Cat Folk Dervish - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Cat Folk Dervish

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Feb 26, 2007 16:49:16 I've never posted on the CO boards though I have lurked here for a while to get ideas.

The idea is a Catfolk Dervish "Demon Hunter" who specializes in mobility, surprise and a single weapon (+1 Keen Falchion).

I can use pretty much any book, though I don't own all of them. I've been using the Core, Complete Series, Races of... Series and I just picked up Tome of Battle.

I'm coming in at Lvl 14

My first go at the Build is Chaotic Good Scout 4/Fighter 4/Sword Sage 2/Ranger 1/Dervish 3.

Abilities @ Lvl 14 are:
STR- 16
DEX (18)- 24
CON- 14
INT- 15
WIS (17)- 18
CHA (11)- 13

Starting stats in parentheses

Feats:
L1 (flaw) Dodge
L1 Mobility
L2 (Fighter 1) Power attack
L3 Catfolk Pounce
L5 (Fighter 2) Leap of the Heavens
L6 Power Leap
L9 Acrobatic Strike
L9 (Fighter 4) Combat Expertise
L10 (Scout 4) Scent
L12 Weapon Specialization (Falchion)

I have the Discipline Focus from the Sword Sage to get Weapon Focus on the Falchion (Desert Wind).

It's a story heavy idea and campaign, but my characters never live up to their back-story. This character comes from a tribe of Nomadic Demon Hunters (The reason I needed the Scout and Ranger Levels) and is based rather loosely on the Anime Character Inuyasha.

To the questions:

1) Am I foolish to not go TWF? I know the general consensus here is to go TWF with the Dervish, but I really like the Idea of this Animalistic Demon Hunter Leaping out with His Big 'ol Falchion.

2) is there a better Class Progression I could take? The Skills from the 4 levels of Scout are really nice, and the three feats from the 4 levels of Fighter add "Flavor," but are they necessary from a CO standpoint?

3) Are there better Classes or PrCs to fit the idea I touched on?

Thanks for any help!
#2
ksbsnowowl
Feb 26, 2007 17:08:09 Don't waste a feat on scent; pick it up with your first level stance from Swordsage. If you don't like the Wolf Fang Strike maneuver, you could wait until character level 5 or later to take your first level of Swordsage; there is a 2nd level Tiger Claw maneuver that has no prereqs and is better for someone not focusing on TWFing.

Could you possibly give a level-by-level progression? It becomes very important when exactly you take your levels of Swordsage.

Right now your character has a 40% muliclassing XP penalty (if your group uses it), as Swordsage is more than one level different from both Fighter and Scout.

If your Initiator Level gets high enough, grab the 6th-level Desert Wind strike Desert Tempest. It fits the Dervish flavor perfectly, and allows you to maintain that fighting style even if you've run out of Dervish Dances for the day.

Here is a build I made using Dervish and Desert Tempest, just to give you a few ideas. My build came from a different direction, but it might give you an idea or two.
#3
zombiegleemax
Feb 27, 2007 8:23:28 Thanks for your input. This is my first go at multiclassing, and I was under the impression that no class could be more than two levels apart. My bad. I guess I'll have to loose the two levels of fighter. The DM house ruled that Scout and Ranger both count as favored class for the Catfolk and I'm not going to complain.

The choice of burning a feat on Scent was character driven. He's the ideal tracker. That's why I went with the level of Ranger, to get the Track feat. Since there's a stnace that covers that though... hmmm.

The progression on this build was sort of serpentine:

1. Scout
2. Fighter
3. Sword Sage
4. Sword Sage
5. Fighter
6. Scout
7. Scout
8. Fighter
9. Fighter
10. Scout
11. Ranger
12. Dervish
13. Dervish
14. Dervish

I'll go back to the drawing and see what I can up with. Thanks!
#4
hallack
Apr 03, 2008 12:09:46 Probably you already have this character going but heres some more comments

There is also a Tiger Claw stance that gives jumping bonus like Leap of Heavens. This may be an option instead of burning a feat along with the Scent granting stance.

Also trading out one of the 3 fighter levels for Swordsage, Ranger, or Scout would probably be better. Expecially Ranger or Scout.

I'd choose Scout for +1 AC, extra d6 skirmish and EVASION!! but would cost 1 BAB.

Plus, with that many levels of Ranger/scout (you have 5 showing) seriously consider Swift Hunter feat from Complete Scoundrel for stacking Ranger/scout levels for Favored Enemy and skirmish goodness.
#5
nunkuruji
Apr 03, 2008 13:30:15 Telling Blow?
Add Skirmish Damage when your crit with your Keen Falchion (15-20)

..that is if you're going to continue Skirmish damage progression at any point with Scout, Ranger-Swift Hunter, Improved Skirmish, etc.
#6
phaxi
Apr 03, 2008 13:50:12 Get a blurstrike (RotW) falchion so that you can use catfolk pounce more often.
#7
rjsilverthorn
Apr 03, 2008 14:56:34 I'm building a catfolk dervish for a friend, but I went the two weapon route. I got lucky in that the DM ruled Wakizashi to count as a Shadow Hand weapon so I can benefit from the Shadow Blade feat and get dex to damage while still having a slashing weapon for Dervish. By the time she actually goes Dervish (only level 4 atm) she should be doing 7 damage from dex and another 3 from str.
#8
ksbsnowowl
Apr 03, 2008 16:18:21 And the reason for this 13 month thread necromancy...?
#9
hallack
Apr 03, 2008 17:26:15
And the reason for this 13 month thread necromancy...?

