Bard: Hex Blade
At 3rd level, a Hex Blade learns one hex from the witch’s list of hexes. This is otherwise identical to the witch’s hex class feature, except that the Hex Blade uses her Charisma modifier to determine her hexes‘ save DCs and she learns a new hex at 6th level and every 3 levels thereafter.
This ability replaces performance and versatile performance.
Major Hex
Starting at 12th level, and every 3 levels thereafter, the Hex Blade may select a major hex from the witch’s list whenever she could learn a new hex.
This ability replaces soothing performance.
The Hex Blade retains the Bard spell list and spell casting mechanics.
Do you mean it replaces Bardic performance? It is important to differentiate, because performance is a skill and Bardic performance is a class feature. If it is replacing Bardic performance, you hurt them severely at levels 1 and 2, since you take away a major part of the class and don't offer anything to replace it until 3rd.
@Havzak Agreed that the change is fairly noticeable at 1st & 2nd level, any suggestions?
And yes, it replaces the Bard class ability "Bardic Performance" vs the performance skill.
Here is the other thread for this idea if any of helps. It was more of a brainstorming session before I started getting a more solid feel for where I was going with this.
https://paizo.com/threads/rzs42gb7?Are-there-options-which-grant-a-Bard-Hex #3
I would say just give them hexes at 1st level at that point. However, I have to ask, at that point, why not just play a witch? If you are just trading BP for hexes you are essentially a charismatic, 6th level spell casting witch with some knowledge skills, light armor and some martial fighting capability.
This is a tough one since you need to balance out what you gain with what you trade away.
Maybe you could trade away some of the different bardic performances, such as fascinate, suggestion and dirge of doom for hexes. Have them count against your bardic performance daily limit. This makes it so you have to choose to either buff your group or debuff your enemies.