A Good Entry into Blade Bravo? [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Good Entry into Blade Bravo? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gopher
04-17-06, 09:37 PM Hi all.

I'm thinking about a Blade Bravo (RoS) for an upcoming 2-person campaign. Not sure exactly what my companion is yet, but he's probably something melee oriented as well.

My thought for a good entry was Rogue 3/Swash 3. The rogue seemed like a good idea because the BB gets some abilities related to catching an enemy flat-footed, and a rapier specialized class screamed out Swash. The downside of course is that I lose a BAB and enter the class a level late. If anyone else has a good idea I'd love to here it.

Feats that are jumping out at me are Improved Feint, Dodge, and that improved dodge feat (forget name) from RoS that gives my racial dodge bonus vs giants to any dodge target if he's 1+ size category(s) larger than me. Also considering Combat Expertise and Power Attack, although PA is decidedly less useful with a rapier. If I have room for it, Giantbane (CW) might be fun and it would fit well with the BB's abilities.

I'm working with a 34 PB. Pretty sure I'll do something like this:
Str 12
Dex 16
Con 16
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 12

I have access to the following books: Core, Complete, RoS, RotD, DMG2, Draco, A&EG, Savage Species, MM3, Fiend Folio, LM, WoL, BoED (if I ever find it)...maybe a few others, can't really remember. That's the majority of it though.

Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Gopher
04-18-06, 08:33 AM bump
Gopher
04-18-06, 03:52 PM Starting level is 6, by the way.

One problem I'm having is figuring out what to do with my off hand. TWF is an option, of course, but without full SA I'm not positive how useful this will be. There's already so many feats I like that I'm not sure I'm willing to spare one. I do get a nice bonus feat at level 3 BB, so maybe I'll invest in TWF then.

Here's the build as it is in my head so far:
1 Swashbuckler 1 (Weapon Finesse)(WF: Rapier)
2 Swashbuckler 2
3 Rogue 1 (Combat Expertise)
4 Rogue 2
5 Swashbuckler 3
6 Rogue 3 (Dodge)
7 Blade Bravo 1 (Goad)
8 BB 2
9 BB 3 (Titan Fighting) (TWF or Improved Feint)

The Dodge/Titan Fighting combo may not be necessary, because the BB picks up a similar ability at 7th level. Still, that's a while to wait. And AC will be very important in this campaign since there's only 2 of us and we won't have healing. I may end up taking a flaw to try to fit everything in, especially since I still feel Power Attack could be useful.
jstorrie
04-18-06, 05:48 PM Swash3/Ftr2, Swash3/Rog3 and Swash1/Ftr2/Rogue3 are generally the 'best' entries. A large part of this depends on your stats. If you're doing point buy, Swash3 may not be as good an idea as it seems, since you now have to spread your stats between Str, Dex, Int and Con, with Cha and Wis still important.

Swash1/Ftr2/Rogue3 gives you sneak attack damage to make up for the lost Int to damage and removes your reliance on Int; it also gives you more feats to work with, so that you can get Titan Fighting and Elusive Target on earlier. Underfoot Combat is also a nice idea.
LogicNinja
04-18-06, 06:57 PM Picking up Rogue 4 for Uncanny Dodge should be worth it.
Gopher
04-18-06, 11:29 PM Definitely interesting thoughts, but I'm thinking I won't want to take multiclass penalties. Gotta head to bed, I'll think more on it tomorrow.
Gopher
04-19-06, 08:41 AM A dip in fighter is sounding pretty tempting. There's a lot of feats I want. The problem is, if I'm Str-only dependent, I'll need to put an 18 in it to get the same effect that the 14 14 Str/Int combo was going to be. SA damage will help me out here, of course.

Interestingly, as far as I can tell I can wear a shield and still get both Insightful Strike and SA, so a fighter dip looks really tempting. It would solve the problem of what to do with my off hand, other than the expensive and not always efficient TWF.
Person_Man
04-19-06, 11:03 AM If you go to Swash to the level where they can apply their Dodge bonus to 2 enemies (I think its level 5) and the Fighter for the feats, you can pick up Elusive Target - wade into combat, let them Flank you, let them get AoO on you, and watch as you trip and get free attacks on all your enemies. Goes great with Goad.

If you go the Rogue route, consider Confound the Big Folk. You'll be able to walk into the space of enemies 2 size catagories larger then you, Sneak Attack them, use Dex to Trip them, and other goodies. For real fun, have a wizard friend cast Reduce Person on you (or invest in Permanancy) so that you can do it to medium creatures.

