[3.5] Jade Throne, discipline for the Kings of Battle [ToB/LoB, Discipline]

[ErrantX]

Jade Throne

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii99/lythonv66/Swordsman2.jpg
Galen Markos, a master of Jade Throne

The discipline of Jade Throne arose in the battling aristocracies of the world, where its nobles initially only practiced dueling styles that were of little use. When war would come, these nobles found that their abilities were sorely underprepared for the rigors of true combat, and from their roots in the arts of dueling and their subsequent training by masters of both combat and leadership; the Jade Throne style was born. While not a passive style, the true master of Jade Throne is a warrior without fear, walking gracefully within a furious melee as a king in his court. Regal and unflinching, a practitioner of Jade Throne owns any field of battle he walks upon, for it his court and here he rules. Masters of this artform are depicted throughout history as peerless swordsman who know no equal in the art of the duel.

Jade Throne practitioners are a diverse lot, but what sets them apart from their contemporaries is their invincible calm while fighting. The focus required to be a true lord in battle requires this unshakable discipline to be paramount, and requires them to focus solely on the foe after the foe he just conquered. This aggressive foresight means that the Jade Throne user focuses fully on his weapon, precluding him using a shield with this discipline. To this end, the associated skill for this discipline is Sense Motive, and its associated weapons are the rapier, longsword, bastard sword, greatsword, shortsword, and scimitar.

Author’s Note: All Jade Throne maneuvers and stances require that the initiator not be using any type of physical shield (including animated shields, but rings of force shield are allowed) due to the focus on offensive progression in this discipline.

Addendum: This discipline is intended for my Libram of Battle (http://sorcererstudios.com/forumdisplay.php?3-Libram-of-Battle) project, where the traditional Tome of Battle does not exist. In the framework of using this discipline with the Tome of Battle, this discipline replaces Iron Heart on the Warblade list.

[ErrantX]

Maneuver List

1st Level
Jade Zephyr’s Strike: Strike- Make a melee attack, then make an immediate 10ft movement.
Scything Strike: Strike- Make a melee attack on two adjacent enemies as a single attack.
Blade of Breaking: Strike- Make a melee attack against an opponent’s weapon without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Circular Stance: Stance- Flankers do not receive combat bonus against you when flanking.
*Jade Einhander: Stance- +2 to AC to a single foe and +1d6 damage on attacks, -2 to AC to other foes.
*Prince’s Sidestep: Boost- +2 AC against attacks of opportunity while moving.
2nd Level
Regal Blade: Boost- Add +5 to attack roll and +10 to damage roll on a single melee attack.
Rising Jade Strike: Strike- Make a Sense Motive check, strike does double damage.
Jade Barrier: Counter- Make a Sense Motive check to block an attack.
*Jade Lance: Strike- Melee attack inflicts an additional 2d6 points of damage and ignores damage reduction.
3rd Level
Dazing Attack: Strike- Make a melee attack, strike inflicts +2d6 points of damage and dazes enemy.
Strike of Defeat: Strike- Make a melee attack against a foe, deals additional damage based on current hit points.
Unfettered Movement: Stance- Gain an additional +10ft to base speed, +4 bonus to AC vs. attacks of opportunity.
*Perception of Jade: Boost- Make a Sense Motive check, next melee attack is resolved as a touch attack.
4th Level
Jade Zephyr’s Dance: Strike- Each successful melee attack allows the martial adept to move 10ft and make an additional attack.
Perseverance of Jade: Counter- Use Sense Motive in place of relevant save on saving throw.
Noble Blade: Boost- +10 to attack roll and +20 to damage roll on a single melee attack.
*Weeping Jade Razor: Strike- Arterial strike that inflicts an additional 4d6 points of damage and grants the bleeding condition on the target.
5th Level
Jade Zenith Strike: Strike- Make a Sense Motive check, strike does triple damage.
Perfection of Jade: Temporarily overcome negative condition ailments.
Jade Duelist Attitude: Stance- Add +4 insight modifier to AC and Initiative.
*Riddle of Iron: Strike- Melee attack that inflicts an additional 3d6 points of damage and dazes a target for one round.
6th Level
Final Blow: Strike- Make a melee attack; if foe is below 25% of maximum hit points, target is slain.
Blade of Perfection: Strike- Melee attack unerringly hits and inflicts maximum damage.
Jade Zephyr’s Fleetness: Boost- Add +30 ft to your movement for the round.
*Jade Riposte: Counter- Make a Sense Motive check opposing an enemy’s attack roll, if successful, then make an immediate counter attack.
7th Level
Jade Battle Lord’s Strike: Strike- Make a full attack at a target at full base attack bonus for each attack with a +2 perfection bonus.
Royal Blade: Boost- +10 to attack roll and +40 to damage roll on a single melee attack.
*Proclamation of Jade: Strike- Powerful attack that inflicts an additional 5d6 points of damage and potentially causes a knockdown against the target.
8th Level
Descending Jade Strike: Strike- Make a Sense Motive check, strike does quadruple damage.
Riddle of Steel: Strike- Make a melee attack, strike inflicts an additional 6d6 points of damage and stuns target for 1d4 rounds.
Jade Majesty Stance: Stance- Enemies must make a Will save to attack you.
9th Level
Heavenly Blade of the Jade Empire: Strike- Make a melee attack, if successful, make a Sense Motive check; add three times your Sense Motive check’s result to your weapon damage and enemy is left paralyzed.

