Looking for characterbuilding advice
Just checked with the DM, and as long as I can 'real world' fluff the stuff, pretty much anything from the ToB is okay. Which means that the Swordsage isn't excluded.
I am starting to think perhaps a Warblade/Crusader mix, because healing is in such short supply, the Crusader's maneuvers will be very important to keep the party from dying all the time.
I am starting to think perhaps a Warblade/Crusader mix, because healing is in such short supply, the Crusader's maneuvers will be very important to keep the party from dying all the time.
PolterGhost
First Post
I dunno, a +3 enhancement on a weapon costs 18,000 gp, and the earliest you could possibly have that based on the wealth-by-level chart is level 7, and that's if you have literally no other items to your name. Consider how powerful a person at level 7 is compared to most NPCs in the world and it makes sense that it's absurdly difficult to find a sword with a modification like that.
So, imo, I don't see anything changed with the wealth-by-level chart, especially since that chart assumes that you amass things like more mundane items and wondrous items, perhaps a little bit of property and followers on the side depending on the character (especially since the delicious Leadership feat is 6th level), a character really shouldn't expect a +3 weapon until around level 9 or 10 at the absolute bare minimum, and even so that's assuming the character isn't absolutely decked out in other equipment.
Perhaps I have different DMs than you, or maybe I'm just a different kind of DM myself.
I would be expecting a +3 sword to be occurring around level 15 or later? Perhaps 20? Perhaps I am just not reading properly into what my DM said.
If the campaign is low-magic, as others have pointed out, getting your HP back can be problematic. The best solution is one I point out all the time to others in my group - don't get hit! I see a few fairly basic builds you could use.
1. Take a class with heavy armour proficiency up front. Take a heavy shield. If you can afford heavy armour at level 1, you should be able to get an AC nearer 20 than 10. It should keep you safe until you get a few more HP. Crusader could work well here, particularly if you combine the delayed damage pool with the Stone Power feat. Crusader healing is OK, but doesn't help you recover from a trap, or area effect spell (I'm assuming the DM will still use villainous spellcasters here). It won't get you back up in a hurry if a Troll hits you with a critical either.
2. Ranged weapon specialist. Fighter class most likely because ranged weapons burn a lot of feats... If you can see it, you can hurt it. Without magic, it might not be able to hurt you.
3. Skillful class, like a Thief (or Ranger or Bard with an alternate class feature to avoid spellcasting). Hide checks, move silently checks etc will also stop you getting hit in a number of situations. At later levels this can combine with Swordsage (Shadow Hand school) for monumental backstab power (bring a bucket to that session to roll so many d6's). I'd also take ranks in Diplomacy and/or Gather Information. Without wizards and clerics to use their Knowledge (stuff) skills finding out how to kill The Black Knight (who is actually a vampire) could actually be quite challenging. Given Dex will be a high priority for you anyway, using a crossbow or shortbow and taking elements from point 2. could also work.
A Warblade may be a poor choice. You have very limited maneuvers, and in a low magic setting the Iron Heart school is not as useful as the Devoted Spirit. Both Crusader and Warblade can access the White Raven school, which will probably see heavy use across the party. A Warblade also can't use heavy armour (important in not getting hit).
1. Take a class with heavy armour proficiency up front. Take a heavy shield. If you can afford heavy armour at level 1, you should be able to get an AC nearer 20 than 10. It should keep you safe until you get a few more HP. Crusader could work well here, particularly if you combine the delayed damage pool with the Stone Power feat. Crusader healing is OK, but doesn't help you recover from a trap, or area effect spell (I'm assuming the DM will still use villainous spellcasters here). It won't get you back up in a hurry if a Troll hits you with a critical either.
2. Ranged weapon specialist. Fighter class most likely because ranged weapons burn a lot of feats... If you can see it, you can hurt it. Without magic, it might not be able to hurt you.
3. Skillful class, like a Thief (or Ranger or Bard with an alternate class feature to avoid spellcasting). Hide checks, move silently checks etc will also stop you getting hit in a number of situations. At later levels this can combine with Swordsage (Shadow Hand school) for monumental backstab power (bring a bucket to that session to roll so many d6's). I'd also take ranks in Diplomacy and/or Gather Information. Without wizards and clerics to use their Knowledge (stuff) skills finding out how to kill The Black Knight (who is actually a vampire) could actually be quite challenging. Given Dex will be a high priority for you anyway, using a crossbow or shortbow and taking elements from point 2. could also work.
A Warblade may be a poor choice. You have very limited maneuvers, and in a low magic setting the Iron Heart school is not as useful as the Devoted Spirit. Both Crusader and Warblade can access the White Raven school, which will probably see heavy use across the party. A Warblade also can't use heavy armour (important in not getting hit).
Plate armor and the like are outside the period of the setting, our DM plans a homebrew alternative, I believe.
The reason it is low magic is it's to represent the ancient Greco-Roman world. I believe heavy armor will be possible via some houseruled alternatives(which haven't been indicated yet.)
Aside from that, good tips. Thanks guys, keep it coming.
The reason it is low magic is it's to represent the ancient Greco-Roman world. I believe heavy armor will be possible via some houseruled alternatives(which haven't been indicated yet.)
Aside from that, good tips. Thanks guys, keep it coming.
May I ask why not on the duelist? from what I've seen the +int to defense is very useful to an intelligence based class like swashbuckler. got us all the way up to lvl 12 at least rather well.
Dandu
First Post
You have to pump a mental stat as a melee character in addition to Str, Dex, and Con. This is expensive.
You gain Int to AC when wearing no armor or using a shield. Armor and Shields can be enchanted with many defensive abilities such as Fortification.
You lose the ability to wield weapons two handed, wield shields or TWF. One handed, single weapon combat is a subpar fighting style.
It requires two mediocre feats to enter. This reduces the useful abilities your character will have.
You gain high AC by fighting defensively. This cuts down on your ability to hurt others, ie fulfill your role. Standing around being hard to hit doesn't do you much good if you lack the ability to prevent your party members from being murdered.
You gain Int to AC when wearing no armor or using a shield. Armor and Shields can be enchanted with many defensive abilities such as Fortification.
You lose the ability to wield weapons two handed, wield shields or TWF. One handed, single weapon combat is a subpar fighting style.
It requires two mediocre feats to enter. This reduces the useful abilities your character will have.
You gain high AC by fighting defensively. This cuts down on your ability to hurt others, ie fulfill your role. Standing around being hard to hit doesn't do you much good if you lack the ability to prevent your party members from being murdered.
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