Iaijutsu Master gestalt help - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Iaijutsu Master gestalt help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
alastordracul
Apr 25, 2012 18:12:46 I am working on an Iaijutsu Master gestalt for an epic game. I have a few ideas, but I am out of practice. I would like to pair it up with a caster or manifester. I am not sure how to start the build. I would also like access to a few manuevers to make iaijutsu strikes easier. For the race I was thinking human unless someone has a better suggestion. I guess my current build would go Human Paragon3/Fighter2/Warblade5/Iaijutsu Master10//Psion20
#2
Maat_Mons
Apr 26, 2012 21:18:15
I assume human paragon is for adaptive learning. An alternative is the able learner feat (Races of Destiny). That effectively makes anything that you've ever had as a class skill a class skill forever.

Factotum (Dungeonscape) could be good.

If you're going to start at high level, taking the warblade levels later is better.

You should mostly be able to use maneuvers to replace one strike, two cuts. Strike with no thought seems pretty niche; beginning combat within reach of enemies isn't common in my experience. I think you could drop out of iaijutsu master after 5th level without missing much.

My first thought is factotum 8 / iaijutsu master 5 / warblade 7 // psion 20.

Edit: Oh, right. I forgot to mention item familiar (Unearthed Arcana). You can get a bonus on a skill up to your ranks in that skill.
#3
alastordracul
Apr 28, 2012 19:50:14 Thanks for the help. The human paragon is for the adaptive learning as well as feat. The third level is just a might as well. The factotum is a nice add. Feats seem to be something that I may be hurting on. Iaijutsu master has 3 feats for entry plus EWP for the katana. Then psionic feats. Currently I and torn between egoist and kineticist. I have never played a psion myself, but I have ran games with them. I guess my katana would be a good item familiar for boosting iaijutsu focus. Also, does any one think its too much to ask if power points could be invested the same way spells are in item familiars?
#4
deoxhydroxinate
May 07, 2012 22:41:31 IIRC, item familiars can store spell slots or something along those lines. If that's the case, I don't think it would be unreasonable to to ask the DM to tweak it for Psion.

Going off with what Maat suggested (listen to him, he knows what he's talking about) I would second Factotum 8. Take a few Font of Inspiration feats (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/2...). This will let you utilize your Cunning Surge a few extra times in the combat (Typically, anything that allows you to gain extra actions, of any kind, is incredible).

Knowledge Devotion and Collector of Stories would be tremendous help in really boosting your overall damage (make an appropriate knowledge check, use an inspiration point to gain a bonus here). Remember, iaijutsu focus is a skill and you can use an inspiration point here to give it a boost as well (once per skill per day, I believe is how it breaks down).

Touching again on Maat's comments - Iaijutsu Master is dead after 5 levels. Don't go any further! To quote our good friend Admiral Akbar, "IT'S A TRAP!"
#5
Tempest_Stormwind
May 08, 2012 2:49:09
Touching again on Maat's comments - Iaijutsu Master is dead after 5 levels. Don't go any further! To quote our good friend Admiral Akbar, "IT'S A TRAP!"

You might find the discussion here useful when determining exactly how far to go in Iaijutsu Master - in many builds, this one included, even IM5 may be a trap due to the low Charisma synergy in the rest of the build and easy source of extra damage from other abilities. I also include a style-over-stubstance (but useful) build in there that demonstrates how to mix in psionics and iaijutsu in a single build; it isn't gestalt, but splitting it into gestalt (erring on Warblade and Psion in most places) is probably a very good call for here.

That thread also points out a stunt that very few people seem to call attention to in these builds: Combined with a method of quickdraw (i.e. the crystal in the MIC), Sapphire Nightmare Blade lets you trigger iaijutsu on command.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 alastordracul Apr 25, 2012 18:12:46	I am working on an Iaijutsu Master gestalt for an epic game. I have a few ideas, but I am out of practice. I would like to pair it up with a caster or manifester. I am not sure how to start the build. I would also like access to a few manuevers to make iaijutsu strikes easier. For the race I was thinking human unless someone has a better suggestion. I guess my current build would go Human Paragon3/Fighter2/Warblade5/Iaijutsu Master10//Psion20
#2 Maat_Mons Apr 26, 2012 21:18:15	I assume human paragon is for adaptive learning. An alternative is the able learner feat (Races of Destiny). That effectively makes anything that you've ever had as a class skill a class skill forever. Factotum (Dungeonscape) could be good. If you're going to start at high level, taking the warblade levels later is better. You should mostly be able to use maneuvers to replace one strike, two cuts. Strike with no thought seems pretty niche; beginning combat within reach of enemies isn't common in my experience. I think you could drop out of iaijutsu master after 5th level without missing much. My first thought is factotum 8 / iaijutsu master 5 / warblade 7 // psion 20. Edit: Oh, right. I forgot to mention item familiar (Unearthed Arcana). You can get a bonus on a skill up to your ranks in that skill.
#3 alastordracul Apr 28, 2012 19:50:14	Thanks for the help. The human paragon is for the adaptive learning as well as feat. The third level is just a might as well. The factotum is a nice add. Feats seem to be something that I may be hurting on. Iaijutsu master has 3 feats for entry plus EWP for the katana. Then psionic feats. Currently I and torn between egoist and kineticist. I have never played a psion myself, but I have ran games with them. I guess my katana would be a good item familiar for boosting iaijutsu focus. Also, does any one think its too much to ask if power points could be invested the same way spells are in item familiars?
#4 deoxhydroxinate May 07, 2012 22:41:31	IIRC, item familiars can store spell slots or something along those lines. If that's the case, I don't think it would be unreasonable to to ask the DM to tweak it for Psion. Going off with what Maat suggested (listen to him, he knows what he's talking about) I would second Factotum 8. Take a few Font of Inspiration feats (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/2...). This will let you utilize your Cunning Surge a few extra times in the combat (Typically, anything that allows you to gain extra actions, of any kind, is incredible). Knowledge Devotion and Collector of Stories would be tremendous help in really boosting your overall damage (make an appropriate knowledge check, use an inspiration point to gain a bonus here). Remember, iaijutsu focus is a skill and you can use an inspiration point here to give it a boost as well (once per skill per day, I believe is how it breaks down). Touching again on Maat's comments - Iaijutsu Master is dead after 5 levels. Don't go any further! To quote our good friend Admiral Akbar, "IT'S A TRAP!"
#5 Tempest_Stormwind May 08, 2012 2:49:09	Touching again on Maat's comments - Iaijutsu Master is dead after 5 levels. Don't go any further! To quote our good friend Admiral Akbar, "IT'S A TRAP!" You might find the discussion here useful when determining exactly how far to go in Iaijutsu Master - in many builds, this one included, even IM5 may be a trap due to the low Charisma synergy in the rest of the build and easy source of extra damage from other abilities. I also include a style-over-stubstance (but useful) build in there that demonstrates how to mix in psionics and iaijutsu in a single build; it isn't gestalt, but splitting it into gestalt (erring on Warblade and Psion in most places) is probably a very good call for here. That thread also points out a stunt that very few people seem to call attention to in these builds: Combined with a method of quickdraw (i.e. the crystal in the MIC), Sapphire Nightmare Blade lets you trigger iaijutsu on command.