Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Eital 09-15-06, 09:16 PM	Well, i got the book today, but iīm already thinking in my character for the next campaing. Iīll be starting at lvl 8, and the scores are the following (without the 4th and 8th lvl increases): 17-16-15-14-13-13. Basically, i'm thinking in a skirimisher-like character, probably swordsage, with Desert Wind, Tiger Claw and anything else you may add to the mix. PrCs are welcome, i still haven't read the ones in the ToB though. Any help, advice, combo, or build from lvl 8-20 would be welcome; the gold is the starting gold for a 8th lvl character, and the race should be human. Thanks.
X-Codes 09-15-06, 09:50 PM	Firstly you should build your manuver progression from level 1. This'll let you pick the highest level manuvers you could possibly have. As a Swordsage you can easily get high-level manuvers from 4 different schools and even go into Master of Nine if so inclined, so don't just limit yourself to Desert Wind and Tiger Claw. Diamond Mind has some great offensive and defensive manuvers and Shadow Hand has moves that work well to incapacitate foes as well as a few manuvers that deal cold damage in case you come against firey opponents (not to mention that the Shadow Blade feat is freakin' sweet!). For other feats, Desert Wind Dodge and Scorching Sirroco tends to set your enemies on fire, especially if you use your mobility often. As for other classes or PrC's, you probably won't miss much if you never check the PrC's in Tome of Battle. Master of Nine is the only one thats really any good for Swordsage IMO unless you make specific builds for one of the others (except Bloodstorm Blade, which is really best done by Warblades).
Eital 09-15-06, 10:24 PM	Thanks for the answer, i was already thinking in Diamond Mind. As for the base class, and thinking more carefully, do you think maybe the warblade if better suited for the job? or maybe a 1-lvl dip, and later go for master of 9, i'm not sure though...
ThePope 09-16-06, 12:35 AM	bear in mind as i type this that i've only gotten a chance to play a ToB character once in-game... that said, you really need to sit down and write out all your manuevers from lvl 1 on up. with you changing out manuevers at every even level its very important for you to go through it level by level since you got prereqs to satisfy. personally picking out manuevers was my biggest problem by far, more accurately, figuring out an order to taking them that would allow me to get as many of the ones i wanted. far as PrCs go, Master of Nine is a nice one (although brutal with the feat reqs) and if you are a dual-wielder then Bloodclaw Master2 is just about a requirement. personally my problem with swordsages is that either you go the Shadow Blade feat route (and thus are quite restricted in your weapons and stances) or you end up with mad MAD syndrome. as for a 1-lvl dip into warblade... from what i noticed there wasn't anything that said your PrC lvls count towards only one initiator class... so warblade1/swordsage14/Mo9 5 ends up with a lvl 19 swordsage/13 warblade (initiator lvl)
Eital 09-16-06, 01:09 AM	Exactly... right now i'm thinking in Swordsage 5/Warblade 3/Master of Nine 1 for starters; 17 maneuvers known, 10 readied, 4 stances... Question: if i use Adaptive Style and switch my readied maneuvers for new ones, do i "recover" those that i've used up? What i mean is: if i spend all my readied maneuvers (as Swordsage), and then spend a full-round action and switch for new ones, do i get them readied, so i can use them? if yes, could i replace a maneuver for itself, as to regain a use for the combat?
ksbsnowowl 09-16-06, 11:22 AM	Question: if i use Adaptive Style and switch my readied maneuvers for new ones, do i "recover" those that i've used up? What i mean is: if i spend all my readied maneuvers (as Swordsage), and then spend a full-round action and switch for new ones, do i get them readied, so i can use them? if yes, could i replace a maneuver for itself, as to regain a use for the combat? According to the way the rules read, and clarification by Customer Service, yes. If you have adaptive style, and you spend the full round action to ready "new" maneuvers (even if they are exactly the same as the ones you've expended), they are once again readied. For a swordsage, one maneuver combo I've found that would be very effective is to have the Desert Tempest strike (Desert Wind 6), the Assassin's Stance (Shadow Hand 3) and the Cloak of Deception boost (Shadow Hand 2). Approach a line or group of foes while in the Assassin's Stance (granting you +2d6 sneak attack). Upon your turn, initiate the Cloak of Deception boost (placing you under the effect of Greater Invisibility until the end of your turn), and then the Desert Tempest strike. The strike allows you to move your speed and attack every foe you pass. The invisibility effect allows you to negate the AoO's you would otherwise provoke for movement (unless they have see invis), and it also allows you to apply Sneak Attack, and grants you a +2 bonus to attack for being invisible. Any way you can increase your speed potentially allows you to strike more foes with the Desert Tempest stance.
Eital 09-16-06, 04:29 PM	Nice, thatīll be useful. Now, i'm not sure how to be an efective warrior, specially at low levels: i feel the damage isn't very great, and besides some pounce-like attack that gives +4d6 or the like, i don't know how to generate a good, damaging attack...
Eital 09-19-06, 02:03 PM	Once again, could you recomend some tricks/combos to do some decent damage (thinking 8th lvl)
FriendlyFrog 09-19-06, 02:17 PM	Once again, could you recomend some tricks/combos to do some decent damage (thinking 8th lvl) I like two-weapon fighting Swordsages thanks solely to the Tactical feat Stormguard warrior. You do a full attack as touch attacks, each doing no damage. But on the next round, all your attacks do +5 more damage per touch attack that hit in the previous round. Couple this with Weapon finesse and Shadow blade and we finally have a reliable way to do good damage when two-weapon fighting without a big MAD!