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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arkhandus" data-source="post: 3795110" data-attributes="member: 13966">The martial adepts are certainly at their best during the first 6-8 levels.  Clerics and druids tend to reach that point during their 7th-10th levels I think, fighter-types at the first 1-4 levels, and rogue-types at the upper levels maybe....Oh, the MAD really is kinda bad, though.  A majority of Swordsage strikes allow saving throws for half, partial, or no effect, and those maneuvers have their save DCs based on Strength or Wisdom modifier (even worse if the swordsage takes Martial Study for a few Devoted Spirit strikes that base their saves on the initiator's Charisma modifier).Not only will a swordsage in a decent or low point-buy have very mediocre AC, attack bonuses, and hit points, but their maneuvers will all suffer from low-to-mediocre save DCs, meaning that half or most of the time, enemies will suffer little or no effect from the swordsage's strike maneuvers.Death Mark is only a tiny fireball if your target is human-sized or smaller.  Not likely to hit many opponents unless they're clustered together.  And if you're fighting giants or whatnot, the amount of space they each take up will still mean you only hit a few of them with Death Mark.  Still, it is definitely one of the stronger maneuvers.Also: that halfling build requires 3rd level before it even starts to work decently, since they need 2 feats and only get 1 at 1st-level; and it makes Escape Artist ranks a priority, since it's really, really bad to be a melee guy who suffers -5 on all grapple checks, and has only a mediocre BAB (so effectively between -6 and -10 compared to a human fighter).  Chuuls, giant snakes, and other beasties, not to mention giants and such, will crush the life out of him in no time flat.Also, the halfling still does less damage than a human or half-orc with a greatsword (and still has a lower attack bonus than said swordsman, if the swordsman is a fighter or barbarian), and sucks at the Strength checks for trip attempts with his chain.  Of course, he can spend two more feats, at 6th and 9th level, to eventually overcome some of that with Combat Expertise and Improved Trip; and then continue to be feat-starved....Also, you mean +6d6 damage for a rogue of the same level; cuz Mr. Rogue will be flanking and sneak attacking with Two-Weapon Fighting and a pair of short swords; he'll be attacking twice for 4d6 damage each, so it'll come out to basically the same total (8d6 + 1-1/2 x Str mod) as a Swordsage using Death Mark with a greatsword.A bit less accurate to be sure, but the Rogue will be doing it every round that he can, while the Swordsage will only be using Death Mark once per battle, maybe twice if he wastes a round on recovering it.  Though at least the Swordsage will sometimes hit multiple opponents with the 6d6 fire damage (and of course, a Rogue's attacks can't be saved against; the Swordsage's Death Mark allows a Reflex save for half damage; which consequently Rogues and Swordsages and Monks can evade entirely with Evasion, though it takes longer for Swordsages to gain Evasion).</blockquote>

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