Arelith

I am currently playing a deep (20 levels) Blackguard character for the first time since it was over-hauled.

The new version of BG is better in pretty much every way from the old one, very nicely done!

However, I have a couple of gripes about things that make it feel a bit strange.

Corrupt Weapon: A great ability! The problem is, it is 1 use/day. This means that if I want to swap weapons I have to rest. It also means that I have to play sort of like a caster class and manage my rest like a wizard. Summon Fiend is on CD, Bulls STR is on CD, Divine Shield, Might, Smite all refresh. But Corrupt Weapon is kind of a central ability that you will build your character and gear around. Only being able to do it once per day really throws off your rhythm.

Contagion: The DC on this is so low that it might as well not exist.

Epic Fiendish Servant: I think changing these summons to more "normal" summons (i.e. not a giant Pit Fiend General) is a great addition and makes the class feel way less goofy than it used to be. However, you cannot take this until level 26. The Tier 5 fiend is hilariously powerful when you get it in the mid-teens levels, but by level 23 or so it starts to REALLY drop off in effectiveness, making it borderline useless unless you are a BG/Knight who can guard it. Being able to take this feat earlier would be super nice. It would also be a game changer for PvE if all the upper-tier fiends had regen: because they don't, you have to spend a lot of time healing them which gets annoying.

Summon Undead: This ability feels really "lost", same as it was before. The BG doesn't really NEED another summon option, but as it is now its just something that you wouldnt really bother to use, ever. I wonder if it would almost make sense to replace this with a Summon Familiar ability (that can only be used to summon an evil familiar model such as Imp, etc). It is especially odd that you get the T3 Undead AFTER the T5 fiend. Maybe if the undead tier was moved up to earlier levels, it would get some use?

Aura of Despair: Very cool from a thematic standpoint, but also not super useful for the BG himself. I have also heard on Discord that it "doesnt work"- but I am not personally sure what is meant by this.

I was actually getting ready to post a thread like this one, but I think most of my observations have already been brought up. I'll just elaborate a bit where I can.

Arienette wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:51 pm Aura of Despair: Very cool from a thematic standpoint, but also not super useful for the BG himself. I have also heard on Discord that it "doesnt work"- but I am not personally sure what is meant by this.

I understand the confusion, but you're overthinking it.

"It doesn't work" is a complete and total summary of what's going on. You will get the aura vfx, but the aura debuff never applies, at all, in any way, to anything.

Edit: In fact, I'd go ahead and say that the reason more blackguards do not report this is an indication of how bad a fit the ability is for the class. The difference to the blackguard between "does nothing at all" and "applies -2 saves to enemies in the aura" is small enough that most blackguard players never realize that their aura isn't applying the debuff.

I've given a lot of more freeform feedback on the class elsewhere, and especially in light of the fact that we're not getting corner paladins, would love to see this class become a little more varied and modular. But some quick touchups (QoL stuff to put the curse weapon on cooldown, and a rework to the aura to make it both work and do something the BG cares about, maybe as an alternative to the summon) would be welcome in the meanwhile.

I am looking at improving the undead summon for Blackguard. I can't comment on anything else at this time.

In Sorrow We Trust wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 12:46 pm I am looking at improving the undead summon for Blackguard. I can't comment on anything else at this time.

Exciting!

Seeing as the fiends are sort of squishy weapon masters, it would be super cool if the undead were a weaker offensive option but very tanky (like an ancient air elemental).

Having a summon that can stay alive in tough dungeons and allow you to hand out sneak attacks would be awesome.

In Sorrow We Trust wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 12:46 pm I am looking at improving the undead summon for Blackguard. I can't comment on anything else at this time.

God bless you.

I've never been able to play a real blackguard beyond 5/6 levels for goodies and BaB because the undead options really speak to me more but they're totally useless for long term building.