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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arkhandus" data-source="post: 3680547" data-attributes="member: 13966">First, welcome to the boards!  Second, just keep in mind that the HR forum is slower and smaller in traffic than the General or D&D Rules forums, so responses here tend to be slower/more infrequent.Also, for reference I'm pretty blunt, so don't take any of my comments to be disparaging, just blunt questions/comments on each point.Also, you should probably post your custom maneuvers etc. and seek aid/criticism for them from the community, to catch any errors, potential broken stuff, unclear points, or underpowered stuff.Name possibility: Nitoudan, Nitendan, Nitensei, or Nitousei.  Or just Blademaster, Honorblade, Kensei, or maybe Dualist (as a play on Duelist).I don't know how you conclude that a focus on agility and mental focus has anything to do with Fortitude.....  So high Reflex and high Will should be the saves.Hit dice seem like they should be d8s, since it isn't about pure physical development like the Warblade or inexorable zealotry like the Crusader.Don't copy the Warblade's battle clarity; each Bo9S class is supposed to be distinctly different in its approach and style, and unlike common abilities (Evasion or whatnot), that's something rather specific to the Warblade's training and skills.Proficiency needs to be clarified.  Is it proficiency in all swords?  That alone wouldn't be very specific, and could lead to debate about whether certain weapons are swords or not (since not all of them have the word Sword in their name).  Specify!  Like "A Master of Blades is proficient in short swords, longswords, rapiers, scimitars, falchions, greatswords, bastard swords, and two-bladed swords.  They are not proficient in armor or shields."You need to clarify the off-hand sword thing, and it should be a named ability (Two Blade Style or somesuch).  Do you mean "A Master of Blades reduces the penalty on attack rolls for two-weapon fighting by 2 points, when he or she wields a one-handed weapon in the off-hand, not a light weapon.  This only applies when the off-hand weapon is one listed among the proficiencies of this class."Is the class going to have automatic Two-Weapon Fighting or something, or will it just be expected that the character spends a normal feat on that?Also: what the heck is 'two weapon focus' and 'two weapon block'?  Do you mean to say the Two-Weapon Fighting feat and the Two-Weapon Defense feat?  Also, what the heck do you mean by 'At level 6, 11 and 16 this increases by one step each'??  There is nothing in the core rules that would explain that, so you have to explain what you mean.As I mentioned earlier, remove Battle Clarity, and also Stance Mastery.  Go with unique stuff instead!  Or at least stuff taken from non-martial adept classes, that hasn't been represented amongst them yet.  I suppose it would make some sense for the class to gain Evasion and Improved Evasion at some point.  Anyway....Give them the same AC bonuses as a Monk, starting at 1st-level (and label it simply "AC Bonus" in name, noting that the ability doesn't stack; so a Monk/Swordsage/Master of Blades still only gets the bonuses once regardless of how many classes grant the same ability).I'd recommend moving any class features besides the 1st-level ones to be put at even-numbered levels, as the class will already be at its most-powerful on odd-numbered levels; it'll be gaining access to a new level of maneuvers at odd levels; 1st-level maneuvers at 1st, 2nd-level maneuvers at 3rd, 3rd-level maneuvers at 5th, 4th-level maneuvers at 7th, etc., up until 17th-level.19th is the only odd-numbered class level that they won't get a new level of maneuvers from, so that is the only odd-numbered level (besides 1st) that might deserve a special ability.  So move the TWF benefits you already mentioned (but have yet to specify) to levels 6, 12, and 18 probably (or 8, 14, and 18 perhaps).Lessee....besides that stuff....  Maybe they get an ability at 4th called "Deceptive Blades" that allows them to feint in combat with the Bluff skill as a move-equivalent action, but using Wisdom as the key ability for the check instead of Charisma, and only useable when wielding two swords or a two-bladed sword, using the off-hand sword to distract an opponent, and limited to only attacking with the primary-hand sword when doing that (if using a two-bladed sword, it still counts as a two-handed weapon for that attack).  Add Bluff to their class skill list as appropriate.  Since feinting in combat isn't great in its chance of success sometimes (note that opponents add their Base Attack Bonus to their Sense Motive check to resist a feint in combat), maybe add double their Wisdom modifier instead of just 1x their Wis mod for these feint attempts.The 20th-level ability could be "Double Strike Mastery (Ex): At 20th-level onward, a Master of Blades may use both of his swords to great effect when initiating a martial Strike.  Whenever he or she uses a Strike maneuver of 6th-level or lower that involves a single attack with one melee weapon, he or she may make a second attack with that maneuver that duplicates the same Strike.  However, the first attack with that Strike must use the primary hand weapon, while the second attack must use the off-hand weapon, and these must both be weapons listed among the proficiencies of this class.  Both attacks may have different targets, if desired.  A Master of Blades suffers the usual penalties for two-weapon fighting when he or she uses this ability.  Double Strike Mastery is an extraordinary ability."  I'm not sure yet if the highest level of maneuver useable with it should be 5th or 6th.Only other thing I'd suggest is an ability at some middle or high level (one where they don't already get a special ability/increase, nor access to a new level of maneuvers), to attack with two swords as a standard action but not as much as they could with a full-attack.  Say "Two Bladed Blitz (Ex): The Master of Blades, at XXth-level, may attack with two swords when he or she attacks as a standard action, or when attacking with the Spring Attack feat.  To do so, he or she attacks once with the primary hand and once with the off-hand, suffering the usual penalties for two-weapon fighting as appropriate.  These attacks may be directed against different targets, but if using Spring Attack, you must make the attacks at the same point during your movement.  