Critique my Warblade's maneuvers

[Asmor]

I'm working on a level 17 warblade for an upcoming game. My concept is a lawful neutral monk-type, a leader among his allies and a fearsome foe to his enemies. I'll be wielding a pair of kukris, taking all the things to improve them and two-weapon fighting.

These are the maneuvers and stances I've chosen. Note that I might get more with my bonus feats if I take the extra maneuver and/or stance ones:

Stances

Leading the Charge (White Raven)
Press the Advantage (White Raven)
Blood in the Water (Tiger Claw) *
Wolf Pack Tactics (Tiger Claw)

Level 1:
Sudden Leap (Tiger Claw)
Wolf Fang Strike (Tiger Claw)
Douse the Flames (White Raven)
Leading the Attack (White Raven)

Level 2: Wall of Blades (Iron Heart)
Level 3: White Raven Tactics (White Raven)
Level 4: Death from Above (Tiger Claw)
Level 5: Dancing Mongoose (Tiger Claw)
Level 6: Wolf Climbs the Mountain (Tiger Claw)
Level 7: Clarion Call (White Raven)
Level 8: Raging Mongoose (Tiger Claw)
Level 9: War Master's Charge (White Raven)

*I wasn't a fan of this stance (Blood in the Water) at first, but I just realized that with improved critical gives my kukris 15-20 threat range, and with greater two-weapon fighting I'd get 7 attacks per round... 11 attacks if I use my raging mongoose ability!

 

[kerbarian]

I assume you mean a warblade, not swordsage? Swordsages don't have access to white raven and would have more maneuvers known.

 

[Dracomeander]

If your character is just a 17th level Swordsage, he is completely illegal. Swordsages do not have access to White Raven and Iron Heart techniques without the use of feats (limited to three maneuvers from Martial Study and however many times Martial Stance is taken) or going into the various Prestige classes such as Master of Nine.

Swordsages gain the most options that specifically boost their ability to use their maneuvers, but they do not gain any free choice bonus feats. So you will be severely hurting to take all the feats you are proposing without a house rule to grant characters additional feats.

Also, the threat range for the kukri with improved critical is 15 - 20, not 14 - 20.


edit: kerbarian caught what I missed. I've been working on swordsages lately and forgot about the warblade.

 

[Asmor]

Yes, I did mean warblade. Many apologies. The names sound similar and I keep confusing them in my head... Plus, when I originally decided to play a martial adept I started with a swordsage, but just changed my mind...

 

[RigaMortus2]

Plus, when I originally decided to play a martial adept I started with a swordsage, but just changed my mind...

As did I

 

[FireLance]

You do realize that from 4th level and every even level after that, you can swop out a maneuver you know for another one of the highest level you can initiate? At 14th level, you could swop out Death from Above for Swooping Dragon Strike, for example.

A minor point, but a warblade can't take extra maneuvers and stances with his bonus feats. You'll have to use your regular feats for that.

 

[Asmor]

Heh, I hadn't even looked at the list of bonus feats. That's kinda annoying.

And thanks for reminding me about the swapping! I totally forgot about it!

 

[Asmor]

I've attached my finished warblade.

Only thing I'm not positive about is whether I can use kukris with vow of poverty... It says only simple weapons, but it also adds simple to everything else it says you can use. Simple clothes, simple bag... So I'm not sure if it actually means simple weapons as opposed to martial or exotic (for example, I don't see why a monk with VoP couldn't use a kama), or if it's just driving home the point that it can't be special. If I can't use kukris, I'd probably switch to a quarterstaff and take weapon focus instead of improved critical.

 

[Korak]

Simple weapons really does refer to the category. Most simple weapons are 1gp or less in value, which is why they are allowed.

 

[Asmor]

Thanks. I was afraid that might be the case. :/

I'd like to do the quarterstaff, but I realized it's not finessable. That leaves me with sickles or daggers... I think I'll switch to sickles and change the improved critical feat to two-weapon defense.