Hexblade, Variant (3.5e Class)

Created By

Viatos (talk)
Date Created:	25 March 2010
Status:	Incomplete
Editing:	Please feel free to edit constructively!
Balance:	Rogue

{{#set:Summary=Fearless witch-knights who combine martial skill with treacherous magic. }}

Hexblade

“

It was a brave gamble, drawing steel on me. But I've already stacked the deck.

”

Hexblades are

Making a Hexblade

Hexblades

Abilities: Hexblades are powerful melee combatants

Races: Humans

Alignment: Any.

Starting Gold: 5d4×10 GP (125 GP).

Starting Age: As sorcerer.

Table 1-1: The Hexblade

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Maneuvers Known	Maneuvers Readied	Stances Known
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Curse, Witch Knight (least)	3	3	1
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+3	Arcane Resistance	3	3	1
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+3	Voodoo Style, Weird Strike +1d8	4	3	1
4th	+4	+4	+1	+4	Dark Companion	4	3	2
5th	+5	+4	+1	+4	Witch Knight (lesser)	5	4	2
6th	+6/+1	+5	+2	+5	Aura of Ill Omen	6	4	2
7th	+7/+2	+5	+2	+5	Black Benediction	6	4	2
8th	+8/+3	+6	+2	+6	Greater Curse	7	4	3
9th	+9/+4	+6	+3	+6	Bonus Feat	7	4	3
10th	+10/+5	+7	+3	+7	Witch Knight (greater)	8	5	3
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+3	+7	Weird Strike +2d8	9	5	3
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+4	+8	Aura of Calamity	9	5	4
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+4	+8	Bonus Feat	10	5	4
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+4	+9	Arcane Resistance (greater)	10	5	4
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+5	+9	Witch Knight (dark)	11	6	4
16th	+16/11/+6/+1	+10	+5	+10	Dire Curse	12	6	5
17th	+17/12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10	Storm of Curses	12	6	5
18th	+18/13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+11	Aura of Doom	13	6	5
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+11	Bonus Feat	13	6	5
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+12	Destiny Desecration, Weird Strike +3d8	14	7	5
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) The hexblade’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Martial Lore (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Sleight of Hand (Dex).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the hexblade.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency (Ex): A hexblade is proficient with all simple weapons, martial weapons, light armor, and light shields.

Maneuvers (Ex): A hexblade begins his career with three maneuvers chosen from the Dread Crown, Hollow Nymph, Shadow Hand, and Stone Dragon disciplines. His alternate disciplines (any alternate discipline can be substituted for a discipline known, but this choice must be made at first level in the class and is irrevocable) are Black Heron, Oncoming Storm, and Onyx Zombie. Once he knows a maneuver, he must ready it before he can use it (see Maneuvers Readied, below). A maneuver usable by hexblades is considered an extraordinary ability unless otherwise noted in its description. Maneuvers are not affected by spell resistance, and do not provoke attacks of opportunity when initiated.

A hexblade learns additional maneuvers at higher levels, as shown on Table 1-1: The Hexblade. A hexblade counts his full class levels towards his initiator level, rather then half as normal.

Upon reaching 6th level, and at every two hexblade levels after that (8th, 10th, 12th and so on), a hexblade can choose to learn a new maneuver in place of one he already knows. In effect, he loses the old maneuver in exchange for the new one. He can choose a new maneuver of any level he wishes, as long as it is not greater than his highest maneuver level known. For example, upon reaching 11th level, a hexblade could trade in a single 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd- or 4th-level maneuver for a maneuver of 5th level or lower, as long as he meets the prerequisite of the new maneuver. Only a single maneuver can be swapped at any given level.

Maneuvers Readied (Ex): A hexblade can ready all of the maneuvers he knows at 1st level, but as he advances in level and learns more maneuvers, he must choose which maneuvers to ready. A hexblade readies maneuvers by practicing sleight of hand, balance, and stealth while unobserved; doing so takes 1 hour of uninterrupted concentration. Rest is not required to ready maneuvers; any time a hexblade is unobserved and able to practice, he can change his readied maneuvers.

A hexblade begins an encounter with all her readied maneuvers unexpended, regardless of how many times she might have already used them since she chose them. When she initiates a maneuver, she expends it for the current encounter, so each of her readied maneuvers can be used once per encounter (unless she recovers them, as described below).