Because the power is mine and necromancy is fun muahahahaah!
....... or one may not have noticed the date originally when it was reanimated.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Feb 26, 2007 16:49:16	I've never posted on the CO boards though I have lurked here for a while to get ideas. The idea is a Catfolk Dervish "Demon Hunter" who specializes in mobility, surprise and a single weapon (+1 Keen Falchion). I can use pretty much any book, though I don't own all of them. I've been using the Core, Complete Series, Races of... Series and I just picked up Tome of Battle. I'm coming in at Lvl 14 My first go at the Build is Chaotic Good Scout 4/Fighter 4/Sword Sage 2/Ranger 1/Dervish 3. Abilities @ Lvl 14 are: STR- 16 DEX (18)- 24 CON- 14 INT- 15 WIS (17)- 18 CHA (11)- 13 Starting stats in parentheses Feats: L1 (flaw) Dodge L1 Mobility L2 (Fighter 1) Power attack L3 Catfolk Pounce L5 (Fighter 2) Leap of the Heavens L6 Power Leap L9 Acrobatic Strike L9 (Fighter 4) Combat Expertise L10 (Scout 4) Scent L12 Weapon Specialization (Falchion) I have the Discipline Focus from the Sword Sage to get Weapon Focus on the Falchion (Desert Wind). It's a story heavy idea and campaign, but my characters never live up to their back-story. This character comes from a tribe of Nomadic Demon Hunters (The reason I needed the Scout and Ranger Levels) and is based rather loosely on the Anime Character Inuyasha. To the questions: 1) Am I foolish to not go TWF? I know the general consensus here is to go TWF with the Dervish, but I really like the Idea of this Animalistic Demon Hunter Leaping out with His Big 'ol Falchion. 2) is there a better Class Progression I could take? The Skills from the 4 levels of Scout are really nice, and the three feats from the 4 levels of Fighter add "Flavor," but are they necessary from a CO standpoint? 3) Are there better Classes or PrCs to fit the idea I touched on? Thanks for any help!
#2 ksbsnowowl Feb 26, 2007 17:08:09	Don't waste a feat on scent; pick it up with your first level stance from Swordsage. If you don't like the Wolf Fang Strike maneuver, you could wait until character level 5 or later to take your first level of Swordsage; there is a 2nd level Tiger Claw maneuver that has no prereqs and is better for someone not focusing on TWFing. Could you possibly give a level-by-level progression? It becomes very important when exactly you take your levels of Swordsage. Right now your character has a 40% muliclassing XP penalty (if your group uses it), as Swordsage is more than one level different from both Fighter and Scout. If your Initiator Level gets high enough, grab the 6th-level Desert Wind strike Desert Tempest. It fits the Dervish flavor perfectly, and allows you to maintain that fighting style even if you've run out of Dervish Dances for the day. Here is a build I made using Dervish and Desert Tempest, just to give you a few ideas. My build came from a different direction, but it might give you an idea or two.
#3 zombiegleemax Feb 27, 2007 8:23:28	Thanks for your input. This is my first go at multiclassing, and I was under the impression that no class could be more than two levels apart. My bad. I guess I'll have to loose the two levels of fighter. The DM house ruled that Scout and Ranger both count as favored class for the Catfolk and I'm not going to complain. The choice of burning a feat on Scent was character driven. He's the ideal tracker. That's why I went with the level of Ranger, to get the Track feat. Since there's a stnace that covers that though... hmmm. The progression on this build was sort of serpentine: 1. Scout 2. Fighter 3. Sword Sage 4. Sword Sage 5. Fighter 6. Scout 7. Scout 8. Fighter 9. Fighter 10. Scout 11. Ranger 12. Dervish 13. Dervish 14. Dervish I'll go back to the drawing and see what I can up with. Thanks!
#4 hallack Apr 03, 2008 12:09:46	Probably you already have this character going but heres some more comments There is also a Tiger Claw stance that gives jumping bonus like Leap of Heavens. This may be an option instead of burning a feat along with the Scent granting stance. Also trading out one of the 3 fighter levels for Swordsage, Ranger, or Scout would probably be better. Expecially Ranger or Scout. I'd choose Scout for +1 AC, extra d6 skirmish and EVASION!! but would cost 1 BAB. Plus, with that many levels of Ranger/scout (you have 5 showing) seriously consider Swift Hunter feat from Complete Scoundrel for stacking Ranger/scout levels for Favored Enemy and skirmish goodness.
#5 nunkuruji Apr 03, 2008 13:30:15	Telling Blow? Add Skirmish Damage when your crit with your Keen Falchion (15-20) ..that is if you're going to continue Skirmish damage progression at any point with Scout, Ranger-Swift Hunter, Improved Skirmish, etc.
#6 phaxi Apr 03, 2008 13:50:12	Get a blurstrike (RotW) falchion so that you can use catfolk pounce more often.
#7 rjsilverthorn Apr 03, 2008 14:56:34	I'm building a catfolk dervish for a friend, but I went the two weapon route. I got lucky in that the DM ruled Wakizashi to count as a Shadow Hand weapon so I can benefit from the Shadow Blade feat and get dex to damage while still having a slashing weapon for Dervish. By the time she actually goes Dervish (only level 4 atm) she should be doing 7 damage from dex and another 3 from str.
#8 ksbsnowowl Apr 03, 2008 16:18:21	And the reason for this 13 month thread necromancy...?
#9 hallack Apr 03, 2008 17:26:15	And the reason for this 13 month thread necromancy...? Because the power is mine and necromancy is fun muahahahaah! ....... or one may not have noticed the date originally when it was reanimated.