[Bo9S] Notes on swordsage in play

[KerlanRayne]

Hong, how is One With Shadow helping at all with Greater Insightful Strike? I must be missing something there.

KerlanRayne

 

[Egres]

Hong, how is One With Shadow helping at all with Greater Insightful Strike? I must be missing something there.

KerlanRayne

An incorporeal creature’s attacks pass through (ignore) natural armor, armor, and shields

 

[Vysirez]

An incorporeal creature’s attacks pass through (ignore) natural armor, armor, and shields

And he has a ghost touch weapon, so he obviously planned that one in advance.

I have to agree with some of the other posters, great thread. I definitely like the info on how it's playing for you. Also wanted to make a comment on your boost thing, I think it just happens to do with the schools you focus in, Desert Wind and Tiger's claw are a bit more boost heavy. Now that you have played the character a bit, I would guess you might drop some of the strikes and grab a few more boosts, but donno really.

Course I also have to admit that I would have a really hard time making a swordsage without the shadow hand feat that gives dex to damage if your in a shadow hand stance and using XYZ weapons.

 

[hong]

And he has a ghost touch weapon, so he obviously planned that one in advance.

Actually, no. I DID have another cunning plan that involved being incorporeal, but the DM shot it down. But I kept one with shadow anyway because it's still great for defense, and the ghost touch weapon because 1) I'm generally paranoid about incorporeal draining undead; 2) I like the weapon theme (reaver of spirits). The synergy with greater insightful strike came in a flash of inspiration in the first fight against the marilith.

I have to agree with some of the other posters, great thread. I definitely like the info on how it's playing for you. Also wanted to make a comment on your boost thing, I think it just happens to do with the schools you focus in, Desert Wind and Tiger's claw are a bit more boost heavy. Now that you have played the character a bit, I would guess you might drop some of the strikes and grab a few more boosts, but donno really.

Yeah, I think if I were to respec the character, I might pick up dancing mongoose and raging mongoose and drop some of the low-level strikes. Still, it's a pretty effective build now that I've gained some experience.

Course I also have to admit that I would have a really hard time making a swordsage without the shadow hand feat that gives dex to damage if your in a shadow hand stance and using XYZ weapons.

Weapon of choice for a Shadow Hand swordsage is definitely spiked chain. Even ignoring the trip/disarm cheese, you get reach, Dex to damage, 2-handed damage and 2-handed Power Attack. It would be heavy on the feats, though.

 

[KerlanRayne]

I was under the impression that a Ghost Touch weapon would not work if the weapon itself was incorporeal, only if the user was. I have seen discussions saying you can't use a Ghost Touch weapon to negate the penalties while using Blink because it only crosses one direction. Does it not work for a different reason that doesn't affect this character?

KerlanRayne

 

[Vysirez]

Ghost touch doesnt work for blink because you are not incorporal, you are ethereal. At least part of the time. Ghost touch doesnt work vs ethereal, just incorporal

 

[kibbitz]

Actually, no. I DID have another cunning plan that involved being incorporeal, but the DM shot it down. But I kept one with shadow anyway because it's still great for defense, and the ghost touch weapon because 1) I'm generally paranoid about incorporeal draining undead; 2) I like the weapon theme (reaver of spirits). The synergy with greater insightful strike came in a flash of inspiration in the first fight against the marilith.

Could you reveal what that cunning plan involves and on what grounds was it shot down on?

 

[hong]

Could you reveal what that cunning plan involves and on what grounds was it shot down on?

One with shadow + diamond nightmare blade + Power Attack =

Unfortunately I forgot that if you're incorporeal you lose your Str score, so you no longer meet the Str 13 prereq for Power Attack =

 

[Egres]

wrong thread, please ignore.

 

[kibbitz]

One with shadow + diamond nightmare blade + Power Attack =

Unfortunately I forgot that if you're incorporeal you lose your Str score, so you no longer meet the Str 13 prereq for Power Attack =

Wow... I can't imagine the devastation if there was some way to allow your Str to apply under incorporeality