Shadowblade feat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Shadowblade feat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Darth_Raiko
02-18-08, 01:06 PM Hi,

how does the Shadowblade feat work?

In the short description it says you can use dex instead of str with the Shadowhand weapons.

In the longer description it says you can add your dex bonus to damage when using a shadowhand maneuver or stance.

Which one applies?

I've searched for a errata but haven't found any, atleast from the main site.
Salla
02-18-08, 01:19 PM Text trumps tables. Use the complete description of the feat.
dman11235
02-18-08, 01:51 PM Text trumps tables. Use the complete description of the feat.

+1.
UAMDB
02-18-08, 06:10 PM To simplify what they are saying. You add both your Str and Dex as long as your in a Shadow Blade Stance.
rjsilverthorn
02-18-08, 06:28 PM As long as you are in a Shadow Hand stance and wielding one of the Shadow Hand weapons. The weapons for the various disciplines are on page 28 under the Blade Meditation feat.
dman11235
02-18-08, 06:47 PM You don't need to be wielding a shadow hand weapon. It says nothing of the sort in the feat description.
rjsilverthorn
02-18-08, 08:20 PM You don't need to be wielding a shadow hand weapon. It says nothing of the sort in the feat description.

Really? So what does "with one of the discipline's preferred weapons" mean to you? ;)
dman11235
02-18-08, 10:01 PM I do not remember seeing that. But it is there. I stand corrected.
rjsilverthorn
02-18-08, 10:06 PM I do not remember seeing that. But it is there. I stand corrected.

Well the only reason I was sure it was there was because I got caught by the exact same thing over the weekend. I'd been designing a character idea for someone and completely glossed over the weapon requirement of the feat. Unfortunately, none of the weapons are a particularly good choice for a Dervish. :weep:
dman11235
02-18-08, 10:18 PM That is a bummer! But really I think the fact that you need a stance to get it to work is a strong enough requirement: two feats and then shadow blade or a whole level. I've been playing it the way I thought it worked, and it hasn't realy been an issue. It's made non-rogue dex based melee fighters possible.
rjsilverthorn
02-18-08, 10:25 PM That is a bummer! But really I think the fact that you need a stance to get it to work is a strong enough requirement: two feats and then shadow blade or a whole level. I've been playing it the way I thought it worked, and it hasn't realy been an issue. It's made non-rogue dex based melee fighters possible.

I was considering asking the DM to waive that portion of the requirement. The Shadow Hand list is half exotic weapons, which would add yet another feat to the mix. Helps that she is playing a swordsage/rogue in another campaign, she has reason to be sympathetic. :D
DemonMonkeyBoy2
02-19-08, 01:39 AM You should look into Swordsage/Swashbuckler with this feat. By 4th lvl you get Str+Dex+Int added to weapon damage. The build sucks for Dervish as mentioned above, but I'm looking into other PrC.
Mad_Jack
02-19-08, 02:07 AM Shadow Blade is one of those feats that's really nice - as long as you build it into a fairly specific character concept. You really do need to be a somewhat dedicated Shadow Hand practitioner to get the most benefit from it, which means your character concept is going to be more of a "combat rogue" type than a toe-to-toe kind of guy. It's decent enough for a shortsword or unarmed strike, but to really get the max benefit (due to the synergies involved) you have to do a spiked-chain swashbuckler/swordsage build with a Str of at least 14. Which is a *very* specific build, lol.
runestar
02-19-08, 04:27 AM I was considering asking the DM to waive that portion of the requirement. The Shadow Hand list is half exotic weapons, which would add yet another feat to the mix. Helps that she is playing a swordsage/rogue in another campaign, she has reason to be sympathetic.

You can still use short swords, which can be finessed and are light, so you can dual-wield.

It's decent enough for a shortsword or unarmed strike, but to really get the max benefit (due to the synergies involved) you have to do a spiked-chain swashbuckler/swordsage build with a Str of at least 14. Which is a *very* specific build, lol.

Not quite, 2 lvs of swordsage can add quite well to any roguish build.

For instance, a lv8th rogue can take 1 lv of swordsage, nabbing mind over body, moment of perfect mind, cloak of deception, shadow blink, wolf fang strike and possibly burning blade or child of ember, plus child of shadow. A 2nd lv lets him take assassin's stance, granting an additional +2d6 sneak attack. For feats, take shadow blade.

