Hawkflight
2011-06-04, 04:14 PM
Alright, so I've never played an epic-level game before, much less a gestalt one, so I need some advice on this character. I'm trying to make a Samurai, here's my considered class progression:
Half-Fey (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) 2 / Frank and K's Samurai (http://www.dnd-wiki.org/wiki/Samurai,_Tome_(3.5e_Class)) 19 / Iaijutsu Master (http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/migdalia/Iaijutsu-Master.html) 8 / Swordsage 1 // Warblade 20 / Kensai 10
I might consider taking another level of Swordsage in replacement of a level of Kensai, if the DM rules that I can use Carmendine Monk to let Int apply to AC instead of Wis for Swordsage. If another class comes up that looks like it would work well with this build, I'll start ditching Kensai levels for it.
My problem here is MAD. There are feats (some homebrew) that can let me dump Con (a feat from Dragon Mag to let HP be based off Int instead of Con, for example), but I'm still seeking a way to let Int (or Cha or Dex) apply to Concentration instead of Con. I'm also seeking away to let Dex apply to katana damage instead of Str. I thought I could use Shadow Blade, but katana isn't a Shadow Hand weapon. But maybe I can get my DM to let me use it as a Shadow Hand weapon. If not, maybe I can convince him to let the Iaijutsu Master's abilities apply to a wakizashi as well as a katana. (The second option looks like my best bet.) Or ... maybe I can just find a way to get Str to apply to AC as opposed to Dex. Long shot, but ... *shrugs* (I also thought about a couple levels of Swashbuckler, but I'm not sure it's worth it, and it doesn't fir the flavor of the class I don't think). Int and Cha are indispensable, as class abilities are based off it, as well as Iaijutsu Focus. Wis is already a complete dump stat, so no worries there.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that I'll be taking a homebrewed "Signature Maneuver" feat in order to keep Inferno Blade constantly active. Also, I may end up homebrewing a 3.5 version of the Iaijutsu Master, I'll post here if I do.
EDIT 2: Thought I should mention my fluff. Basically, she's the daughter of a famous samurai lord. Due to her fey nature, she's smart and charismatic but rather on the petit side (4'5"). She has used her smarts, charisma, and exceptional dexterity, as well as her studies of the exotic 'sword sages', to overcome her paltry strength via the practice of iaijutsu and devotion to the wakizashi and become an exceptional samurai in her own right. She was betrothed to a young man, a student of her father's, at a young age and together they underwent the Faerie Mysteries Initiation, a sacred rite involving ... well we don't talk about that part.
Half-Fey (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) 2 / Frank and K's Samurai (http://www.dnd-wiki.org/wiki/Samurai,_Tome_(3.5e_Class)) 19 / Iaijutsu Master (http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/migdalia/Iaijutsu-Master.html) 8 / Swordsage 1 // Warblade 20 / Kensai 10
I might consider taking another level of Swordsage in replacement of a level of Kensai, if the DM rules that I can use Carmendine Monk to let Int apply to AC instead of Wis for Swordsage. If another class comes up that looks like it would work well with this build, I'll start ditching Kensai levels for it.
My problem here is MAD. There are feats (some homebrew) that can let me dump Con (a feat from Dragon Mag to let HP be based off Int instead of Con, for example), but I'm still seeking a way to let Int (or Cha or Dex) apply to Concentration instead of Con. I'm also seeking away to let Dex apply to katana damage instead of Str. I thought I could use Shadow Blade, but katana isn't a Shadow Hand weapon. But maybe I can get my DM to let me use it as a Shadow Hand weapon. If not, maybe I can convince him to let the Iaijutsu Master's abilities apply to a wakizashi as well as a katana. (The second option looks like my best bet.) Or ... maybe I can just find a way to get Str to apply to AC as opposed to Dex. Long shot, but ... *shrugs* (I also thought about a couple levels of Swashbuckler, but I'm not sure it's worth it, and it doesn't fir the flavor of the class I don't think). Int and Cha are indispensable, as class abilities are based off it, as well as Iaijutsu Focus. Wis is already a complete dump stat, so no worries there.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that I'll be taking a homebrewed "Signature Maneuver" feat in order to keep Inferno Blade constantly active. Also, I may end up homebrewing a 3.5 version of the Iaijutsu Master, I'll post here if I do.
EDIT 2: Thought I should mention my fluff. Basically, she's the daughter of a famous samurai lord. Due to her fey nature, she's smart and charismatic but rather on the petit side (4'5"). She has used her smarts, charisma, and exceptional dexterity, as well as her studies of the exotic 'sword sages', to overcome her paltry strength via the practice of iaijutsu and devotion to the wakizashi and become an exceptional samurai in her own right. She was betrothed to a young man, a student of her father's, at a young age and together they underwent the Faerie Mysteries Initiation, a sacred rite involving ... well we don't talk about that part.