Book of Nine Swords -- okay?

[hong]

For me, the Book of 9 Swords has a different problem -- not one in terms of it being overwhelmingly powerful (though it is pretty strong compared to, say, Tome of Magic's options), but rather its paradigm; one that is new to D&D, really.

The only problem I've ever had with Book of Nine Swords is the whole core idea of the book -- the "per encounter" balancing. For me, being able to do supernatural over-the-top actions every minute of the day without any resource limitations just changes D&D to a level of the fantastic that I personally don't like. I don't mind the option, but the thing that does concern me is all the people who are raving that "this should be the way the core rules are written." For me, when I want that level of the fantastic, I play Feng Shui. D&D has for me been about heroes with resources who have to struggle a bit from time to time, and who have to measure those resources against the opposition. (I'm not talking tactics or strategy, but the overall story premise of a hero who has to use his advantages wisely.) Encounter-based magics however, never run out, and never put the hero in a disadvantages situation. And if the hero has a maneuver available every single round of a combat (which the crusader, warblade, and swordsage do, because rarely do combats last more than 5 rounds), I don't call it a disadvantage.

Hit points.

 

[hong]

Although (and I mentioned this before on Malhavoc's Iron Heroes forum) a game where even hit points refreshed after every encounter could be very interesting. Basically you're fresh, or you're dead. Or maybe severely injured -- ability damage might still carry over, or there could be a threshold below which hit points don't come back.

 

[Seeten]

Crusaders can refresh their HP too.

Throw in a Dragon Shaman with the heal aura, if no crusaders are available. =)

Warblades and Swordsages can take devoted spirit heals with feats, too.

 

[hong]

I didn't look that closely at the crusader, but my impression was that their healing isn't going to keep pace with damage dealt, at high levels.

 

[KarinsDad]

Although (and I mentioned this before on Malhavoc's Iron Heroes forum) a game where even hit points refreshed after every encounter could be very interesting. Basically you're fresh, or you're dead. Or maybe severely injured -- ability damage might still carry over, or there could be a threshold below which hit points don't come back.

Persistent Lesser Vigor the night before.

Every PC is refreshed for hit points within 5 to 20 minutes after each combat with no other healing involved.

This would allow for about 45 to 150 fully fresh one minute encounters per day and still have 8 hours of rest and an hour to get back spells. More if the PCs are not that damaged in a given encounter. Less if the spell gets dispelled.

 

[blargney the second]

I didn't look that closely at the crusader, but my impression was that their healing isn't going to keep pace with damage dealt, at high levels.

You're right - it isn't going to keep up. But it's still useful to be able to cure some damage every encounter.

My theory is that the warblade set off so many people's reads-bad radar that the crusader evaded much notice/scathing criticism. It's an awesome class that actually offers a lot more than I think it's given credit for.
-blarg

 

[Nifft]

The Crusader's big trick has to do with Stone Power and Delayed Damage Pool. The idea is to keep as much damage as possible in your Delayed Damage Pool, and then negate up to 10 points of it at the start of your round with Stone Power.

They can tank like nobody else thanks to that little trick, so long as they stock up on a few Stone Dragon strikes.

That trick, combined with some healing maneuvers, is enough to keep them alive at low to mid levels. (At high levels, the maneuver that gives you a heal does most of the heavy lifting.) At least, this is what I've heard.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Seeten]

Crusaders can heal with every melee strike, and further, their maneuvers refresh automagically, no actions required, so they can keep healing.

 

[Seeten]

You're right - it isn't going to keep up. But it's still useful to be able to cure some damage every encounter.

My theory is that the warblade set off so many people's reads-bad radar that the crusader evaded much notice/scathing criticism. It's an awesome class that actually offers a lot more than I think it's given credit for.
-blarg

I am currently playing a Crusader. Its awesome.

 

[FireLance]

They can tank like nobody else thanks to that little trick, so long as they stock up on a few Stone Dragon strikes.

Stone Power also works with the attack and full attack action, so if you really need those hp and you don't have any Stone Dragon strikes, you can just make a melee attack.