Epic Dervish Help - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Epic Dervish Help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
pollyoliver
May 01, 2008 10:40:56 I'm looking for help taking a character who's already in use (currently level 18) up to 20 and then into epic levels. We'll probably hit at least level 30 by the end of the campaign, maybe higher.

Currently:

Level 18 Elf

STR 11, DEX 24, CON 14, INT 18, WIS 10, CHA 8

Ranger 2/Fighter 1/Swashbuckler 3/Champion of Corellon 2/ Dervish 10

Feats: Weapon focus and improved critical (scimitar), regular, improved, and greater two-weapon fighting, mounted combat, dodge, mobility, spring attack, combat expertise, weapon finesse, elusive target, combat acrobat, and acrobatic strike.
Flaws: Vulnerable, shy (home-brew flaw, -4 on all charisma-related checks)

Relevant House Rules: All races have weapon familiarity. This includes, for elves, the moonblade, which is a 1d8 exotic scimitar (our continuation of the thinblade/lightblade line). Also, skills which were class skills for you at some point remain that way throughout your levels.

Party Consists of: Elf Wizard/Loremaster/Archmage, elf Druid, whisper gnome Beguiler/Mindbender/Shadowcraft Mage, and a dwarf Paladin (planning to retrain as a Crusader), all level 18

My DM has an epic dervish progression written, but I can't use it until level 21, and I'm not sure if I'm going to even then. If I do choose to continue in dervish, I was thinking of passing the two levels until then with tempest until one of my party members suggested warblade. I really have no idea what I'm doing with ToB (we just got it), but I was looking at it and thought dancing mongoose and blood in the water both looked nice, and I think warblade fits the character really well, so any advice on what to do with a couple of levels (or more) of warblade would be great.

I also don't know what to do once I hit 21. Most of the benefit from my DM's epic dervish (and all of the ones I've searched up online) seems to be more uses of dervish dance per day--but I usually use only two or three of mine anyway, so accumulating more seems a little bit unhelpful. While I'm not set against continuing the class, because I like it a lot and its (re)flavor suits the character nicely, I was wondering if there was anything else that would mechanically work well. Any suggestions for classes or even just useful epic feats would be great, as I've never played this high.

Thanks!

Oh, and the character herself, if anyone is remotely interested in the fluff, is cripplingly shy and has no idea how to deal with people--whenever she tries to participate in a social situation she ends up making a fool of herself. She's the opposite in combat, though, and fighting brings out a flashier, much more confident side of her. She lives for battle, because when she's fighting she's a lot more like the person she wishes she was. Thus she has a somewhat showy fighting style, which is why swashbuckler and dervish work so well for her and why I think warblade sound like it would fit her too. Lately she's been trying to carry some of that confidence over into the rest of her life, but she hasn't been all that successful yet.

Thanks again.
#2
kanenfawder
May 01, 2008 11:30:03 Does the epic progression your DM created provide more uses or improved uses of Thousand Cuts? If so, I'd go with that. Otherwise, I'd try and concentrate on how to get around DR and/or do more damage. DR is what's going to kill you in epic levels as a melee character.

You might tack on a level of sorcerer just to be able to cast wraithstrike. And if you're using the rules about swift action spells being a swift action to activate in an item, get a couple of wands of it (and some UMD if you don't want the sorc dip).

I don't know of anything that really outshines anything else in this situation, so I'd have to know what areas the character is lacking in. How's the damage output? Do you have power attack? What sort of weapons are being used? How well is he doing as a meatshield? Does the DM like to use any particular tactics and/or spells?
#3
wymark
May 01, 2008 12:37:38 I agree about uses of Thousand Cuts. My epic warrior experiences are all with strength based fighters. However an eleven dervish looking into nine swords screams Eternal Blade to me. I am not sure it is optimal, but it is worth taking a look, the flavor is right if nothing else.
#4
sally_jones
May 01, 2008 14:14:41 warblade is cool but manuevers are statndard actions and that really doesnt contribute to dervish dance. i would maybe see about tempest or that second fighter level. are your weapon exotic because exotic weapon master might be useful.
#5
eepop
May 01, 2008 14:32:20 Id go with one level of barbarian, and 1 level of warblade.

Rage variant from cityscape that gives +dex. One Extra Rage feat and you should be set as far as rages/day.
Pounce variant from complete champion instead of fast movement.

Then just grab a good stance from warblade.