Two-Bladed Blitz is an extraordinary ability."I'm not sure yet how balanced it would be overall, but with the d8 hit dice it will probably be fine.  Can't be sure until the class is finished and can be compared on-whole with the existing 3 martial adept base classes.Something to note, you may need to specify that only good-aligned Masters of Blades can choose to learn from (and use) the Cleansing Swords discipline, and only evil-aligned Masters of Blades can choose to learn from (and use) the Cursed Fangs discipline.  Maybe also mention that anyone who attempts to learn maneuvers from those disciplines otherwise, such as through the Martial Stance or Martial Study feats or through prestige classes, must also share the discipline's alignment in order to learn or use them.Any particular reason that they don't have any REAL choice?  It seems to be a forced choice of either a goodly path or an evil path, which doesn't make much sense since the class is capable of being (lawful) neutral.  As this isn't like the Crusader in theme, shouldn't there be an option for strictly following the 'path of True Honor' by itself?In other words, at least one other discipline/school that isn't focused on good or evil.  The Lawful effects used in Balanced Blades may be better off if moved into this other discipline, since the name Balanced Blades is a bit deceptive when it includes a particular alignment among its focus."Stalwart Honor," "Honorable Storm," "Sword Storm," or "Storm Blades" discipline perhaps, or whatever.  Something like a mix of Stone Dragon, Iron Heart, and Setting Sun or Desert Wind......I dunno.  Depends on what kind of techniques aren't already covered by your 3 existing disciplines for the Master of Blades.  It could either be something like a mix of SD/IH and new stuff in style, or a mix of SS/DW and new stuff in style.  For reference, the acid, electricity, and sonic energy types are currently unrepresented in Book of Nine Swords, far as I can recall, while cold is only partly represented in Shadow Hand, and fire is heavily represented in Desert Wind.It's more effective as a maneuver than it is as a spell, since spellcasters that have it don't have a full base attack bonus and don't have use for Power Attack or Combat Expertise as a result.  Also, it's an ability that's rather useful to have in every battle.  I'd rate it as a level 3 or level 4 maneuver at least, depending on how you have it.  Standard action Strike?  Level 3 I'd guess. (power attack for -20 to-hit and +40 damage, or -10/+20 at middle levels (and still getting +10 to-hit from the True Strike), using a two-bladed sword or greatsword as a two-handed weapon?  yes please!)For comparison's sake, note that the 2nd-level Diamond Mind strike named Emerald Razor just makes a single attack as a touch attack (IIRC; that or it treated the opponent as flat-footed).  That's pretty useful, but +20 on the attack roll is more frequently helpful (like against rogues, monks, wraiths, shadows, etc. whose touch ACs are more or less the same as their normal ACs).  Also, will your ability include the True Strike spell's benefit of ignoring cover or concealment (I forget which)?Needs better wording.  I'm not quite sure, but it might warrant level 2 or 3 instead of level 1, depending.  I'm not familiar with 'vile damage' except knowing that it comes from the BoVD and has some kind of special effect.  Also, this stance should probably only apply with melee attacks (would be awesomely broken to use with Rapid Shot and a ranged weapon from a safe vantage point, despite spending a feat or level on gaining proficiency in a suitable ranged weapon).....You do realize that this needs a range specified, right?  You also need to specify if it functions only against creatures, or against objects as well.  Furthermore, if it renders the foe shaken on a failed save, it should be noted that it counts as a mind-affecting fear effect, or at least note that the shaken effect is such.  Might also need to be specified as a necromancy effect or enchantment effect, depending on how it functions flavor-wise.  7th-level might be fine, I'm not sure cuz I can't remember the specifics of the few existing ranged-attack maneuvers from Desert Wind and Shadow Hand.Need to specify that this involves a melee attack.  Wording/spelling/grammar also needs a bit of tweaking (frex, 'you become under the effect of the Unholy Aura spell for one round, the aura effects only you.' should be worded 'you are affected by an Unholy Aura.  This functions as per the spell, cast by a cleric of the same caster level as your initiator level, except the Unholy Aura affects targets only you, lasts only 1 round, and its Fortitude save DC is based on this maneuver's level and your Wisdom modifier.'  The last section should say "In addition, the target you have stricken with Blade of Overpowering Evil is knocked prone unless he or she succeeds at a Fortitude save (DC = 18 + your Wisdom modifier)."I'm not sure if the maneuver should be level 8 or level 9; although it's shorter-lasting than Unholy Aura normally is, it has three significant, immediate benefits, which can be more important than a longer-lasting defense.First, note that 'strikes' should be 'Strikes' or 'Strike maneuvers' for clarity's sake.  Second, you should note it is a 'normal off-hand attack' so as not to get people confused that about whether or not it is a duplication of the Strike maneuver.  Third, the attack thing should be 'with your highest Base Attack Bonus.'Fourth, you need to specify if two-weapon fighting penalties apply or not, and whether or not this only applies when your Strike uses the primary-hand weapon, and whether or not the primary-hand weapon has to be made as though it were one-handed (since it could be a two-bladed sword or the like, which can be used as a two-handed weapon for more damage when not using it specifically as a double weapon).Fifth, the whole rolling part doesn't make sense; just say "You may make this off-hand attack either before or after the Strike maneuver, but you must make the decision whether or not to use this off-hand attack at the same time that you decide to use that particular Strike."  Though I'm not sure if it's even necessary.  I dunno if level 5 is appropriate or not for the stance, but it seems alright....may be more appropriate at level 4 or something but I dunno.</blockquote>

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