Post/Author/DateTime	Post
icedrake 12-16-06, 01:21 AM	I think the swordsage would be an awesome addition to the class, as you can pick up Shadow Blade for +dex to damage and +2d6 sneak attack while in Assassin Stance. 1 Rogue (1) Combat Expertise 2 Rogue (1) Swash(1) Weapon Finesse 3 Rogue(1) Swash(2) TWF 4 Rogue(1) Swash(3) 5 Rogue(2) Swash(3) 6 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordsage (1) Shadow Blade(Dex to Damage) 7 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) 8 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (1) 9 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (2) Underfoot Combat 10 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (3) Imp TWF 11 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (4) 12 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (5) Confound the Big Folk 13 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (6) Open feat 14 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (7) 15 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (8) Open Feat 16 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (9) Open Feat 17 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(2) Blade Bravo (10) 18 Rogue(2) Swash(3) Swordage(3) Blade Bravo (10) GTWF 19 Rogue(3) Swash(3) Swordage(3) Blade Bravo (10) 20 Rogue(3) Swash(3) Swordage(4) Blade Bravo (10) This build focuses on damage output through twf and shadow blade. Not only are you adding your to hit stat to damage, you're getting dex, int and sneak attack. Swordsage also gives the advantage of letting the player select a number of weapon focuses in a various array of weapons, choosing diamond mind gives a wf: rapier. You can add your wis mod to ac, not much of a bonus as its likely a dump stat, but it helps. The only hesistation I have with this build would be that it delays Blade Bravo to level 8 instead of level 7, but I like the new Bo9S classes too much not to take them. For the final three levels, I'd first take a level of swordsage to update your lower level manuvers, then a level of rogue and a final level of swordsage. With three open feats, you can pick up Elusive Target or Spring Attack, Combat Reflexes and Roldier's Gambit and either imp disarm, trip or feint with the BB's bonus feat. I think the build's pretty solid and very flexible in its combat options, even against enemies immune to sneak attack.
vylikas 12-17-06, 11:02 PM	you need five to six levels of swordsage to pick up assassin's stance
LogicNinja 12-17-06, 11:24 PM	Five. It's like spell levels--a maneuver of level X can be used by someone with an Initiator Level of 2X-1. However, Initiator Level is different from caster level--Initiator Level for a Martial Adept class is [levels in the class] + 0.5[other levels].
X-Codes 12-17-06, 11:57 PM	Five. It's like spell levels--a maneuver of level X can be used by someone with an Initiator Level of 2X-1. However, Initiator Level is different from caster level--Initiator Level for a Martial Adept class is [levels in the class] + 0.5[other levels]. His effective IL for Swordsage is 3 when he gets his first Swordsage stance, and 4 when he gets his second, so as written it's insufficient to get Assassin's Stance.
Richmud 12-18-06, 11:44 AM	You should consider making one of those open feats adaptive style so you can get more use out of the utility maneuvers and get a more reasonable recovery time on maneuvers. Also when you take your first level of swordsage you already have 3 levels of swash and therefor incur an exp penalty. You need to shuffle around when you take the early levels to avoid this