*=new maneuvers

[ErrantX]

Maneuvers

1st Level
Jade Zephyr’s Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With swiftness born of skill, an initiate of the Jade Throne learns how to move through the battlefield as lord among warriors. The adept makes an attack against a foe, and if successful, he may make an immediate 10ft movement which does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Scything Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The principles of the Jade Throne teach its adepts that every swing must be made with precision and excellence; no movement is wasted and no attack should fruitless. The adept may make a single attack against two adjacent enemies as a standard action using the same attack roll, resolving the attack separately as two attacks

Blade of Breaking
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

A Jade Throne adept knows that sometimes that to defeat the beast, you must remove its claws. By clashing blades with a foe to set their weapon vibrating, the adept then delivers a final smashing blow in an attempt to shatter it. The adept may make a sunder attempt against his foe’s weapon without provoking attacks of opportunity with a +4 bonus.

Circular Stance
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

Practitioners of Jade Throne know that to be a lord amongst warriors, he must walk the path of battle alone, and they understand that often times that may be beset by all sides. By adopting the Circular Stance, the adept learns to defend himself from the predations of those who would think him outflanked. While in this stance, flankers do not receive any bonuses to hit the adept.

Jade Einhander
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

By adopting this stance, the adept presents a slim profile to his chosen foe and leads with his blade in an elegant and graceful manner, his strikes strong and his profile aiding him in defense. When wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in one hand and nothing in the other hand, the character presents a slim profile with strong offensive and defensive ability toward a single foe. The character gains a +2 dodge bonus to his Armor Class while in this stance while facing a specific foe, and inflicts an additional 1d6 points of damage to that target while in this stance. Against foes who he is not focusing on, the adept suffers a -2 penalty to his Armor class.

Prince’s Sidestep
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The Jade Throne adept knows that he is nobility in the savagery of war, and conducts himself as such when moving through melee. The character gains a +2 to his Armor Class when he moves through threatened areas and provokes attacks of opportunity.

2nd Level
Regal Blade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

An adept of the Jade Throne learns that in moments of precise focus, a single stroke of the blade can fell a potent enemy. For a single attack, the adept may add a +5 insight bonus to his attack roll and +10 insight bonus to damage rolls to a single melee attack made during this turn.

Rising Jade Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With supreme focus, comes great insight into the workings of a foe’s defenses. When the moment is right, the adept releases his attack in a vicious upward swing. The adept makes a Sense Motive check in place of his normal attack roll (he may add any enhancement bonus from the weapon or feats that apply to the use of this weapon to this roll as well), and if this Sense Motive check equals or exceeds the target’s armor class, the attack deals double damage. If this check does not meet or exceed the target's armor class, then the attack fails and the adept misses.

