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Help picking race and questions

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
guest919208287
Mar 18, 2012 2:09:39 Hello,

I am starting a new character with the hopes it will reach epic levels. I will be focusing mainly on warblade, but plan on going for master of nine. My play style generally favors damage dealing, crits, overall melee. Probably 2 handed greatsword. Classic party makeup.

I am looking for a strong race for my character. I do have level adjustment buyoff available, but would strongly prefer to find a +0 LA race. I am not totally against +1 or +2 LA as long as it is really worth it. Multiclass penalties do not apply. Templates welcome, and I am looking strongly at adding dragonborn to any race I take(+2 con, -2 dex).

Martial Adept question now. If I have a level in Crusader, and then level in Warblade, are the crusader disciplines still available for new maneuvers, or can I only pick from warblade disciplines at warblade levels? Also, if I have 3 maneuvers allowed to be readied, can I ready the same one 3 times?

Is there a non homebrew feat or something I can take for powerful build, as I am considering a trip/grapple build.

Most books available, no magazines or web enhancements. We dont own the book with lesser aasimar and such, so those races are not allowed unfortunately.
#2
Tempest_Stormwind
Mar 18, 2012 9:54:03
I am looking for a strong race for my character. I do have level adjustment buyoff available, but would strongly prefer to find a +0 LA race. I am not totally against +1 or +2 LA as long as it is really worth it. Multiclass penalties do not apply. Templates welcome, and I am looking strongly at adding dragonborn to any race I take(+2 con, -2 dex).

LA+0: Human, Warforged (EbCS/RoE), Mongrelfolk (RoD, underrated), Water Orc (I can never remember the source on this one.).
LA+1: Goliath (RoS), Half-Giant (XPH/SRD)
LA+2: Karsite. (ToM, unusual choice, slightly better for crusaders than warblades, but give it a gander.)
Dragonborn, of course, is still a good choice, particularly with the +Con races on this list.

Martial Adept question now. If I have a level in Crusader, and then level in Warblade, are the crusader disciplines still available for new maneuvers, or can I only pick from warblade disciplines at warblade levels? Also, if I have 3 maneuvers allowed to be readied, can I ready the same one 3 times?

Each class is independent (mostly). If you're a crusader and you take a level in warblade, you have to choose your warblade maneuvers from the five warblade disciplines. However, your crusader maneuvers do interact with it slightly - you can't learn a maneuver more than once (even from different classes), and maneuvers and stances don't care where they came from when checking prerequisites. (That is, if you know Battle Leader's Charge as a crusader, you can't learn it as a warblade... but you are considered to know a White Raven maneuver when choosing your warblade moves, so you can choose White Raven Tactics.) Similarly, your maneuvers recover independently - your warblade maneuvers won't recover when your crusader maneuvers do, and vice versa. (Adaptive Style will work for both of them simultaneously.)

Similarly, a maneuver is READY or it is NOT READY. You don't have slots to fill - you can't ready a maneuver more than once.

Is there a non homebrew feat or something I can take for powerful build, as I am considering a trip/grapple build.

The closest is Jotenbrud, a Forgotten Realms regional feat that gives you a non-stacking version of the size-modifier half of Powerful Build. ("non-stacking" means that it says you're treated as Large, instead of saying you're treated as one size larger, so it won't stack with size increases.)
#3
guest919208287
Mar 18, 2012 11:54:36 Thanks a bunch.
#4
draco1119
Mar 18, 2012 11:59:48
LA+0: Human, Warforged (EbCS/RoE), Mongrelfolk (RoD, underrated), Water Orc (I can never remember the source on this one.).
LA+1: Goliath (RoS), Half-Giant (XPH/SRD)
LA+2: Karsite. (ToM, unusual choice, slightly better for crusaders than warblades, but give it a gander.)

I would second Human, Warforged, and Goliath. With a 1-level Barbarian dip as a Goliath, you can get Pounce (from Complete Cheeseball Champion) and actually be Large during rages with the Mountain Rage ACF in RoS. And Water Orc is in Uneathed Arcana.
#5
Slagger_the_Chuul
Mar 18, 2012 12:41:30
With a 1-level Barbarian dip as a Goliath, you can get Pounce (from Complete Cheeseball Champion) and actually be Large during rages with the Mountain Rage ACF in RoS.

I think I'd actually have to call it Complete Awesome for giving easy access to an ability that every standard melee type wants and needs. Once you've seen it, you start to wonder why they didn't build a method for combining movement and multiple attacks into every melee class (since, without it, full BAB just doesn't mean as much).
#6
The_Fred
Mar 23, 2012 17:55:35 And yet with it, positioning and mobility don't mean so much. Also, it sucks for anyone who can't take a Barbarian level.
#7
Slagger_the_Chuul
Mar 23, 2012 21:33:38
And yet with it, positioning and mobility don't mean so much. Also, it sucks for anyone who can't take a Barbarian level.

Iterative attacks are on the other side of that, since they're otherwise hard to use, and it really just makes positioning and mobility important in different ways (since charging requires its own positioning and movement to use). It would, of course, be much better if the various melee-heavy classes included their own ways to combine movement and attacks.

