Gestalt Soulknife/Warblade Warforged :)

[Kittenwolf]

So. New character for a campaign that I'm in (lvl 1-10, Gestalt, Evil, Arcane & Divine magic doesn't work).

Warforged Soulknife/Warblade (with one level of Swordsage at lvl 5). However, I'm using the Pathfinder Soulknife (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife) rather than the standard one.


Additionally, for a +1LA (already bought off) I have a "Psicrystal Cohort", that is a Psicrystal that also acts as an Improved Cohort (max level of one below me), who will be taking levels in Artificer :)

So. Here's what I've got worked out so far, any advice would be much appreciated:


Designation: Proto Delta (First foray of his creator into making things that could be sentient. He wasn't impressed with the result)

Stats
Str: 16
Dex: 14
Con: 16
Int: 14
Wis: 10
Cha: 6

Traits:
Quick: (+10ft Movement speed, -1Hp/Level)

Flaws
Individualist
Gullible

Skills
Autohypnosis
Concentration
Spot
Listen
Jump
Tumble

Feats:
1: Mithril Body
Flaw: Psionic Weapon
Flaw: Speed of Though (yes, I like being quick :) )
Soulknife 1: Power Attack
3: Psicrystal Containment
Warblade 5: Combat Reflexes
6: Deep Impact
9: Leap Attack
Warblade 9: NFI. Warblade bonus feat list sucks

It *really* annoys me the amount of feats where you can qualify at lvl 4-5 but can't take them until lvl 6. Seriously, why does Instant Clarity specifically take *seven* ranks in concentration? Would have far rathered that than Psicrystal Containment.
At least the way that things work out my Psicrystal probably *can* focus itself, as long as it doesn't take any other actions on its turn

Soulknife Blade Skills:
Note: Going with the two-handed blade option

2: Powerful Strikes
4:
6:
8:
10: Deadly Blow or Reaper's Blade

I have a couple of ways I can go with the rest:
* Furious Charge & Improved Furious Charge would be utterly awesome for charging (duh).
* Alter Blade would give me some more versatility and a reasonable Ranged attack
* Combat Slide would also give me some handy versatility, especially if I somehow get the Stance that gives me two 5ft Steps
* Weapon Special is of course also handy versatility

So do I go with one Versatility ability and the Charge options, or all three versatility options?

Warblade Maneuvers:
1: Steel Wind
1: Charging Minotaur
1: Leading the Attack
2: Sudden Leap
3: Battle Leader's Charge or Emerald Razor
4: Trade Charging Minotaur for one of the above
5: - Taking a level of Swordsage here
6: BY CROM!! *ahem* I mean Iron Heart Surge
7: Unsure if I want to trade anything here
8: Ruby Nightmare Blade
9: Maybe trade whatever is least useful for Death from Above
10: Pouncing Charge!

Warblade Stances:
1: Leading the Charge
4: Hunter's Stance
Darn it. I *really* wanted Absolute Steel stance :(

Swordsage Maneuvers
5: Burning Brand
5: Flashing Sun
5: Shadow Jaunt
5: Cloak of Deception
5: Fire Risposte
5: Mountain Hammer

Swordsage Stance
5: Child of Shadow

Notes
* With my Artificer Cohort & assisting crafting I'll be able to craft the wondrous items that give you extra Maneuvers. I'll want Wall of Blades on one of these, unsure what else at this point.
* Does anyone know if Stances can be added to these items?

* I'll be starting at lvl 3, and finishing at lvl 9 or 10, so please don't bother advising weird tricks or feats or anything that I can start doing at lvl 11+ :P

* I'm largely trying to build this guy for single very large hits and decent mobility. Move in, large hit, move out, no sitting around for Robilar's Gambiting or Karmic Striking etc.

Basic attack plan is:
* If charging, use Battle Leader's Charge (Pouncing Charge at higher levels), Power Attack, Leap Attack, Improved Furious Charge, Psychic Strike & Deep Impact.
* Standard attacks can involve Psychic Strike, Psionic Weapon and a standard strike (add Power Attack & Emerald Razor if I don't have another strike to use).

