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Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cathedralsquares Nov 13, 2008 21:56:08	I need help making a samurai girl. Yeah its cheesy I know, but I've wanted to play one for awhile, and it doesn't look like this (omg)optimized game is going to die off anytime soon. Every 3.5 book other than those of Faerun and the Book of All Spells are allowed. Online feats can be reviewed by the DM for approval. We are playing Gestalt and the character is starting at 23rd level.
#2 eltacolibre Nov 13, 2008 22:23:07	might want to check this: http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-598968
#3 Maat_Mons Nov 13, 2008 22:36:45	I would say that you can reasonably use almost any build with good two-handed fighting ability and some social skills for a samurai with proper role-playing. War-blade // feat rogue would be a very simple and quite passable samurai, for example. There are two questions that seem to be in order: Is there anything especially cinematic you feel your character should be able to do, and is there anything you don’t feel your character should do? An example of the latter could be if spell-casting goes against your concept of a samurai. If you feel comfortable explaining psychic powers as stemming from ki mastery, perhaps war-blade // psion.
#4 cathedralsquares Nov 13, 2008 22:48:15	I was thinking Swordsage with some Monk levels, but my primary thing won't be using all of my attacks, but instead using Diamond Mind Strikes that focus on one devastating attack. Roleplaying-wise she wants to found her own school of swordsmanship and teach it (as she's the only Diamond Mind adept on the plane). The issue is just how combat heavy we are. I want something that can really lay down the hurt, but still keep the feel, you know?
#5 Maat_Mons Nov 13, 2008 23:35:22	I don’t think monk adds that much to sword-sage. Have you given any thought to incarnate? It seems I edited my post after you responded. I assumed that hitting “edit” would refresh the page and thus make me aware of any new posts.
#6 emansdrawkcab Nov 14, 2008 0:17:32	Epic levels and no casting? ... You sure that's what you want? You did say "(OMG)optimized? right? If you are going to be using any ToB class for 20 levels, let it be Warblade for full BAB, bonus feats, and most importantly: Stance Mastery, no per day limit makes it better IMHO. You'd still get Diamond Mind too. And honestly consider long and hard about not having the other side be a caster, and if you decide against it, take a look at this, at least for inspiration: CantripN's God of War build.
#7 carnivore Nov 14, 2008 15:39:07	try this: Warblade 20/ Swashbuckler 3 // Rogue(feat variant) 1/ Monk 1/ Psion 21 primary focus on Int and Dex take the feats: Exotic weapon (Elven Courtblade) .... Finnessable Weapon Focus(Elven Courtblade) Carmondine monk ....... (int to AC) Monastic Training(Psion) Tashalatora(psion) ...... Psion now progresses Unarmed Damage, Flurry of Blows, AC bonus Combat Reflexes Robilars Gambit Weapon Specialization(Elven Courtblade) Melee Weapon Mastery(Slashing) Weapon Supremacy(Elven Courtblade) gain major boosts from Int.... Battle Clarity (Ex): You can enter a state of almost mystical awareness of the battlefield around you. As long as you are not flat-footed, you gain an insight bonus equal to your Intelligence bonus (maximum equals your warblade level) on your Reflex saves. Weapon Aptitude (Ex): Your training with a wide range of weaponry and tactics gives you great skill with particular weapons. You qualify for feats that usually require a minimum number of fighter levels (such as Weapon Specialization) as if you had a fighter level equal to your warblade level -2. For example, as a 6th-level warblade, you could take Weapon Specialization, since you're treated as being a 4th-level fighter for this purpose. These effective fighter levels stack with any actual fighter levels you have. Thus, a fighter 2/warblade 4 would also qualify for Weapon Specialization. You also have the flexibility to adjust your weapon training. Each morning, you can spend 1 hour in weapon practice to change the designated weapon for any feat you have that applies only to a single weapon (such as