Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AAB 06-08-07, 01:45 PM	hey, i'm planning on making a skarn (magic of incarnum, +2 str -2 dex) crusader using a maul (complete warrior). what are the feats that i should look into the most?
Tempest Stormwind 06-08-07, 02:16 PM	Stone Power and Combat Reflexes. Read Steely Resolve (your class feature) and imagine using Stone Power on any round after being hit. This amounts to something similar to DR 10/- as long as you keep attacking. Crusaders have the best ways of generating lots of AoO opportunities. Take advantage of that.
AAB 06-08-07, 02:41 PM	so say a 5th level crusader is hit for 30 damage one round. not unreasonable. he takes 20 damage and 10 goes to his delayed damage pool. so on his turn he uses stone power for -5 to his attack to gain 10 temporary hp, still gaining +2 to attack and damage and getting rid of that 10 extra damage? sounds cool.
mostholy2 06-08-07, 02:47 PM	so say a 5th level crusader is hit for 30 damage one round. not unreasonable. then he uses stone power for -5 to attack and 10 temporary hit points. he still gets +6 to attack and damage for all his attacks (probably only one at this level, but oh well) and then when his turn is up he only actually takes 20 damage?Well, not quite, but on the right track. A 5th lvl crusader can only prevent up to 10 damage/rnd using his steely resolve, which would give him a +2 to hit and damage via his furious counterstrike bonus. So your example of a Crusader5 taking 30 damage, would be that he delays 10 of the damage taken during an opponent's turn to his next turn where he gains the +2 to hit and damage. If he channels 5 points into Stone power, his attacks for the round would be at a -3 attack penalty, but still have a +2 to damage. then at the end of the turn he would prevent the 10 damage in his delayed damage pool. Thus only taking 20 damage from the initial attack.
AAB 06-08-07, 04:17 PM	yeah, i apparently caught that and edited it while you were responding... oops.
Tempest Stormwind 06-08-07, 04:27 PM	And then you make a healing strike during your turn to heal some of the 20 that actually hit you earlier, yes. Crusaders Just Don't Die (tm).
Drachasor 06-08-07, 05:35 PM	Always take extra granted maneuver. It speeds up your recovery process by one round -- pretty big deal, imho. -Drachasor
AAB 06-08-07, 08:13 PM	so which at 1st level? stone power or extra granted maneuver?
Tempest Stormwind 06-08-07, 08:18 PM	EGM. Stone Power works better once you have base attack bonus to sacrifice. Faster recovery means faster access to Crusader's Strike, and chances are you're using Martial Spirit as your first-level stance. Faith Unswerving is another awesome feat, but it requires Devoted Bulwark. If you're a human, I'd consider both (as Devoted Bulwark is similar to Furious Counterstrike and +1 actually matters at level 1). Combat Reflexes can wait until a later level when you get Thicket of Blades and/or Defensive Rebuke.
InkBlot 06-08-07, 08:18 PM	That's a tough call. At 1st level you don't have the BAB to do much with Stone Power, but you also need every bit of protection because your HP is so low.
Chimaera2000 06-09-07, 01:58 PM	I'd definitely recommend Extra Granted Maneuver at 1st level and Stone Power at 3rd. More maneuvers and a quicker recovery time greatly aid you at all levels, but you don't have the BAB to take full advantage of Stone Power yet. If you're using the Martial Spirit stance, your HP should be fine anyway. Barring a huge crit, of course, but you can say that for almost any 1st-level character.
AAB 06-09-07, 02:32 PM	thanks for the help. i'm still trying to get used to this tome of battle stuff. no better way to learn than to discuss and then do it.