Tome of Battle + Skills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Tome of Battle + Skills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Epicweaver
05-07-07, 11:44 AM What's the deal with Tome of Battle disciplines and "favored" skills? Is there any sort of rule connection between skills and their disciplines? If so, I can't seem to find it.

Also, how do favored weapons really work? Is there any bonus for someone using a particular favored weapon over a non-discipline weapon when using the manuevers? I know Swordsages have more requirements with Discipline focus and whatnot... but how do favored skill/weapons effect Crusaders and Warblades?

Sorry, kind of new to building characters with TOB.
foxtail
05-07-07, 02:30 PM There is no "default" effect to the favored weapons list unless a feat or class ability specifically mentions that it kicks in when the character is weilding a favored weapon of a specific discipline.

The favored skill for each discipline indicates the skill that will govern the effectiveness of some of that discipline's maneuvers (certain Tiger Claw maneuvers require a Jump check, Desert Wind maneuvers might require a Tumble check, etc.). Hence, a character with maneuvers from that discipline might do well to max out that skill. And again, one or more ToB feats give you bonuses to or different ways to use these skills.
Neutronium_Dragon
05-07-07, 08:27 PM Some discipline-specific feats also relate to the discipline's skill, such as Blade Meditation.

The system doesn't try to *force* you to use a discipline's favored weapon, it just provides some soft encouragement (such as via feats, which are entirely optional) to do so.

Apart from the fact that trying to force flavor elements on characters as a mechanical limitation isn't usually a good idea (since a given flavor element may not fit a particular campaign), trying to do this would also create problems due to the fact that characters generally aren't using only one discipline, or expected to be limited to such.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Epicweaver 05-07-07, 11:44 AM	What's the deal with Tome of Battle disciplines and "favored" skills? Is there any sort of rule connection between skills and their disciplines? If so, I can't seem to find it. Also, how do favored weapons really work? Is there any bonus for someone using a particular favored weapon over a non-discipline weapon when using the manuevers? I know Swordsages have more requirements with Discipline focus and whatnot... but how do favored skill/weapons effect Crusaders and Warblades? Sorry, kind of new to building characters with TOB.
foxtail 05-07-07, 02:30 PM	There is no "default" effect to the favored weapons list unless a feat or class ability specifically mentions that it kicks in when the character is weilding a favored weapon of a specific discipline. The favored skill for each discipline indicates the skill that will govern the effectiveness of some of that discipline's maneuvers (certain Tiger Claw maneuvers require a Jump check, Desert Wind maneuvers might require a Tumble check, etc.). Hence, a character with maneuvers from that discipline might do well to max out that skill. And again, one or more ToB feats give you bonuses to or different ways to use these skills.
Neutronium_Dragon 05-07-07, 08:27 PM	Some discipline-specific feats also relate to the discipline's skill, such as Blade Meditation. The system doesn't try to force you to use a discipline's favored weapon, it just provides some soft encouragement (such as via feats, which are entirely optional) to do so. Apart from the fact that trying to force flavor elements on characters as a mechanical limitation isn't usually a good idea (since a given flavor element may not fit a particular campaign), trying to do this would also create problems due to the fact that characters generally aren't using only one discipline, or expected to be limited to such.