Weapon Focus). You must have the newly designated weapon available during your practice session to make this change. For example, if you wish to change the designated weapon for your Weapon Focus feat from greatsword to longsword, you must have a longsword available to practice with during your practice session. You can adjust any number of your feats in this way, and you don't have to adjust them all in the same way. However, you can't change the weapon choices in such a way that you no longer meet the prerequisite for some other feat you possess. For instance, if you have both Weapon Focus (longsword) and Weapon Specialization (longsword), you can't change the designated weapon for Weapon Focus unless you also change the weapon for Weapon Specialization in the same way. Battle Ardor (Ex): The sheer love of battle lends uncanny strength to your blows. Starting at 3rd level, you gain an insight bonus equal to your Intelligence bonus on rolls made to confirm critical hits. Bonus Feat: At 5th level, you gain a bonus feat from the list given below. You must meet the prerequisite for the feat you select. Every four levels thereafter (at 9th, 13th, and 17th level), you choose another bonus feat from the list. feats Bonus Feat List: Acrobatic, Agile, Athletic, Blade Meditation, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Diehard, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Ironheart, Lightning Reflexes, Quick Draw, Run, Stone Power, Tiger Blooded, Unnerving Calm, White Raven Defense. *New feats described in Chapter 2.
#8 cathedralsquares Nov 15, 2008 4:20:47	Thanks for the help guys. Any more builds would be appreciated, I like to have lots of options. xP
#9 the_shaman Nov 15, 2008 6:51:07	I'd go with warblade as well, some very thematic abilities there especially in Iron Heart and Diamond Mind. On the other hand, psion is decent, I guess, though not exactly samurai-like. Speaking of samurai, how about OA samurai 1/swordsage 20/x? 2// psychic warrior 17/Sanctified mind 6? The OA samurai is for the daisho, though I guess you could also do it with the ancestral relic from BoED. The idea is to have good wisdom for swordsage and PW, and enough BAB for 4 attacks/round. You could lose some swordsage levels for Master of 9 (ToB) or Iaijutsu master (OA). BTW, what weapon are you thinking of using? I tend to associate female samurai with the naginata, though of course you don't have to go by that.
#10 irdak Nov 15, 2008 6:52:49	Anyway, if you come up with some nifty maneuver combination, please post it here or in the ToB thread :D
#11 carnivore Nov 15, 2008 7:41:36	corrected my build to: Warblade 20/ Swashbuckler 3 // Rogue(feat variant) 1/ Monk 1/ Psion 21 it allows EPIC Psionics now... :D
#12 emansdrawkcab Nov 15, 2008 17:06:30	I couldn't you enter epic levels without an arcane option at your disposal. I like carnivore's psionic build, but I feel that arcane magic has a lot more options. I tried also to get more of a cruel battlefield tyrant feel to my build too, while I was at it. With this guy, you'll be able to own the battlefield through the use of Intimidate. Swift action Intimidate + Imperious Command means that you will always be attacking flat footed opponents, which means Sneak Attack and Iaijutsu damage... And lots of it. Not to mention, if you're unarmed and an opponent makes the terrible mistake of drawing an attack of opportunity from you, you can draw and apply all your bonus damage too. Show 1 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - Aereni Focus (Iaijutsu Focus), Iron Will, Extend Spell, Weapon Focus (Katana) 2 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - 3 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Intimidate) 4 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - 5 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - Spontaneous Divination, Extended Intimidation 6 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier - Improved Initiative, Chain Spell 7 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier - 8 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier - 9 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier - Swift Intimidation, Imperious Command, Persistent Spell 10 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - 