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Just another in my slow cycle of posting my class rewrites and custom classes to the boards for opinions and comments. If you read the title, then you obviously know you're about to read my hexblade rewrite.

Note: Before any one else brings it up. I've seen Mearls' fix. It was workable, but doesn't fit for me. Please comment on this work.

I've also bolded the changes to make them easier to find.

Edit:
Hit Die: d10

Class Skills
The hexblade’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int),
Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha),
Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int),
Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int),
and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

[code]Table: The Hexblade
Level    BAB               Fort   Ref    Will   Special
1st      +1                 +2     +0     +2    Hexblade's Curse
2nd      +2                 +3     +0     +3    Arcane Resistance
3rd      +3                 +3     +1     +3    Mettle
4th      +4                 +4     +1     +4    Dark Companion
5th      +5                 +4     +1     +4    Bonus Feat
6th      +6/+1              +5     +2     +5    Hobbling Curse
7th      +7/+2              +5     +2     +5    Greater Hexblade's Curse
8th      +8/+3              +6     +2     +6   
9th      +9/+4              +6     +3     +6    Weapon Breaker Curse
10th     +10/+5             +7     +3     +7    Bonus Feat
11th     +11/+6/+1          +7     +3     +7   
12th     +12/+7/+2          +8     +4     +8    Aura of Unluck 1/day
13th     +13/+8/+3          +8     +4     +8   
14th     +14/+9/+4          +9     +4     +9    Armor Breaker Curse
15th     +15/+10/+5         +9     +5     +9    Bonus Feat
16th     +16/+11/+6/+1      +10    +5     +10   Aura of Unluck 2/day
17th     +17/+12/+7/+2      +10    +5     +10   
18th     +18/+13/+8/+3      +11    +6     +11   Improved Mettle
19th     +19/+14/+9/+4      +11    +6     +11   Dire Hexblade's Curse
20th     +20/+15/+10/+5     +12    +6     +12   Aura of Unluck 3/day, bonus feat[/code]
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A hexblade is proficient with all simple and martial weapons.  A hexblade is proficient with light armor but not with shields.  Because the somatic components required for hexblade spells are simple, a hexblade can cast hexblade spells while wearing light armor or a buckler without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a hexblade wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do). A multiclass hexblade still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Hexblade's Curse (Su): As a swift action, a hexblade can unleash a curse upon a foe.  The target must be visible to the hexblade and within 60 feet.  The target of a hexblade's curse takes a -2 penalty on attacks, saves, ability checks, skill checks, caster level checks, and weapon damage rolls for 1 hour thereafter.  A successful Will Save (DC 10 + 1/2 hexblade's class level + hexblade's Cha modifier) negates the effect.
A hexblade can use this ability a number of times equal to one half their hexblade level + their Charisma modifier. Multiple hexblade's curses don't stack, and any foe that successfully resists the effect cannot be affected again by the same hexblade's curse for 24 hours.
Any effect that removes or dispels a curse eliminates the effect of a hexblade's curse.

Arcane Resistance (Su): At 2nd level, a hexblade gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (minimum +1) on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects, up to a maximum amount equal to his Hexblade level.

Mettle (Ex): See Complete Warrior pg. 7

[b]Dark Companion (Su): This is identical to the variant in the Player's Handbook II (pg. 47) except as noted below.
At 11th level, your Dark Companion can create flanking situations and draw attacks of opportunity unless the opponent it is trying to flank or draw an attack of opportunity from makes a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 your Hexblade level + your Charisma modifier)
At 18th level, your Dark Companion can automatically flank and draws attacks of opportunity.[/b]

Spells: Beginning at 4th level, a hexblade gains the ability to cast a small number of arcane spells, which are drawn from the hexblade spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time, just as a sorcerer can.  To learn or cast a spell, hexblade must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a hexblade’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the hexblade’s Charisma modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a hexblade can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Hexblade. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score. When Table: Hexblade Spells Known indicates that the hexblade gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Charisma score for that spell level.
The hexblade’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A hexblade begins play knowing no spells, but gains one or more new spells at certain levels, as indicated on Table: Hexblade Spells Known. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a hexblade knows is not affected by his Charisma score; the numbers on Table: Hexblade Spells Known are fixed.)
Upon reaching 8th level, and at every even hexblade level after that, a hexblade can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the hexblade “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least one level lower than the highest-level hexblade spell the hexblade can cast. A hexblade may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level.
Through 3rd level, a hexblade has no caster level.  At 4th level and higher, his caster level is his hexblade level -3. 
As noted above, a hexblade need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he knows at any time, assuming he has not yet used up his allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level.

