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View Full Version : 3.5 Hexblade/Chameleon build help



JasonP
2009-11-13, 06:31 PM
I'm currently planning a character for a future game and would like some ideas and help. I want to use the Hexblade class and Chameleon prestige class and came up with the following idea.
Race: Changeling (assuming my DM will let me take Adept Learner/Chameleon since a Changeling is basically a Human mixed with a Doppleganger anyway)
3 Rogue / 7 Hexblade / 10 Chameleon
I would use the Changeling Rogue substitution levels as found in the Races of Eberron to get Social Intuition and Minor Lore as well as 2d6 Sneak Attack which would mean being able to use the Chameleon's Mimic Class Feature for other things.
I would take Hexblade levels up to the Greater Curse and take the Dark Companion alternate (from PHBII) instead of Animal Companion and also ask the DM to allow me to use the Hexblade fix that allows curses per day based on your Hexblade level + Charisma modifier (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19520634/Petition_4_Hexblade_Fix?num=10&pg=1)
I would generally focus my skills and feats toward Charisma and Strength based abilities such as Bluff, Intimidate, Power Attack, Intimidating Strike and use spells mostly for buffs/debuffs to add to the power of my curse and dark companion.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Pharaoh's Fist
2009-11-13, 06:43 PM
Pick up the Craven feat.

You look forward to MAD, as Hexblade operates off of Cha whereas the abilities granted by Chameleon operate off of Int and Wis.

JasonP
2009-11-13, 06:57 PM
Craven may be good, depending on if I get in a party where I am able to use sneak attack often. What is MAD?

Pharaoh's Fist
2009-11-13, 07:00 PM
Multiple Attribute Dependency.

JasonP
2009-11-16, 01:26 PM
Ah, yeah. Are there any good ways to overcome that?
I think I'll also pick up the feat, Force of Personality (Complete Adv. p109) to use my Cha bonus for Will saves which will help and work well with Arcane Resistance and Mettle. The chameleon's Ability Boon will also help out with this fact.

Mongoose87
2009-11-16, 01:55 PM
Force of personality won't have that big of effect- it doesn't remove the MAD of class features.

JasonP
2009-11-16, 02:50 PM
Yeah, on second thought my Hexblade levels will already give me a decent Will save so I probably won't need that. I think I'm going to do Cha>Str>Dex>Int>Con>Wis and hope none of my attribute rolls are really low and just supplement with Ability Boon where needed.

Also I'm thinking of taking the Chameleon class after 4 or 5 levels of Hexblade and taking the other 2/3 levels of Hexblade after 2 or 3 levels of Chameleon depending on what I feel would be more helpful at the time.

Person_Man
2009-11-16, 03:06 PM
What are your build goals, and are you really starting the game at level 20?

Because if you are, I highly suggest that you not play as a Chameleon. As a half-caster mashup build, you're going to be seriously underpowered.

JasonP
2009-11-16, 03:30 PM
My goals are to use lots of Bluff and other social skills to disguise who I am and use things that make it easier to take down opponents such as the Hexblade curse, Dark Companion, Intimidating Strike, and debuff spells from arcane and divine focus and be a front line fighter.

I don't plan on starting at level 20 or have any particular campaign in mind, this is just theoretical for my next chance to play.

Person_Man
2009-11-16, 05:02 PM
My goals are to use lots of Bluff and other social skills to disguise who I am and use things that make it easier to take down opponents such as the Hexblade curse, Dark Companion, Intimidating Strike, and debuff spells from arcane and divine focus and be a front line fighter.

I don't plan on starting at level 20 or have any particular campaign in mind, this is just theoretical for my next chance to play.

Ah, then you sir are looking for a Bard.

Bluff is most easily covered by the core spell of Glibness (http://srd.realmspire.com/spellsFtoG.html#glibness). +30 is pretty much impossible to beat via non-magical means. And if your DM is intent on using magic to overcome your lies, you're still likely to succeed.

Bardic music gives you access to Doomspeak (http://www.realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Doomspeak,all) (-10 to one enemy's Save for 1 round). Just team up with another caster, and you pretty much win 95% of the time on any one spell (I suggest Dominate Person, Dominate Monster, etc). Bardic music also gives you access to Snowflake Wardance (http://www.realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Snowflake_Wardance,all), and to all sorts of other crazy inspire courage (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19869994/Bard_Inspire_Courage_Optimization) combos.

Other good bits to consider for debuffing are Frightful Presence (http://www.realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Frightful_Presence,all) or Dreadful Wrath (http://www.realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Dreadful_Wrath,all), Brutal Strike (http://www.realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Brutal_Strike,all), Netherese Battle Curse (http://www.realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Netherese_Battle_Curse,all), and a Spell Storing Weapon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm#spellStoring). There's also the Frightful Crest draconic graft, which gives you a potent Frightful Presence (Races of the Dragon pg 128). Mohrg’s Tongue undead graft gives you a secondary touch attack that Paralyzes enemies (Libris Mortis pg 80). The Roaring weapon enhancement - Evil creatures must Save or be Shaken. (Book of Exalted Deeds pg 113). The superior Subjugating weapon enhancement - All enemies must Save or be Shaken. (Heroes of Battle pg 130). And probably half a dozen other magical items that debuff that I've forgotten.

I would skip Intimidating Strike, since it's a Standard Action, and thus can't be combined with a full attack.

If you're dead set on Hexblade, then consider Bard 1/Hexblade 4/Warchanter X. Warchanter loses spell progression (useless anyway, because of your Hexblade levels), but gains full BAB, keeps full Bardic music progression, and gains a bunch of new music uses (including a pretty good Fear/debuff effect).

vampire2948
2009-11-16, 05:05 PM
Did you look at the Factotum class?

JasonP
2009-11-16, 05:30 PM
Factotum could be fun, but it's more int based instead of cha which is what I was looking for.

I'll look into Bard/Hexblade/Warchanter combo, that seems like it could work out very well for what I was wanting to do. Is there a certain class you would suggest? My first guess would be human.