A mercenary leader. [Archive] - Wizards Community

A mercenary leader. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Einvaldurinn_mikli
10-21-06, 01:18 PM I will be playing a Human Warblade in my upcoming campaign and I am here for help.
Like the title says I want to eventually start my own mercenary company and I am wondering which feats and manuevers can help there.
The White Raven discipline is a no brainer, as is leadership, but I also want to be effective in melee without an army around me.

The stat array that I have is this:15,15,14,16,12,13, I was thinking something along these lines for stats:
STR 15
Dex 15
Con 14
Int 16
Wis 12
Cha 13
I have access to a huge amount of books so feel free to throw anything out.
Have any tips for me?
With Thanks
Einvaldurinn.
FiestFan
10-21-06, 05:48 PM With a focus on Leadership, I'd be tempted to swap INT and CHA in priorities, or possibly DEX and CHA, with Warblade. Heroes of Battle has some very good options for a mercenary commander.
Einvaldurinn_mikli
10-21-06, 06:27 PM Yes, swapping Dex and Cha could be a good idea. It will qualify me for some of the better leadership feats out there. I was thinking of taking Extra followers to enlarge my company and possibly one other Leader feat, any suggestions on which one?

Also what manuevers should I be looking out for? Any ones in particular?
FiestFan
10-21-06, 06:36 PM Stone Dragon Maneuvers seem to synergize well with White Raven; White Raven has several Charge related Maneuvers, as does Stone Dragon. Hunter's Stance is a very good 1st level Stance, if you can fit it in. Similarly, Devoted Spirit is rife with choices to help your allies and boost you defensively, but would require burning Feats to obtain.

My group's copy of HOB is not in my possession right now, so I don't recall specific Feat choices from it to affect a better Leadership score.
Einvaldurinn_mikli
10-21-06, 08:46 PM I have decided to go with Iron Heart as my secondary discipline. Iron Heart Surge is a no brainer, I'll probably pick up lightning recovery as well. Any others to look out for?

I also need advice on feat selection so, please help.
X-Codes
10-21-06, 10:09 PM I have decided to go with Iron Heart as my secondary discipline. Iron Heart Surge is a no brainer, I'll probably pick up lightning recovery as well. Any others to look out for?

I also need advice on feat selection so, please help.
Ok, you eventually get FOURTEEN manuvers. You are completely capable of getting high-level manuvers in 3 disciplines (and I reccomend you do it with the best three: Diamond Mind, Iron Heart, and White Raven). with an extra smattering of other good low-level abilities.

Pick up Iron Heart Aura, Unnerving Calm, White Raven Defense, and Improved Initiative as your Warblade bonus feats. For the rest, get Power Attack, Stormguard Warrior, Clarion Commander, Combat Reflexes, and Hindering Opportunist (PHB II). Read these feats *carefully* and you'll find how you're going to be mopping the floor with your enemies. Don't bother with Sudden Recovery, 1/day feats need to have a *really* good effect in order to be worth anything (really good like 3.0 Power Critical).
Einvaldurinn_mikli
10-22-06, 09:04 AM Okay, I think I have the gist of that trick, basically if an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity I use Hindering Opportunist and Aid one of my allies. For purposes of Channeling the Storm this counts as an AOO I refrained from right? This would give me an extra attack if my ally hits and a nice bonus on attack(which I will probably PA away) and damage. Is that right?

If so what are good ways of getting AOO's?
X-Codes
10-22-06, 09:41 AM Okay, I think I have the gist of that trick, basically if an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity I use Hindering Opportunist and Aid one of my allies. For purposes of Channeling the Storm this counts as an AOO I refrained from right? This would give me an extra attack if my ally hits and a nice bonus on attack(which I will probably PA away) and damage. Is that right?

If so what are good ways of getting AOO's?
Actually, I wasn't thinking about adding Stormguard Warrior. Thats something to ask CustServ about. Stormguard Warrior goes in there so you can pull off a really mean Time Stands Still after using Stormguard Warrior to turn an Avalanche of Blades (probably with Raging Mongoose added in as well) into a massive damage boost for your next turn. Thats bound to kill off something without insane DR.

