[3.5] Sprucing up the Blackguard...

[TheCountAlucard]

Let's face it: most PrCs just aren't worth the effort, especially the core ones. I pity da fool who wants to play a Shadowdancer.

The Blackguard is also pretty bad. It needs an excessive amount of work to qualify for, especially going the "fallen paladin" route. Requiring Improved Sunder makes the class even less worthwhile.

What do you think?

[lord_khaine]

thats a shame, shadowdancer is one of the better noncaster prestice classes there are, you have no reason to "pity" them.

[AstralFire]

Let's face it: most PrCs just aren't worth the effort, especially the core ones. I pity da fool who wants to play a Shadowdancer.

The Blackguard is also pretty bad. It needs an excessive amount of work to qualify for, especially going the "fallen paladin" route. Requiring Improved Sunder makes the class even less worthwhile.

What do you think?

...Well, I can't agree with a lot of that, but the Blackguard -is- subpar.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigePaladin
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladinVariantsFreedom SlaughterAndTyranny

Put those together, maybe?

[Gorbash]

thats a shame, shadowdancer is one of the better noncaster prestice classes there are, you have no reason to "pity" them.

Hm let's see - useless feats prerequisites, no sneak attack, 7/10 attack bonus, only one good save (the least useful one at that), not really worth it after first lvl. The only good thing is Hide in Plain Sight, the rest is garbage. Sure, it's fluffy, but mechanically, one of the lamest prestige class. Except the first lvl, of course.

[Sinfire Titan]

The thing about the Blackguard is that it isn't meant for Pallys if there are other books involved in the campaign. If the players have access to CW and CS, then the class is actually a Rogue/Swashbuckler dual-advancement class with a bit of spellcasting. Not to mention other benefits.

The requirements for the class put you a few levels away from Combat Brute, and two feats away from Shock Trooper. So you can either go Finesse or Power Attack and have a mounted Sneak Attacking Death Engine, or have a spellcasting Swashbuckler (who's only behind by 1d6 Sneak Attack that is easily replaced).

Don't think of the Blackguard as a Pally PrC. Its meant for Daring Outlaws.