11 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - 12 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - Mercurial Strike 13 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - Combat Reflexes 14 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - Robilar’s Gambit 15 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Craven 16 - Incantatrix // Warblade - 17 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Easy Metamagic (Persistent Spell) 18 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Feat 19 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Blind Fight 20 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Easy Metamagic (Chain Spell) 21 - Wizard // Swashbuckler - Weapon Finesse, Epic Spellcasting 22 - Swashbuckler // Warblade - 23 - Swashbuckler // Marshall - Skill Focus (Diplomacy) 5d6 + 23 Sneak Attack, 9d6 + 9(CHA) Iai damage, 2(INT) INT>CON>CHA>DEX>>STR=WIS Power Attack?, Arcane Strike?, Knowledge Devotion?, Flay Foe?, Arcane Disciple?
#13 cathedralsquares Nov 16, 2008 15:02:39	OA isn't 3.5 legal, which is why I simply didn't IM epic on one side and Samurai on the other which would be so much easier.
#14 ChristopherGroves Nov 16, 2008 15:48:55	Consider these feats: Item Familiar (UA) Aereni Focus (PGtE) Discipline (forget where0 Skill Focus (concentration) Draconic Aura (resolve ... need dragonblood type) Blade Meditation (ToB) And either a dip into Incarnate for a Vitality Belt or shape-soulmeld and a Masterwork Tool ... that's like a 50-some bonus right there. On the other side, some sort of caster w/ a few levels for nifty features; I'd probably suggest wizard. You can lose 3 caster levels and still get 9th level spells so maybe ... Cleric w/ Spell Domain (bonus +2 on concentration checks) ... the probably Spellsword 4 (loses two levels of advancement) but lets you channel spells 3/day. The important thing is that this is a MOVE ACTION to charge up your sword, then it discharges when you hit ... so after your diamond mind strike (which takes a standard action) unlike Duskblade which is a standard action to channel (and would conflict). Hop around other PrCs as needed for whatever features you want. Another option would be Cleric w/ Ordained Champion (which also channels as a move action). Hell you could go a bit of cleric (like cleric 1) then Divine Crusader and be INT-CHA focused.
#15 ChristopherGroves Nov 16, 2008 16:03:11	Ok ... been thinking ... on the other side of Warlbade ... Cleric 1 (mysticism or somesuch, spell) + Knowledge Devotion / Archivist / Ordained Champ 3 Your diety-ideal is something similar to Zouken, etc. ... a martial, mystic, contemplative sort of figure.
#16 Maat_Mons Nov 16, 2008 16:06:02	For concentration checks, expending your psionic focus allows you to “take 15” on the check. Also, Divine Insight is a 2nd level cleric spell that can add +15 to a skill check. (This spell is from Complete Adventurer.) If you don’t mind wielding a war-hammer, you could try some combination of war-blade 20, cloistered cleric 20, sword-sage 2, battle-smith 1, and stone-blessed 3. You would use wisdom for spells, AC (in light armor), damage (non-precision), and (as always) will saves. You could also take Zen Archery to apply wisdom to hit when you use a bow (if you gain proficiency), and Minor Shape-Shift to give yourself 23 temporary hit points as a swift action at will.
#17 cathedralsquares Nov 24, 2008 16:29:01	I like the ideas, and I'm still trying to choose which.
#18 ChristopherGroves Nov 24, 2008 16:36:25	Since you said all spells, if you're going WIS focus then Book of Exalted Deeds, Intuitive Attack.
#19 cathedralsquares Nov 26, 2008 18:57:26	Unfortunately Intuitive Attack only works for simple weapons (though for her, the Katana is more than a simple weapon, it is her...) I've decided on the Factotum/Warblade, with levels of Ordained Champion to the spell channelling. I can use Quicksilver Motion to gain the additional move to channel my Avasculate into my weapon, use cunning breach to ignore the DR/SR and initiate Diamond Nightmare Blade to drop the target in one cut!