Jade Barrier
Jade Throne (Counter)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The focus required in battle allows the adept to anticipate incoming attacks. The adept may make a Sense Motive check opposing a single melee or non-magical ranged attack. If successful, the adept negates the attack.

Jade Lance
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With a sudden and powerful thrust, the adept penetrates the defenses of his foe with devastating alacrity. The character must make a melee attack against a target creature, and if successful the attack inflicts an additional 2d6 points of damage and the attack automatically bypasses the target’s damage reduction.

3rd Level
Dazing Attack
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant, or one round
Saving Throw: Fortitude (partial)

The swiftness of the Jade Throne adept’s blade is a thing of terrific power, and by initiating this strike he demonstrates this potency. The adept makes a melee attack against a target, if successful this strike inflicts an additional 2d6 points of damage and upon a failed Fortitude save (save DC is 13 + Primary initiator attribute modifier) dazes the opponent for one round.

Strike of Defeat
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

‘A dead foe is a foe that can trouble you no more,’ is an old adage of the Jade Throne adept. An injured foe is easy prey, but is still a foe nonetheless. By utilizing this swift executioner’s strike, the Jade Throne adept removes a potential threat and obstacle from his path. The adept makes an attack against a foe, if successful this strike deals additional damage determined by the state of the enemy’s health. If the enemy has more than 75% of his total health, this strike does no additional damage. If the foe has less than 75% health, this strike inflicts an additional 4d6 points of damage. If the foe has less than 25% of his total health, this strike inflicts an additional 8d6 points of damage.

Unfettered Movement
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The Jade Throne adept is swift in battle and in his ability to go from one skirmish to the next to choose his next foe. By assuming this stance, the adept gains a +10ft bonus to his base speed and gains a +4 bonus to his armor class against attacks of opportunity.

Perception of Jade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

By watching his opponent’s defenses and waiting for the hole in them to open, the Jade Throne adept strikes with the speed of the gods. The character must make a Sense Motive check against the target’s touch armor class, and if successful, the character’s next melee attack against that target is resolved as a touch attack.

4th Level
Jade Zephyr’s Dance
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 full round action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The Jade Zephyr’s Dance allows the adept to step confidently through a battlefield, his blade leading the way in decisive sweeps as a gracefully as a ballroom dance. The adept may make a melee attack at his full attack bonus against a target, and if successful, he may move 10ft (the adept must move 10ft, and his movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity) to attack again. He may not make more attacks in a round that his maximum main-hand number of attacks, nor may he move farther than his normal maximum speed.

Perseverance of Jade
Jade Throne (Counter)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The focus of battle that an adept of Jade Throne has allows him to react to danger before he actively knows it is present, his senses acknowledging peril before his mind would know of it. When made to make a saving throw, the adept may instead initiate this counter and make a Sense Motive check in its stead.

Noble Blade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

Jade Throne practitioners who know the Noble Blade may use their battle focus to add additional force to their strikes. . For a single attack, the adept may add a +10 insight bonus to his attack roll and +20 insight bonus to damage rolls to a single melee attack made during this turn.

Weeping Jade Razor
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Jade Throne maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Special

Even the basest common soldier knows that there are places on a man’s body where if he were to be stabbed, then he would bleed out in minutes. The Jade Throne adept takes this knowledge and arms himself with his superior skill to utilize this arterial strike against his foes. The character makes a melee attack against a target creature, and if successful, this attack inflicts an additional 4d6 points of damage and the target begins to bleed profusely, bleeding 4 hit points per round until a successful Heal check or cure spell has been administered.

5th Level
Jade Zenith Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The focus of battle teaches that in a single hair’s breadth of time, a warrior may strike down a foe in a single blow. The adept makes a Sense Motive check (adding to this the enhancement bonus of his weapon and any weapon relevant feats that would apply) as an attack roll; if the result of this check equals or exceeds his target’s armor class, then his strike does triple damage. If this check does not meet or exceed the target's armor class, then the attack fails and the adept misses.

