Gestalt Psion (erudite)/Warblade, Please Help! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Gestalt Psion (erudite)/Warblade, Please Help!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
cowmastertrojan
May 14, 2008 14:18:23 I'm currently working on what will likely be my last 3rd ed character, and being a gestalt game I thought I would combine two things I really have never used; Psionics and a Warblade. Seems simple enough. But my unfamiliarity with both seem to have me going in circles. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Here's what I have so far:

Race: Elan, with Draconic Template (The Dm is allowing LA buy-off so a player is insisting we all take a +1 to be on the same level. Draconic is the only one I even remotely liked that I could find).

Class: Primarily Psion (Erudite) and Warblade. However I plan on taking 2/3 levels from the Elan substitute levels, and all 3 of the Elan Paragon Class. At level 6 I plan on entering Thrallherd, and staying there for 10 levels. I also am considering a few brief dips into swordsage.

What I was thinking:
Level/Class
1-3/Psion (Erudite)-Warblade
4/Psion -Elan Paragon
5/Elan Paragon-Swordsage
6/Thrallherd-Elan Paragon
7-14/Thrallherd-Warblade
15/Thrallherd/Psion
16+/Psion-??? -Stuck here

Starting Out: We will be starting out at level 3, or ECL 4 if you will. Cash is 2700 gp.

Feats: I cant make up my mind. But we get two bonus feats from flaws.

Powers: (I've decided on a few, but not really sure on the rest)
1st (Get 7 total): Psionic Grease, Mind Thrust,
2nd (get 2): Psionic Suggestion (from elan substitution level)

Warblade Manuevers:
Stance: Punishing Stance
Manuevers:
1st: Steel Wind, Burning Blade?, Moment of Perfect Clarity?
2nd: Mountain Hammer (A must because of most enemies having hardness)

What I intend to do with the character: The plan I have for the character is to remain back, and use mind affecting powers to soften the enemies up before wading into battle and chopping them up. Often taking some kind of control of some of them in the process.

pretty much any source is considered by DM, likely allowed

DM House rules:
Armor DR from UA
Defensive bonuses for not wearing armor, UA
All characters and creatures have max HP
Weapon Groups, UA
Allowing me to learn arcane spells, Via "Covert Spell Power" from mind's eye.
Custom Item per DMG rules is allowed.

I think I covered everything under the posting guidlines. So any help or suggestions you can give me, I would really appreciate. Thanks.
#2
deathmond
May 14, 2008 15:40:27 Just remember to get Iron Heart Surge at level 5.

Edit- Or as soon after level 5 as a warblade gets a new maneuver.
#3
pfooti
May 14, 2008 19:30:54 That sounds like a great collection of stuff. I recommend you EITHER take two levels of swordsage before Warblade-4, OR two levels right after warblade-7. The first way, you delay your warblade stance until you can choose a 3rd-level stance from the warblade-4 (there are no 2nd-level stances), and the second way, you get a bunch of swordsage maneuvers kind of late, and you get the 3rd-level swordsage stance as well.

Check out the stances you might want and make the call. Also, if you take swordsage-1 opposite Psion-4 or Psion-8, you don't lose out on BAB, as psion gains a bab on those levels (yay gestalt!).

I think having around 4 levels or so of swordsage mixed in is good, for extra maneuver access, especially stuff you can't get normally through warblade (shadow hand is an awesome school). For the same reason, however, you might want to consider Crusader: there's fewer extra schools, but devoted spirit is ALSO awesome, and crusaders have a pretty cool recovery mechanic, once you get the hang of it. Plus, they get heavy armor proficiency, which is always a bonus. One level of crusader is all it takes to jump into the Plate column in the defense bonus table, since you're using that houserule.

I will agree: thrallherd is awesome. But be ready to do a LOT of paperwork. Lots of followers are a real pain in the butt, even if they do rock. So, be sure you want to go that way, since you do have to pay a little for it (you need a fair CHA to make your leadership score maxed out, and a 13 wis to hit that feat prereq).
#4
archerpwr
May 14, 2008 19:38:52 I created something similar a while back. "Critique of a gestalt" or something. Click my avatar and then all posts by archerpwr to see the thread. The final build is on the second page.
#5
bozwevial
May 14, 2008 21:42:22 Diamond Mind.

You know the key skill of Diamond Mind? Concentration.

You know the key skill for gaining psionic focus? Concentration.

You know that you can expend psionic focus to take 15 on Concentration checks?