Free weapon focus helps mitigate the +1 bab lost due to the 1st lv of swordsage.

Very readily splashable into any build, IMO.:)
rjsilverthorn
02-19-08, 06:33 AM You can still use short swords, which can be finessed and are light, so you can dual-wield.

That was my other plan, till I remembered that short swords aren't slashing weapons and therefore don't work with Dervish dance.

The Str, Int & Dex to damage was actually what I was working towards. Its a gestalt game and she started off with Swashbuckler and Ranger and I was going to dip for a couple levels of Swordsage to get the dex to damage along with child of shadows. If you have to move to attack, might as well get partial concealment to go with it.
Talcon
02-19-08, 10:20 AM I like taking swordsage at 5th and 8th in a rogue build I an going with (I think) Inland of Blades, Cloak of deception, Shadow jaunt, Flashing sun, Wolf fang strike, Shadow blade technique, Emerald razor. I am being some what sleezy and take a level of warblade at 6th with all damage strikes. its a low magic and very slow leveling gestalt campaign starting at 6th level. if you go 4 levels of swordsage you can add your wis. to Damage too. Ask your DM if you can use wakisashi's (Slashing short sowrd) they may make you buy only masterwork ones to use them.
rjsilverthorn
02-19-08, 10:34 AM I like taking swordsage at 5th and 8th in a rogue build I an going with (I think) Inland of Blades, Cloak of deception, Shadow jaunt, Flashing sun, Wolf fang strike, Shadow blade technique, Emerald razor. I am being some what sleezy and take a level of warblade at 6th with all damage strikes. its a low magic and very slow leveling gestalt campaign starting at 6th level. if you go 4 levels of swordsage you can add your wis. to Damage too. Ask your DM if you can use wakisashi's (Slashing short sowrd) they may make you buy only masterwork ones to use them.

