Spring attack and ToB maneuvers

[blargney the second]

It depends primarily on the activation time of the maneuver in question. Spring Attack only lets you do a melee attack, so most maneuvers are out.

 

[Azrael]

Would be interesting to see your build when you've finished Hong!

 

[hong]

Would be interesting to see your build when you've finished Hong!

Well, as it turned out I ended up dropping Spring Attack. Even if Raging Mongoose works with it, that's just one maneuver out of dozens.

Here's the build, in new statblock format:


Padma Illindra [redux]

Female human swordsage 16
LG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +9; Senses Listen +24, Spot +5
Languages Common, Old Suloise
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AC 34, touch 24, flat-footed 28
(Dex +5, Wis +5, armor +8, deflection +2, natural armor +2, insight +1, dodge +1)
hp 139 (16 HD)
Resist evasion
Fort +16, Ref +20, Will +20
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Speed 30 ft
Melee Sakhalandra (Spiritreaver, +5 ghost touch, martial discipline, cold iron bastard sword) +22 (1d10+12/19–20) or masterwork rapier +18 (1d6+4/18–20)
Base Atk +12; Grp +16
Atk Options discipline focus (insightful strike — Diamond Mind, Tiger Claw), discipline focus (defensive stance — Shadow Hand, Tiger Claw), martial discipline weapon (Tiger Claw), Blade Meditation (Diamond Mind), Power Attack, boots of speed
Combat Gear 2 flasks universal solvent, 2 potions of cure light wounds
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Maneuvers and Stances Known (IL 16th):
Stances — stance of clarity (1st), child of shadow (1st), assassin’s stance (3rd), leaping dragon stance (5th), balance on the sky (8th)
Strikes — shadow blade technique (1st), emerald razor (2nd), claw at the moon (2nd), insightful strike (3rd), death from above (4th), bloodletting strike (DC 20) (5th), pouncing charge (5th), rabid bear strike (6th), greater insightful strike (6th), swooping dragon strike (7th), raging mongoose (8th)
Boosts — cloak of deception (2nd), shadow stride (5th), moment of alacrity (6th), quicksilver motion (7th), shadow blink (7th)
Counters — moment of perfect mind (1st), action before thought (2nd), mind over body (3rd), one with shadow (8th), diamond defense (8th)
Disciplines: Diamond Mind, Shadow Hand, Tiger Claw
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Abilities Str 18, Dex 20, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 13
Feats Dodge, Blade Meditation (Diamond Mind), Unnerving Calm, Power Attack, Great Fortitude, Adaptive Style, Lucky, Weapon Focus (rapier, shortspear, trident, bastard sword)
Skills Concentration +35, Balance +31, Jump +30, Tumble +31, Knowledge (martial lore) +20, Listen +24, Sense Motive +24, Intimidate +20
Possessions Combat gear plus +5 ghost touch, martial discipline, cold iron bastard sword, +4 mithral chain shirt, gloves of Dexterity +4, periapt of Wisdom +4, shirt of Constitution +4, belt of giant Strength +4, ring of protection +2, bracers of natural armor +2, cloak of resistance +5, headband of Concentration +10, ring of agility +5, boots of speed, dusty rose ioun stone, masterwork rapier [total 259,955 gp]


Custom items:

Ring of agility: On close examination, this green jade ring can be seen to have entwined dragons carved in bas-relief along its sides. It grants a +5 competence bonus to Balance, Jump and Tumble skill checks. Price 10,000 gp [2,500 + 2,500 x 1.5 + 2,500 x 1.5].

Headband of concentration: Made of jet and inscribed with silver words of power, this headband grants a +10 competence bonus to Concentration skill checks. Price 10,000 gp.

Sakhalandra (Spiritreaver): This +5 ghost touch, martial discipline, cold iron bastard sword is attuned to the arts of the Tiger Claw and grants a +3 bonus to attacks when used in conjunction with a stance or strike from that discipline. Price 100,335 gp.


Anyone have suggestions on tweaks for this build? This is the first time we're using Bo9S so it's all rather new. There's probably more strikes than are really necessary, for starters. I also limited myself to 3 disciplines just to keep things simple.

 

[VonRichthofen]

Since you don't have many options to avoid full attacks once you're in combat, I'd personally throw out Great Fortitude and Unnerving Calm and replace them with Mobility (for creatures with reach) and Elusive Target (to survive that barbarian/FB's Leap Attack-empowered Shock Trooper blow)

 

[hong]

Mobility? Who needs Mobility when you have Tumble +31?

What book is Elusive Target in, and what's it do?

 

[VonRichthofen]

Elusive Target is a Tactical feat from CW.

It allows, among others, to negate your dodge target's Power Attack bonus - while he's retaining the attack penalties.

Diverting Attack makes the first attack of your dodge opponent target his buddy if they're flanking you.

Cause Overreach: you provoke an AoO and if that misses, you get a free Trip attempt (oh well...can't have all good options after all.)

 

[kigmatzomat]

I'm surprised you didn't go for Isle of Blades though I guess that depends on party makeup. The rogues IMC are dying for someone to have Isle of Blades for simpler sneak attacking.

 

[ohGr]

I'd look into picking up the strikes Emerald Razor (DM 2), Ruby Nightmare Blade (DM 4) and Diamond Nightmare Blade (DM 8). All three are great for two-handed Power Attackers; Emerald Razor is a melee touch attack, and Ruby and Diamond Nightmare Blade deal melee damage x2 and x4, respectively.

Sakhalandra (Spiritreaver): This +5 ghost touch, martial discipline, cold iron bastard sword is attuned to the arts of the Tiger Claw and grants a +3 bonus to attacks when used in conjunction with a stance or strike from that discipline. Price 100,335 gp.

Also, a bit nit-picky, but martial discipline doesn't simply add +3 w/the appropriate discipline. It actually gives you +1 to hit all the time, with an additional +2 when used w/the appropriate discipline.

 

[hong]

I thought of Diamond Nightmare Blade, but I don't really have that high an attack bonus (compared to a regular tank). So PA'ing for everything wouldn't work that well unless the target has a really crap AC, which doesn't seem likely at this level.