Once you're done with Blade Bravo, go into Invisible Blade (if your DM doesn't use the nerfed errata rules) or Duelist if you want super high AC.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gopher 04-17-06, 09:37 PM	Hi all. I'm thinking about a Blade Bravo (RoS) for an upcoming 2-person campaign. Not sure exactly what my companion is yet, but he's probably something melee oriented as well. My thought for a good entry was Rogue 3/Swash 3. The rogue seemed like a good idea because the BB gets some abilities related to catching an enemy flat-footed, and a rapier specialized class screamed out Swash. The downside of course is that I lose a BAB and enter the class a level late. If anyone else has a good idea I'd love to here it. Feats that are jumping out at me are Improved Feint, Dodge, and that improved dodge feat (forget name) from RoS that gives my racial dodge bonus vs giants to any dodge target if he's 1+ size category(s) larger than me. Also considering Combat Expertise and Power Attack, although PA is decidedly less useful with a rapier. If I have room for it, Giantbane (CW) might be fun and it would fit well with the BB's abilities. I'm working with a 34 PB. Pretty sure I'll do something like this: Str 12 Dex 16 Con 16 Int 14 Wis 10 Cha 12 I have access to the following books: Core, Complete, RoS, RotD, DMG2, Draco, A&EG, Savage Species, MM3, Fiend Folio, LM, WoL, BoED (if I ever find it)...maybe a few others, can't really remember. That's the majority of it though. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Gopher 04-18-06, 08:33 AM	bump
Gopher 04-18-06, 03:52 PM	Starting level is 6, by the way. One problem I'm having is figuring out what to do with my off hand. TWF is an option, of course, but without full SA I'm not positive how useful this will be. There's already so many feats I like that I'm not sure I'm willing to spare one. I do get a nice bonus feat at level 3 BB, so maybe I'll invest in TWF then. Here's the build as it is in my head so far: 1 Swashbuckler 1 (Weapon Finesse)(WF: Rapier) 2 Swashbuckler 2 3 Rogue 1 (Combat Expertise) 4 Rogue 2 5 Swashbuckler 3 6 Rogue 3 (Dodge) 7 Blade Bravo 1 (Goad) 8 BB 2 9 BB 3 (Titan Fighting) (TWF or Improved Feint) The Dodge/Titan Fighting combo may not be necessary, because the BB picks up a similar ability at 7th level. Still, that's a while to wait. And AC will be very important in this campaign since there's only 2 of us and we won't have healing. I may end up taking a flaw to try to fit everything in, especially since I still feel Power Attack could be useful.
jstorrie 04-18-06, 05:48 PM	Swash3/Ftr2, Swash3/Rog3 and Swash1/Ftr2/Rogue3 are generally the 'best' entries. A large part of this depends on your stats. If you're doing point buy, Swash3 may not be as good an idea as it seems, since you now have to spread your stats between Str, Dex, Int and Con, with Cha and Wis still important. Swash1/Ftr2/Rogue3 gives you sneak attack damage to make up for the lost Int to damage and removes your reliance on Int; it also gives you more feats to work with, so that you can get Titan Fighting and Elusive Target on earlier. Underfoot Combat is also a nice idea.
LogicNinja 04-18-06, 06:57 PM	Picking up Rogue 4 for Uncanny Dodge should be worth it.
Gopher 04-18-06, 11:29 PM	Definitely interesting thoughts, but I'm thinking I won't want to take multiclass penalties. Gotta head to bed, I'll think more on it tomorrow.
Gopher 04-19-06, 08:41 AM	A dip in fighter is sounding pretty tempting. There's a lot of feats I want. The problem is, if I'm Str-only dependent, I'll need to put an 18 in it to get the same effect that the 14 14 Str/Int combo was going to be. SA damage will help me out here, of course. Interestingly, as far as I can tell I can wear a shield and still get both Insightful Strike and SA, so a fighter dip looks really tempting. It would solve the problem of what to do with my off hand, other than the expensive and not always efficient TWF.
Person_Man 04-19-06, 11:03 AM	If you go to Swash to the level where they can apply their Dodge bonus to 2 enemies (I think its level 5) and the Fighter for the feats, you can pick up Elusive Target - wade into combat, let them Flank you, let them get AoO on you, and watch as you trip and get free attacks on all your enemies. Goes great with Goad. If you go the Rogue route, consider Confound the Big Folk. You'll be able to walk into the space of enemies 2 size catagories larger then you, Sneak Attack them, use Dex to Trip them, and other goodies. For real fun, have a wizard friend cast Reduce Person on you (or invest in Permanancy) so that you can do it to medium creatures. Once you're done with Blade Bravo, go into Invisible Blade (if your DM doesn't use the nerfed errata rules) or Duelist if you want super high AC.