Swordsage Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Swordsage Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Averroes
05-30-07, 11:44 AM So I've been building an Elven Swordsage for the upcoming campaign. We've never used the ToB before so I am the guinea pig.
Now I'm using the ancient Persians for my fluff aspect. So I'm going with Desert Wind as my focus. Which means I'll be using a Scimitar or Falchion.

I've got my general maneuvers and stances figured out. I'm mostly taking desert wind and Shadow hand (I think that's what it’s called, I'm at work). I’m going to be paired with a rogue so I'm getting the Stance Island of blades for the flanking.
Skills are also pretty well figured out.

But I find myself at a bit of a loss when it comes to feats. I'm probably going to only be level 2 or 3. So two feats at most. I'm just not sure what a good choice is. I also don't know how high of a level we will get to. I don't think the DM does either.
I assume that two weapon fighting is pretty useless as I'll be using mainly standard actions in combat.
Any thoughts?
Mindolin
05-30-07, 11:50 AM GET ADAPTIVE STYLE. That is one of the most important feats for a sword sage, due to the horrendous full round recovery for a single manuever.
Salla
05-30-07, 11:55 AM First off, follow Mindolin's advice. Adaptive Style is a MUST HAVE for Swordsages.

IIRC, the Scimitar is a favored weapon for Desert Wind, and since you're sticking largely to Desert Wind, you might consider Blade Meditation. It's not a GREAT feat by an stretch of the imagination, but it seems to be thematic at the very least.
Neutronium_Dragon
05-30-07, 12:01 PM Tiger Claw is the usual discipline associated with two-weapon fighting, so if you're not planning to pursue it then a single weapon is probably a better idea.

Between the two which you'd mentioned I'd choose the Falchion unless you really need a hand free; as a swordsage you can't use a shield, and neither of those weapons can be used with Weapon Finesse, so you're better off with the two-handed one.

If you'd rather be Dex-heavy and take Weapon Finesse as your second feat then you'll want to use the light mace or the light pick instead. This is a very viable option for the swordsage given their use of light armor, and it actually synergizes quite well with the Desert Wind and Shadow Hand skills.
chromeraven
05-30-07, 02:47 PM I don't have experience with it yet, but one of the players in a game I was in got a lot of mileage from Desert Wind Dodge.
Aqua_Regia
05-30-07, 03:27 PM If you're going to be in Shadow Hand stances most of the time (Island of Blades and Assassin's Stance, probably), consider picking up the Shadow Blade feat. It will get you Dex-to-damage when in a SH stance with SH weapons, so you'd have to switch to a Short Sword or something. The feat is a pre-req for Gloom Razor, a tactical feat that allows you to consider your opponent as flat-footed, important for many of the higher level SH maneuvers.
Averroes
05-30-07, 06:28 PM Good suggestions.
I will definity use the Adaptive Style feat.

I don't remember what the Desert Wind Dodge does but I'll check into it.

The Shadowhand feat looks really nice. and I was tempted to do a more Shadow Hand based character. But I picked the other because it seems more fun. And I really want to use the Falchon I think.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Averroes 05-30-07, 11:44 AM	So I've been building an Elven Swordsage for the upcoming campaign. We've never used the ToB before so I am the guinea pig. Now I'm using the ancient Persians for my fluff aspect. So I'm going with Desert Wind as my focus. Which means I'll be using a Scimitar or Falchion. I've got my general maneuvers and stances figured out. I'm mostly taking desert wind and Shadow hand (I think that's what it’s called, I'm at work). I’m going to be paired with a rogue so I'm getting the Stance Island of blades for the flanking. Skills are also pretty well figured out. But I find myself at a bit of a loss when it comes to feats. I'm probably going to only be level 2 or 3. So two feats at most. I'm just not sure what a good choice is. I also don't know how high of a level we will get to. I don't think the DM does either. I assume that two weapon fighting is pretty useless as I'll be using mainly standard actions in combat. Any thoughts?
Mindolin 05-30-07, 11:50 AM	GET ADAPTIVE STYLE. That is one of the most important feats for a sword sage, due to the horrendous full round recovery for a single manuever.
Salla 05-30-07, 11:55 AM	First off, follow Mindolin's advice. Adaptive Style is a MUST HAVE for Swordsages. IIRC, the Scimitar is a favored weapon for Desert Wind, and since you're sticking largely to Desert Wind, you might consider Blade Meditation. It's not a GREAT feat by an stretch of the imagination, but it seems to be thematic at the very least.
Neutronium_Dragon 05-30-07, 12:01 PM	Tiger Claw is the usual discipline associated with two-weapon fighting, so if you're not planning to pursue it then a single weapon is probably a better idea. Between the two which you'd mentioned I'd choose the Falchion unless you really need a hand free; as a swordsage you can't use a shield, and neither of those weapons can be used with Weapon Finesse, so you're better off with the two-handed one. If you'd rather be Dex-heavy and take Weapon Finesse as your second feat then you'll want to use the light mace or the light pick instead. This is a very viable option for the swordsage given their use of light armor, and it actually synergizes quite well with the Desert Wind and Shadow Hand skills.
chromeraven 05-30-07, 02:47 PM	I don't have experience with it yet, but one of the players in a game I was in got a lot of mileage from Desert Wind Dodge.
Aqua_Regia 05-30-07, 03:27 PM	If you're going to be in Shadow Hand stances most of the time (Island of Blades and Assassin's Stance, probably), consider picking up the Shadow Blade feat. It will get you Dex-to-damage when in a SH stance with SH weapons, so you'd have to switch to a Short Sword or something. The feat is a pre-req for Gloom Razor, a tactical feat that allows you to consider your opponent as flat-footed, important for many of the higher level SH maneuvers.
Averroes 05-30-07, 06:28 PM	Good suggestions. I will definity use the Adaptive Style feat. I don't remember what the Desert Wind Dodge does but I'll check into it. The Shadowhand feat looks really nice. and I was tempted to do a more Shadow Hand based character. But I picked the other because it seems more fun. And I really want to use the Falchon I think.