[Hellstrom]

Blackguards are actually really powerful if you build them for their strengths. They can reach AC that makes fighters blush, and good saves to boot... All in all BGs are weaker than Paladins, but they are still a very powerful class when done right, able to stand toe to toe with a WM or RDD, due to insane amounts of potential AC.. They're the tankier PrC, or at least thats where they shine mechanically with great saves and high AC... For example my main is a BG and even taking away vampire, at level 17 with gear she'd be capable of reaching up to 49 AC without using expertise or the like.

I'm not trying to argue, but for this discussion I really would like to know the math that you think would get a BG in Thay to 49 AC. That's a simply incredible number to me. With magic gear at pretty much a max of +3 here I just don't see how you get there even if you include the VERY temporary bonuses like Divine Shield which uses up a Turn Undead attempt. Other than Divine Shield I don't see where the BG gets any extra AC over RDD, WM or Mr. Plain Vanilla Fighter.

Add in availability for divine might and I've seen them near match a WM on direct damage and even surpass one on a sneak.

They then do not get Turn until level 3, putting them at level 10.. well, then you have to wait 2 more levels to get either divine shield or might, then another 3 levels to finally get the other.. putting you at level 15 before you get both abilities that make the class. (Ranger afaik are the only class that can meet all the requirements to take BG at level 7...)

A BG might match a WM on a hit or two, sure. Anything can happen. Especially if you include the very temporary and # use limited Divine Might bonus. But for sustained damage output a WM will easily outclass the damage from a BG or any other tank class that I've seen even if the WM does not use their Ki Damage ability. I admit I was not familiar with Divine Might / Divine Shield and I had to look them up, but it seems to me these feats are of limited usefulness since they are of very short duration and can only be used a very limited number of times per day. Even without Ki Damage, the WM just swings and swings and swings for massive amounts of damage.

On top of this BGs do not need Wis, allowing them to concentrate more on other stats, and less susceptible to dispels since they're more likely to boost stats with gear rather than spells.

As for adding something to the class, I would like to see them recieve Aura of Despair from PnP. It would give them another utility while not so useful on its own, would make them more useful in a group with a mage (and a great little RP thing too). Another idea, while not true in PnP might be to move turn undead down to lvl 2 so they can begin taking divine feats at level 9 instead of 12. The spell list is a nice idea too, but if it was made to require the wis as normal then its not so worth it. They don't get things like GMW and Aura of Glory, etc to really make it worth dropping 4-6 points into like a paladin anyway.

These are all very good points.