Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Raggers 12-14-07, 10:19 AM	I have a level 13 warblade who is about to turn level 18 (don't ask). I may go epic as pure warblade but Ideally i would like to prestige as our party is a huge 6 person party and i think going specialised is better; what are my prestige class options? I have thought blood claw blade but its boring with 3/4 AB progression. My stats: Warblade 13 CN; HP 171 AC 22 STR 19 DEX 20 CON 17 INT 13 WIS 11 CHA 11 Feats: TWF ITWF GTWF Diehard Improved Initiative Improved Critical (Kukri) Weapon Focus (Kukri) Improved Toughness Blade Meditation (Tiger Claw) EDIT: The Other Party Members: The Strange One: CE pseudonatural half tiefling rogue 7/assassin 7 The Religeous One: LG Human cleric 14 The Bruce Lee Enthusiast: LN Dwarf monk 14 The Fanatic: TN Dwarf wizard 10/ritual lord 5 The Archer: LG Aasimar spirit archer 14
MagnaeSecurum 12-14-07, 11:35 AM	Only look at classes that give full initiator levels. It's similar to not giving up caster levels if you can help it. Unfortunately, there aren't many published. Check the boards, people have written dozens.
Raggers 12-14-07, 11:51 AM	thanks ill look
Thalspar 12-14-07, 12:09 PM	blood storm blade is good
Aerodyth 12-14-07, 05:37 PM	From the look of the build you look to be focusing on Tiger Claw. I do believe you qualify for the Bloodclaw Master. Grants uses of the shifting ability to add to you attack or speed and adds to your initiator at full progression I believe. Feel free to ignore me if I'm wrong about that.
Raggers 12-14-07, 06:46 PM	No thats all right; I have been looking on a martial compilation thread and i think im going to be http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=904523&page=2 a master of one. it kinda suits my character, no?
navar100 12-15-07, 01:37 AM	Serious inquiry... Why do you want to go into a prestige class? What do you expect to gain out of it you won't get with continuing as warblade? Personal opinion: all the martial adept classes are that good such that you don't need to go into a prestige class as some would say a sorcerer or fighter should go into one. The prestige classes in Tome of Battle are nice but don't appear to be absolutely necessary unless you want to multi-class martial adept/non martial adept for those prestige classes that enhance the combo. A single class warblade going to 20th level is just fine. If you find you really, really want something "different" for levels 14-18 to add to your character, instead of a prestige class you may want to consider multiclassing crusader or swordsage. You already can take 4th level maneuvers in the second class at 14th level. Crusader gives you a chance to pick up on some extra stone dragon or white raven, but you may want some devoted spirit for a bit of healing or something synergizing with your warblade maneuvers. Plus, you continue with full attack bonus, gain heavy armor proficiency, and gain range weaponry proficiency. You also don't have to worry about rereadying maneuvers. Swordsage gives you lots of extra maneuvers. You can take them from setting sun or shadow hand which you didn't already have, or stock up on some diamond mind, stone dragon, and tiger claw maneuvers you missed along the way in warblade. Except for the BBEG drawn out combats, you most likely will not run out of maneuvers before the combat ends. You may not even have to reready your warblade maneuvers. Still, you may want to take adaptive style feat as a just in case measure. You'll have lots of maneuvers for which you can choose some for specific circumstances and use the feat to mix and match to adapt. You also get a wisdom modifier boost to ac and boost your warblade poor reflex and will save.
Raggers 12-15-07, 05:59 AM	you make a good point but the main problem i am forseeing is what happens AFTER warblade 20. I am currently writing up epic maneuver seed progressions but it could be unbalanced and needs playtesting. Also after i go epic i dont want to be swordsage 1 because i think its a weak option; also i'd take a leveling penalty to exp for two base classes. PrCs dont have this problem. Plus, i dont want to broaden my options, i want to specialise my options and be more specific in my party role. Its all fine and good eing able to do cones of fire with the desert wind maneuvers, but then im treading on the wizard. Its all good getting healing attacks and stances but then im treading on our clerics role. I thank you ll for replying but i think if i can, ill get my DM to let me go Master of One.
navar100 12-15-07, 05:18 PM	Swordsage 1 at 21st level isn't so lame. You have 20 levels in warblade. Therefore, going into swordsage, you count 10 martial adept levels + 1 swordsage=11th level martial adept. You get to pick 6th level maneuvers right away! That's the beauty of martial adept multiclassing. The special abilities of the martial adepts are nice - Discipline Focus, Steely Resolve, Uncanny Dodge, etc., but the main focus is the maneuvers. Even a few 1st level maneuvers are still powerfully relevant as the levels increase, such as Diamond Mind's Moment of Perfect Mind. Should my campaign go epic, I know I'll multiclass my crusader. I might even do so before epic. One option I'm thinking is going to crusader 17 to get Strike of Riteous Fury then at 18th level multiclass to warblade. I'll pick 3 Iron Heart maneuvers and an Iron Heart stance, all good in their own right such as Lightning Recovery, then take Martial Study feat to learn Strike of Perfect Clarity as part of my crusader maneuvers array. I continue warblade for 19th and 20th level, picking up Uncanny Dodge as a class ability and eventually Iron Heart Endurance maneuver which is perfect for a crusader. That's quite worth not getting a 2nd smite once a day and Steely Resolve 30 when I already have Steely Resolve 25.
Mr_Teapot 12-17-07, 10:36 AM	If you're using Two Weapon Fighting and Tome of Battle, you really should take the first two or three levels of Bloodclaw Master. You only lose one point of BAB, which isn't so bad, and in exchange you eliminate your -2 from two Weapon Fighting (so, net gain) and add full STR mod to both weapons. And one or two minor features. But full STR and no penalty from TWF is really good, for a character like yours.
Raggers 12-17-07, 02:43 PM	thanks that a really good point. well i already had one level in it for a prerequisite but ill take 2 more levels probably and that will get me to 21. Just so you all know i'm Warblade 13/Bloodclaw Master 1/Master of TigerClaw 5
navar100 12-17-07, 09:43 PM	A slight change to my idea. Go 1st level warblade at 18th level, but increase crusader to 18th level at 19th level to upgrade to a 9th level maneuver, then at 20th level take warblade to get Iron Heart Endurance, which is when I would have gotten it before anyway. Warblade is tough on its 2nd and 3rd level getting a new maneuver but can't ready all that it has.
Raggers 12-18-07, 04:50 PM	that would work quite nicely yes if your going for Iron Heart I dont like iron heart i like tiger claw :) but im right in saying you are only like level 14 or something so you've got a while thinking yet?
navar100 12-18-07, 06:55 PM	Actually I'm only 9th level. :) I was thinking multiclassing to warblade at 11th level, but some house rules stuff makes me comfortable waiting. I'm going Iron Heart not only for Strike of Perfect Clarity as a crusader maneuver but also for the Iron Heart boosts. Crusaders get so little. I only have White Raven Tactics now, will trade up for Defensive Rebuke at 10th level. I know I'm waiting for a very high level, and I can wait because I like single class crusader a lot, but if I'm going to take Strike of Perfect Clarity, I might as well have the warblade maneuvers be worth something. I don't expect to refresh them that often in an encounter since I'm almost always using a crusader maneuver. Only when I have really nothing to do in a round will I refresh, but I expect that to be rare. Effective once per encounter boosts will be fine for me.
navar100 12-19-07, 01:31 AM	Wait, were you responding to me or the OP? :) :P :embarrass
royinator 12-19-07, 03:30 PM	how have you determined special abilities for epic warblade?