Once you hit 21 though, my question would be how many bonus epic feats does the Epic Dervish he came up with give? Epic Feats are really nice, and if it has a decent progression it would probably be worth taking.
#6
gaffer
May 01, 2008 14:39:06 I haven't read much in the thread, but Shadow Blade seems pretty crucial.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pollyoliver May 01, 2008 10:40:56	I'm looking for help taking a character who's already in use (currently level 18) up to 20 and then into epic levels. We'll probably hit at least level 30 by the end of the campaign, maybe higher. Currently: Level 18 Elf STR 11, DEX 24, CON 14, INT 18, WIS 10, CHA 8 Ranger 2/Fighter 1/Swashbuckler 3/Champion of Corellon 2/ Dervish 10 Feats: Weapon focus and improved critical (scimitar), regular, improved, and greater two-weapon fighting, mounted combat, dodge, mobility, spring attack, combat expertise, weapon finesse, elusive target, combat acrobat, and acrobatic strike. Flaws: Vulnerable, shy (home-brew flaw, -4 on all charisma-related checks) Relevant House Rules: All races have weapon familiarity. This includes, for elves, the moonblade, which is a 1d8 exotic scimitar (our continuation of the thinblade/lightblade line). Also, skills which were class skills for you at some point remain that way throughout your levels. Party Consists of: Elf Wizard/Loremaster/Archmage, elf Druid, whisper gnome Beguiler/Mindbender/Shadowcraft Mage, and a dwarf Paladin (planning to retrain as a Crusader), all level 18 My DM has an epic dervish progression written, but I can't use it until level 21, and I'm not sure if I'm going to even then. If I do choose to continue in dervish, I was thinking of passing the two levels until then with tempest until one of my party members suggested warblade. I really have no idea what I'm doing with ToB (we just got it), but I was looking at it and thought dancing mongoose and blood in the water both looked nice, and I think warblade fits the character really well, so any advice on what to do with a couple of levels (or more) of warblade would be great. I also don't know what to do once I hit 21. Most of the benefit from my DM's epic dervish (and all of the ones I've searched up online) seems to be more uses of dervish dance per day--but I usually use only two or three of mine anyway, so accumulating more seems a little bit unhelpful. While I'm not set against continuing the class, because I like it a lot and its (re)flavor suits the character nicely, I was wondering if there was anything else that would mechanically work well. Any suggestions for classes or even just useful epic feats would be great, as I've never played this high. Thanks! Oh, and the character herself, if anyone is remotely interested in the fluff, is cripplingly shy and has no idea how to deal with people--whenever she tries to participate in a social situation she ends up making a fool of herself. She's the opposite in combat, though, and fighting brings out a flashier, much more confident side of her. She lives for battle, because when she's fighting she's a lot more like the person she wishes she was. Thus she has a somewhat showy fighting style, which is why swashbuckler and dervish work so well for her and why I think warblade sound like it would fit her too. Lately she's been trying to carry some of that confidence over into the rest of her life, but she hasn't been all that successful yet. Thanks again.
#2 kanenfawder May 01, 2008 11:30:03	Does the epic progression your DM created provide more uses or improved uses of Thousand Cuts? If so, I'd go with that. Otherwise, I'd try and concentrate on how to get around DR and/or do more damage. DR is what's going to kill you in epic levels as a melee character. You might tack on a level of sorcerer just to be able to cast wraithstrike. And if you're using the rules about swift action spells being a swift action to activate in an item, get a couple of wands of it (and some UMD if you don't want the sorc dip). I don't know of anything that really outshines anything else in this situation, so I'd have to know what areas the character is lacking in. How's the damage output? Do you have power attack? What sort of weapons are being used? How well is he doing as a meatshield? Does the DM like to use any particular tactics and/or spells?
#3 wymark May 01, 2008 12:37:38	I agree about uses of Thousand Cuts. My epic warrior experiences are all with strength based fighters. However an eleven dervish looking into nine swords screams Eternal Blade to me. I am not sure it is optimal, but it is worth taking a look, the flavor is right if nothing else.
#4 sally_jones May 01, 2008 14:14:41	warblade is cool but manuevers are statndard actions and that really doesnt contribute to dervish dance. i would maybe see about tempest or that second fighter level. are your weapon exotic because exotic weapon master might be useful.
#5 eepop May 01, 2008 14:32:20	Id go with one level of barbarian, and 1 level of warblade. Rage variant from cityscape that gives +dex. One Extra Rage feat and you should be set as far as rages/day. Pounce variant from complete champion instead of fast movement. Then just grab a good stance from warblade. Once you hit 21 though, my question would be how many bonus epic feats does the Epic Dervish he came up with give? Epic Feats are really nice, and if it has a decent progression it would probably be worth taking.
#6 gaffer May 01, 2008 14:39:06	I haven't read much in the thread, but Shadow Blade seems pretty crucial.