Perfection of Jade
Jade Throne
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The supreme clarity of mind and focus of form allows an adept of Jade Throne of this skill to simply overcome any obstacle placed upon them, albeit for the short term. The adept calls upon his supreme will and focus and may delay any number of negative effects placed upon (not counting hit point damage, but counting ability damage, negative levels, poison, ability or attribute penalties, etc) through the use of this maneuver for a number of rounds equal to the adept's Primary initiator attribute modifier. Negative effects end immediately upon the use of this maneuver.

Jade Duelist Attitude
Jade Throne (Stance)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The force of will that an adept of Jade Throne possesses is enough to protect him and guide his steps through battle, and his battle focus allows him to anticipate danger before it happens. By adopting this stance, the adept may add +4 insight bonus to his Armor Class (this applies to his touch and flat-footed armor class as well, but he loses this bonus if he is immobilized, helpless, or unconscious) and to his Initiative score.

Riddle of Steel
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With a flourishing of his blade, the Jade Throne adept confuses the senses of his foe as he lands a strike from an unexpected angle. The character must make a melee attack against a foe, and if successful the strike inflicts an additional 3d6 points of damage and dazes the target for one round.

6th Level
Final Blow
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

Mercy has a place on the battlefield, an adept of Jade Throne understands, as does the benefit of an honorable and swift death. By showing his enemy a merciful, swift death in battle, the adept may continue to his next victory while letting both keep their honor. The adept makes a melee attack against an injured foe, and if the foe is under 25% of his maximum hit points, the attack is treated as a coup de grace (without provoking attacks of opportunity). The attack does damage as normal, and the foe must make a Fortitude save with a DC equal to the damage inflicted. If the foe is above 25% of his maximum hit points, then this maneuver has no effect and normal damage is rolled. Adepts with this maneuver readied have keen senses in knowing where his enemy’s strength stands, and may make a Heal check as a free action (DC 20) to gauge if his opponent is capable of being finished by this maneuver.

Blade of Perfection
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

In an instant of perfect clarity, the adept finds his moment to strike true. The adept simply strikes the opponent with deadly swiftness, penetrating defenses as if they were not even there. This attack automatically hits its target, and always inflicts maximum damage. For the purposes of counters, treat this attack as if the adept had rolled a natural 20.

Jade Zephyr’s Fleetness
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

The combat focus of a Jade Throne adept lends itself to the analogy of the coiled spring; when necessary, the spring can rapidly unfold and launch with incredible celerity. With this principle adapted to the royal court of battle, the adept may launch himself with alacrity across the field. The adept may add 30-ft to his base speed for one round as a circumstance bonus.

Jade Riposte
Jade Throne (Counter)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: One attack
Duration: Instant

Within the focus of the adept’s mind, pathways to victory form with which he uses to sculpt and mold the outcome of the battle. When an enemy’s attack threatens to unravel these pathways, a supreme act of will can restore order to them. The adept makes a Sense Motive check opposing his enemy’s attack roll, if successful, he may make an immediate counter attack against that opponent with his full attack bonus.

7th Level
Jade Battle Lord’s Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 full attack action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

Perfection in combat is the true goal of any adept of Jade Throne, and to become a true master of this discipline is to know how to strike perfectly with each and every attack. The adept initiating Jade Battle Lord’s strike must make a full attack against a target or targets, each attack using his full base attack bonus with a +2 perfection bonus instead of the reduction of iterative attacks.

Royal Blade
Jade Throne (Boost)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

As a true king of battle, the adept brings his mastery of Jade Throne to the battlefield to the despair of his foes. By initiating this maneuver, his show of majestic force proves his claim to power. The adept may add a +10 insight bonus to his attack roll and +40 insight bonus to damage rolls to a single melee attack made during this turn.

Proclamation of Jade
Jade Throne (Strike) [Mind Affecting]
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With a mighty overhand swing the Jade Throne adept puts his foe in their place; on their knees before the majesty of a prince of warriors. The character must make a melee attack against a target creature, if successful the attack inflicts an additional 5d6 points of damage and the character must make a successful Will save (DC 17 + primary initiator attribute modifier) to resist being driven to their knees as a knock down effect.

