Thinking about a swordsage

[Kmart Kommando]

This I will agree with 100%.

However, to qualify, a one-level dip into Warblade, or levels in Master of Nine, would be sufficient (and superior).

Cheers, -- N

2 for Uncanny Dodge, everyone likes Uncanny Dodge..

My swordsage went spiked chain, Combat Reflexes, Hold the Line, Robilard's Gambit, Shadowdancer for Hide in Plain Sight. Had quite a bit of fun until all the monsters figured out they could just spam us with Empowered Vampiric Touches all day.

 

[carborundum]

I decided to go for the tripping and took 2 levels of fighter (2 and 3 to get the nice swordsage 6x level 1 skills)

FEATS
Expertise
Weapon Finesse
Combat Reflexes
Exotic Wpn – Spiked Chain
Adaptive Style
Shadow Blade
Improved Trip

ABILITIES
Discipline Focus: Weapon Focus (Shadow Hand)
Discipline Focus: Insightful Strike (Diamond Mind)
Discipline Focus: Defensive Style (Shadow Hand)

STANCES
Child of Shadow, Island of Blades, Assassins Stance

MANEUVERS
Desert Wind: Wind Stride, Death Mark, Searing Blade, Distracting Ember
Diamond Mind: Emerald Razor, Ruby Nightmare Blade, Sapphire Nightmare Blade
Shadow Hand: Shadow Blade Technique, Cloak of Deception, Shadow Jaunt, Shadow Garrote
Stone Dragon: Bonecrusher, Elder Mountain Hammer

With only Shadow Hand stances I get a constant +3 to hit and +6 damage from my +1 Shadow Hand spiked chain. Add in the Wisdom bonus and my regular attacks are +19/+14 for 2d4+9! Not bad at all

EDIT: forgot the discipline focus thingies.

 

[blargney the second]

Looks like fun! I'd totally play that.

 

[carborundum]

Thanks very much - I'm looking forward to it. We're playing 3.0 as it turns out, so Power Attack wasn't so useful.

Any advice for which seven maneuvers to ready in general dungeon crawl mode?

 

[Mistwell]

Yes. Power Attack is necessary for two of your heavy hitters: Emerald Razor and Ruby Nightmare Blade.

Stone Power is better

 

[Mort]

Thanks very much - I'm looking forward to it. We're playing 3.0 as it turns out, so Power Attack wasn't so useful.

Any advice for which seven maneuvers to ready in general dungeon crawl mode?

Definately shadow jaunt - great in and out of combat - especially in a dungeon.

With Adaptive style you shouldn't have too many problems having the right manuever for hte occasion.

 

[Mort]

Stone Power is better

If the character were a crusader then that's a no brainer - with a swordsage it's more iffy because they have several abilities (mentioned by Nifft) that multiply damage.

 

[Nifft]

Stone Power is better

Only if you know how much damage you're going to take next round. (Crusaders know this. )

Cheers, -- N