Epic Hexblade, where to go? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Epic Hexblade, where to go? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bonzai
03-15-08, 06:37 PM Hola!

I am going to be joining a campaign with a 15th level Hexblade. The Dm really wants to take it in to the epic levels, and it has really got me thinking about how I want to go forward with him. I will take at least 19 levels of Hexblade for the dire hexblade curse. After that is pretty open. Looking at the rules for epic classes, if I continued on in Hexblade I'd get additional curses/day, but no additional debuffs. It doesn't seem worth while to continue to go straight hexblade after lvl 20. This will be a realms campaign, and I want to continue to be a debuffer.

My first thought was to go into fate spinner. Minimal investment, would continue to raise my caster level, and it's abilities would help my hexblade to continue to be an effective debuffer.

Then I saw that the Blackguard class has a debuff aura as well, in addition to giving +cha to saves. That sounds really good. Only problem is that no Evil characters are allowed in the DM's campaign.

Something almost as nice, would be the corrupt avenger in Hero's of Horror. It also gives a +Cha to saves, is a Cha based caster, has some nice debuff spells, and the final ability is also a decent debuff. However I am not sure if I want to deal with taint.

Lastly, there is the auspician prestige class from Faiths and Patheons. Only thing is, that I'd have to dip a level of cleric to get the Luck domain. That, and there are a few feats to blow.

Being the epic experts, what do you think would be a good choice?
Tshern
03-15-08, 06:56 PM So you want to do an epic charisma based debuffer? Well, firstly, you should try finish a 10-lvl PrC or a 20-lvl base class before going epic and then continue taking those classes in epic to get more epic bonus feats.

For an effective debuffer (if you are ready to lose a lot of Hexblade levels) would be something like:
Cloistered Cleric 1/Hexblade 4/Paladin of Tyranny 3/Ur-Priest 10/Blackguard 2

Continue Ur-Priest in epic and use Dark companion variant for Hexblade. Either go DMM (persistent) along with Divine might and maxing out charisma or you might as well go about demoralizing like crazy. Grab Imperious command from Drow of the Underdark, Never outnumbered skill trick and so forth.

Feats might be: Iron will, Spell focus (evil), Power attack, Divine might, Imperious command, Improved sunder, Knowledge devotion (from change Knowledge domain's granted power), Extend spell (Planning domain), Persistent spell, DMM (Persistent) and then continue about with epic stuff. Frightful presence might be worth it.

Anyways, Dark companion and Aura of Despair give -4 to saves, intimidating people like no tomorrow gives a lot more. 9th level spells, stealing SLAs, charisma to saves twice, three times against spells and SLAs and Mettle among other goodies.
Bonzai
03-16-08, 02:16 PM Yup, I have the PHB2 variant. I also have bind vestige, and improved bind vestige for Focalor and another -2 to saves with no saving throw.I guess I should post my current build.

Human CN PHB2 Varient Hexblade 15
1. Dreadful Wrath
1. Bind Vestige
3. Improved Bind Vestige
6. Power Attack
9. Brutal Strike
12. Netherese Battle Curse
15. Ability Focus (Hexblade Curse)

At this point I can give some one -14 to saves in one round, -4 of which is unresistable. I fully plan to go on with Hexblade at least to 19, which gives me my last curse upgrade, allowing me to debuff saves to -16 in a round.

As my post above stated, I would love a few levels of Blackguard for the Charisma bonus to saves and the Aura of Despair. I could also go a few levels of Ravager for a another -2 debuff with no saves (bringing my debuffing to -20 in one round, -8 being unresistable). My only problem is that my DM does not allow PC's to have an evil alignment.
Tshern
03-16-08, 02:38 PM Paladin of Tyranny is better for that than Blackguard as BG requires Improved sunder.
Bonzai
03-17-08, 01:48 PM The only problems with the Paladin of Tyranny, is that the DM most likley won't allow my character to become evil, and second the alignment would be wrong. My character is a CN follower of Besheba, (Realms game), so while she may have a paladin of slaughter, a paladin of Tyranny doesn't fit.