And here's what I'm working out for my Cohort (Still in progress)

Notes
* Cohort is an Artificer, and race-wise counts as Warforged for the purposes of feats & ACF
* This guy's role is support and healing (mostly out of combat) and item crafting. He won't be attacking, and it'll be rare that he's not 'riding on my shoulder' in combat.

Stats
Str: 1 (after size adjustments)
Dex: 18 (after size adjustments)
Con: -
Int: 15 (+Level Int bumps, it'll have 16 when it turns into a Cohort)
Wis: 10
Cha: 14

Flaws
Inattentive
Noncombatant

Feats
1: Mithril Body (I don't want a stray hit one-shotting my Psicrystal
Flaw: Skill Focus (UMD)
Flaw: Extraordinary Artisan
3: Item Familiar (since he can't exceed my level minus 1, that's a free 10% crafting XP :D. Any word on if you can use your own Warforged body as a familiar?)
Artificer 4: Legendary Artisan
6: Craft Construct (Hrm, maybe he could craft himself a proper body...)
Artificer 8: Exceptional Artisan
9: Etch Schema

ACF
1: Warforged Artificer
4: Warforged Artificer

Skills
Concentration
Appraise
Craft: Armorsmithing
UMD
Spellcraft
Knowledge: Arcana
Knowledge: The Planes

[Wings of Peace]

So. New character for a campaign that I'm in (lvl 1-10, Gestalt, Evil, Arcane & Divine magic doesn't work).

Warforged Soulknife/Warblade. However, I'm using the Pathfinder Soulknife (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife) rather than the standard one.
Additionally, for a +1LA (already bought off) I have a "Psicrystal Cohort", that is a Psicrystal that also acts as an Improved Cohort (max level of one below me), who will be taking levels in Artificer :)

So. Here's what I've got worked out so far, any advice would be much appreciated:

Str: 16
Dex: 14
Con: 16
Int: 14
Wis: 10
Cha: 6

Traits:
Quick: (+10ft Movement speed, -1Hp/Level)

Feats:
1: Mithril Body
Flaw: Psionic Weapon
Flaw: Speed of Though (yes, I like being quick :) )
Soulknife 1: Power Attack
3: Cleave, or perhaps Evasive Reflexes
warblade 5: Combat Reflexes
6:
9:
Warblade 9: NFI. Warblade bonus feat list sucks

Any advice on further feats? I've got a few feats that I'd like but don't know how to prioritise them:
Leap attack: Can take from lvl 5. More damage
Deep Impact: Can take from lvl 5, make attacks as Touch attacks (planning to use this rather than Shock Trooper)
Instant Clarity: Can take from lvl 4. Psionically focus as a swift action after a martial strike

It *really* annoys me the amount of feats where you can qualify at lvl 4-5 but can't take them until lvl 6. Seriously, why does Instant Clarity specifically take *seven* ranks in concentration?

Soulknife Blade Skills:
Note: Going with the two-handed blade option

2: Powerful Strikes
4: Furious Charge
6: Weapon Special
8: Furious Charge: Improved or Bladewind
10: Deadly Blow or Reaper's Blade

Warblade Maneuvers:
1: Steel Wind
1: Charging Minotaur
1: Leading the Attack
2: Sudden Leap
3: Battle Leader's Charge, Emerald Razor or Mountain Hammer
4: Trade Charging Minotaur for one of the above
5: BY CROM!! *ahem* I mean Iron Heart Surge
6: Trade Punishing Stance for Absolute Steel Stance
7: Ruby Nightmare Blade
8: Maybe trade whatever is least useful for Death from Above or Wall of Blades
9: Pouncing Charge!
10: Unsure if I want to trade anything here

Note: With my Artificer Cohort & assisting crafting I should be able to craft the wondrous items that give you extra Maneuvers, will have to look at that option.