8th Level
Descending Jade Strike
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

With a downward swing of his blade, the Jade Throne adapt proves his mastery of the discipline by shattering the will of the enemy to fight. The adept makes a Sense Motive check in place of his normal attack roll (he may add any enhancement bonus from the weapon or feats that apply to the use of this weapon to this roll as well), and if this Sense Motive check equals or exceeds the target’s armor class, the attack deals quadruple damage. If this check does not meet or exceed the target's armor class, then the attack fails and the adept misses.

Riddle of Steel
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Fortitude (partial)

With a swift and deadly strike, the adept is capable of disabling a foe’s senses for a few moments, effectively eliminating the threat. The adept makes a melee attack against his opponent, if successful, the strike deals an additional 6d6 points of damage and stuns his opponent for 1d4 rounds on a failed Fortitude save (DC 18 + Primary initiator attribute modifier). If this save is successful, the victim is instead dazed for one round.

Jade Mastery Stance
Jade Throne (Stance) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The fearsome glory of a master adept of the Jade Throne discipline causes him to appear as nothing less than a god of war incarnated in flesh and steel. While in this stance, any creature with an intelligence of 1 or higher must make a Will save (DC 18 + primary initiator attribute modifier) to make an attack against him. If this saving throw is a success, then he may proceed to attack him. If the opponent fails he may continue his turn as he chooses, no actions used, but he may not attack the adept on this round. Successfully hitting the adept after a successful Will save grants the opponent immunity to this effect for 24 hours; should he fail to hit the adept after a successful Will save he must make another Will save in subsequent rounds to attempt to attack the adept. Only one attempt to overcome the awe-inspiring presence of the Jade Throne adept may be made per round by any one creature.

9th Level
Heavenly Blade of the Jade Empire
Jade Throne (Strike)
Level: 9
Prerequisites: 4 Jade Throne maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Fortitude (partial)

The supreme technique of the Jade Throne, the adept who knows of it is the lord of all battlefields and marks his name amongst the legends of war. The adept makes a melee attack, if successful, then the adept makes a Sense Motive check, adding three times the result of this roll to his weapon’s damage. The target must then make a Fortitude save (DC 19 + Primary initiator attribute modifier) to resist becoming paralyzed for 1d4 minutes. If the save is successful, the target is stunned for 1 round.

[ErrantX]

This is another discipline for my Libram of Battle project that I am working on with a few other authors on my personal forum site. The goal is that we write an entirely OGL product that utterly replaces the need for the Tome of Battle, which is a rapidly disappearing commodity in the physical sense. As this forum is filled with some of the best and brightest minds I've found on the internet, I'm looking for a solid PEACHing of this discipline to see where it's broken, where it's weak, too strong, etc. The intention of Jade Throne is the replacement of Iron Heart and aspects of Diamond Mind as disciplines. In the context of using it in a Tome of Battle game, this replaces Iron Heart on the Warblade's list. The class this discipline is designed to go with focuses on Charisma, Strength and Dexterity (in that order) to make use of it and it's other signature and basic disciplines. Lastly, if you wish to use this with a class of yours, I'm fine with that so long as credit is given where due.

All in all, let me know what you think. Is it good? Bad? Borked? Etc.

Thanks in advance,
-X

[ErrantX]

...I hate to do this, but... anyone? Or did I write the best, most solid and utterly amazing discipline known to man? Just wanna see if anyone has anything good or bad to say about this, preferably in the critique department.

-X

[mrcarter11]

Well.. I can't post much about how good something is or how balanced.. My only measure is if I would use it.. And with this it's a 50/50 shot. I think it would work well for most players, just not my personal style.
Rising Jade sounds more like a boost to me.
Noble Blade, I'm not terribly sure about it seems like the wrong level.
Jade Riposte should be lowered leveled IMO.
And the final technique while powerful, how well does it stack to other final techniques..

[Fortuna]

Not a critique, but a comment: your LoB link is broken.

[ErrantX]

Well.. I can't post much about how good something is or how balanced.. My only measure is if I would use it.. And with this it's a 50/50 shot. I think it would work well for most players, just not my personal style.
Rising Jade sounds more like a boost to me.
Noble Blade, I'm not terribly sure about it seems like the wrong level.
Jade Riposte should be lowered leveled IMO.
And the final technique while powerful, how well does it stack to other final techniques..