#20 Maat_Mons Dec 01, 2008 0:11:09	Factotums have spell-like abilities, not spells, and certainly not divine spells. Factotum does not, in itself, qualify for ordained champion. Even if you qualify for ordained champion, a factotum’s spell-like abilities don’t work with channel spell. Factotum would not allow for much use of channel spell even if it were compatible; a factotum cannot cast a given spell more than once per day. You can accomplish approximately the same thing as having all skills be class skills by taking the able learner feat and a level of human paragon. You will be able to max out whatever skills you choose. To make use of avasculate as you want to, you will need either an archivist, a cleric with the deathbound domain and domain spontaneity feat, a cleric with the divine magician alternate class feature, a sorcerer, or a wizard. (Well, those are the straightforward ways.) While channel spell does work with arcane spells, you need to be able to cast divine spells to qualify for ordained champion.
#21 DeAnno Dec 01, 2008 3:59:52	This isn't exactly a super optimized idea, but this is something that goes nuts with Diamond Mind and concentration and generally feels very Samurai-ish. Only 16 Sorc levels of casting, but the plus side of that is it's pretty easy to manage 16 sorc levels of casting. HUMAN, for the favored class on each side of the Gestalt Alignment: Lawful/Good Stats: You want high Strength, Con, and Cha Warblade 20/Crusader 1/Paladin 2\|\|Monk 1/Sorc 4/Enlightened Fist 10/Exemplar 4/Some casting PRC 4 Feats of note: Power Attack (Interestingly, the FB route is quirky-bad because you cant Diamond mind in a Rage/Frenzy) Skill Focus Concentration (PRC) Combat Casting (PRC) Ascetic Mage (CAdv) [Cha to AC instead of Wis!] Superior Unarmed Strike (ToB) (Get a Monk's belt too for a total +9 Effective Monk level) Force of Personality (Comp adv) Cha to Willpower save instead of Wis Quick Recovery (LoM): Use this to get out of daze by saving against yourself if you like to have fun with Celerity/Greater Celerity and your DM allows it. The Simple Side: -Warblade gives you a full manuever progression and two stances at once at the end; ironically one of them will always be Aura of Perfect Order, which you get from Crusader, allowing you to take 11 on any one roll (Usually, your attack roll) once per round as a free action. The Pile of other stuff: -Monk 1 Starts you down the unarmed damage path -Sorc Gives casting, which is useful for many buffs. The one you care about most is Greater Mighty Wallop (RoDragon), which takes your 2d10 monk unarmed damage and adds four size categories to it making it 12d8 if my 4:30 AM calculations are correct. (Remember you will be quadrupling this with Diamond Nightmare Blade, and adding 4:1 Power attack) You may actually want to carry some 2 handed bludgeoner for the DNB on second thought, and use monk unarmed strikes in full attacks for recovering DNB. Another nifty treat is Arcane Spellsurge (Dragon Magic), which will make all your spells swift actions to cast. (This is part of why I've specifically been trying to get actionless things) -Exemplar gives a number of tasty treats: +4 to Concentration, +Cha to Concentration, and +Cha to Fort again. Most importantly, you can now take 10 on Concentration with no action, in any circumstances. You have to pick up Skill Focus: Concentration to get in, but you get Improved Initiative out of it, so that isn't too high a price. -Theres probably some other 4 levels of PRC that would be useful, but its like 5 AM. Your Concentration bonus is now approx Cha+Con+4(Exemplar)+3(Focus)+26(Ranks)+15(Item?)+Whatever other skeeze we can dig up, and you take 10 on it always. You take 11 on your attack roll (or something else, if you like). Your saves are beyond godly, disgustingly huge, even for a game of this level. You have d12s and a load of Con, and lots of skills. You even have 2 dump stats (Int, Wis) and one Quasi dump stat (dex). Casting is only Sorc 16, but that should honestly serve your purposes, and it's high enough for a couple Moment of Precience's per day. You get Cha to Fortitude twice, Reflex Once, Will twice, concentration once, and AC once (gags). I hope that was coherent. If you're interested I'll bang out something a little more professional tomorrow.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