Clarion Commander's perpetual flank gives everyone a +2 attack (and yourself a +Int to damage). Then, if someone draws an AoO you use Aid Another on your AoO while the other melee guy just attacks, and if that attack hits you get your Pile On ability to hit him. It's like free Aid Anothers of Opportunity, since you get it right back with Pile On. It's a neat trick, but theres bound to be something else in that book that really breaks it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Einvaldurinn_mikli 10-21-06, 01:18 PM	I will be playing a Human Warblade in my upcoming campaign and I am here for help. Like the title says I want to eventually start my own mercenary company and I am wondering which feats and manuevers can help there. The White Raven discipline is a no brainer, as is leadership, but I also want to be effective in melee without an army around me. The stat array that I have is this:15,15,14,16,12,13, I was thinking something along these lines for stats: STR 15 Dex 15 Con 14 Int 16 Wis 12 Cha 13 I have access to a huge amount of books so feel free to throw anything out. Have any tips for me? With Thanks Einvaldurinn.
FiestFan 10-21-06, 05:48 PM	With a focus on Leadership, I'd be tempted to swap INT and CHA in priorities, or possibly DEX and CHA, with Warblade. Heroes of Battle has some very good options for a mercenary commander.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 10-21-06, 06:27 PM	Yes, swapping Dex and Cha could be a good idea. It will qualify me for some of the better leadership feats out there. I was thinking of taking Extra followers to enlarge my company and possibly one other Leader feat, any suggestions on which one? Also what manuevers should I be looking out for? Any ones in particular?
FiestFan 10-21-06, 06:36 PM	Stone Dragon Maneuvers seem to synergize well with White Raven; White Raven has several Charge related Maneuvers, as does Stone Dragon. Hunter's Stance is a very good 1st level Stance, if you can fit it in. Similarly, Devoted Spirit is rife with choices to help your allies and boost you defensively, but would require burning Feats to obtain. My group's copy of HOB is not in my possession right now, so I don't recall specific Feat choices from it to affect a better Leadership score.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 10-21-06, 08:46 PM	I have decided to go with Iron Heart as my secondary discipline. Iron Heart Surge is a no brainer, I'll probably pick up lightning recovery as well. Any others to look out for? I also need advice on feat selection so, please help.
X-Codes 10-21-06, 10:09 PM	I have decided to go with Iron Heart as my secondary discipline. Iron Heart Surge is a no brainer, I'll probably pick up lightning recovery as well. Any others to look out for? I also need advice on feat selection so, please help. Ok, you eventually get FOURTEEN manuvers. You are completely capable of getting high-level manuvers in 3 disciplines (and I reccomend you do it with the best three: Diamond Mind, Iron Heart, and White Raven). with an extra smattering of other good low-level abilities. Pick up Iron Heart Aura, Unnerving Calm, White Raven Defense, and Improved Initiative as your Warblade bonus feats. For the rest, get Power Attack, Stormguard Warrior, Clarion Commander, Combat Reflexes, and Hindering Opportunist (PHB II). Read these feats carefully and you'll find how you're going to be mopping the floor with your enemies. Don't bother with Sudden Recovery, 1/day feats need to have a really good effect in order to be worth anything (really good like 3.0 Power Critical).
Einvaldurinn_mikli 10-22-06, 09:04 AM	Okay, I think I have the gist of that trick, basically if an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity I use Hindering Opportunist and Aid one of my allies. For purposes of Channeling the Storm this counts as an AOO I refrained from right? This would give me an extra attack if my ally hits and a nice bonus on attack(which I will probably PA away) and damage. Is that right? If so what are good ways of getting AOO's?
X-Codes 10-22-06, 09:41 AM	Okay, I think I have the gist of that trick, basically if an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity I use Hindering Opportunist and Aid one of my allies. For purposes of Channeling the Storm this counts as an AOO I refrained from right? This would give me an extra attack if my ally hits and a nice bonus on attack(which I will probably PA away) and damage. Is that right? If so what are good ways of getting AOO's? Actually, I wasn't thinking about adding Stormguard Warrior. Thats something to ask CustServ about. Stormguard Warrior goes in there so you can pull off a really mean Time Stands Still after using Stormguard Warrior to turn an Avalanche of Blades (probably with Raging Mongoose added in as well) into a massive damage boost for your next turn. Thats bound to kill off something without insane DR. Clarion Commander's perpetual flank gives everyone a +2 attack (and yourself a +Int to damage). Then, if someone draws an AoO you use Aid Another on your AoO while the other melee guy just attacks, and if that attack hits you get your Pile On ability to hit him. It's like free Aid Anothers of Opportunity, since you get it right back with Pile On. It's a neat trick, but theres bound to be something else in that book that really breaks it.