Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bigrobc101 Mar 24, 2008 11:19:04	Ok Ive just started play as a Warblade 4, in the savage Tides Adventure. Im looking for a bit of help with going for a battlefield Control Warblade that can still kick out damage. Im currently fighting with a Hooksword and sheild but will most likely be switching to spiked chain when my AC gets better. Stats are Str:18, Dex:12, Con:16, Int:15, Wis:11, Cha:11 All books are allowed, including dragon compendium. Warblade 1 Weapon Focus Exotic Weapon Use Warblade 2 Warblade 3 Martial Study(Crusader strike) Warblade 4 Warblade 5 Combat Reflexes Warblade 6 Martial Stance (Thicket of blades) Fighter 1 Improved Trip Warblade 7 Warblade 8 Mage Slayer Warblade 9 Weapon Spec Warblade 10 Warblade 11 Unnerving Calm Warblade 12 Warblade 13 Blade Meditation Warblade 14 Defensive sweep Warblade 15 Warblade 16 Warblade 17 2 feats at this level Warblade 18 Fighter 2 bonus feat Maneuvers I know so far 1st level Sapphire nightmare Blade Steelwind Steely Strike 2nd level Wall Of Blades Emerald Razor Stances Punishing Stance Leading the Charge Everything is pretty much mutable as all That has happened in the game is Ive been introduced. As this is my replacement character after my artificer bleed to death.
#2 davethemagicweasel Mar 24, 2008 11:42:19	Long-term you're better off as a Warblade 6 / Crusader 2 / Warblade +12 to get Thicket of Blades. That saves you 2 feats on Martial Study+Stance (so you break even after dropping the fighter levels), but also gets you the second pool of maneuvers. That can be used to help qualify for White Raven and Stone Dragon stuff on your Warblade side (normally Warblades don't get enough maneuvers to follow more than than 2, maybe 3, disciplines). Also, the constant recycling maneuvers adds a lot of stamina (e.g. Foehammer and Mountain Hammer both scale well as DR beaters, and having White Raven Tactics on auto-refresh is dynamite). Other than that, Stand Still (XPH/SRD, but its not a psionic feat) is good for battlefield control for things you can't trip (too big/too many limbs/don't have limbs), PHB2 has Defensive Sweep which is nice. Other than that, Stormguard Warrior and Robilar's Gambit is quite good (if you take Robilar's in combo with what you've got already then you'll likely be getting so many AoOs at high levels you won't be able to take advantage of all of them, hence the Stormguard). Personally, I wouldn't bother with Unnerving Calm, Weapon Focus, Weapon Spec or Blade Meditation. Not sure what "Defensive Strike" is?
#3 bigrobc101 Mar 24, 2008 11:56:59	I meant defensive sweep . Only problem with taking Crusader 2, is that I have to wait till level 8 to get thicket of Blades. If I did go for Crusader levels Warblade 1 Adaptive style Exotic Weapon Use Warblade 2 Warblade 3 Stand Still Warblade 4 Warblade 5 Combat Reflexes Warblade 6 Improved Trip Crusader 1 Crusader 2 Warblade 7 Mage Slayer Warblade 8 Warblade 9 Iron heart Aura Warblade 10 Robilar's Gambit Warblade 11 Warblade 12 Warblade 13 Defensive strike bonus warblade feat Warblade 14 Warblade 15 Warblade 16 StormGuard Warrior Warblade 17 Bonues warblade feat Warblade 18
#4 davethemagicweasel Mar 24, 2008 12:34:46	You'd have to move one of Defensive Sweep/Stormguard to level 18 - neither is a Warblade bonus feat (stupid as it is, imo the tactical feats should be on the list). Other than that looks good. Basically, it's up to you whether you're willing to wait for Thicket of Blades, because long-term that'll be better, but at levels 5-7 the first build will probably be better. So, how's this as a compromise. At 5th level you get a Novice Stone Dragon item and use that to get Roots of the Mountain Stance. That means people trying to tumble through your threatened area take a -10 penalty on the check. So it's a sort of "Thicket-lite", which should hopefully tide you over until you get Thicket. But it's your call of course.
#5 archerpwr Mar 24, 2008 12:36:23	You may be able to steal ideas from lockdown 2.0. It's much lighter on IL, but heavier on BC. I believe there was a warblade 20 lockdown version linked in ael's thread. I suggest just using standstill rather than improved trip. Your current version looks quite playable though. Just squeeze in power attack at 3. Take stand still at 6.
#6 cryptictravler Mar 24, 2008 17:15:04	I am playing Savage Tide and I am just a little bit ahead of your group. So a few clues. Those levels of Crusader will be heaven sent. The extra healing will be very nice the the vast number of encounters in weird locations where getting to you to heal is rough. The majority of the nastiest monsters are mellee monsters. Rhagodhesas and those grapple zombies in the first adventure, a couple of pouncing mobs, ect. Iron Guard Glare is a nice way to keep them from eating your party members. You have d12 HD - make it count. Similarly, the 2nd level shield counter is a nice help to allies. Lastly, might I recommend the best weapon in the game. DMG (pg 145) the one handed spiked chain, kusari-gama. It can be read to give the same trip and disarm bonuses as the spiked chain, it definitely gives the same threat range, and it is one handed. Keep that shield, you may want it later.
#7 solaria Mar 25, 2008 11:05:40	Why not take 1 level of swordsage after you reach 17th level? This gives you 6 more maneuvers, 3 readied, at up to 9th level. It will add a lot to your versatility, and you can refresh them all when you use the adaptive style feat to regain them.