Why are Hexblades mean?

[Silveras]

Because they wanted a core class reverse-Paladin.

Too obvious.

 

[Silveras]

Another way to look at it: Alignment restrictions are there because the game rules are less-than-perfect at some things; personalities are one of them. Alignment restrictions tend to mean "people who are of this attitude don't become that class". People who are Evil do not become Paladins; the goals of the class just don't match with that. Likewise, people who are Good do not become Hexblades; the goals of the class just don't match with that.

 

[Mercule]

Note also that the Alignment block tells you why the Hexblade is not for good people: their style is "selfish" and "cruel". Two words that go with Good like "asphalt" and "castor oil" go with ice cream.

Actually, I don't really consider that validation. It's just another way of saying "they ain't good".

What I want to know is why are cruel and selfish people the only ones that take up the class? Sure, they use hexes, but based on what the hexes do (minuses to certain rolls), I don't see that as being particularly non-good. It could be considered a non-lethal method, actually, which is usually considered a generally Good way of doing things.

 

[Gez]

It's not that only cruel and selfish people take this class.


It's just that benevolent, selfless people don't take a class focused on cursing people and irradiating an aura of ill fortune.

 

[James McMurray]

Unless they view themselves as Kharmic Warriors, revisiting the ills of evil onto itself. Or perhaps holy warriors in the service of whatever good God of Luck is handy.

 

[pogre]

Unless they view themselves as Kharmic Warriors, revisiting the ills of evil onto itself. Or perhaps holy warriors in the service of whatever good God of Luck is handy.

Those seem to be plausible explanations to me. As I assume you're the DM, why don't you rule 0 the hex blades available to properly motivated good warriors?

 

[James McMurray]

If anyone in my game decides they want to play one I will.

 

[Remathilis]

If you take out the word "hex" and replace it with "witch" and then think of them as a mix of warrior and mythological witch (warlock?) then the class makes a bit more sense. (esp the spell selection, familiar, etc.)

 

[frankthedm]

except that Bestow Curse does not have the [Evil] descriptor, and therefore isn't an evil spell. It might not be a nice spell, but it could be viewed as being more humane than fireball.

A well crafted curse is far worse than a quick firey death.

Curses in fantasy fluff are seldom pleasent ways to bring down a foe, while sometimes curses serve just ends, focusing on them as a means to an end does fit with a non-good ethos.

 

[takyris]

If you take out the word "hex" and replace it with "witch" and then think of them as a mix of warrior and mythological witch (warlock?) then the class makes a bit more sense. (esp the spell selection, familiar, etc.)

Yes, but if you do that, then you're taking levels in Witchblade, and suddenly it's a PrC with the "Must be female" requirement, the ranks in Knowledge:Fashion requirement, and the feat requirement "Improved Midriff".

Although leaping around deflecting projectiles and having your blade hidden in a bracelet but Quick-Draw-able is, now that I think about it, a darn cool idea. Although I'm not sure it's worth the price of having your DM insert vague brooding villains who infodump for most of the campaign and then die.