Whenever an opponent fails an attack roll, skill check, or casts a spell which is successfully saved against by all targets, the hexblade may recover a readied maneuver as an immediate action. Whenever an opponent under his Curse dies, he may recover all his readied maneuvers as an immediate action. He may also recover one maneuver he knows with a DC 15 Sleight of Hand check; this check is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity and is interrupted by attacks of opportunity, and he is flatfooted during it.

Stances Known (Ex): A hexblade begins play with knowledge of one 1st-level stance from any discipline open to him. At the levels indicated on Table 1-1: The Hexblade, he can choose additional stances. Unlike maneuvers, stances are not expended, and the hexblade does not have to ready them. All the stances he knows are available to him at all times, and he can change the stance he is currently using as a swift action. A stance is an extraordinary ability unless otherwise stated in the stance description.

Unlike with maneuvers, a hexblade cannot learn a new stance at higher levels in place of one he already knows.

Hexblade's Curse (Su): At first level, a hexblade has mastered the dark signature of the class, her Curse. Cursing an opponent is a move action that does provoke attacks of opportunity; opponents are allowed a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 your class level + your Charisma bonus) to resist. On a failed save, they are subject to a -2 luck penalty to attack rolls, AC, saves, and skill checks for the rest of the encounter. A hexblade may Curse an opponent once per encounter; they may use their Curse once more per encounter at levels 5, 10, and 15. If an opponent successfully saves against a Curse, they are immune to the hexblade's Curse for 24 hours, but the Curse is not used up.

At 8th level, a hexblade's Curse acquires an extra bite to it. The luck penalty from a successful curse increases to -4, and they take a -10 luck penalty to their speed (all movement modes).

At 16th level, a hexblade's Curse is truly deserving of the sobriquet "Dire". The luck penalty from a successful curse increases to -6, and they apply twice the hexblade's Charisma bonus as a luck penalty to any DR, energy resistance, and spell resistance they possess.

Witch Knight (Sp): As an Eldritch Blast can be shaped and infused, so too can the hexblade's Weird Strike. Starting at first level, a hexblade gains the ability to apply eldritch essence invocations to her Weird Strike ability, adding the effects to the effects of the attack and heightening Weird Strike to the equivalent spell level of the invocation. In addition, at each level marked on the chart (1st, 5th, 10th, 15th) the hexblade gains a bonus eldritch essence invocation of the indicated tier. Applying eldritch essence invocations to a Weird Strike is a swift action, and the use of this class ability is not subject to arcane spell failure chance.

Arcane Resistance (Su): Starting at 2nd level, the hexblade adds her Charisma bonus (mininum 1) to saves against spells and spell-like abilities.

Voodoo Style (Su): At 3rd level, a hexblade must choose his Voodoo Style from the available options listed below.

Brutal Juju: The hexblade may use his Strength instead of his Charisma to determine the save DCs of invocations and hexblade class features against an opponent currently afflicted by his Curse. In addition, whenever he strikes an opponent by surprise or confirms a critical hit, he may use his Curse against that opponent as a swift action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity, and he may add his Strength bonus to the save DC.

Martial Mojo: The hexblade may substitute her Charisma for any other ability score when determining the save DC of a maneuver from one of her hexblade disciplines she is initiating against an opponent afflicted by her Curse. In addition, she adds one-half her Charisma modifier (rounded down) to her hitpoints gained at each level (retroactive).

Wicked Ways: The hexblade's Curse is a subtle poison in the souls of his victims. Targets of the hexblade's Curse are not aware they have been cursed unless they make their save; even if they do, they must succeed on an immediate Sense Motive check versus the hexblade's Sleight of Hand check or remain unaware of the curse attempt. In addition, increase the DC of your Curse by 2.

Weird Strike (Su): The hexblade's counterpart to the warlock's Eldritch Blast, Weird Strike is an awful tangle of black magic swirled into an attack and used against an unfortunate foe to ruinous effect. Whenever a hexblade attacks an opponent currently under the hexblade's curse, he deals the indicated bonus vile damage.

Dark Companion (Ex): Upon reaching 4th level, the hexblade gains the service of a loyal companion. He gains a familiar as a sorcerer/wizard of his level - 3, except that it benefits from the dark template.

Aura of Ill Omen (Su): At 6th level, once per encounter, a hexblade can radiate a debiliating aura of misfortune and woe. As a swift action, she may project the Aura of Ill Omen (lasting a number of rounds equal to her Charisma bonus, minimum 1), granting her a 20% miss chance against melee and ranged attacks. In addition, hostile spells of which she is the only target suffer 10% arcane failure chance.

