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Blackguards

unholy_avengerunholy_avenger Member Posts: 29
in General Discussion (Spoiler Warning!)
I'm thinking of taking a Blackguard through BG, BG2 and ToB. I was wondering if Blackguards get any extra dialogue with Dorn in any of the games. Also how effective is the Blackguard compared to other warriors?

Comments

  • ajisgod321ajisgod321 Member Posts: 58
    The poison ability is pretty badass
  • unholy_avengerunholy_avenger Member Posts: 29
    bump
  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    I'm not sure how much dialogue may or may not get with Dorn, sorry. My main experience with them is from using Dorn in a party.

    As a character they're a Paladin kit, meaning you can only specialise (++) in a weapon rather than get grandmastery. This means you miss out on some THAC0 and damage bonuses and a 1/2 attack at grandmastery. However you still get a decent level of proficiency, and can choose many weapons to use instead of the limited few that a pure fighter/kit tends to stick to.

    They get an innate immunity to fear and level drain. Fear is common and annoying in BG1, resisting it is good. Level drain is common and annoying in BG2, resisting it is also good. From this point of view they're a bit like Cavaliers - something you won't think about but it might stop a random encounter ruining your day.

    Poison weapon is useful throughout. Consistent damage over time interrupts spellcasters and avoids protections if you use it early enough. It's also damaging enough to make a difference in many fights. Aura of Despair is unique and good. Only Blackguards get it, and it'll help to make most tough melee targets a lot less threatening. I love party-friendly AOE debuffs, and Aura of Despair is the new king. The Absorb health ability is a bit meh, but better than nothing. I think they also get divine spells at appropriate levels but can't confirm that. If they do the DUHM and Armor of Faith are your friends.

    In summary: As good at fighting as a Paladin or Ranger with a few additional offensive abilities.
  • SchneidendSchneidend Member Posts: 3,190
    Unfortunately, no references are made to your Blackguardness with Dorn.
  • unholy_avengerunholy_avenger Member Posts: 29
    Thanks for the answers. Good to know they can handle themselves in a fight. It is disappointing to hear they get no extra dialogue. You'd think this would have an impact on Dorn's quests. That coupled with the lack of a unique stronghold is kind of a waste.
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    edited January 2014
    Just from a strictly stereo type perspective, would two Blackguards really deal with each other on any kind of basis? Wouldn't they basically be antithetical towards each other because they were both trying to out-Badass the other?

    (not in any way serious here)
  • GoturalGotural Member Posts: 1,229
    The blackguard kit is really efficient. Poison weapon add so much dammage to the character (minimum 12 dammage without save, compared to +3 dammage from Grandmastery) and so much cast disruption, it's really badass. The immunities are very nice and the two others powers are cool too.
  • badbromancebadbromance Member Posts: 238
    Corvino said:

    I'm not sure how much dialogue may or may not get with Dorn, sorry. My main experience with them is from using Dorn in a party.

    As a character they're a Paladin kit, meaning you can only specialise (++) in a weapon rather than get grandmastery. This means you miss out on some THAC0 and damage bonuses and a 1/2 attack at grandmastery. However you still get a decent level of proficiency, and can choose many weapons to use instead of the limited few that a pure fighter/kit tends to stick to.

    They get an innate immunity to fear and level drain. Fear is common and annoying in BG1, resisting it is good. Level drain is common and annoying in BG2, resisting it is also good. From this point of view they're a bit like Cavaliers - something you won't think about but it might stop a random encounter ruining your day.

    Poison weapon is useful throughout. Consistent damage over time interrupts spellcasters and avoids protections if you use it early enough. It's also damaging enough to make a difference in many fights. Aura of Despair is unique and good. Only Blackguards get it, and it'll help to make most tough melee targets a lot less threatening. I love party-friendly AOE debuffs, and Aura of Despair is the new king. The Absorb health ability is a bit meh, but better than nothing. I think they also get divine spells at appropriate levels but can't confirm that. If they do the DUHM and Armor of Faith are your friends.

    In summary: As good at fighting as a Paladin or Ranger with a few additional offensive abilities.

    In regards to Absorb health it is very useful to disrupt spell casting (for BG at least) because its instant with an added 2hp/level heal is just an added perk IMO. I'm not sure how it copes with spell protections in BG2 but in BGEE the kit has no real downsides and is very strong!

  • RedWizardRedWizard Member Posts: 242
    Poison weapon with fighter THAC0 and +1/2 attack, not to mention Longbows?
    Immunity to fear and freaking level drain?
    What's not to love.
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    RedWizard said:

    Poison weapon with fighter THAC0 and +1/2 attack, not to mention Longbows?
    Immunity to fear and freaking level drain?
    What's not to love.

    Their stronghold.
  • TressetTresset Member, Moderator Posts: 8,268
    jackjack said:

    RedWizard said:

    Poison weapon with fighter THAC0 and +1/2 attack, not to mention Longbows?
    Immunity to fear and freaking level drain?
    What's not to love.

    Their stronghold.
    Yeah, my idea was to let the blackguard take over the cult of the unseeing eye as their stronghold, but I guess that wasn't an option...
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    jackjack said:

    RedWizard said:

    Poison weapon with fighter THAC0 and +1/2 attack, not to mention Longbows?
    Immunity to fear and freaking level drain?
    What's not to love.

    Their stronghold.
    I was always a big fan of Lord Soth from the Dragonlance novels. Although that isn't strictly 'Blackguard', I'd think it would be awesome if Blackguards got their own Stronghold in BG2 and that you could do some sort of Demon/patron quest that would make you semi-Death Knight-esque with a few minor abilities and the appellation 'Undead'.
  • nanonano Member Posts: 1,632
    The unseeing eye temple smells! I'd rather boot Nalia out of her keep and make it into a fortress of darkness.
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