cathedralsquares

Nov 13, 2008 21:56:08

I need help making a samurai girl. Yeah its cheesy I know, but I've wanted to play one for awhile, and it doesn't look like this (omg)optimized game is going to die off anytime soon. Every 3.5 book other than those of Faerun and the Book of All Spells are allowed. Online feats can be reviewed by the DM for approval. We are playing Gestalt and the character is starting at 23rd level.

eltacolibre

Nov 13, 2008 22:23:07

might want to check this: http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-598968

Maat_Mons

Nov 13, 2008 22:36:45

I would say that you can reasonably use almost any build with good two-handed fighting ability and some social skills for a samurai with proper role-playing. War-blade // feat rogue would be a very simple and quite passable samurai, for example.

There are two questions that seem to be in order: Is there anything especially cinematic you feel your character should be able to do, and is there anything you don’t feel your character should do? An example of the latter could be if spell-casting goes against your concept of a samurai.

If you feel comfortable explaining psychic powers as stemming from ki mastery, perhaps war-blade // psion.

cathedralsquares

Nov 13, 2008 22:48:15

I was thinking Swordsage with some Monk levels, but my primary thing won't be using all of my attacks, but instead using Diamond Mind Strikes that focus on one devastating attack. Roleplaying-wise she wants to found her own school of swordsmanship and teach it (as she's the only Diamond Mind adept on the plane). The issue is just how combat heavy we are. I want something that can really lay down the hurt, but still keep the feel, you know?

Maat_Mons

Nov 13, 2008 23:35:22

I don’t think monk adds that much to sword-sage. Have you given any thought to incarnate?

It seems I edited my post after you responded. I assumed that hitting “edit” would refresh the page and thus make me aware of any new posts.

emansdrawkcab

Nov 14, 2008 0:17:32

Epic levels and no casting? ... You sure that's what you want? You did say "(OMG)optimized? right?

If you are going to be using any ToB class for 20 levels, let it be Warblade for full BAB, bonus feats, and most importantly: Stance Mastery, no per day limit makes it better IMHO. You'd still get Diamond Mind too.

And honestly consider long and hard about not having the other side be a caster, and if you decide against it, take a look at this, at least for inspiration: CantripN's God of War build.

carnivore

Nov 14, 2008 15:39:07

try this:

Warblade 20/ Swashbuckler 3 // Rogue(feat variant) 1/ Monk 1/ Psion 21

primary focus on Int and Dex

take the feats:

Exotic weapon (Elven Courtblade) .... Finnessable
Weapon Focus(Elven Courtblade)
Carmondine monk ....... (int to AC)
Monastic Training(Psion)
Tashalatora(psion) ...... Psion now progresses Unarmed Damage, Flurry of Blows, AC bonus
Combat Reflexes
Robilars Gambit
Weapon Specialization(Elven Courtblade)
Melee Weapon Mastery(Slashing)
Weapon Supremacy(Elven Courtblade)

gain major boosts from Int....

Battle Clarity (Ex): You can enter a state of almost mystical awareness of the battlefield around you. As long as you are not flat-footed, you gain an insight bonus equal to your Intelligence bonus (maximum equals your warblade level) on your Reflex saves.

Weapon Aptitude (Ex): Your training with a wide range of weaponry and tactics gives you great skill with particular weapons. You qualify for feats that usually require a minimum number of fighter levels (such as Weapon Specialization) as if you had a fighter level equal to your warblade level -2. For example, as a 6th-level warblade, you could take Weapon Specialization, since you're treated as being a 4th-level fighter for this purpose. These effective fighter levels stack with any actual fighter levels you have. Thus, a fighter 2/warblade 4 would also qualify for Weapon Specialization.

You also have the flexibility to adjust your weapon training. Each morning, you can spend 1 hour in weapon practice to change the designated weapon for any feat you have that applies only to a single weapon (such as Weapon Focus). You must have the newly designated weapon available during your practice session to make this change. For example, if you wish to change the designated weapon for your Weapon Focus feat from greatsword to longsword, you must have a longsword available to practice with during your practice session.

