Choices choices - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Choices choices

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
borg285
Mar 16, 2008 21:13:10 Choices choices

Required:
32 point buy
race : PHB elf
no flaws
straight swordsage
Starting level: 3
Books: PHB, ToB, complete X, races of X
no psionics
No magic, alchemical, or masterwork items
1/2 maneuvers known (rounded up or down as you like)
skill tricks: healing hands and something else (twisted charge?)
available maneuvers: nothing that's supernatural, ie. no desert wind and 1/2 of shadow blade
I like a sneaky dexterous character

My question is: what feats to choose and what fighting style to use. choose 2
shadow blade (elf's +2 dex , assume dex replaces str bonus to damage, not adds to str)
weapon finesse (if I'm completely focused on dex)
adaptive style (must be taken at first level from what I have read)
Exotic weapon proficiency(spiked chain) ( I like the reach and trip and Dex->damage with shadow blade but it I don't know how to use it well with island of blades, the only stance I can be in to activate shadow blade)
Whatever feat you want

Maneuvers I'd like to take:
1: sapphire nightmare blade, tiger claw (TWF), stone bones, island of blades
2: stance of clarity
3: shadow jaunt (teleport will be powerful in a low magic world)

Proposed stats:
str 10(+0)
dex 16+2=18(+4)
con 14-2=12(+1)
int 14(+2)
wis 15(+2) <--- 4th lvl becomes 16(+3)
cha 8(-1)

I'm open to other feats and options.
Please tell me what would be optimal with what I'm given.
#2
22_Over_7
Mar 16, 2008 23:40:27 Probably want Adaptive Style and Weapon Finesse, especially if you're playing Shadow Blade as "replace" instead of "add".
#3
wih
Mar 17, 2008 0:20:47 If you're planning on using the Spiked Chain to trip people, you might want to keep your STR quite high aswell as your DEX. The default for Shadow Blade is that it adds your DEX to damage in addition to your STR, so having a STR of 14 would mean that you'd be getting an extra 3 points of damage/hit, and a +2 on STR checks.
I personally would drop 2 points off both WIS and DEX, to 14 and 17 respecitvely, put your points from levelling into DEX, and boost your STR up to 14. Drop Weapon Finesse until your DEX is a lot higher than your STR, pick up Combat Expertise and Improved Trip as your next feat. This is assuming that STR is still adding to damage. If it's not, you can drop the two points off STR, because you don't get your STR to damage, and add those to WIS, for and extra point of WIS.
Adaptive Style can be taken at any level, but it's a very, very good feat for Swordsages. Good to the point where you're silly for not taking it.
#4
stickboy2323
Mar 17, 2008 5:45:27 If you do go the spiked chain/trip route look into taking some setting sun maneuvers.
#5
borg285
Mar 17, 2008 8:23:41 Thanks for the great advice. Where's the rule that says that adaptive style can be taken later. It says, "crusader, swordsage, or warblade level 1st" as a prerequisite, or would that be the same wording as fighter feats like superior weapon focus that has a minimum fighter level?

so programatically:

if(shadow blade.addDexToStr()){
[indent]if(wantSpikedChain()){
[indent]1:shadow blade
3:EWP
6:adaptive style
str = 14;
dex = 14+2;
takeSettingSun();[/indent]
}
else{
[indent]1:adaptive style
3:shadow blade
6:?
str = 14;
dex = 16+2;[/indent]
} [/indent]
else{
[indent]1:adaptive style
3:weapon finesse
6:shadow blade
str = 8;
dex = 16+2;[/indent]
}
#6
nebo
Mar 17, 2008 8:26:42 It won't compile. You can't take EWP with +0 BAB.
#7
borg285
Mar 17, 2008 9:14:27
It won't compile. You can't take EWP with +0 BAB.

fixed, thanks for that.

By the way, does anyone have a link to how to get the most out of intimidate, and how to get a few more bonuses to it? I know bluff, but it's not a class skill.
#8
jameswilliamogle
Mar 17, 2008 11:38:46
fixed, thanks for that.

By the way, does anyone have a link to how to get the most out of intimidate, and how to get a few more bonuses to it? I know bluff, but it's not a class skill.

There's some useful threads on that in the Handy Links thread stickied on the forum; search "stacking fear" and "intimidate" both.

Unless the feat specifies "must be taken at 1st level" you can take it past that. Precocious Apprentice, for example, has this under the "special" section, and must be taken at 1st. Draconic Heritage, et al, don't require you to take it at 1st.
#9
borg285
Mar 17, 2008 13:39:32 Thanks for the clarification for intimidate. It sucks now that it takes a standard action.
Where is a link for that first level thing in case I get confronted with it?
#10
wih
Mar 17, 2008 16:08:34
Thanks for the clarification for intimidate. It sucks now that it takes a standard action.
Where is a link for that first level thing in case I get confronted with it?

