BlackGuard [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

BlackGuard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Silent_Death
11-02-03, 04:32 PM Before every DND night, me and the guys play a little battle arena with character templates we make. We play with 10th level characters that weve rolled up over the course of the week and patented to our liking. I have heard that blackguard is really tough to beat if they are made right.

Basically I just need help picking the skills, feats, weapon of choice and all that.

Please no retarded comments or smart remarks, just tell me how you would go about making one if this was you.
JosephKell
11-02-03, 05:12 PM I think the way is not to make a Blackguard, but to make a character that can take apart the other players...

Do they have any typical choices for characters? Like does one always play a rager, another a mage, and a monk?
Silent_Death
11-02-03, 05:49 PM Well there are about 8 of us who do this so the range completely varies. Its usually a round robin type deal and everyone plays different types really. I like the idea of blackguard, but one common thing is that most of them play "good" characters, even in the battle arena the alignment counts, which is why I chose blackguard.
JosephKell
11-02-03, 05:53 PM The way to win a mass arena is to stay out of dodge... so consider something that can use Invisibility, then just spend the rounds it takes others to die to relocate, hide behind a rock (in case of see invisbility), and drink potions.

This way you can come out of hiding and fight fewer weakened foes.

Bard 4/Fighter 2 should be able to enter Blackguard...

So Bard 4/Fighter 2/Blackguard 5?
catharz
11-02-03, 05:58 PM Feral Anthro Giant squid Monk/Warhulk (not my build). - Not blackguard, but *owns* mass arena combat: Improved Grapple, Multigrab, Improved multigrab, Rending constriction.
RabidWeasel
11-03-03, 08:48 PM catharz, as much a fan of the Feral Anthro Giant Squid, I think he wants a Blackguard :smirk:
eudas
11-04-03, 10:24 AM Originally posted by RabidWeasel
catharz, as much a fan of the Feral Anthro Giant Squid, I think he wants a Blackguard :smirk:

ok then, Feral Anthro Giant squid Monk/Warhulk/Blackguard it is.

hell, we'll throw in "Spark" (whatever the hell that is) just for fun.

;)

eudas
Vorpal Warhammer
11-04-03, 11:12 AM Originally posted by eudas
ok then, Feral Anthro Giant squid Monk/Warhulk/Blackguard it is.

hell, we'll throw in "Spark" (whatever the hell that is) just for fun.

;)

eudas
Hmmmm. Needs more Holy Liberator and Incantatrix levels.

Are you sure you don't want to be a cleric archer?
rich2939
11-04-03, 12:32 PM Don't forget the 1 level of spelldancer, either.
Funny Slaughter
11-04-03, 12:35 PM and skillfocus(basketweaving)... :smirk:

gs
Funny
catharz
11-04-03, 12:36 PM Lol, an incantatrix squid. Do you suppose it's primary enemy is angelfish?

Seriously, none of those PrCs do anything for the build, and Spark can't even be added to it.

The question was for a good arena build, so there ya go. Blackguard *isn't* a good arena PrC. Then again it isn't a bad one either. A Mortalhunter/Blackguard would be fairly cool. It kinda has that deathmatch flavor ;)
Ryunnosuke
11-04-03, 04:55 PM Wizard 3/Fighter 4/Blackguard 3

Recommended Feats: Power Attack, Sunder, Improved Sunder, Expertise, Power Lunge, Improved Initiative

Recommended Weapon: +4 Greatsword (around 32,000 gp)
Recommended Armor: +4 Chain Shirt (around 16,000 gp)

Tactics: Cast Shield, Expeditious Retreat, Bull's Strength, and Endurance on yourself, then charge the nearest guy. If he's a warrior type, take out his weapon, since it's probably the only one your opponent thought to buy for himself (Example, 2d6+4 (Weapon) +8 (18 STR and Power Lunge) x 2 (Improved Sunder) = 28 minimum damage, 48 maximum damage to weapon). If it's a caster, you could try to break his staff if he has one, but I'd target him instead. If either type look heavily fortified (Warrior: Lots of armor, Mage: Glowing shield) then be sure to cast True Strike first. If they try and gang up on you, run away with Retreat.
eudas
11-04-03, 05:12 PM Originally posted by Ryunnosuke
(snip)
If he's a warrior type, take out his weapon, since it's probably the only one your opponent thought to buy for himself (Example, 2d6+4 (Weapon) +8 (18 STR and Power Lunge) x 2 (Improved Sunder) = 28 minimum damage, 48 maximum damage to weapon).(snip)

i fail to see in the SRD (either in the Feats>Improved Sunder section, or in the Combat>Sunder section) where it details a x2 modifier for damage on a Sunder if you have Improved Sunder; could you provide more detail about how you determined this?

