Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Andarious-Rosethorn Jul 13, 2014 16:44:42	I'm playing a game right now in which a friend really wants to play a Dervish. Game's started and he opened with 3 fighter levels. I didn't really get a chance to try and help him optimize a bit prior to game start but might still have a chance to retcon him a bit (the DM's super lenient). So... without not using Dervish (he's pretty bent on it) what can be done here?   This is my theory thus far   Race: Human (Assume ability scores that can meet most melee feat requirements)   Stub: Swashbuckler 1, Ranger 2, Fighter (Hit and Run) 1, Warblade 1, Dervish 10, Bloodclaw Master 3, Warblade +2 Final BAB 19, Final IL 13   Feats 1 (Weapon Finesse*, Combat Expertise, Dodge), 2 (Track), 3 (Two Weapon Fighting*, Mobility), 4 (Weapon Focus: Scimitar*), 6 (Elusive Target), 9 (Spring Attack*, Improved Critical), 12 (Staggering Critical), 15 (Combat Reflexes), 18 (Robilar's Gambit)   Gear needs: Gloves of the Balanced Hand, Init Boosters like    Once you get into Bloodclaw Master it's quite worth it to switch over to Kukri instead of Scimitar's. The large number of attacks you make (and gigantic threat range) makes getting Staggering Critical to trigger a bit of a joke, and thus actually makes this build kind of effective if a bit late. At lower levels it's dependant on a fair bit of buffing to shine but can amplify effects like Bardic Music quite nicely.   Anyone got any input on this idea?
#2 Tempest_Stormwind Jul 13, 2014 18:47:15	Best use of Dervish I've seen. Similarities to our own Edge of the Light are purely coincidental.   If he's fixed on human, your approach is a fairly classical dervish with Staggering Strike and a tiny sublime way dip. Personally I favor the Power Dervish route (use a falchion and Power Attack), since it helps keep the feat demands down, but you do what you can.   In either case, I'd probably just mention that the swordsage is as good a dervish as the dervish, and just lacks the evocative name.
#3 Andarious-Rosethorn Jul 13, 2014 22:29:53	Yeah, I have suggested Swordsage and it's been seconded but the player in question is bent on using the class itself. The Power Dervish makes all kinds of sense to me, part of this player's love of the dervish is the 1000 cuts style so it wouldn't fly. Meanwhile Swordsage or even Warblade can use Pouncing Charge AND Raging Mongoose, which is dramatically more rechargable than 1000 cuts. Oh well.
#4 Tempest_Stormwind Jul 14, 2014 8:26:53	Well, then, may as well run with it. Pull some of Minavakri's stunts with Spring Attack (up to Bouning Assault, also possibly with Shi'Quos School) to pull off dances without actually dancing, and dig up the crit-fishing weapon enhancements (Enervating, Dessicating Burst, etc.). And have a cleric cover for you, as most pre-Tome warriors would secretly need.