Blackguard play style.

[Pete Mack]

Currently have a character at DL 38, CL 29, finally up to 1.6 blows after finding a +3 Ring of Dexterity. But I continue to go thru CCW at a ridiculous rate--my recall schedule is limited by the time it takes to use up 20 of them. (If the Berserk spell did a bit of healing, and didn't last so long, this wouldn't be so bad.)

[archolewa]

Are you just swinging, or are you using your spells like Leap into Battle? By CL 29 you should be getting two swings with Leap into Battle (if you're playing 4.2.1), or Whirlwind Attack (if you're playing 4.2.2). Not only will that let you do more damage most of the time (though perhaps not a *ton* more statistically when accounting for fail rates), but casting also heals you some. I find that spamming Leap into Battle/Whirlwind (depending on version) once I get down to 5% fail rate is a great way to keep my Health up *just enough* that I don't need many healing potions.

Though this probably depends on what race you're using. I tend to play Dunadan and High Elf, and both of them can get down to 5% very quickly. A Half-Troll probably takes longer...

Rings of Open Wound are also very nice for giving you some renewable healing without drawback, since you already have impaired regeneration.

[Pete Mack]

yes I was using whirlwind a lot. I had 8% fail with Dunadan. But 2 blows isn't much at dl 40, even with a good weapon. A mediocre ring of damage would make a good light weapon do better, not to mention archery that actually hits its targets.

[archolewa]

yes I was using whirlwind a lot. I had 8% fail with Dunadan. But 2 blows isn't much at dl 40, even with a good weapon. A mediocre ring of damage would make a good light weapon do better, not to mention archery that actually hits its targets.

When do you get Werewolf Form, CL 30? So you're just on the cusp of it right? It's true that those levels just before werewolf form are *rough*. Honestly I find just-before-but-not-quite-werewolf-form to be the hardest stage of the game for the Blackguard.

I often have to retrace a few floors in the 30's or 40's until I get it (and some stat gain potions to get my blow count up).

I find the powercurve tends to take off once I get werewolf form though.

[Pete Mack]

I died at CL 30 to failed teleport. (I had no scrolls left.) 2 more levels and I would have werewolf form, alas.

[DavidMedley]

RIP, Pete. I take it you were finding the Blackguard difficult to adjust to?

[Pete Mack]

Very much so.

[Cuboideb]

I have keymaps bound to maim foe (mba'), berserk and whirlwind. I cast them very often to recover some hp. The stun effect provided by maim foe is the best weapon an early bg has.

[wobbly]

I find berserk counter productive (the AC drop) unless you need to remove fear. It's low SP so restores little hps. I like to have pretty decent AC if I'm going to get amonst a group of melee foes and whirlwind.

[archolewa]

I find berserk counter productive (the AC drop) unless you need to remove fear. It's low SP so restores little hps. I like to have pretty decent AC if I'm going to get amonst a group of melee foes and whirlwind.

Really? I find the damage and healing just arent going to be high enough to make up for all the enemies attacking you at once. Early on, I generally rely on Whirlwind Attack for the healing-while-attacking, and eventually for the extra blow, but still fight things in corridors.

At least the way I play, Whirlwind Attack is an awkward space. When its my bread and butter, Im not strong enough to take advantage of its AOE effect. By the time I am, I usually have Werewolf Form, at which point Im a Werewolf for pretty much every fight, shifting back only when I need to heal, refresh Relentless Taunt, or want to stun someone.

[DavidMedley]

Stunning is absolutely critical to reducing the amount of melee damage you take. I even added this to the hints.txt file. Also, BG spells and "fading" SP heal proportional to how much damage you have taken. So if you want efficiency, don't panic and gulp down a CCW until you're within 1 or 2 turns of dying.

Pressing on despite injury is not everyone's cup of tea. They'd rather rest up to full after every encounter. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not the way to play Blackguard.

[Pete Mack]

OK, this time around a found a +2 *Slay Troll* weapon, though it's only a spear.
I also have +6 speed, from a ring and trickery, at DL29. So a pretty lucky start.

With +10 Damage ring, 2,3 blows, and venom spell (fail rate 30%), i can do 95 dam/turn. Not too shabby--i killed the Umbar twins and an adult red dragon without trouble.
Stunning helps, and no more silly business with whirlwind attack vs single monsters.

[tangar]

I'm playing atm BG in my variant - this BG is copy of V in PWMA. It's pretty interesting class though I didn't know a lot of things about it till I've read this topic..

maybe BG description should be enlarged to give player more general ideas about this class possibilities? Atm its:

Blackguard
A Blackguard is a brawler of no principle, who lives for the joy of maiming and killing. Blackguards prefer heavy weapons and shields, and learn a few spells for the purpose of wreaking more destruction. Their lust for blood is legendary, with a blackguard in full cry nigh on impossible to kill. Blackguards scorn skills apart from slaughter, and require strength and intelligence (or rat-cunning) to thrive in the dungeon.

add there info about:

1) polymorph (checked it only at lvl 22 when I've read this topic cause my DPS is super low, 1 BpR..)
2) about getting healed by damaging (didn't know that)
3) about additional BpR through skills (I didn't use them at all cause of low success chance of casting.. I used mainly buffs like Berserk or Regen)

my vids:
english: https://youtu.be/yQd2rCV-LiA
russian: https://youtu.be/E8YgVi3RCMc

[Pete Mack]

T--
Using whirlwind to get extra attacks vs a single target i found annoying. But keeping the enemy helpless with stun and taunt is excellent. Taunt is great on hounds, too.

[archolewa]

T--
Using whirlwind to get extra attacks vs a single target i found annoying. But keeping the enemy helpless with stun and taunt is excellent. Taunt is great on hounds, too.

I love the extra swings from Whirlwind. Gets me really excited about level 20 (something you dont really see in hybrid classes), and nothing quite gives me the same thrill as finding a Maul of Lightning as a Blackguard, spamming Whirlwind and watching everything die. The healing is nice too.