Andor
First Post
Okay, so Martial Manuevers are the result of a correctly performed manipulation of a weapon. Since it's related to the rest of combat, your Initiator level goes up even it you're not in a martial adept class at a rate of 1/2 non MA class levels. All makes sense so far, kinda.
If it's a combat skill thing, why does a Wizard gain Initiator levels as fast as a Fiighter? Wouldn't it make more sense to base it off of a characters Base Attack Bonus? Say 1/2 BAB rounded up?
Well, Sure, but then the Sword Sage looks kinda funny doesn't he? The master of Martial Manuevers should seem to have a slower Initiator level progression then the other two classes. He's still a Martial Adept class, so you could ignore it... But it looks funny.
Well why don't we just make the Sword Sage a full BAB class?
You can't do that! It'd be unbalanced!
Why?
Errr... The Sword Sage has more manuvers than anyone else.
Really? He can use more manuevers per combat than the Crusader or War Blade?
Well... No. Not if it's a long combat. The Crusader always has at least one Manuever available, and the Warblade can refresh cheaply. The Sword Sage actually has the slowest recovery of the three classes and in a long battle can either run out or use one manuever every other turn. Or he can spend a feat to recover his manuevers almost as well as the others do by default...
Oh. So more stances?
Uh. On paper, but you can only use one stance at a time. Unless you are a 20th level Warblade.
Ah. So a Sword Sage is tougher than the other two?
No. Not at all. He has the fewest hit points and the worst Armour class.
Right. So, it's his high skill points that make him powerful?
He does get a lot of skill points. Although he doesn't actually have any of the power skills on his list. No Spot, Search, Disable Device, Diplomacy, Bluff, Sleight of Hand, etc...
Huh. His class abilities are better than those of the Warblade and Crusader?
Not so much.
Gotcha. So why not give the Sword Sage a full BAB?
Uh. He's monk like? Then all the classes in the book would look alike? 3/4th BAB progression is sexy?
So what do you guys think? Would there be a downside to giving the Sword Sage a full BAB and making Initiator levels equal to MA levels + 1/2 BAB from non MA classes? Is there no point to this train of thought? Should I have ordered the tunafish?
If it's a combat skill thing, why does a Wizard gain Initiator levels as fast as a Fiighter? Wouldn't it make more sense to base it off of a characters Base Attack Bonus? Say 1/2 BAB rounded up?
Well, Sure, but then the Sword Sage looks kinda funny doesn't he? The master of Martial Manuevers should seem to have a slower Initiator level progression then the other two classes. He's still a Martial Adept class, so you could ignore it... But it looks funny.
Well why don't we just make the Sword Sage a full BAB class?
You can't do that! It'd be unbalanced!
Why?
Errr... The Sword Sage has more manuvers than anyone else.
Really? He can use more manuevers per combat than the Crusader or War Blade?
Well... No. Not if it's a long combat. The Crusader always has at least one Manuever available, and the Warblade can refresh cheaply. The Sword Sage actually has the slowest recovery of the three classes and in a long battle can either run out or use one manuever every other turn. Or he can spend a feat to recover his manuevers almost as well as the others do by default...
Oh. So more stances?
Uh. On paper, but you can only use one stance at a time. Unless you are a 20th level Warblade.
Ah. So a Sword Sage is tougher than the other two?
No. Not at all. He has the fewest hit points and the worst Armour class.
Right. So, it's his high skill points that make him powerful?
He does get a lot of skill points. Although he doesn't actually have any of the power skills on his list. No Spot, Search, Disable Device, Diplomacy, Bluff, Sleight of Hand, etc...
Huh. His class abilities are better than those of the Warblade and Crusader?
Not so much.
Gotcha. So why not give the Sword Sage a full BAB?
Uh. He's monk like? Then all the classes in the book would look alike? 3/4th BAB progression is sexy?
So what do you guys think? Would there be a downside to giving the Sword Sage a full BAB and making Initiator levels equal to MA levels + 1/2 BAB from non MA classes? Is there no point to this train of thought? Should I have ordered the tunafish?