You know that lots of Diamond Mind maneuvers use Concentration checks?

Diamond Mind is the best ToB school for synergy with psionics.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cowmastertrojan May 14, 2008 14:18:23	I'm currently working on what will likely be my last 3rd ed character, and being a gestalt game I thought I would combine two things I really have never used; Psionics and a Warblade. Seems simple enough. But my unfamiliarity with both seem to have me going in circles. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Here's what I have so far: Race: Elan, with Draconic Template (The Dm is allowing LA buy-off so a player is insisting we all take a +1 to be on the same level. Draconic is the only one I even remotely liked that I could find). Class: Primarily Psion (Erudite) and Warblade. However I plan on taking 2/3 levels from the Elan substitute levels, and all 3 of the Elan Paragon Class. At level 6 I plan on entering Thrallherd, and staying there for 10 levels. I also am considering a few brief dips into swordsage. What I was thinking: Level/Class 1-3/Psion (Erudite)-Warblade 4/Psion -Elan Paragon 5/Elan Paragon-Swordsage 6/Thrallherd-Elan Paragon 7-14/Thrallherd-Warblade 15/Thrallherd/Psion 16+/Psion-??? -Stuck here Starting Out: We will be starting out at level 3, or ECL 4 if you will. Cash is 2700 gp. Feats: I cant make up my mind. But we get two bonus feats from flaws. Powers: (I've decided on a few, but not really sure on the rest) 1st (Get 7 total): Psionic Grease, Mind Thrust, 2nd (get 2): Psionic Suggestion (from elan substitution level) Warblade Manuevers: Stance: Punishing Stance Manuevers: 1st: Steel Wind, Burning Blade?, Moment of Perfect Clarity? 2nd: Mountain Hammer (A must because of most enemies having hardness) What I intend to do with the character: The plan I have for the character is to remain back, and use mind affecting powers to soften the enemies up before wading into battle and chopping them up. Often taking some kind of control of some of them in the process. pretty much any source is considered by DM, likely allowed DM House rules: Armor DR from UA Defensive bonuses for not wearing armor, UA All characters and creatures have max HP Weapon Groups, UA Allowing me to learn arcane spells, Via "Covert Spell Power" from mind's eye. Custom Item per DMG rules is allowed. I think I covered everything under the posting guidlines. So any help or suggestions you can give me, I would really appreciate. Thanks.
#2 deathmond May 14, 2008 15:40:27	Just remember to get Iron Heart Surge at level 5. Edit- Or as soon after level 5 as a warblade gets a new maneuver.
#3 pfooti May 14, 2008 19:30:54	That sounds like a great collection of stuff. I recommend you EITHER take two levels of swordsage before Warblade-4, OR two levels right after warblade-7. The first way, you delay your warblade stance until you can choose a 3rd-level stance from the warblade-4 (there are no 2nd-level stances), and the second way, you get a bunch of swordsage maneuvers kind of late, and you get the 3rd-level swordsage stance as well. Check out the stances you might want and make the call. Also, if you take swordsage-1 opposite Psion-4 or Psion-8, you don't lose out on BAB, as psion gains a bab on those levels (yay gestalt!). I think having around 4 levels or so of swordsage mixed in is good, for extra maneuver access, especially stuff you can't get normally through warblade (shadow hand is an awesome school). For the same reason, however, you might want to consider Crusader: there's fewer extra schools, but devoted spirit is ALSO awesome, and crusaders have a pretty cool recovery mechanic, once you get the hang of it. Plus, they get heavy armor proficiency, which is always a bonus. One level of crusader is all it takes to jump into the Plate column in the defense bonus table, since you're using that houserule. I will agree: thrallherd is awesome. But be ready to do a LOT of paperwork. Lots of followers are a real pain in the butt, even if they do rock. So, be sure you want to go that way, since you do have to pay a little for it (you need a fair CHA to make your leadership score maxed out, and a 13 wis to hit that feat prereq).
#4 archerpwr May 14, 2008 19:38:52	I created something similar a while back. "Critique of a gestalt" or something. Click my avatar and then all posts by archerpwr to see the thread. The final build is on the second page.
#5 bozwevial May 14, 2008 21:42:22	Diamond Mind. You know the key skill of Diamond Mind? Concentration. You know the key skill for gaining psionic focus? Concentration. You know that you can expend psionic focus to take 15 on Concentration checks? You know that lots of Diamond Mind maneuvers use Concentration checks? Diamond Mind is the best ToB school for synergy with psionics.