Warblade Stances:
1: Punishing Stance
4: Hunter's Stance
10: Dancing Blade Form or Press the Advantage


Note: I'll be starting at lvl 3, and finishing at lvl 9 or 10, so please don't bother advising weird tricks or feats or anything that I can start doing at lvl 11+ :P

I'm largely trying to build this guy for single very large hits and decent mobility. Move in, large hit, move out, no sitting around for Robilar's Gambiting or Karmic Striking etc.

I'll likely edit this again after lunch, but any advice would be awesome :)

If you're taking Soulknife for flavor that's cool, but if you're taking it because it's low magic and good gear will be scarce you might want to consider Psychic Warrior with the Soulbound Weapon (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a) acf instead if your DM will allow it.

You'll have to go up one level for it to really be useful but being able to spawn a weapon with any enhancement you like can be really handy.

[Kittenwolf]

If you're taking Soulknife for flavor that's cool, but if you're taking it because it's low magic and good gear will be scarce you might want to consider Psychic Warrior with the Soulbound Weapon (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a) acf instead if your DM will allow it.

You'll have to go up one level for it to really be useful but being able to spawn a weapon with any enhancement you like can be really handy.

I'm taking it mostly for flavour, plus it perfectly fills the holes in my saves and I'm trying to have a character that doesn't require rest and can just be 'at his top form' all day every day :)

[Keld Denar]

You can't switch stances at even levels. Only non-stance maneuvers. Sorry.

[Wings of Peace]

Run this by your dm because otherwise it's a good way to get a book thrown at you; if you spend a feat to learn the Martial Spirit stance and then beat yourself with a weapon that deals non-lethal damage (including your fist!) you can by RAW heal yourself back to full health outside of combat. It's cheesey but it'd ensure you're at top form for every fight.

If you don't want to use a whip you'll need the Warforged feat from Races of Eberron that grants you non-lethal damage immunity (a good immunity to have regardless imo).

[Kittenwolf]

You can't switch stances at even levels. Only non-stance maneuvers. Sorry.

Bugger :(



Run this by your dm because otherwise it's a good way to get a book thrown at you; if you spend a feat to learn the Martial Spirit stance and then beat yourself with a weapon that deals non-lethal damage (including your fist!) you can by RAW heal yourself back to full health outside of combat. It's cheesey but it'd ensure you're at top form for every fight.

Already well and truly laughed out of the room :)
We have a Crusader in the party as well and we're using the same line for Martial Spirit Stance as Crusader Strike, "The creature struck must present a real and current threat to you or your party"

[Wings of Peace]

Bugger :(




Already well and truly laughed out of the room :)
We have a Crusader in the party as well and we're using the same line for Martial Spirit Stance as Crusader Strike, "The creature struck must present a real and current threat to you or your party"

O'well, so much for Dr. Falcon Punch.:smalltongue:

[AslanCross]

If you're taking Soulknife for flavor that's cool, but if you're taking it because it's low magic and good gear will be scarce you might want to consider Psychic Warrior with the Soulbound Weapon (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a) acf instead if your DM will allow it.

You'll have to go up one level for it to really be useful but being able to spawn a weapon with any enhancement you like can be really handy.

The Pathfinder Soulknife is actually useful this time; it was the most improved of the psionic classes in PF. It gets a whole bunch of options that the WOTC Soulknife didn't get.

[Kittenwolf]

Ok, have cleaned up the initial post, input details about the cohort as well, and added a Swordsage level to my Warblade.
Any advice is welcome :D

[Chilingsworth]

Is there a reason you're not trying to get White Raven Tactics in the build?

[Kittenwolf]

Is there a reason you're not trying to get White Raven Tactics in the build?

Honestly, it's because I *hate* that ability in the game that I GM, so I think it's only fair that I ignore the ability.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Why is it, when I hear 'Warforged', 'Soulknife', and 'Warblade' in the same sentence, the only thing that registers is "For AIUR!!!"