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Half Elf
Hexblade 1 (2-3)/ Bard College of Swords X
Table of Content
Introduction
THIS IS NOT A GUIDE.
This is a concept build that may or may not be optimized. While the tendency is usually to "make things work well", the building process is driven by the concept, so there could be better choices available to min-max a similar build.
In this case, the build choices seem to perfectly fit the concept, giving the possibility to build a nice backstory driven character that is also mechanically sound.
Concept of the build
This concept is largely based on the character of Kvothe from the KingKiller Chronicle series written by Patrick Rothfuss and the Vistani culture as seen in the Curse of Strahd adventure, that is in turn based on the Romani society and culture.
Our boy was born on the road, from a half elven mother and human father, son of a couple of troupers, he was raised since the young age to be an entertainer. He learned to talk soft and banter loud, he was taught how to sing, dance, juggle and entertain the lowest of the crowd as well as the aristocracy. At the age of eighteen it is time now for his rite of passage into adulthood and as a consequence the passage from student to full fledged trouper.
On that night the dim lit table was displaying 5 items: a beautiful lute, symbol of the charmer, a musician that can delight a public or enthral masses; a tome with a simple leather cover with the name of the clan burnt into it, symbol of the storyteller the one that create, shape and tell stories; a simple ornated but well balanced blade, symbol of the juggler quick with the sword as he is with words; a horn carved from an ox bone symbol of the protector of traditions usually a leader of its people; a light purple full face mask, symbol of the actor the one that knows how to transform himself, deceive and tell secrets in the dark. The item he will choose that night, will be the one representing his lifestyle in the troupe.
He chose the blade, he was always good with those a really liked feeling the weight on his side of the trousers. He touched the hilt and a river of images flooded his mind; images of glory and legends, adventures and monsters and riches. Our hero decided to train a bit that night, the next day would have been his first show as a trouper. He went into the woods. like he has always done in the past years when he didn't want to be watched. Drawing his new sword was a nice sensation, a couple of swings and some juggling with the new blade felt great. After about two hours of training our boy, now a man, lay down on the refreshing grass and fell asleep. He woke up at late night in the middle of the encampment to the smell of smoke. All the caravans were on fire, the bodies of the other troupers laying everywhere butchered. His mother and father were laying nearby looking at him in with big opened lifeless eyes and the bodies in an awkward position, like a ritual. By instinct the boy put his hand on the hilt of the sword, feeling a cold watery sensation. Turning his eyes to the blade, it was soaked in blood.
This is my personal twist, to justify one level in Hexblade, but you can go an spin your own stuff. Attaboy.
Race
The Half Elf is always one of the best choices for a Charisma build, but in this case, the cliche of the half race not accepted by the human and elven race, seems to fit the nomadic nature of the troupers. VHumans are also a good choice for their initial feat (Warcaster), and would also fit with the backstory. Other races (always look for that boost in Charisma) would also work, like the Tiefling but to be honest it is a bit harder for me to fit them with the backstory. A mechanically better choice could also be the Half Elf Drow, play that if you like it.
If you think that playing a tiefling raised by humans that cuts his horns/tails/whatever is cool... well that's your choice. I don't like it, but you might. It seems to me that playing the "snowflake" has become the new cliche.
Half Elf provides with:
- Skill proficiencies! I love those;
- Darkvision and some resistances;
- Boost in our primary ability plus small boost to two secondary abilities. It is an overused good package and I like it.
Priority for abilities and their distribution
I AM USING A 27 POINT BUY, if you are using a different method to allocate abilities, I'm sure you are intelligent enough to understand what to do.
Let's start with the fact that I love Constitution and I will generally try and get a very high score on that, even though it means to have a lower score in my second important ability. I am of the opinion that I don't want to be downed. Downed means zero usefulness, I'd rather be charmed and start beating on a party member than be downed and do nothing. Oh the laughs...
With that out of the way, I wanted to optimize some of the aspects trying to be true to the type of character I'm building.
- Half Elves are not that strong, especially an eighteen years old boy, that justifies my Strength dump;
- Intelligence and Wisdom could be both dump stats, but we will have some leftover points to distribute. If you think that our hero is a street raised, insightful, smart kid then put them in Intelligence; if you think instead that the young age will give him the cocky, brash, "know it all" attitude of the teenager, but thanks to the teachings he is at least very perceptive and observant then dump INT and put the rest in Wisdom. Since my idea is based on Kvothe, I see him more like the latter.
- Charisma is your bread and butter, the words to your melody, the steps to your dance, your real muscles other than that awesome smug face, overshoot this, that's the plan.
This would be my preferred ability points distribution for this build:
| Ability | Score | Racial | Total | Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 8 | 8 | -1 | |
| Dexterity | 13 | +1 | 14 | +2 |
| Constitution | 15 | +1 | 16 | +3 |
| Intelligence | 8 | 8 | -1 | |
| Wisdom | 12 | 12 | +1 | |
| Charisma | 15 | +2 | 17 | +3 |
Build progression
There is a decision to make here, depending when you are starting to play the build. If you are starting to play at Lv1 you could either start with the level in Hexblade, in this case the assassination of your family already happened and you can develop your character from here. An alternative is to "play" the assassination of your family, in this case it would be great to start at Lv1 Bard, then go for the rite of passage (1 Hexblade) then develop your character from this point. In any case the differences between the two starts are minimal and a matter of preferences.
I'll start with one level in Bard (to represent my initial training years with the troupe) then take one level in Hexblade and then Bard again. I we want to go for the 2nd or the 3rd level in Hexblade, it would be good to do so after Lv6 Bard so we don't delay too much the second attack.
| Level | Class | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bard | Bardic inspiration (d6) |
| 2 | Hexblade | Hex Warrior, Hexblade's Curse |
| 3 | Bard | Jack of all Trades, Song of Rest (d6) |
| 4 | Blade | Fighting Style Dueling, Blade Flourishes, Expertise |
| 5 | Blade | ASI - Elven Accuracy +1 CHA |
| 6 | Blade | Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration |
| 7 | Blade | Extra Attack |
At this point one could go full Bard or add 1 or 2 levels of Warlock. These two levels can be role played in conjunction with the DM as something that happens to the sword (the sword awakens?) or something that has to do with the death of your family.
| Level | Class | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Hexblade | 2 invocations |
| 9 | Hexblade | Warlock Pact |
At this point I would go full Bard.
Final Thoughts
This build even though is concept driven, it feels as optimized as it gets. It has two attacks, nice things from the Blade and the Hex blade, good AC, good melee damage (can even make use of the SCAG Blade cantrip) and good ranged damage with Eldritch Blast. The build is SAD (Single Attribute Dependent) and works well together.
What I don't like is that this build feels overused. I love the story behind it, but it seems that everywhere a 1 level dip in Hexblade is sweet ambrosia from the gods. Also if the DM doesn't help you in developing your story, this build remains only a nice extremely well optimized gish build. I know that the last reason feels weak since this can happen with every build, but I feel it weights particularly with this one.