Yeah, the only reason I wasn't going to go for insightful strike is that it applies only when using maneuvers from the chosen discipline. As a Dervish she'll probably be going for full attacks far more often than she'll be using strikes.
Talcon
02-19-08, 11:01 AM I am not going for it, 13 wisdom doesn't make spending two more levels worth it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darth_Raiko 02-18-08, 01:06 PM	Hi, how does the Shadowblade feat work? In the short description it says you can use dex instead of str with the Shadowhand weapons. In the longer description it says you can add your dex bonus to damage when using a shadowhand maneuver or stance. Which one applies? I've searched for a errata but haven't found any, atleast from the main site.
Salla 02-18-08, 01:19 PM	Text trumps tables. Use the complete description of the feat.
dman11235 02-18-08, 01:51 PM	Text trumps tables. Use the complete description of the feat. +1.
UAMDB 02-18-08, 06:10 PM	To simplify what they are saying. You add both your Str and Dex as long as your in a Shadow Blade Stance.
rjsilverthorn 02-18-08, 06:28 PM	As long as you are in a Shadow Hand stance and wielding one of the Shadow Hand weapons. The weapons for the various disciplines are on page 28 under the Blade Meditation feat.
dman11235 02-18-08, 06:47 PM	You don't need to be wielding a shadow hand weapon. It says nothing of the sort in the feat description.
rjsilverthorn 02-18-08, 08:20 PM	You don't need to be wielding a shadow hand weapon. It says nothing of the sort in the feat description. Really? So what does "with one of the discipline's preferred weapons" mean to you? ;)
dman11235 02-18-08, 10:01 PM	I do not remember seeing that. But it is there. I stand corrected.
rjsilverthorn 02-18-08, 10:06 PM	I do not remember seeing that. But it is there. I stand corrected. Well the only reason I was sure it was there was because I got caught by the exact same thing over the weekend. I'd been designing a character idea for someone and completely glossed over the weapon requirement of the feat. Unfortunately, none of the weapons are a particularly good choice for a Dervish. :weep:
dman11235 02-18-08, 10:18 PM	That is a bummer! But really I think the fact that you need a stance to get it to work is a strong enough requirement: two feats and then shadow blade or a whole level. I've been playing it the way I thought it worked, and it hasn't realy been an issue. It's made non-rogue dex based melee fighters possible.
rjsilverthorn 02-18-08, 10:25 PM	That is a bummer! But really I think the fact that you need a stance to get it to work is a strong enough requirement: two feats and then shadow blade or a whole level. I've been playing it the way I thought it worked, and it hasn't realy been an issue. It's made non-rogue dex based melee fighters possible. I was considering asking the DM to waive that portion of the requirement. The Shadow Hand list is half exotic weapons, which would add yet another feat to the mix. Helps that she is playing a swordsage/rogue in another campaign, she has reason to be sympathetic. :D
DemonMonkeyBoy2 02-19-08, 01:39 AM	You should look into Swordsage/Swashbuckler with this feat. By 4th lvl you get Str+Dex+Int added to weapon damage. The build sucks for Dervish as mentioned above, but I'm looking into other PrC.
Mad_Jack 02-19-08, 02:07 AM	Shadow Blade is one of those feats that's really nice - as long as you build it into a fairly specific character concept. You really do need to be a somewhat dedicated Shadow Hand practitioner to get the most benefit from it, which means your character concept is going to be more of a "combat rogue" type than a toe-to-toe kind of guy. It's decent enough for a shortsword or unarmed strike, but to really get the max benefit (due to the synergies involved) you have to do a spiked-chain swashbuckler/swordsage build with a Str of at least 14. Which is a very specific build, lol.
runestar 02-19-08, 04:27 AM	I was considering asking the DM to waive that portion of the requirement. The Shadow Hand list is half exotic weapons, which would add yet another feat to the mix. Helps that she is playing a swordsage/rogue in another campaign, she has reason to be sympathetic. You can still use short swords, which can be finessed and are light, so you can dual-wield. It's decent enough for a shortsword or unarmed strike, but to really get the max benefit (due to the synergies involved) you have to do a spiked-chain swashbuckler/swordsage build with a Str of at least 14. Which is a very specific build, lol. Not quite, 2 lvs of swordsage can add quite well to any roguish build. For instance, a lv8th rogue can take 1 lv of swordsage, nabbing mind over body, moment of perfect mind, cloak of deception, shadow blink, wolf fang strike and possibly burning blade or child of ember, plus child of shadow. A 2nd lv lets him take assassin's stance, granting an additional +2d6 sneak attack. For feats, take shadow blade. Free weapon focus helps mitigate the +1 bab lost due to the 1st lv of swordsage. Very readily splashable into any build, IMO.:)
rjsilverthorn 02-19-08, 06:33 AM	You can still use short swords, which can be finessed and are light, so you can dual-wield. That was my other plan, till I remembered that short swords aren't slashing weapons and therefore don't work with Dervish dance. The Str, Int & Dex to damage was actually what I was working towards. Its a gestalt game and she started off with Swashbuckler and Ranger and I was going to dip for a couple levels of Swordsage to get the dex to damage along with child of shadows. If you have to move to attack, might as well get partial concealment to go with it.
Talcon 02-19-08, 10:20 AM	I like taking swordsage at 5th and 8th in a rogue build I an going with (I think) Inland of Blades, Cloak of deception, Shadow jaunt, Flashing sun, Wolf fang strike, Shadow blade technique, Emerald razor. I am being some what sleezy and take a level of warblade at 6th with all damage strikes. its a low magic and very slow leveling gestalt campaign starting at 6th level. if you go 4 levels of swordsage you can add your wis. to Damage too. Ask your DM if you can use wakisashi's (Slashing short sowrd) they may make you buy only masterwork ones to use them.
rjsilverthorn 02-19-08, 10:34 AM	I like taking swordsage at 5th and 8th in a rogue build I an going with (I think) Inland of Blades, Cloak of deception, Shadow jaunt, Flashing sun, Wolf fang strike, Shadow blade technique, Emerald razor. I am being some what sleezy and take a level of warblade at 6th with all damage strikes. its a low magic and very slow leveling gestalt campaign starting at 6th level. if you go 4 levels of swordsage you can add your wis. to Damage too. Ask your DM if you can use wakisashi's (Slashing short sowrd) they may make you buy only masterwork ones to use them. Yeah, the only reason I wasn't going to go for insightful strike is that it applies only when using maneuvers from the chosen discipline. As a Dervish she'll probably be going for full attacks far more often than she'll be using strikes.
Talcon 02-19-08, 11:01 AM	I am not going for it, 13 wisdom doesn't make spending two more levels worth it.