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Fizzban
2009-12-02, 12:51 PM
Can anyone recommend a good Swiftblade build? I did some search-fu, but I wasn't really happy with what I found. Every book is open to use, and I don't want a LA. My first thought was an Elven Transmuter, but I'm hoping to have some combat abilities in the being. This caused me to look at Fighter and Swashbuckler.

All help appreciated

Fizz

RagnaroksChosen
2009-12-02, 12:59 PM
need more information.
What level, what books are allowed.
do you want it more castery or more marshal?

Haven
2009-12-02, 01:07 PM
Probably not that practical, but I've been thinking a TWF Rogue/Warblade/Trapsmith/Swiftblade build (since the designers stated that if they'd known about Trapsmith they would have phrased it as "all spell slots of the level you get Haste at" or something) would be spiffy.

nekomata2
2009-12-02, 01:11 PM
I believe the general Swiftblade build is Wiz6/Swift9/Abjurant Champion 5.

Being an elf does get you the martial weapon proficiency, and you could take the Elven Generalist racial sub levels. Besides that, focused specialist conjurer or transmuter is good, or just take straight wizard.

Swiftblade can be qualified for without any martial levels, and considering the lost caster levels, its the best way. The 10th level isn't generally taken since its a glorified timestop you give up 9th lvl spells for. Abjurant Champion you will qualify for leaving swiftblade, and its a 5/5 BAB casting increasing class that makes the shield spell better.

Sstoopidtallkid
2009-12-02, 01:11 PM
For certain interpretations of Extra Spell, a Duskblade can qualify. Duskblade 10/Swiftblade 10 could be very, very nice.

RagnaroksChosen
2009-12-02, 01:12 PM
ya I've been deing to play a swiftblade... depending on starting level but if we start high i want to do

elven wizard 5/swashbuckler 3/swiftblade x

stats going int>dex>con>str>wis>cha
with the elven wizard sub and taking a hummingbird familiar for +8 to init.

Harperfan7
2009-12-02, 01:19 PM
My favorite is Elf Scout 6/Transmuter 5/Swiftblade 9. I don't have access to the abjurant champion book, though.

It has 9 ranks of trap/open lock/perception/stealth/survival/athletic skills, CL 11 - 6th level spells, plenty of haste slots, FLAWLESS STRIDE (very helpful when running around at mach 5), and speed/skirmish increase prior to Swiftblade.

It's a skillmonkey/gish-light.

jiriku
2009-12-02, 01:42 PM
Beguiler 6/Swiftblade 9/Abjurant Champion 5 is also viable.

Fizzban
2009-12-02, 03:41 PM
need more information.
What level, what books are allowed.
do you want it more castery or more marshal?

As noted above all books are available.

I'm wanting to fight in melee as a skirmisher supplemented with magic, and throw some magic down when needed.

Edit: levels 1 to 20

Fizz

sofawall
2009-12-02, 03:47 PM
Factotum Swiftblade?

Pharaoh's Fist
2009-12-02, 03:48 PM
I don't think so, Tim.

Biffoniacus_Furiou
2009-12-02, 04:08 PM
Dragonwrought Kobold Loredrake, Battle Sorcerer 4/ Swiftblade 10/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Dragonslayer 1, and be sure to use the Otyugh Hole to get Iron Will for Dragonslayer. If it goes into the epic levels you'll be ready to start picking up Spellsword or taking more Swiftblade.

RagnaroksChosen
2009-12-02, 04:19 PM
As noted above all books are available.

I'm wanting to fight in melee as a skirmisher supplemented with magic, and throw some magic down when needed.

Fizz

you didn't say what level But i would do something like

5 wizard/3 swashbuckler/9 swiftblade/barbarian 1(for pounce)

make sure you dex and int are high as possible
I would dual wield as well between the swift blade bonus dmg. Greater invis is your friend. as well as wraith strike.

Levithix
2009-12-02, 04:37 PM
I've found that an archer swiftblade can be devastating ...
Especially at high levels with a few scrolls and two levels of arcane archer.

Haste (with ex timestop)
Scroll prismatice sphere around an enemy
Imbune an antimagic field arrow at the ground
Fly out (I had nonmagical flight)
Do the same to several other enemies effectively spending your first round of combat to allow your party to take out the enemies one by one on their terms
Also, if the enemy has really good saves, like a dragon, and you think it might get through the prismatic sphere, walls of force work wonders.

herrhauptmann
2009-12-02, 05:33 PM
How's the focused specialist PrC look in comparison to plain wizard? If so, wiz 2/focused spec 3/ class with full bab might be better for getting into swiftblade.
You say you want to use your combat abilities, with spells to augment your fighting, right? Then you don't NEED 9th level spells.

A build I was looking at before, Wizard5, crusader 1, swiftblade 10, Jade Phoenix Mage 4. Intersperse the JPM with swiftblade at your hearts content. However, it only goes up to 14th or 15th level casting.
But the timestop as a quickened spell that you get at swiftblade 10 is nice. And so is the extra standard action you get while under the effect of your own haste spell.

herrhauptmann
2009-12-02, 05:37 PM
Imbune an antimagic field arrow at the ground


Does the antimagic field radiate out from the arrow as soon as you imbue it?

Oh sweet, I didn't notice that the timestop also counted as an EX ability. Since normally you can't enter an AMF while under timestop because the timestop is a spell on yourself, but your haste is an EX, so thusly your timestop is too... Awesome.
Please tell me I'm reading you correctly.

sofawall
2009-12-02, 05:42 PM
I don't think so, Tim.

What are you saying?

ex cathedra
2009-12-02, 05:52 PM
What are you saying?

Factotum is cool.

Swiftblade is cool.

Factotum Swiftblade gets Haste 1/day.
Not so cool.

sofawall
2009-12-02, 05:54 PM
But it still works, technically. Factotum DOES have UMD.

herrhauptmann
2009-12-02, 06:04 PM
Pretty sure that the swiftblade abilities have to come from spells you cast from your own spell slots.
Using items to cast haste won't activate the swiftblade abilities. At least that's what I was told.

Of course, with a lenient DM, you could get him to say it'll work, IF you craft the item yourself, and you made it after gaining whichever ability you wanted ot use it for. Like a wand you made at swiftblade 3 will give you blurred alacrity 20% (because that's what you gained from teh class at swift 3). But it won't grant you Diligent rapidity or Perpetual options, because you didn't have those abilities at swiftblade 3.

sofawall
2009-12-02, 06:09 PM
Pretty sure that the swiftblade abilities have to come from spells you cast from your own spell slots.
Using items to cast haste won't activate the swiftblade abilities. At least that's what I was told.

Of course, with a lenient DM, you could get him to say it'll work, IF you craft the item yourself, and you made it after gaining whichever ability you wanted ot use it for. Like a wand you made at swiftblade 3 will give you blurred alacrity 20% (because that's what you gained from teh class at swift 3). But it won't grant you Diligent rapidity or Perpetual options, because you didn't have those abilities at swiftblade 3.

All it says is that you have to cast it, i.e. nobody can cast it on you. Never says it has to be out of your own casting.

herrhauptmann
2009-12-02, 06:12 PM
Well, the capstone ability requires your slots.
And I made that same point a month ago. And I got shot down repeatedly. You wanna argue it with someone else, go for it, but I'm gonna go by what my DM says when I actually get to play one.

Douglas
2009-12-02, 06:55 PM
All it says is that you have to cast it, i.e. nobody can cast it on you. Never says it has to be out of your own casting.
It says you have to cast it. Casting a spell and activating a magic item that has a spell effect are not the same thing no matter what kind of magic item you have.