eudas
Vorpal Warhammer
11-04-03, 05:19 PM Sword & Fist's version of Improved Sunder was double damage, I believe.
Silent_Death
11-04-03, 06:31 PM Like I said before though, its not a free for all, its a round robin thing, where we all pretty much face each other in single competition. Blackguards get abilities vs good characters, and all of them play good characters which is why I wanted blackguard. But thanks for your input, keep it coming :)
RabidWeasel
11-04-03, 06:55 PM It's a shame it's 10th level, if it was 11th you could be a fallen paladin 1 / blackguard 10.

Maybe you could talk your DM into letting you drop your paladin levels completely and be an ex-paladin blackguard 10 :smirk:
Silent_Death
11-04-03, 07:18 PM Im sure I could talk him into it, but what all do you suggest on the fallen paladin?
catharz
11-04-03, 09:58 PM Well, if you're a Blackguard 10, you probably want all the prerequisites for Blackguard, plus Divine might (? The feat that adds charisma to attack/damage), and leadership if your DM allows it.
Ryunnosuke
11-04-03, 11:37 PM Rouge 3/Fighter 4/Gladiator 1/Blackguard 2

Feats: Sunder, Power Attack, Dodge, Mobility, Expertise, Spring Attack
Special Abilities: Sneak Attack 2d6, Evasion, Improved Feint, Detect Good, Poison Use, Dark Blessing, Smite Good

Equipment: +1 Vicious, Unholy Greatsword (32,350 gp), Boots of Haste (8,000 gp), Boots of Striding and Springing (only if you play 3.0, 2,500 gp), +2 Chain Shirt (4,250 gp).