Bonus Feat: At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th), a hexblade gains a bonus feat, which must be selected from the following list: Ability Focus, Arcane Strike, Combat Casting, Greater Spell Focus, Greater Spell Penetration, Skill Focus (Concentration), Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Skill Focus (Use Magic Device), Spell Focus, Spell Penetration. (I intend to add to this list, but have not yet)

[b]Hobbling Curse (Su): A hexblade of 6th level or higher can perform a hobbling curse instead of a normal curse when cursing a target. A target affected by this ability has its speed for all movement modes halved. Additionally, the creature is treated as though it were wearing heay armor and carrying a heavy load for the purposes of all abilities that are affected by such things (flight, evasion, etc.) Flying creature forced to land by this affect can land safely without taking falling damage. Spellcasters who cannot normally cast while wearing heavy armor suffer a 25% spell failure chance. A hexblade can only affect a target with one of his curse types at a time. If the target is successfully targeted by a new curse, the old one is ended immediately.[/b]

Greater Hexblade's Curse (Su): See Complete Warrior pg. 8

[b]Weapon Breaker Curse(Su): A hexblade of 9th level or higher can perform a weapon breaker cusres instead of a normal curse when cursing a target. Instead of the normal effects of a curse, targets of the weapon breaker curse apply the curse penalty to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, caster level checks, and the save DC of any abilities the target might have, including spells. A hexblade can only affect a target with one of his curse types at a time. If the target is successfully targeted by a new curse, the old one is ended immediately.[/b]

Aura of Unluck (Su): Once per day, a hexblade of 12th level or higher can create a baleful aura of misfortune.  Any melee or ranged attack made against the hexblade while this aura of unluck is active has a 50% miss chance.  Activating the aura is an immediate action. The aura lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the hexblade's Charisma bonus (if any).
At 16th level and every four levels thereafter, a hexblade gains the ability to use his aura of unluck an extra time per day.

[b]Armor Breaker Curse(Su): A hexblade of 14th level or higher can perform an armor breaker cusres instead of a normal curse when cursing a target. Instead of the normal effects of a curse, targets of the armor breaker curse apply the curse penalty to their armor class, saving throws, spell resistance, damage redcution, and energy resistances. A hexblade can only affect a target with one of his curse types at a time. If the target is successfully targeted by a new curse, the old one is ended immediately.[/b]

[b]Improved Mettle (Ex): At 18th level, a hexblades mettle abililty improved. He still negates all effects on a successful Fortitude or Will saving throw against attacks, but henceforth, he only suffers the partial effect on a failed save. If an attack (such as the wail of the banshee spell) does not have a lesser effect (half or partial), then he still suffers the full effect on a failed save.[/b]

Dire Hexblade's Curse (Su): See Complete Warrior pg. 8

Spells Per Day
[code]Level  1st  2nd  3rd  4th
1      -    -    -    -
2      -    -    -    -
3      -    -    -    -
4      0    -    -    -
5      1    -    -    -
6      2    -    -    -
7      2    0    -    -
8      3    1    -    -
9      3    2    -    -
10     3    2    0    -
11     4    3    1    -
12     4    3    2    -
13     4    3    2    0
14     4    4    3    1
15     5    4    3    2
16     5    4    3    2
17     5    4    4    3
18     5    5    4    3
19     5    5    4    3
20     6    5    4    4[/code]
Spells Known
[code]Level  1st  2nd  3rd  4th
1      -    -    -    -
2      -    -    -    -
3      -    -    -    -
4      2*   -    -    -
5      3    -    -    -
6      3    -    -    -
7      3    2*   -    -
8      3    3    -    -
9      4    3    -    -
10     4    3    2*   -
11     4    3    3    -
12     4    4    3    -
13     5    4    3    2*
14     5    4    4    3
15     5    4    4    3
16     5    5    4    3
17     6    5    5    4
18     6    5    5    4
19     6    5    5    4
20     6    6    6    5[/code]
*Provided the Hexblade has a high enough Charisma modifier to have a bonus spell of this level.


For the moment, I have not modified the Hexblade spell list in any way, although I will likely post that here later. If you have any suggestions on spells to add to the list, feel free to mention them. Until then, I eagerly await your comments.

Edit: Spelling
Edit: Removed the opposed rolls section of Weapon Breaker Curse. Clarified that Weapon Breaker Curse only affects caster level checks, not all level checks. Add a new section to each special curse.  - 01/01/08
[code]A hexblade can only affect a target with one of his curse types at a time. If
the target is successfully targeted by a new curse, the old one is ended immediately.[/code]
Edit: Modifed the formatting some. 02/03/08

Edit: Spelling. 07/10/08

Shadow sucked. The dog that followed him around was better(in fact, the dog was better than the rest of the party).

Anywayz. There was already a semi-official remake of Hexblade. Combine that with an adjustment to the caster lv of Hexblade(& any other class who gets 1-4 lv spells) to where it's class lv -3(instead of 1/2 class lv, which is stupid & only hurts, rather than balances)

Also, your Weapon & Armor curses are too problematic to work with. They're far more useful than the standard curse.

The standard negatives of the curse combined with the official(ish) Hexblade revisions & the PHB 2 variant is all you really need for the class.

Class remakes shouldn't be too powerful

Big fan of Hexblade re-writes but I like the ones based off of Mearls.

Quick and balanced for the most part


Hexblade Fix:
* Boost to Fortitude saves by +1 at level 2, 11, and 20
* A hexblade may use their curse a number of times each day equal to 1 + 1/2 Cha modifier (rounded down)
* Curse ability usable as a swift action
* Proficiency with all armor and shields, except tower shields.
* Ability to cast in light or medium armor and while carrying a light shield, buckler, and heavy shields.
* At 6th level, the hexblade can cast one hexblade spell per day as a swift action, as long as its original casting time is a standard action or faster. He gains an additional use of this power at levels 8, 11, 14, and 18.
* Fighter Feat Selection, Battle Caster, Arcane Strike, and Ability Focus added to Hexblade feat selection.