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[Bo9S] Notes on swordsage in play
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<blockquote data-quote="hong" data-source="post: 3306027" data-attributes="member: 537"><p>More thoughts on the session:</p><p></p><p>- Pouncing Charge saw some use, but since my BAB isn't that high, the iterative attacks tended to miss. Maybe in combination with One With Shadow it would have been more effective -- but that would also mean no Str bonus to damage, and I'd rather save OWS for GIS.</p><p></p><p>- I never used Rabid Bear Strike. Maybe I should have used it more, but an extra +10d6 damage didn't seem that great at the time.</p><p></p><p>- Bloodletting Strike could have been useful (4 Con damage, Fort save for half).</p><p></p><p>- I used Emerald Razor + Power Attack once, but that only added up to 40-odd damage.</p><p></p><p>I generally went into fights with 4-5 strikes readied, with save and move maneuvers making up the rest. I didn't end up needing any of the save counters, but by Murphy's law as soon as I drop them I'll end up needing them....</p><p></p><p>Choosing which maneuver to use was also made more complicated by the constraints on actions in a round. Eg I can use raging mongoose to get extra attacks, but that means no teleporting away afterwards. Or I can use cloak of deception, but not if I've already changed stances. Etcetera. This is possibly the system working as designed.</p><p></p><p>Not only does the medium BAB hurt the damage output, but also all those Setting Sun maneuvers that depend on opposed attack rolls. I didn't see much point picking up (and readying) a maneuver to redirect an attack 1/encounter when my attack bonus is +28 at best, including party buffs. (Don't forget also that every immediate action used to evade an attack is a swift action that could have been used for a boost.)</p><p></p><p>Now that I look at it again, a pure swordsage seems designed more for the sneaky/JOAT end of the spectrum: a great class to solo a dungeon with, but a fifth wheel in a party environment. Since I was looking for someone who could mix it in a fight, maybe I should have multiclassed with warblade. It stands to reason that a more martial-oriented character would borrow stuff from the martial specialist class.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hong, post: 3306027, member: 537"] More thoughts on the session: - Pouncing Charge saw some use, but since my BAB isn't that high, the iterative attacks tended to miss. Maybe in combination with One With Shadow it would have been more effective -- but that would also mean no Str bonus to damage, and I'd rather save OWS for GIS. - I never used Rabid Bear Strike. Maybe I should have used it more, but an extra +10d6 damage didn't seem that great at the time. - Bloodletting Strike could have been useful (4 Con damage, Fort save for half). - I used Emerald Razor + Power Attack once, but that only added up to 40-odd damage. I generally went into fights with 4-5 strikes readied, with save and move maneuvers making up the rest. I didn't end up needing any of the save counters, but by Murphy's law as soon as I drop them I'll end up needing them.... Choosing which maneuver to use was also made more complicated by the constraints on actions in a round. Eg I can use raging mongoose to get extra attacks, but that means no teleporting away afterwards. Or I can use cloak of deception, but not if I've already changed stances. Etcetera. This is possibly the system working as designed. Not only does the medium BAB hurt the damage output, but also all those Setting Sun maneuvers that depend on opposed attack rolls. I didn't see much point picking up (and readying) a maneuver to redirect an attack 1/encounter when my attack bonus is +28 at best, including party buffs. (Don't forget also that every immediate action used to evade an attack is a swift action that could have been used for a boost.) Now that I look at it again, a pure swordsage seems designed more for the sneaky/JOAT end of the spectrum: a great class to solo a dungeon with, but a fifth wheel in a party environment. Since I was looking for someone who could mix it in a fight, maybe I should have multiclassed with warblade. It stands to reason that a more martial-oriented character would borrow stuff from the martial specialist class. [/QUOTE]
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[Bo9S] Notes on swordsage in play
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