Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Czahkiswashi 03-13-04, 12:06 AM	Well, due to inter-party conflict, my dwarven cleric is dead, so its time to write up a new character! I think I'm going to play a Human Hexblade level 1 Str14, Dex14, Con 14, Int, 13, Wis8, Cha15 Skills: Maxed out Knolwedge arcana, spellcraft, intimidate, and concentration. So what weapon(s) do you guys think i should use? What are some good feats for a hexblade? and what are some good hexblade PrCs out there?
Verenal 03-13-04, 08:20 AM	Hexblade's AC is pretty low, because of light armor. You can counter this by four ways. 1) Greatsword & power attack Hack your foes into tiny bits before they deal too much damage. 2) Reach weapon Stay behind your heavy armor wearing partymembers and let them take the punishment. 3) Archery Stay out of melee, shoot your foes dead. 4) A level of figther and a full plate. If you multiclass, you won't get that many spells anyway. High AC is IMO better than a few spells nearly anyone can save against. ------------------------- Now, decide wether you're going to take a PRC. Hexblade is a class you either take little or lots. Level 3 gives you mettle, level 4 gives you access to spellcasting & familiar. This is a good point to multiclass. A few levels of fighter or rogue, and then multiclass into dragon disciple. This build would be hexblade 4 / fighter 2 / dragon disciple 10 / rogue 3 / Barbarian 1. Your BAB will be 16, just enough for you to get 4 attacks. If you want to, you can take two more levels of fighter and two less rogue, you get weapon specialization but you lose one sneak attack die. If you like the hexblade curses and spells, you might want to consider Hexblade 20 build. Ability focus to your curse is really nice.
Kalrin 03-13-04, 02:40 PM	5 actually.... Expertise, Improved Expertise and a really high Dex. Later on, see if you can't get Dodge so you can follow through with Karmic Strike, and Defensive Strike. Arcane Strike will help alot in the later stages. this advice is a little vauge, but only the 1st sentance is importent at first level. The rest is progression advice...
smrtgmp 03-13-04, 06:51 PM	I realize this wouldnt come into play untill your character has pragressed in level, but the hexblade is one of the few classes that can put the Dragon Disciple PrC to good use. Since he has so few spells to begin with, the bonus spells provided by the DD are actually quite useful, rater than a detriment. Plus, its the only core class that can become a DD without multiclassing (other than the sorcerer, but who would ever play a sorc DD?).
danielinthewolvesden 03-13-04, 07:50 PM	Hexblades make good Kensai, also. If you're gonna stay hexblade- fight with a reach weapon- glaive. Go for Combat reflexes, etc. If you'll go DD or Kensai, go for the Greatsword/powerattack.
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger 03-13-04, 10:12 PM	Funny thing is I just made myself a new hexblade because my old character died. I wanted to go with a reach weapon (glaive) and combat reflexes with improved trip would allow good trip attacks and AoO's. But since I didn't have the int. I used greatsword power attack. Now since the Hexblade AC is relitivily low since he can only wear light armor and no shields, your better off being a support fighter and not a tank. So I'd go Power Attack for that extra damage since you have a full BAB. Possibly Combat Expertise which will lower your BAB for AC which will help especially at these eariler levels. I wouldn't worry about taking any feats like spell focus since you get them as bonus feats if you follow the hexblade progression. You could go into the PrC's mentioned below or after the first three levels of Hex (where the abilities Mettle and Arcane Resistance are) Multi into a fighter with a slightly higher will save and some nice magic resistance. My own character if your interested has the feats: Power Attack, Cleave, and I got Dodge at 3rd level.
BruteForce 03-13-04, 10:21 PM	Don't underestimate the old "spiked chain and Combat Reflexes" combo, either. You'll get an attack of opportunity on just about anyone who tries to close to melee range with you. (A few people have already touched on this.) Unfortunately, it costs an extra feat, but it may be worth it.
Czahkiswashi 03-13-04, 10:58 PM	Well, Spiked chains are out-lawed by my DM, and reach weapons really don't suit my character. I think I'm going to go with the expertise tree, so what weapon should I use? My charcter is highly intimidating, so i think the weapon should reflect that. thanks all for the unput so far!
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger 03-13-04, 11:33 PM	I would go Greatsword with this character. You can't use a shield so having a one handed weapon is a hinderence to you. If your human i'd go power attack and combat expertise. Those should make you a pretty decent fighter.
Tehril 03-14-04, 02:07 AM	A dagger. With the Invisible Blade PrC :D But seriously??? Big weapons are intimidating.... if that's the style of intimidation you are going for. Garett Jax from the Shannara series was VERY intimidating...and extremely cool. He was also a weapons master with no equal. His preferred combat method was dual short swords. He was also a slight build, soft spoken and quick as lightning. But, you might be wanting the big, tough, orge-ish warrior...in which case the great sword, great axe, flachion or warhammer/maul would be your best bets.
danielinthewolvesden 03-14-04, 04:55 AM	Originally posted by Czahkiswashi Well, Spiked chains are out-lawed by my DM, and reach weapons really don't suit my character. I think I'm going to go with the expertise tree, so what weapon should I use? My charcter is highly intimidating, so i think the weapon should reflect that. thanks all for the unput so far! You have a wise DM! I feel Wpn expertise is a poor choice. You get almost the same benefit with 5 ranks in tumble, and i don't much care for the trade-off in the first place. "Due to an interparty conflict, my cleric is dead..." ??? What happened?