Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords: Proto-Review

[Vocenoctum]

I've two questions to lucky owners of the ToB:
1) I was wondering about the Snap Kick (??) feat - how does it work with Monk's Flurry of Blows ?? Can you make 3 attacks with -4 to each ??

It would seem so.

2) Since I forgot to look at the Superior Unarmed Strike - a friend told me it increases the damage to 1k6, is that true ??

Thanks !!

unarmed damage starts at d4, scales up by level from there. If you're a monk it gives you a +4 level bonus for determining unarmed damage.

 

[Cadfan]

You also get the guaranteed use of at least one maneuver per round.

I like the system. It encourages thinking on your feet.

One of the things about books that include new mechanics is that some of the material will be new. Lots of people will therefore find it "scary" or "illogical" or whatever, when in reality, its no scarier or more illogical than the current systems. Just accept it for what it is.

 

[Particle_Man]

What was that old saying; something about God not playing at dice?

Tzarevitch

That was Einstein. He was wrong.

I like the "playing cards" idea to get the random effect dealt with quickly. If you want an in-game explanation, it only *seems* random to your character. The character's God has a reason to give the character that particular maneuver at that particular time, but the reason is ineffable to mere mortals.

 

[Particle_Man]

One oddity. The 9 swords in question are "legacy weapons" but it doesn't list what levels you have to be to do the three rituals to "unlock" the successive powers of the weapons. Typo? Or am I simply blind?

 

[Staffan]

Hmmn, that sounds kind of silly, and will likely lead to Dude! Let me hit you with my battle axe, It'll heal me 100HP!

The healing strikes all say:
"As part of initiating this strike, you must make a successful melee attack against an enemy whose alignment has at least one component different from yours. This foe must pose a threat to you or your allies in some direct, immediate way."

 

[JustKim]

The healing strikes all say:
"As part of initiating this strike, you must make a successful melee attack against an enemy whose alignment has at least one component different from yours. This foe must pose a threat to you or your allies in some direct, immediate way."

Have an ally cast summon monster I and order the monster to attack you. Spirit of the rules averted!

 

[Vocenoctum]

One oddity. The 9 swords in question are "legacy weapons" but it doesn't list what levels you have to be to do the three rituals to "unlock" the successive powers of the weapons. Typo? Or am I simply blind?

The Weapons of Legacy rules are not exactly the best example of "clear".

the levels are 5th, 11th, 17th.

 

[Kurotowa]

Have an ally cast summon monster I and order the monster to attack you. Spirit of the rules averted!

Highly debatable. A creature that's under your ally's complete control hardly counts as a direct threat.

 

[JustKim]

Highly debatable. A creature that's under your ally's complete control hardly counts as a direct threat.

A summoned monster whose language you don't speak is uncontrolled. If the caster then moves out of the spell's range, he loses the ability to dismiss the summoned monster as well. Whew! That was a close one, but I'm pretty sure we have successfully nullified the spirit of the rules.

 

[Staffan]

No, it's not. A summoned monster by default attacks your enemies. If you can communicate with it, you can tell it to do something else though.