Black Benediction (Su): At 7th level, if an opponent misses an attack or fails a spell against the hexblade due to miss chance or arcane spell failure chance, and the hexblade's Aura of Ill Omen class feature is active, you may end the aura as an immediate action in exchange for a +4 profane bonus to attack rolls, AC, and saves against that opponent. This bonus lasts a number of rounds equal to your Charisma bonus, minimum 1.

Bonus Feat (Ex): At 9th level, and again at 13th and 19th level, a hexblade gains a bonus feat from the following list: Blade Meditation, Extra Invocation, Martial Study, Martial Stance, any tactical feat with a prerequisite of one or more maneuvers or stances from a specific discipline.

Aura of Calamity (Su): At 12th level, a hexblade's Aura of Ill Omen becomes the Aura of Calamity, granting her a 50% miss chance against melee and ranged attacks, and improving her inflicted arcane failure chance to 25%.

((Anchor|Greater Arcane Resistance}} (Su): At 14th level, the hexblade gains spell resistance equal to 15 + her Charisma bonus.

Storm of Curses (Su): At 17th level, a hexblade no longer has a limit on his Curse ability; he may use it as often as he pleases in a given encounter. Additionally, once per encounter, he may take a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunities to attempt to Curse a number of enemies equal to his Charisma modifier.

Aura of Doom (Su): At 18th level, a hexblade's Aura of Calamity becomes the Aura of Doom, allowing her to wreak unimagined havoc on the battlefield. Any attack that misses her or spell that fails against her has a chance, through twisted ties of fate and deep voodoo, to strike the attacker or one of the hexblade's other opponents. Roll randomly to determine who among her enemies is the victim; the attack or spell is repeated against the victim under the exact conditions it was performed against the hexblade.

Destiny Desecration (Su): At 20th level, once per day, a hexblade can reach deep into the realm of fate and tear open an awful wound. As a full-round action, she can force a single opponent to make a Will save or be utterly destroyed, as if that opponent had come into contact with a sphere of annihilation. Even if they save, they are immediately afflicted as if by a hexblade's Dire Curse, allowing no save and not counting against per-encounter uses of Hexblade's Curse.

Epic Hexblades

Table 1-2: The Epic Hexblade

Hit Die: d8

Level	Special
21st	Extra Invocation
22nd	Bonus Feat
23rd	Bonus Feat
24th	Extra Invocation
25th	Weird Strike +4d8
26th	Extra Invocation
27th	Bonus Feat
28th	Bonus Feat
29th	Extra Invocation
30th	Weird Strike +5d8
4 + Int modifier skill points per level.

Human Hexblade Starting Package

This section needs a more complete description. For more information please look here

Weapons: Falchion.

Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Skill	Ranks	Ability	Armor Check Penalty
<-Skill name->	<-4 for class skills and 2 for cross-class skills->	<-Abbrieviated key ability->	<-armor check penalty based on starting armor. If innapplicable put "—"->
<-Skill name->	<-4 for class skills and 2 for cross-class skills->	<-Abbrieviated key ability->	<-armor check penalty based on starting armor. If inapplicable put "—"-> <-copy and paste the rows as necessary.->

Feat: Weapon Focus (Falchion), Born Under A Bad Sign

Gear: Chain shirt, mundane gear.

Gold: None.

Campaign Information

Playing a Hexblade

This section needs a more complete description. For more information please look here

Religion:

Other Classes:

Combat:

Advancement: <-Typical advancement options for characters with this class. Include desirable multiclass options->.

Hexblades in the World

This section needs a more complete description. For more information please look here

“

" "

”

<-Where characters of this class fit in a d20 world.->

Daily Life: <-day in the life of a character of this class->.

Notables: <-notable NPCs of this class->.

Organizations: <-info on what, where, when, and how characters of this class congregtate and assemble->.

NPC Reactions:

Hexblade Lore

This section needs a more complete description. For more information please look here

Characters with ranks in Martial Lore or Knowledge (Arcana) can research hexblades to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Martial Lore or Knowledge (Arcana)

DC	Result
10
15
20	The disciplines available to a hexblade are
30

Hexblades in the Game

This section needs a more complete description. For more information please look here

<-How characters of this class fit in the game (PC and NPC) and what roles they play.->

Adaptation: <-Possible variant conceptions of this class.->.

Sample Encounter: <-DM placement for NPCs of this class.->.

EL 10: <-Encounter scenario and character info on sample NPC including stat block. The CR of the NPC is typically the same as the EL for the encounter.->.

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