Qualifying for the barbarian level isn't too difficult, since you merely need to be non-lawful at some point and the ability is worth the dip even without any other abilities from the class (so becoming an ex-barbarian is entirely viable). I find it more troublesome from the point of view of flavour and XP penalties, myself.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 guest919208287 Mar 18, 2012 2:09:39	Hello, I am starting a new character with the hopes it will reach epic levels. I will be focusing mainly on warblade, but plan on going for master of nine. My play style generally favors damage dealing, crits, overall melee. Probably 2 handed greatsword. Classic party makeup. I am looking for a strong race for my character. I do have level adjustment buyoff available, but would strongly prefer to find a +0 LA race. I am not totally against +1 or +2 LA as long as it is really worth it. Multiclass penalties do not apply. Templates welcome, and I am looking strongly at adding dragonborn to any race I take(+2 con, -2 dex). Martial Adept question now. If I have a level in Crusader, and then level in Warblade, are the crusader disciplines still available for new maneuvers, or can I only pick from warblade disciplines at warblade levels? Also, if I have 3 maneuvers allowed to be readied, can I ready the same one 3 times? Is there a non homebrew feat or something I can take for powerful build, as I am considering a trip/grapple build. Most books available, no magazines or web enhancements. We dont own the book with lesser aasimar and such, so those races are not allowed unfortunately.
#2 Tempest_Stormwind Mar 18, 2012 9:54:03	I am looking for a strong race for my character. I do have level adjustment buyoff available, but would strongly prefer to find a +0 LA race. I am not totally against +1 or +2 LA as long as it is really worth it. Multiclass penalties do not apply. Templates welcome, and I am looking strongly at adding dragonborn to any race I take(+2 con, -2 dex). LA+0: Human, Warforged (EbCS/RoE), Mongrelfolk (RoD, underrated), Water Orc (I can never remember the source on this one.). LA+1: Goliath (RoS), Half-Giant (XPH/SRD) LA+2: Karsite. (ToM, unusual choice, slightly better for crusaders than warblades, but give it a gander.) Dragonborn, of course, is still a good choice, particularly with the +Con races on this list. Martial Adept question now. If I have a level in Crusader, and then level in Warblade, are the crusader disciplines still available for new maneuvers, or can I only pick from warblade disciplines at warblade levels? Also, if I have 3 maneuvers allowed to be readied, can I ready the same one 3 times? Each class is independent (mostly). If you're a crusader and you take a level in warblade, you have to choose your warblade maneuvers from the five warblade disciplines. However, your crusader maneuvers do interact with it slightly - you can't learn a maneuver more than once (even from different classes), and maneuvers and stances don't care where they came from when checking prerequisites. (That is, if you know Battle Leader's Charge as a crusader, you can't learn it as a warblade... but you are considered to know a White Raven maneuver when choosing your warblade moves, so you can choose White Raven Tactics.) Similarly, your maneuvers recover independently - your warblade maneuvers won't recover when your crusader maneuvers do, and vice versa. (Adaptive Style will work for both of them simultaneously.) Similarly, a maneuver is READY or it is NOT READY. You don't have slots to fill - you can't ready a maneuver more than once. Is there a non homebrew feat or something I can take for powerful build, as I am considering a trip/grapple build. The closest is Jotenbrud, a Forgotten Realms regional feat that gives you a non-stacking version of the size-modifier half of Powerful Build. ("non-stacking" means that it says you're treated as Large, instead of saying you're treated as one size larger, so it won't stack with size increases.)
#3 guest919208287 Mar 18, 2012 11:54:36	Thanks a bunch.
#4 draco1119 Mar 18, 2012 11:59:48	LA+0: Human, Warforged (EbCS/RoE), Mongrelfolk (RoD, underrated), Water Orc (I can never remember the source on this one.). LA+1: Goliath (RoS), Half-Giant (XPH/SRD) LA+2: Karsite. (ToM, unusual choice, slightly better for crusaders than warblades, but give it a gander.) I would second Human, Warforged, and Goliath. With a 1-level Barbarian dip as a Goliath, you can get Pounce (from Complete Cheeseball Champion) and actually be Large during rages with the Mountain Rage ACF in RoS. And Water Orc is in Uneathed Arcana.
#5 Slagger_the_Chuul Mar 18, 2012 12:41:30	With a 1-level Barbarian dip as a Goliath, you can get Pounce (from Complete Cheeseball Champion) and actually be Large during rages with the Mountain Rage ACF in RoS. I think I'd actually have to call it Complete Awesome for giving easy access to an ability that every standard melee type wants and needs. Once you've seen it, you start to wonder why they didn't build a method for combining movement and multiple attacks into every melee class (since, without it, full BAB just doesn't mean as much).
#6 The_Fred Mar 23, 2012 17:55:35	And yet with it, positioning and mobility don't mean so much. Also, it sucks for anyone who can't take a Barbarian level.
#7 Slagger_the_Chuul Mar 23, 2012 21:33:38	And yet with it, positioning and mobility don't mean so much. Also, it sucks for anyone who can't take a Barbarian level. Iterative attacks are on the other side of that, since they're otherwise hard to use, and it really just makes positioning and mobility important in different ways (since charging requires its own positioning and movement to use). It would, of course, be much better if the various melee-heavy classes included their own ways to combine movement and attacks. Qualifying for the barbarian level isn't too difficult, since you merely need to be non-lawful at some point and the ability is worth the dip even without any other abilities from the class (so becoming an ex-barbarian is entirely viable). I find it more troublesome from the point of view of flavour and XP penalties, myself.