Master_Rahl22
2010-01-10, 09:56 PM
I'm building this character at level 5, and I've been wanting to try out a Crusader for a while. I'm wondering what the Playground thinks of my build, and have a few questions like what type of armor to wear and if there are any magic items that would help beyond the obvious Healing Belt, Ring of Protection, etc.
Stats were rolled, and I was lucky enough to get 17, 17, 17, 17, 16, 11. I figured something like Str (with level up), Dex, Con, Cha, Int, Wis since I'm not planning on RKV or any Cleric levels and I get Cha to Will saves anyway.
Here's the build I got from the ToB for Dummies thread on the Wizards forum:
Human Crusader 16 / Warblade 4 (Crusader 8 / Warblade 1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2)
Feats:
Human: Combat Reflexes
1: Stand Still
3: Extra Granted Maneuver
6: Stone Power (Martial Stance?)
9: Ironheart Aura
12: Stormguard Warrior
15: Robilar's Gambit
18: Defensive Sweep (PHB2)
Maneuvers
Maneuvers in Italics are later swapped out.
Crusader 1: Charging Minotaur (SD 1), Crusader's Strike (DS 1), Douse the Flames (WR 1), Leading the Attack (WR 1), Stone Bones (SD 1) + Martial Spirit (DS 1, Stance)
Crusader 2: Iron Guard's Glare (DS 1, Stance)
Crusader 3: Foehammer (DS 2)
Crusader 4: Swap Leading the Attack -> Battle Leader's Charge (WR 2)
Crusader 5: White Raven Tactics (WR 3)
Crusader 6: Swap Stone Bones -> Defensive Rebuke or Revitalising Strike (DS 3)
Crusader 7: Divine Surge (DS 4)
Crusader 8: Swap Charging Minotaur -> White Raven Strike (WR 4) + Thicket of Blades (DS 3. Stance)
Warblade 1: Iron Heart Surge (IH 3), Moment of Perfect Mind (DM 1), Wall of Blades (IH 2) + Punishing Stance (IH 1, Stance)
Crusader 9: Radiant Charge (DS 5)
Crusader 10: Swap Crusader's Strike -> Flanking Maneuver (WR 5)
Warblade 2: Lightning Recovery (IH 4)
Crusader 11: Order Forged From Chaos (WR 6)
Crusader 12: Swap Douse the Flames -> Rallying Strike (DS 6)
Warblade 3: Iron Heart Focus (IH 5)
Crusader 13: Clarion Call (WR 7)
Crusader 14: Swap Foehammer -> White Raven Hammer (WR 8) + Immortal Fortitude (DS 8, Stance)
Warblade 4: Dancing Blade Form (IH 5, Stance)
Crusader 15: Strike of Righteous Vitality (DS 9)
Crusader 16: Swap Battle Leader's Charge -> War Master's Charge (WR 9)
I'd really like to fit some more Diamond Mind maneuvers in there since it's my favorite discipline, namely Insightful Strike and the Sapphire/Ruby Nightmare Blade. Also, I don't really know anything about DS or WR maneuvers since I don't bother with WR as a Warblade and I've never played a Crusader, so if somebody could take a look at the maneuver progression that would be great.
My second question is about my feats. The DM has allowed one flaw, so I'm a feat ahead on those listed. I wondered whether it would be worthwhile to use my 6th level feat on Martial Stance to grab Thicket of Blades sooner. The main reason I'm not totally sold on it is that I can't find anything else I'd rather get for the stance gained at Crusader 8 without adding in those Warblade levels sooner to make Crusader 8 happen so that I can grab 5th level maneuvers with it and pick up Press the Advantage.
Finally, I'm at a loss over what kind of armor to wear. Full Plate gives me the best AC, though I have always had a problem with using armor that wastes a given characters Dex bonus. Mithral for anything but a Chain Shirt is cost prohibitive for level 5 WBL, or I'd consider that as well. Any other items that are great for a lockdown tank? Thanks in advance, I know there's a wall of text there.
Stats were rolled, and I was lucky enough to get 17, 17, 17, 17, 16, 11. I figured something like Str (with level up), Dex, Con, Cha, Int, Wis since I'm not planning on RKV or any Cleric levels and I get Cha to Will saves anyway.
Here's the build I got from the ToB for Dummies thread on the Wizards forum:
Human Crusader 16 / Warblade 4 (Crusader 8 / Warblade 1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2 / Warblade +1 / Crusader +2)
Feats:
Human: Combat Reflexes
1: Stand Still
3: Extra Granted Maneuver
6: Stone Power (Martial Stance?)
9: Ironheart Aura
12: Stormguard Warrior
15: Robilar's Gambit
18: Defensive Sweep (PHB2)
Maneuvers
Maneuvers in Italics are later swapped out.
Crusader 1: Charging Minotaur (SD 1), Crusader's Strike (DS 1), Douse the Flames (WR 1), Leading the Attack (WR 1), Stone Bones (SD 1) + Martial Spirit (DS 1, Stance)
Crusader 2: Iron Guard's Glare (DS 1, Stance)
Crusader 3: Foehammer (DS 2)
Crusader 4: Swap Leading the Attack -> Battle Leader's Charge (WR 2)
Crusader 5: White Raven Tactics (WR 3)
Crusader 6: Swap Stone Bones -> Defensive Rebuke or Revitalising Strike (DS 3)
Crusader 7: Divine Surge (DS 4)
Crusader 8: Swap Charging Minotaur -> White Raven Strike (WR 4) + Thicket of Blades (DS 3. Stance)
Warblade 1: Iron Heart Surge (IH 3), Moment of Perfect Mind (DM 1), Wall of Blades (IH 2) + Punishing Stance (IH 1, Stance)
Crusader 9: Radiant Charge (DS 5)
Crusader 10: Swap Crusader's Strike -> Flanking Maneuver (WR 5)
Warblade 2: Lightning Recovery (IH 4)
Crusader 11: Order Forged From Chaos (WR 6)
Crusader 12: Swap Douse the Flames -> Rallying Strike (DS 6)
Warblade 3: Iron Heart Focus (IH 5)
Crusader 13: Clarion Call (WR 7)
Crusader 14: Swap Foehammer -> White Raven Hammer (WR 8) + Immortal Fortitude (DS 8, Stance)
Warblade 4: Dancing Blade Form (IH 5, Stance)
Crusader 15: Strike of Righteous Vitality (DS 9)
Crusader 16: Swap Battle Leader's Charge -> War Master's Charge (WR 9)
I'd really like to fit some more Diamond Mind maneuvers in there since it's my favorite discipline, namely Insightful Strike and the Sapphire/Ruby Nightmare Blade. Also, I don't really know anything about DS or WR maneuvers since I don't bother with WR as a Warblade and I've never played a Crusader, so if somebody could take a look at the maneuver progression that would be great.
My second question is about my feats. The DM has allowed one flaw, so I'm a feat ahead on those listed. I wondered whether it would be worthwhile to use my 6th level feat on Martial Stance to grab Thicket of Blades sooner. The main reason I'm not totally sold on it is that I can't find anything else I'd rather get for the stance gained at Crusader 8 without adding in those Warblade levels sooner to make Crusader 8 happen so that I can grab 5th level maneuvers with it and pick up Press the Advantage.
Finally, I'm at a loss over what kind of armor to wear. Full Plate gives me the best AC, though I have always had a problem with using armor that wastes a given characters Dex bonus. Mithral for anything but a Chain Shirt is cost prohibitive for level 5 WBL, or I'd consider that as well. Any other items that are great for a lockdown tank? Thanks in advance, I know there's a wall of text there.