Help with Duskblade

[Khaotickk]

This is my first post on this website, be gentle.
I've been playing with my cousin (DM) for about 2 years now. We have had a long break but bringing it back up soon.
I need help with how to maximize my potential to maximize damage output. I could also use some help with his progression into epic levels, cap is 30. His cap is 29 because of the level adjustment.


My character is a goliath duskblade 14 (ECL 15), and has ability to cast 4th level spells. When fully buffed out, here are his stats:
HP 150
AC 22 (50% miss chance with Cloak of Greater Displacement with 50% miss chance)
BAB 14 (Attack bonus of 22 when maxed buff with +2 Greatsword)
STR 26
DEX 10
CON 16
INT 18
WIS 15
CHA 8


He is giving me the option to swap out 1 feat (EDIT: He is limiting Power Attack to +5 BAB rather than full value. Also Arcane Strike, a feat I do not possess, he limited it to one spell rather than the ridiculousness I tried to convince him letting me do by letting me sack a number of spells to get my full BAB as extra d4 damage, 14d4 per attack for one round)


KNOWLEDGE DEVOTION
SOMATIC WEAPONRY
ARCANE DISCIPLE
POWER ATTACK
LEAP ATTACK
CLEAVE
IMPROVED CRITICAL


Possible Prestige classes/classes to branch to:
Your input here?

 

[Empirate]

First thing that springs to mind is get rid of Somatic Weaponry. Using a two-handed weapon, you can use one hand for casting, then put it back on the weapon hilt whenever you want to whack something as a free action. SW is just one more way of screwing with TWF.

 

[Greenfield]

Just running numbers...

26 Str is +8 bonus.

14 BAB from levels plus 8 STR bonus makes the 22 attack bonus you mentioned.

But you also mentioned a +2 Greatsword.

I mean maximizing damage is nice, but don't you have to hit first?

And an AC of 22 at 15th level? Pretty much every melee critter of anything close to your level is going to hit you. You're leading with your face there.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

You might want to take this to http://www.enworld.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?363-Rogues-Gallery-Character-Builds-amp-Optimization

That said, what books are allowed? What is your spell selection?

What Empirate is referring to is that WotC has clarified that taking one's hand off a 2-handed weapon is a free action, as is putting it back on, so long as you aren't attacking with it. Thus you can take a hand off and cast a spell which would obviate the need for Somatic Weaponry, assuming your DM allows it anyway. I think that was in the FAQ, but I don't remember the specific source off the top of my head.

Edit: Aha. I found the WotC article detailing that stuff about spells. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20041102a The ruling is under the Adjacent Squares and Reach Weapons heading.

Be wary of taking Improved Critical in later levels. A larger percentage of enemies at higher levels tend to be immune to crits either through equipment, spells, or simply because of type. Luckily you've still got decent damage without relying on crits so you're doing alright without it.

I'm guessing you guys aren't using Unearthed Arcana, or if you are the LA buyoff rules aren't in effect? They're quite handy and WotC rightly put it when they said LA tends to get overshadowed by class levels and eventually ceases to make the character so much more powerful that they deserve to effectively be a level lower.

If you haven't already looked at it, Dictuum Motuum's The Duskblade Handbook should be a good read to see what's good and what's not.