You can adjust any number of your feats in this way, and you don't have to adjust them all in the same way. However, you can't change the weapon choices in such a way that you no longer meet the prerequisite for some other feat you possess. For instance, if you have both Weapon Focus (longsword) and Weapon Specialization (longsword), you can't change the designated weapon for Weapon Focus unless you also change the weapon for Weapon Specialization in the same way.

Battle Ardor (Ex): The sheer love of battle lends uncanny strength to your blows. Starting at 3rd level, you gain an insight bonus equal to your Intelligence bonus on rolls made to confirm critical hits.

Bonus Feat: At 5th level, you gain a bonus feat from the list given below. You must meet the prerequisite for the feat you select. Every four levels thereafter (at 9th, 13th, and 17th level), you choose another bonus feat from the list.

feats

Bonus Feat List: Acrobatic, Agile, Athletic, Blade Meditation*, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Diehard, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Ironheart*, Lightning Reflexes, Quick Draw, Run, Stone Power*, Tiger Blooded*, Unnerving Calm*, White Raven Defense*.

*New feats described in Chapter 2.

cathedralsquares

Nov 15, 2008 4:20:47

Thanks for the help guys. Any more builds would be appreciated, I like to have lots of options. xP

the_shaman

Nov 15, 2008 6:51:07

I'd go with warblade as well, some very thematic abilities there especially in Iron Heart and Diamond Mind. On the other hand, psion is decent, I guess, though not exactly samurai-like.

Speaking of samurai, how about OA samurai 1/swordsage 20/x? 2// psychic warrior 17/Sanctified mind 6? The OA samurai is for the daisho, though I guess you could also do it with the ancestral relic from BoED. The idea is to have good wisdom for swordsage and PW, and enough BAB for 4 attacks/round. You could lose some swordsage levels for Master of 9 (ToB) or Iaijutsu master (OA).

BTW, what weapon are you thinking of using? I tend to associate female samurai with the naginata, though of course you don't have to go by that.

#10

irdak

Nov 15, 2008 6:52:49

Anyway, if you come up with some nifty maneuver combination, please post it here or in the ToB thread :D

#11

carnivore

Nov 15, 2008 7:41:36

corrected my build to:

Warblade 20/ Swashbuckler 3 // Rogue(feat variant) 1/ Monk 1/ Psion 21

it allows EPIC Psionics now...

:D

#12

emansdrawkcab

Nov 15, 2008 17:06:30

I couldn't you enter epic levels without an arcane option at your disposal. I like carnivore's psionic build, but I feel that arcane magic has a lot more options. I tried also to get more of a cruel battlefield tyrant feel to my build too, while I was at it.

With this guy, you'll be able to own the battlefield through the use of Intimidate. Swift action Intimidate + Imperious Command means that you will always be attacking flat footed opponents, which means Sneak Attack and Iaijutsu damage... And lots of it. Not to mention, if you're unarmed and an opponent makes the terrible mistake of drawing an attack of opportunity from you, you can draw and apply all your bonus damage too.

Show

1 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - Aereni Focus (Iaijutsu Focus), Iron Will, Extend Spell, Weapon Focus (Katana)
2 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier -
3 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Intimidate)
4 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier -
5 - Wizard // Zhentarim Soldier - Spontaneous Divination, Extended Intimidation
6 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier - Improved Initiative, Chain Spell
7 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier -
8 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier -
9 - Incantatrix // Zhentarim Soldier - Swift Intimidation, Imperious Command, Persistent Spell
10 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master -
11 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master -
12 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - Mercurial Strike
13 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - Combat Reflexes
14 - Wizard // Iaijutsu Master - Robilar’s Gambit
15 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Craven
16 - Incantatrix // Warblade -
17 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Easy Metamagic (Persistent Spell)
18 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Feat
19 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Blind Fight
20 - Incantatrix // Warblade - Easy Metamagic (Chain Spell)
21 - Wizard // Swashbuckler - Weapon Finesse, Epic Spellcasting
22 - Swashbuckler // Warblade -
23 - Swashbuckler // Marshall - Skill Focus (Diplomacy)

5d6 + 23 Sneak Attack, 9d6 + 9*(CHA) Iai damage, 2*(INT)

INT>CON>CHA>DEX>>STR=WIS

Power Attack?, Arcane Strike?, Knowledge Devotion?, Flay Foe?, Arcane Disciple?