Thats why I was looking at corrupt avenger as a PrC. Gets the Cha to saves, has a debuff ability, can cast some spells, while not running into alignment issues. Only problem is the whole taint thing...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bonzai 03-15-08, 06:37 PM	Hola! I am going to be joining a campaign with a 15th level Hexblade. The Dm really wants to take it in to the epic levels, and it has really got me thinking about how I want to go forward with him. I will take at least 19 levels of Hexblade for the dire hexblade curse. After that is pretty open. Looking at the rules for epic classes, if I continued on in Hexblade I'd get additional curses/day, but no additional debuffs. It doesn't seem worth while to continue to go straight hexblade after lvl 20. This will be a realms campaign, and I want to continue to be a debuffer. My first thought was to go into fate spinner. Minimal investment, would continue to raise my caster level, and it's abilities would help my hexblade to continue to be an effective debuffer. Then I saw that the Blackguard class has a debuff aura as well, in addition to giving +cha to saves. That sounds really good. Only problem is that no Evil characters are allowed in the DM's campaign. Something almost as nice, would be the corrupt avenger in Hero's of Horror. It also gives a +Cha to saves, is a Cha based caster, has some nice debuff spells, and the final ability is also a decent debuff. However I am not sure if I want to deal with taint. Lastly, there is the auspician prestige class from Faiths and Patheons. Only thing is, that I'd have to dip a level of cleric to get the Luck domain. That, and there are a few feats to blow. Being the epic experts, what do you think would be a good choice?
Tshern 03-15-08, 06:56 PM	So you want to do an epic charisma based debuffer? Well, firstly, you should try finish a 10-lvl PrC or a 20-lvl base class before going epic and then continue taking those classes in epic to get more epic bonus feats. For an effective debuffer (if you are ready to lose a lot of Hexblade levels) would be something like: Cloistered Cleric 1/Hexblade 4/Paladin of Tyranny 3/Ur-Priest 10/Blackguard 2 Continue Ur-Priest in epic and use Dark companion variant for Hexblade. Either go DMM (persistent) along with Divine might and maxing out charisma or you might as well go about demoralizing like crazy. Grab Imperious command from Drow of the Underdark, Never outnumbered skill trick and so forth. Feats might be: Iron will, Spell focus (evil), Power attack, Divine might, Imperious command, Improved sunder, Knowledge devotion (from change Knowledge domain's granted power), Extend spell (Planning domain), Persistent spell, DMM (Persistent) and then continue about with epic stuff. Frightful presence might be worth it. Anyways, Dark companion and Aura of Despair give -4 to saves, intimidating people like no tomorrow gives a lot more. 9th level spells, stealing SLAs, charisma to saves twice, three times against spells and SLAs and Mettle among other goodies.
Bonzai 03-16-08, 02:16 PM	Yup, I have the PHB2 variant. I also have bind vestige, and improved bind vestige for Focalor and another -2 to saves with no saving throw.I guess I should post my current build. Human CN PHB2 Varient Hexblade 15 1. Dreadful Wrath 1. Bind Vestige 3. Improved Bind Vestige 6. Power Attack 9. Brutal Strike 12. Netherese Battle Curse 15. Ability Focus (Hexblade Curse) At this point I can give some one -14 to saves in one round, -4 of which is unresistable. I fully plan to go on with Hexblade at least to 19, which gives me my last curse upgrade, allowing me to debuff saves to -16 in a round. As my post above stated, I would love a few levels of Blackguard for the Charisma bonus to saves and the Aura of Despair. I could also go a few levels of Ravager for a another -2 debuff with no saves (bringing my debuffing to -20 in one round, -8 being unresistable). My only problem is that my DM does not allow PC's to have an evil alignment.
Tshern 03-16-08, 02:38 PM	Paladin of Tyranny is better for that than Blackguard as BG requires Improved sunder.
Bonzai 03-17-08, 01:48 PM	The only problems with the Paladin of Tyranny, is that the DM most likley won't allow my character to become evil, and second the alignment would be wrong. My character is a CN follower of Besheba, (Realms game), so while she may have a paladin of slaughter, a paladin of Tyranny doesn't fit. Thats why I was looking at corrupt avenger as a PrC. Gets the Cha to saves, has a debuff ability, can cast some spells, while not running into alignment issues. Only problem is the whole taint thing...