Bo9S: mixing and matching disciplines by class

[Gloombunny]

Someone with a bit more Bo9S play experience than me help me out here. Are there balance-related reasons why certain disciplines can only be used by certain classes, or is it just fluff? If, say, a warblade could pick from Shadow Hand when learning maneuvers, would that be too strong? What if she gives up access to one of the warblade disciplines in exchange? What if it costs a feat to open up a new discipline?

My GM is generally pretty flexible about this sort of thing and will most likely be happy to work with me to get what we want, but I'd like to have a better idea of what we might or might not be breaking by having a warblade teleport around and throw shadow-nooses.

 

[Arkhandus]

Part of it is definitely flavor.

Another part is probably a balance consideration that the designers thought of. For example, many Devoted Spirit maneuvers are quite powerful, and a Warblade has a very easy recovery mechanic, so being able to learn and initiate Strike of Righteous Vitality every other round would probably be overpowered. Normally, through Martial Study and Martial Stance feats, they might be able to learn it by spending half a dozen feats or so (3 on Martial Study, and a few on Martial Stance inbetween, to qualify for SoRV). Divine Surge and Greater Divine Surge are pretty strong too.

Also, most likely, if every martial adept had access to any disciplines they wanted, many martial adepts would end up with the same set of maneuvers/stances, optimizing by taking the most broken or breakable maneuvers from each discipline. There are comparatively fewer available to each individual martial adept class, and of them, only Warblades have the easy, quick recovery mechanic to get the most out of any broken combos.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

I currently run a game like this and don't see any real problem. I've got a Swordsage who still only took a mix of swordsage specialty maneuvers and a multiclass Fighter 4/Warblade 1 who took Devoted Spirit maneuvers.
No balance issues yet; The Swordsage appears to be made of tissue paper, and the fighter was built to be defensive so won't always land those strikes against higher level foes.

 

[Nifft]

Someone with a bit more Bo9S play experience than me help me out here. Are there balance-related reasons why certain disciplines can only be used by certain classes, or is it just fluff? If, say, a warblade could pick from Shadow Hand when learning maneuvers, would that be too strong? What if she gives up access to one of the warblade disciplines in exchange? What if it costs a feat to open up a new discipline?

My GM is generally pretty flexible about this sort of thing and will most likely be happy to work with me to get what we want, but I'd like to have a better idea of what we might or might not be breaking by having a warblade teleport around and throw shadow-nooses.

I like to think of the schools in "tiers", based on both power and exclusivity.

IMHO there are three top tier schools: Divine Spirit, Iron Heart and Shadow Hand.

There are four mid-tier schools: Desert Wind, Diamond Mind, White Raven, and Tiger Claw.

... and there are two lesser schools: Stone Dragon, Setting Sun.

I'd let a PC trade across tiers (e.g. Iron Heart -> Shadow Hand), or trade down (e.g: dumping Iron Heart and picking up Desert Wind would be fine).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Gloombunny]

I like to think of the schools in "tiers", based on both power and exclusivity.

IMHO there are three top tier schools: Divine Spirit, Iron Heart and Shadow Hand.

There are four mid-tier schools: Desert Wind, Diamond Mind, White Raven, and Tiger Claw.

... and there are two lesser schools: Stone Dragon, Setting Sun.

I'd let a PC trade across tiers (e.g. Iron Heart -> Shadow Hand), or trade down (e.g: dumping Iron Heart and picking up Desert Wind would be fine).

As much as I wanted to have both Iron Heart and Shadow Hand maneuvers on this character, I have to admit that that sounds very sensible.