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Message: <blockquote data-quote="brehobit" data-source="post: 3624977" data-attributes="member: 12032">OK, thesis time.The Bo9S classes appear to me to be significantly unbalanced at levels 1-5, and mildly balanced  in the 6-8 range.  I don't have any in-game experience past that.  Oddly, the warblade is likely the least powerful of the Bo9S classes at all levels.At lower levels these classes can use their strikes without losing multiple attacks (they, and everyone else, don't get them).  So using a strike has no disadvantage at all at levels 1-5.  As the 2nd level and above strikes can be very powerful (+2d6 damage, ignore DR being one of the best) this benefit is quite significant.  At 5th level deathmark becomes available for swordsages.  6d6 fireball (needs an attack to hit, can use once per fight) in a 10' radius PLUS your normal damage is pretty darn huge at 5th level.  The sorc. or warmage can't even cast a fireball at this level, and a medium BAB warrior type is doing it every fight.Further, the low-level stances are very nice indeed for swordsages and crusaders.  At 2nd level a swordsage can chose between flanking from any angle (so any 2 or more people next to the same target are always flanking) or gain the ability to freely move through rough terrain and take a +2 to attack anyone in rough terrain.  In my experience both of these are very useful during levels 1-4.  And the level 3 stances for a swordsage are huge.  +2d6 sneak attack is really nice.  Crusaders do quite well with healing 2 hps per hit at these levels.  Finally, the misc. bonuses are very significant.  The damage absorption ability of a crusader means that they are often attacking at +1 attack, +1 damage at levels 3-5 or so.  Adding your Wisdom to AC in light armor has a large impact and at lower levels leaves the monk in the dust (the swordsage will generally have a +4 AC advantage over a monk at levels 2-5).  The crusader's ability to reroll one save a day is not as huge at these levels as it will be, but it can be hugely important.At higher levels, a number of these issues go away.  Strikes become balanced against multiple attacks. Stances become balanced by having only one active at a time (where other classes get weaker abilities that each can be used at the same time).  The cool class abilties tend not to get that much more cool at higher levels.  But these classes are very powerful at levels 1-5.  And IMO, still slightly above the bar past those levels.  IME, warrior classes tend to dominate casters in effectiveness until level 5 or so when casters start to dominate.  the Bo9S just exaggerates the problem on the low end while providing only mild relief on the high end.  The system, powers and rules ARE very cool however, which is why I generally allow them in my games.  But broken?  I'd have to say yes at lower levels....Mark</blockquote>

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