Would you ban someone from taking Power Attack if they had 15 STR instead of 13 STR?
#11
borg285
Mar 17, 2008 17:37:16 NM

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 borg285 Mar 16, 2008 21:13:10	Choices choices Required: 32 point buy race : PHB elf no flaws straight swordsage Starting level: 3 Books: PHB, ToB, complete X, races of X no psionics No magic, alchemical, or masterwork items 1/2 maneuvers known (rounded up or down as you like) skill tricks: healing hands and something else (twisted charge?) available maneuvers: nothing that's supernatural, ie. no desert wind and 1/2 of shadow blade I like a sneaky dexterous character My question is: what feats to choose and what fighting style to use. choose 2 shadow blade (elf's +2 dex , assume dex replaces str bonus to damage, not adds to str) weapon finesse (if I'm completely focused on dex) adaptive style (must be taken at first level from what I have read) Exotic weapon proficiency(spiked chain) ( I like the reach and trip and Dex->damage with shadow blade but it I don't know how to use it well with island of blades, the only stance I can be in to activate shadow blade) Whatever feat you want Maneuvers I'd like to take: 1: sapphire nightmare blade, tiger claw (TWF), stone bones, island of blades 2: stance of clarity 3: shadow jaunt (teleport will be powerful in a low magic world) Proposed stats: str 10(+0) dex 16+2=18(+4) con 14-2=12(+1) int 14(+2) wis 15(+2) <--- 4th lvl becomes 16(+3) cha 8(-1) I'm open to other feats and options. Please tell me what would be optimal with what I'm given.
#2 22_Over_7 Mar 16, 2008 23:40:27	Probably want Adaptive Style and Weapon Finesse, especially if you're playing Shadow Blade as "replace" instead of "add".
#3 wih Mar 17, 2008 0:20:47	If you're planning on using the Spiked Chain to trip people, you might want to keep your STR quite high aswell as your DEX. The default for Shadow Blade is that it adds your DEX to damage in addition to your STR, so having a STR of 14 would mean that you'd be getting an extra 3 points of damage/hit, and a +2 on STR checks. I personally would drop 2 points off both WIS and DEX, to 14 and 17 respecitvely, put your points from levelling into DEX, and boost your STR up to 14. Drop Weapon Finesse until your DEX is a lot higher than your STR, pick up Combat Expertise and Improved Trip as your next feat. This is assuming that STR is still adding to damage. If it's not, you can drop the two points off STR, because you don't get your STR to damage, and add those to WIS, for and extra point of WIS. Adaptive Style can be taken at any level, but it's a very, very good feat for Swordsages. Good to the point where you're silly for not taking it.
#4 stickboy2323 Mar 17, 2008 5:45:27	If you do go the spiked chain/trip route look into taking some setting sun maneuvers.
#5 borg285 Mar 17, 2008 8:23:41	Thanks for the great advice. Where's the rule that says that adaptive style can be taken later. It says, "crusader, swordsage, or warblade level 1st" as a prerequisite, or would that be the same wording as fighter feats like superior weapon focus that has a minimum fighter level? so programatically: if(shadow blade.addDexToStr()){ [indent]if(wantSpikedChain()){ [indent]1:shadow blade 3:EWP 6:adaptive style str = 14; dex = 14+2; takeSettingSun();[/indent] } else{ [indent]1:adaptive style 3:shadow blade 6:? str = 14; dex = 16+2;[/indent] } [/indent] else{ [indent]1:adaptive style 3:weapon finesse 6:shadow blade str = 8; dex = 16+2;[/indent] }
#6 nebo Mar 17, 2008 8:26:42	It won't compile. You can't take EWP with +0 BAB.
#7 borg285 Mar 17, 2008 9:14:27	It won't compile. You can't take EWP with +0 BAB. fixed, thanks for that. By the way, does anyone have a link to how to get the most out of intimidate, and how to get a few more bonuses to it? I know bluff, but it's not a class skill.
#8 jameswilliamogle Mar 17, 2008 11:38:46	fixed, thanks for that. By the way, does anyone have a link to how to get the most out of intimidate, and how to get a few more bonuses to it? I know bluff, but it's not a class skill. There's some useful threads on that in the Handy Links thread stickied on the forum; search "stacking fear" and "intimidate" both. Unless the feat specifies "must be taken at 1st level" you can take it past that. Precocious Apprentice, for example, has this under the "special" section, and must be taken at 1st. Draconic Heritage, et al, don't require you to take it at 1st.
#9 borg285 Mar 17, 2008 13:39:32	Thanks for the clarification for intimidate. It sucks now that it takes a standard action. Where is a link for that first level thing in case I get confronted with it?
#10 wih Mar 17, 2008 16:08:34	Thanks for the clarification for intimidate. It sucks now that it takes a standard action. Where is a link for that first level thing in case I get confronted with it? Would you ban someone from taking Power Attack if they had 15 STR instead of 13 STR?
#11 borg285 Mar 17, 2008 17:37:16	NM