Are you a fan of the Tome of Battle or no? If not, then this is largely not going to be your cup of tea. Rising Jade and Jade Riposte are very similar to existent maneuvers in the ToB. What about Noble Blade makes you think that, and what level would you consider putting it?

As far as the 9th, it stacks very well against Strike of Perfect Clarity, I see it fitting somewhere damage wise between SoPC and the 9th of White Raven in potency.


Not a critique, but a comment: your LoB link is broken.

Yeah, it is for the moment. I'm working on that with my provider. It's annoying.

-X

[Tinydwarfman]

At a glance, it seems similar to Iron Heart in general theme and focus. You also steal a lot of stuff from both Iron Heart and Diamond Mind, which is OK if you are replacing those disciplines in your ToB re-write, but sort of not cool to be used in conjunction with the others.

Level 1:
Nice, well rounded, similar stuff already exists, so it's easy to judge.

Level 2:
Oh ho, this is a powerful level. Regal Blade is even better than Burning Blade and Untyped. Not too OP though. Rising Jade Strike though, is overpowered. Concentration for DOUBLE? That's big. And no drawback if I read it right. I would make it Concentration check, or do no damage. And then top it off with a very good counter. Bit too good here.

Level 3:
Another powerful level. Both dazing strike and Strike of Defeat are very powerful, although Dazing Strike will have a pretty low DC unless your version of the warblade has use for CHA. It's okay though. Strike of Defeat is really deadly tough. +4d6 damage almost all the time is really good, and is still really useful as you won't be one-shotting things at this level. Better than the previous level though.

Level 4:
Jade Zephyr’s Dance is nice, cool and flavorful. Perseverance of Jade is like the Diamond Mind counters +, as their biggest pitfall was knowing which to prepare. And wait a second, have I seen this before? Ah! now I see why Regal Blade was level 1, it only applied to one attack. Noble Blade seems about right here, considering that the Burning Blade series was one of the big draws of Desert Wind.

Level 5:
Jade Zenith Strike seems a bit too powerful again, only one level higher than Ruby Nightmare Blade and far better. Perfection of Jade is Iron Heart Surge again, and we all know what that can do. Needs more clarification. Jade Duelist Attitude is nice. Good level.

More to come.

On the side: Concentration is CON based, yet the discipline is CHA? Odd.

[Pechvarry]

Pretty neat. Makes me think of the Blademasters in the Wheel of Time series.

My commentary is more aimed at effects levels and such. I'll let someone else judge damage appropriateness. Anyway, here we go:

Regal Blade - may make more sense as a Strike. Unfortunately, this style has very few Boosts so I can understand the decision.

Jade Zephyr's Dance - This could actually be made into a Boost.

Perseverance of Jade - this is where things get difficult. Apparently, you're zapping Iron Heart and Diamond Mind out of existence, so me saying "this is 3 different maneuvers in one" is probably moot to you. Anyway, being a level 4 maneuver, it's probably OK. However, I would get rid of the last bit. As is written, it effectively gives you evasion and mettle, in addition to being 3 maneuvers in one. With the evasion/mettle addendum, this maneuver feels like it should be at least 6th.

Final Blow - I'm oddly comfortable with this. However, the bit about making a Heal Check and such seems feasible to split off into another maneuver. For instance, a low level Boost that simply tells you the HP of all adjacent targets (probably as a percentage of their max to better synergize with the rest of the school). Thematically, this is sort of like a duelist attempting to gauge how weary his opponent is growing.

Blade of Perfection - I assume this attack does not deal critical damage? Also, miss chance?

Riddle of Steel - just has a typo in the save logic section -- it says you're stunned for 1d4 rounds if you succeed the save instead of upon failure.

Jade Mastery Stance - Perhaps add the stipulation that if you fail this save, you cannot attack [i]for that round[i]. As written, someone with lots of attacks gets lots of opportunities to succeed and be immune for 24 hours. I think attempting the save once/round with success indicating you're immune for 24 hours and failure meaning you have to wait 'til next round to try again does an 8th level stance more justice.

