

You jumped to that conclusion rather hastily. They have one class feature that's melee-oriented. That doesn't conscript their entire design to melee. Whenever you see a duskblade pop a scorching ray and then swift-cast another one (another handy class feature they happen to have), I hope you'll realize that.

I see what you are saying, see above too. I guess I don't consider them to be great ranged monsters though with spells. However, I will be playing one soon, perhaps then I will change my mind.

 

[DreadArchon]

For the record though, I think they should be able to channel into ranged weapons. If a Arcane Archer can do it, why can't a Duskblade?

Out on a limb here:
Because he's not an Arcane Archer?

Besides, if he had more AoE spells, he could take levels in Arcane Archer and do exactly that.