Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jhattara 04-25-06, 07:45 AM	My favorite 2e characters was a half-elven Fighter/Blade. Now we are planning on converting the group he was in into 3.5e. Here is presented the Blade conversion I have done for him. Base Attack Bonus: as bard. Saves: as bard. Specials: as bard, except less proficient in bardic music and bardic knowledge, and additional combat styles at 2nd, 6th, 11th and 16th levels (see below for details). Spells per Day: as bard. Spells Known: as bard. Alignment: as bard. Hit Die: as bard. Class Skills: As bard, except Decipher Script and Use Magic Device are not blade class skills. Skill Points: as bard. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A blade is proficient with all simple weapons, plus longsword, rapier, short sword, and scimitar. Blades are proficient with light armor, but not with any type of shield. Bardic Knowledge: A blade can use bardic knowledge as a bard of three levels lower would. Bardic Music: A blade can use bardic music as a bard with 2 ranks less in Performance would. This affects both the effects he can use as the skill checks he makes. Combat Style (Ex): At 2nd level the blade is treated as having Two-Weapon Fighting feat, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat. Furthermore if the blade has Blind-Fight and Point Blank Shot feats he may use his Blind-Fight feat when throwing bladed weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet. The benefit of combat style applies only when he wears light or no armor and uses bladed weapons. He loses all benefits of his combat style when wearing medium or heavy armor or using a non-bladed weapon. Defensive Combat Style (Ex): At 6th level the blade is treated as having the Two-Weapon Defense feat, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat. Furthermore the blade can once per round attempt to catch a weapon thrown at him. He must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to attempt this. When attempting to catch a weapon make a Sleight of Hand check with DC equal to the opponent's attack roll. If you fail at this the weapon hits you dealing its normal damage. You may not attempt this if the weapon would miss due to concealment. As before, the benefits of the combat style apply only when he wears light or no armor and uses bladed weapons. He loses all benefits of his combat style when wearing medium or heavy armor or using a non-bladed weapon. Improvedd Combat Style (Ex): At 11th level the blade is treated as having the ImprovedTwo-Weapon Fighting feat, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat. As before, the benefits of the combat style apply only when he wears light or no armor and uses bladed weapons. He loses all benefits of his combat style when wearing medium or heavy armor or using a non-bladed weapon. Combat Style Mastery (Ex): At 16th level the blade is treated as having the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat. As before, the benefits of the combat style apply only when he wears light or no armor and uses bladed weapons. He loses all benefits of his combat style when wearing medium or heavy armor or using a non-bladed weapon.
legowarrior 04-25-06, 08:37 AM	Those are good Ideas, but I made a prestige class, and one of the things I did was make the Defensive and Offensive Styles of the Blade abilities that used up a Bard Slot. In fact, you've given me a great idea for a substitute class that I might add, but that's something different.
jhattara 04-25-06, 09:14 AM	I'd like to see you prestige class blade. The problem with the ones I've previously seen is that the spellcasting abilities are not developing as the prestige class progresses. Or they have been overpowered. Or they have missed one or more of the elements I consider core for the blade kit.
Marcus Majarra 04-25-06, 11:09 AM	Why not make him a Fighter/Bard/Warchanter? Warchanter songs confer the bonuses of typical fighting maneuvers and mesh in very well with Inspire Courage (which can be boosted quite well with Inspirational Boost, from the Spell Compendium). I think Fighter 2 / Bard 4 qualifies for Warchanter, so it's easily accessible.
jhattara 04-26-06, 02:00 AM	Why not make him a Fighter/Bard/Warchanter? Warchanter songs confer the bonuses of typical fighting maneuvers and mesh in very well with Inspire Courage (which can be boosted quite well with Inspirational Boost, from the Spell Compendium). I think Fighter 2 / Bard 4 qualifies for Warchanter, so it's easily accessible. Where can I find this Warchanter? And does that PrC give Bard more daily spells?