---

Mechanically, I'm not sure how I feel about a school with so much stuff that's basically Iron Heart + Diamond Mind, but obviously you're not using a lot of the standard disciplines. Anyway, the school seems quite solid.

Also: your Libram of Battle link doesn't work.

[ErrantX]

I made some edits to the following maneuvers:

Rising Jade Strike/Jade Zenith Strike/Descending Jade Strike: Added in that if the Concentration check misses, the attack fails.

Perfection of Jade became a temporarily delay of negative conditions.

Perseverance of Jade lost the evasion/mettle benefits.

Fixed Riddle of Steel's wording, oops :smallredface:

Altered Jade Mastery Stance to include that a foe may only attempt one save against the adept's stance per round.

As for Blade of Perfection, miss chance is ignored, it's a perfect hit. No crits, just a perfect max normal damage hit.

---

Thank you for the insights you've provided, I agree with most of the suggested changes.

-X

[al'raith]

oh wow it's me :smallbiggrin: seriously though read through it and I'll be using this in my campaigns if it's alright with you

[ErrantX]

oh wow it's me :smallbiggrin: seriously though read through it and I'll be using this in my campaigns if it's alright with you

It's fine with me. Once my dang private forum comes back up, take a gander over there (link in my sig) see the work my co-authors for the Libram are up to as well.

Anyway, glad you like Jade Throne! This one was a personal favorite to write. It has less than half similar maneuvers to both Diamond Mind and Iron Heart, but it does have a lot of what I'd want to see in this sort of a discipline.

Thank you again!
-X

[Danzig]

...I hate to do this, but... anyone? Or did I write the best, most solid and utterly amazing discipline known to man? Just wanna see if anyone has anything good or bad to say about this, preferably in the critique department.

-X

Honestly, I think this is brilliant work, and I knew it was gonna be good when I read it over at Sorcerer Studios. Which, by the way, I can't access for some reason...
To me, this discipline plays like Army of One meets Diamond Mind, with the intended user being the kind of noble swordsman who's too proud to do the sword-and-board thing. Since I have a battlemage/warblade (Danzig Nyttafjell) who uses a single katana, this approach seems right up his alley. Then again, since he's the reincarnated Prince of Ulthar, having a discipline that practically screams "noble", is a perfect fit too.

[ErrantX]

Honestly, I think this is brilliant work, and I knew it was gonna be good when I read it over at Sorcerer Studios. Which, by the way, I can't access for some reason...
To me, this discipline plays like Army of One meets Diamond Mind, with the intended user being the kind of noble swordsman who's too proud to do the sword-and-board thing. Since I have a battlemage/warblade (Danzig Nyttafjell) who uses a single katana, this approach seems right up his alley. Then again, since he's the reincarnated Prince of Ulthar, having a discipline that practically screams "noble", is a perfect fit too.

You seem to have captured perfectly what I was intending for the flavor and theme of the discipline :smallsmile: I'm glad you like it, and if you find yourself using it (again, replace Iron Heart with Jade Throne) let me know how you do with it.

-X

[ErrantX]

Updated some maneuvers, added new maneuvers, changed the skill from Concentration to Sense Motive for Pathfinder's sake. Check out the new maneuvers!

-X

[Ziegander]

Something to note: many enemies are immune to Stunning, but almost nothing in the game is immune to the Dazed condition. For this reason Riddle of Iron and Riddle of Iron are actually very, very powerful, and in situations when hit point damage is less important, can actually be more powerful than the 9th level maneuver (generally if you're immune to Stunning you're immune to Paralysis too).

[ErrantX]

Something to note: many enemies are immune to Stunning, but almost nothing in the game is immune to the Dazed condition. For this reason Riddle of Iron and Riddle of Iron are actually very, very powerful, and in situations when hit point damage is less important, can actually be more powerful than the 9th level maneuver (generally if you're immune to Stunning you're immune to Paralysis too).

Maybe maybe, that's why its in playtest so I can get some feedback from people here or from people I'm playing with using it. As far as the 9th is concerned, even if the paralysis is negated, it still does a crazy amount of good damage potentially.

-X