| C.Chaser |
I don't know if anyone reads this message board anymore. But I wanted to say that I really like Master Arminas Witchblade II Hexblade conversion. I was fond of the Hexblade in 3.5 although I found the mechanics problematic, and I was always hoping to see it fixed in Pathfinder. I started playing a Witchblade in a campaign about a month ago, and found that the Witchblade II was a bit overpowered, and there were still some bugs to be worked out. My group made a few adjustments to Master Arminas version (some mechanical, some for flavor) and it's worked out extremely well in our games. And I wanted to share them, and see if anyone had any thoughts. The changes are as follows:
1. The Witchblade is proficient with and can cast spells using Bucklers.
2. Cursed Blight, Greater Blight, and Dire Blight, penaltys also apply to the targets spell resistance if any.
3. The Cursed Blight, Greater Blight, and Dire Blightthe ability range is 25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels.
4. The bonus gained from Arcane Grace is 1/2 Witchblades charisma modifier.
5. The Witchblade has standard Arcane Bond options (item or familiar), in place of the modified Witchblade's Familiar.
6. Cursed Blade can be used with ranged weapons.
7.Counter Blight can only be used once per round.
8. The Witchblades selects spells from the Witch spells list, with a couple possible exceptions.
My reasoning:
1. With a Buckler the Witchblade has one freehand for somatic spell gestures, it doesn't break the game, and gives players more options for their characters combat style. (Witchblades already have martial weapons proficiency, why not explore that aspect a little more fully with a Rapier and Buckler instead of a great sword?)
2. Admittedly this modification could prove a bit too powerful, but SR tends to be fairly high in Pathfinder. the ability to lessen it with a Blight adds an interesting strategic aspect to the class. With the Witchblades decreased caster level it can be hard for them to overcome a powerful creatures SR, and they get their spells later in the game when SR is getting significant. However there is a degree of balance, since Blight penalties don't stack, players can't eliminate the SR factor entirely.
3. The ability range is based on a close range spell, its under the original Hexblades 60 ft range, the distance is low in the early game and proportionally increases as characters progress.
4. Even with a Blight Pool cost Arcane Grace is still beyond broken! A player can spend 1 Blight Pool point to get an enormous bonus to saves which will last the entire encounter, and can still attack on the same round. I know that it was modeled after the Arcane Resistance from the original hexblade, but that was the one overpowered aspect of what was otherwise an underpowered class.
For instance, if a Level 10 Witchblade with a natural charisma: 20, obtains a Headband of Alluring Charisma (cha +6), and ring of evasion the situation is immediately out of control. Assume the Witchblade has a good dexterity, moderate wisdom and constitution, add in a couple other miscellaneous bonuses the Witchblade probably has at that point, and you easily end up with a +16 or more to every save. Combined with evasion and Stalwart, the level 10 Witchblade, is more or less immune to any spell that allows a saving throw. I made this character and it quickly proved to be way too much.
6. Why Not curse a ranged weapon as well?
7. Counter Blight as a free action is just too powerful in an encounter even if there is a limited number of times you can do it per day.
8. This might seem blasphemous to some, but copying and pasting the Witch spell list for the Witchblade is an excellent way to bring the Hexblade into Pathfinder. The Witch presents a different more Eldritch kind of arcane magic, and adds a lot of flavor to the idea of magic within the game. Furthermore Witches use hex abilities, and their magic has a similar feel to the Witchblade/Hexblade. In a lot of ways the Witchblade is to the Witch, what the Magus is to the Wizard. And that duality should be reflected in their spells. Also the Witch already has a strategically and thematically limited spell repertoire, and since the Witchblade only learns a limited number of spells this broader selection doesn't get out of hand.
Overall it’s a great conversion. Definitely one of the best I've seen.