#13

cathedralsquares

Nov 16, 2008 15:02:39

OA isn't 3.5 legal, which is why I simply didn't IM epic on one side and Samurai on the other which would be so much easier.

#14

ChristopherGroves

Nov 16, 2008 15:48:55

Consider these feats:

Item Familiar (UA)
Aereni Focus (PGtE)
Discipline (forget where0
Skill Focus (concentration)
Draconic Aura (resolve ... need dragonblood type)
Blade Meditation (ToB)

And either a dip into Incarnate for a Vitality Belt or shape-soulmeld and a Masterwork Tool ... that's like a 50-some bonus right there.

On the other side, some sort of caster w/ a few levels for nifty features; I'd probably suggest wizard. You can lose 3 caster levels and still get 9th level spells so maybe ... Cleric w/ Spell Domain (bonus +2 on concentration checks) ... the probably Spellsword 4 (loses two levels of advancement) but lets you channel spells 3/day. The important thing is that this is a MOVE ACTION to charge up your sword, then it discharges when you hit ... so after your diamond mind strike (which takes a standard action) unlike Duskblade which is a standard action to channel (and would conflict). Hop around other PrCs as needed for whatever features you want.

Another option would be Cleric w/ Ordained Champion (which also channels as a move action). Hell you could go a bit of cleric (like cleric 1) then Divine Crusader and be INT-CHA focused.

#15

ChristopherGroves

Nov 16, 2008 16:03:11

Ok ... been thinking ... on the other side of Warlbade ...

Cleric 1 (mysticism or somesuch, spell) + Knowledge Devotion / Archivist / Ordained Champ 3

Your diety-ideal is something similar to Zouken, etc. ... a martial, mystic, contemplative sort of figure.

#16

Maat_Mons

Nov 16, 2008 16:06:02

For concentration checks, expending your psionic focus allows you to “take 15” on the check. Also, Divine Insight is a 2nd level cleric spell that can add +15 to a skill check. (This spell is from Complete Adventurer.)

If you don’t mind wielding a war-hammer, you could try some combination of war-blade 20, cloistered cleric 20, sword-sage 2, battle-smith 1, and stone-blessed 3. You would use wisdom for spells, AC (in light armor), damage (non-precision), and (as always) will saves. You could also take Zen Archery to apply wisdom to hit when you use a bow (if you gain proficiency), and Minor Shape-Shift to give yourself 23 temporary hit points as a swift action at will.

#17

cathedralsquares

Nov 24, 2008 16:29:01

I like the ideas, and I'm still trying to choose which.

#18

ChristopherGroves

Nov 24, 2008 16:36:25

Since you said all spells, if you're going WIS focus then Book of Exalted Deeds, Intuitive Attack.

#19

cathedralsquares

Nov 26, 2008 18:57:26

Unfortunately Intuitive Attack only works for simple weapons (though for her, the Katana is more than a simple weapon, it is her...)

I've decided on the Factotum/Warblade, with levels of Ordained Champion to the spell channelling. I can use Quicksilver Motion to gain the additional move to channel my Avasculate into my weapon, use cunning breach to ignore the DR/SR and initiate Diamond Nightmare Blade to drop the target in one cut!

#20

Maat_Mons

Dec 01, 2008 0:11:09

Factotums have spell-like abilities, not spells, and certainly not divine spells. Factotum does not, in itself, qualify for ordained champion. Even if you qualify for ordained champion, a factotum’s spell-like abilities don’t work with channel spell. Factotum would not allow for much use of channel spell even if it were compatible; a factotum cannot cast a given spell more than once per day.