Tactics: Use Haste to move in and out, use Improved Feint to catch them off guard, and use Standard to attack for 2d6+1 (Weapon) +3 (14 STR/Two Handed Wepaon, variable) +2 (Smite Good) +2d6 (Vicious) +2d6 (Unholy) +2d6 (Sneak Attack) = 8d6+6 Damage. Then you can use your Haste to Feint, and Full Attack for Sneak damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Silent_Death 11-02-03, 04:32 PM	Before every DND night, me and the guys play a little battle arena with character templates we make. We play with 10th level characters that weve rolled up over the course of the week and patented to our liking. I have heard that blackguard is really tough to beat if they are made right. Basically I just need help picking the skills, feats, weapon of choice and all that. Please no retarded comments or smart remarks, just tell me how you would go about making one if this was you.
JosephKell 11-02-03, 05:12 PM	I think the way is not to make a Blackguard, but to make a character that can take apart the other players... Do they have any typical choices for characters? Like does one always play a rager, another a mage, and a monk?
Silent_Death 11-02-03, 05:49 PM	Well there are about 8 of us who do this so the range completely varies. Its usually a round robin type deal and everyone plays different types really. I like the idea of blackguard, but one common thing is that most of them play "good" characters, even in the battle arena the alignment counts, which is why I chose blackguard.
JosephKell 11-02-03, 05:53 PM	The way to win a mass arena is to stay out of dodge... so consider something that can use Invisibility, then just spend the rounds it takes others to die to relocate, hide behind a rock (in case of see invisbility), and drink potions. This way you can come out of hiding and fight fewer weakened foes. Bard 4/Fighter 2 should be able to enter Blackguard... So Bard 4/Fighter 2/Blackguard 5?
catharz 11-02-03, 05:58 PM	Feral Anthro Giant squid Monk/Warhulk (not my build). - Not blackguard, but owns mass arena combat: Improved Grapple, Multigrab, Improved multigrab, Rending constriction.
RabidWeasel 11-03-03, 08:48 PM	catharz, as much a fan of the Feral Anthro Giant Squid, I think he wants a Blackguard :smirk:
eudas 11-04-03, 10:24 AM	Originally posted by RabidWeasel catharz, as much a fan of the Feral Anthro Giant Squid, I think he wants a Blackguard :smirk: ok then, Feral Anthro Giant squid Monk/Warhulk/Blackguard it is. hell, we'll throw in "Spark" (whatever the hell that is) just for fun. ;) eudas
Vorpal Warhammer 11-04-03, 11:12 AM	Originally posted by eudas ok then, Feral Anthro Giant squid Monk/Warhulk/Blackguard it is. hell, we'll throw in "Spark" (whatever the hell that is) just for fun. ;) eudas Hmmmm. Needs more Holy Liberator and Incantatrix levels. Are you sure you don't want to be a cleric archer?
rich2939 11-04-03, 12:32 PM	Don't forget the 1 level of spelldancer, either.
Funny Slaughter 11-04-03, 12:35 PM	and skillfocus(basketweaving)... :smirk: gs Funny
catharz 11-04-03, 12:36 PM	Lol, an incantatrix squid. Do you suppose it's primary enemy is angelfish? Seriously, none of those PrCs do anything for the build, and Spark can't even be added to it. The question was for a good arena build, so there ya go. Blackguard isn't a good arena PrC. Then again it isn't a bad one either. A Mortalhunter/Blackguard would be fairly cool. It kinda has that deathmatch flavor ;)
Ryunnosuke 11-04-03, 04:55 PM	Wizard 3/Fighter 4/Blackguard 3 Recommended Feats: Power Attack, Sunder, Improved Sunder, Expertise, Power Lunge, Improved Initiative Recommended Weapon: +4 Greatsword (around 32,000 gp) Recommended Armor: +4 Chain Shirt (around 16,000 gp) Tactics: Cast Shield, Expeditious Retreat, Bull's Strength, and Endurance on yourself, then charge the nearest guy. If he's a warrior type, take out his weapon, since it's probably the only one your opponent thought to buy for himself (Example, 2d6+4 (Weapon) +8 (18 STR and Power Lunge) x 2 (Improved Sunder) = 28 minimum damage, 48 maximum damage to weapon). If it's a caster, you could try to break his staff if he has one, but I'd target him instead. If either type look heavily fortified (Warrior: Lots of armor, Mage: Glowing shield) then be sure to cast True Strike first. If they try and gang up on you, run away with Retreat.
eudas 11-04-03, 05:12 PM	Originally posted by Ryunnosuke (snip) If he's a warrior type, take out his weapon, since it's probably the only one your opponent thought to buy for himself (Example, 2d6+4 (Weapon) +8 (18 STR and Power Lunge) x 2 (Improved Sunder) = 28 minimum damage, 48 maximum damage to weapon).(snip) i fail to see in the SRD (either in the Feats>Improved Sunder section, or in the Combat>Sunder section) where it details a x2 modifier for damage on a Sunder if you have Improved Sunder; could you provide more detail about how you determined this? eudas
Vorpal Warhammer 11-04-03, 05:19 PM	Sword & Fist's version of Improved Sunder was double damage, I believe.
Silent_Death 11-04-03, 06:31 PM	Like I said before though, its not a free for all, its a round robin thing, where we all pretty much face each other in single competition. Blackguards get abilities vs good characters, and all of them play good characters which is why I wanted blackguard. But thanks for your input, keep it coming :)
RabidWeasel 11-04-03, 06:55 PM	It's a shame it's 10th level, if it was 11th you could be a fallen paladin 1 / blackguard 10. Maybe you could talk your DM into letting you drop your paladin levels completely and be an ex-paladin blackguard 10 :smirk:
Silent_Death 11-04-03, 07:18 PM	Im sure I could talk him into it, but what all do you suggest on the fallen paladin?
catharz 11-04-03, 09:58 PM	Well, if you're a Blackguard 10, you probably want all the prerequisites for Blackguard, plus Divine might (? The feat that adds charisma to attack/damage), and leadership if your DM allows it.
Ryunnosuke 11-04-03, 11:37 PM	Rouge 3/Fighter 4/Gladiator 1/Blackguard 2 Feats: Sunder, Power Attack, Dodge, Mobility, Expertise, Spring Attack Special Abilities: Sneak Attack 2d6, Evasion, Improved Feint, Detect Good, Poison Use, Dark Blessing, Smite Good Equipment: +1 Vicious, Unholy Greatsword (32,350 gp), Boots of Haste (8,000 gp), Boots of Striding and Springing (only if you play 3.0, 2,500 gp), +2 Chain Shirt (4,250 gp). Tactics: Use Haste to move in and out, use Improved Feint to catch them off guard, and use Standard to attack for 2d6+1 (Weapon) +3 (14 STR/Two Handed Wepaon, variable) +2 (Smite Good) +2d6 (Vicious) +2d6 (Unholy) +2d6 (Sneak Attack) = 8d6+6 Damage. Then you can use your Haste to Feint, and Full Attack for Sneak damage.