You can accomplish approximately the same thing as having all skills be class skills by taking the able learner feat and a level of human paragon. You will be able to max out whatever skills you choose.

To make use of avasculate as you want to, you will need either an archivist, a cleric with the deathbound domain and domain spontaneity feat, a cleric with the divine magician alternate class feature, a sorcerer, or a wizard. (Well, those are the straightforward ways.) While channel spell does work with arcane spells, you need to be able to cast divine spells to qualify for ordained champion.

#21

DeAnno

Dec 01, 2008 3:59:52

This isn't exactly a super optimized idea, but this is something that goes nuts with Diamond Mind and concentration and generally feels very Samurai-ish. Only 16 Sorc levels of casting, but the plus side of that is it's pretty easy to manage 16 sorc levels of casting.

HUMAN, for the favored class on each side of the Gestalt
Alignment: Lawful/Good
Stats: You want high Strength, Con, and Cha
Warblade 20/Crusader 1/Paladin 2||Monk 1/Sorc 4/Enlightened Fist 10/Exemplar 4/Some casting PRC 4

Feats of note:
Power Attack (Interestingly, the FB route is quirky-bad because you cant Diamond mind in a Rage/Frenzy)
Skill Focus Concentration (PRC)
Combat Casting (PRC)
Ascetic Mage (CAdv) [Cha to AC instead of Wis!]
Superior Unarmed Strike (ToB) (Get a Monk's belt too for a total +9 Effective Monk level)
Force of Personality (Comp adv) Cha to Willpower save instead of Wis
Quick Recovery (LoM): Use this to get out of daze by saving against yourself if you like to have fun with Celerity/Greater Celerity and your DM allows it.

The Simple Side:
-Warblade gives you a full manuever progression and two stances at once at the end; ironically one of them will always be Aura of Perfect Order, which you get from Crusader, allowing you to take 11 on any one roll (Usually, your attack roll) once per round as a free action.

The Pile of other stuff:
-Monk 1 Starts you down the unarmed damage path
-Sorc Gives casting, which is useful for many buffs. The one you care about most is Greater Mighty Wallop (RoDragon), which takes your 2d10 monk unarmed damage and adds four size categories to it making it 12d8 if my 4:30 AM calculations are correct. (Remember you will be quadrupling this with Diamond Nightmare Blade, and adding 4:1 Power attack) You may actually want to carry some 2 handed bludgeoner for the DNB on second thought, and use monk unarmed strikes in full attacks for recovering DNB. Another nifty treat is Arcane Spellsurge (Dragon Magic), which will make all your spells swift actions to cast. (This is part of why I've specifically been trying to get actionless things)
-Exemplar gives a number of tasty treats: +4 to Concentration, +Cha to Concentration, and +Cha to Fort *again*. Most importantly, you can now take 10 on Concentration with no action, in any circumstances. You have to pick up Skill Focus: Concentration to get in, but you get Improved Initiative out of it, so that isn't too high a price.
-Theres probably some other 4 levels of PRC that would be useful, but its like 5 AM.

Your Concentration bonus is now approx Cha+Con+4(Exemplar)+3(Focus)+26(Ranks)+15(Item?)+Whatever other skeeze we can dig up, and you take 10 on it always. You take 11 on your attack roll (or something else, if you like). Your saves are beyond godly, disgustingly huge, even for a game of this level. You have d12s and a load of Con, and lots of skills. You even have 2 dump stats (Int, Wis) and one Quasi dump stat (dex). Casting is only Sorc 16, but that should honestly serve your purposes, and it's high enough for a couple Moment of Precience's per day. You get Cha to Fortitude twice, Reflex Once, Will twice, concentration once, and AC once (gags).

I hope that was coherent. If you're interested I'll bang out something a little more professional tomorrow.