Bladesinger

[absolmorph]

I was looking through Races of Faerun, and while looking through the prestige classes the bladesinger caught my eye. I'm not sure how to best use it, however. Ideally, I'd like to take all 10 levels (Song of Fury looks shiny), but I'm not sure what a good entry would be, or what to take once I finish bladesinger.

Features of note are Bladesong (Int to AC as a dodge bonus), Song of Celerity (cast a spell as a free action when you full attack), and Song of Fury (basically Flurry of Blows with a longsword or rapier).

Some of the bad points are that it's got its own casting progression, requires the ability to cast 1st level spells, and requires Dodge and Weapon Focus. Oh, and you have to be an elf or half-elf. :smalltongue:

[unundindur]

If you are set on the concept (as I have been) and not the class I would suggest a Wizard5/Eldritch knight 10/ Abjurant Champion 5 instead. That character is actually very good, very simple rules-wise and can do pretty much everything the Bladesinger can, without breaking anything or being difficult to the GM :)

If you want to make it even better, take the Otherworldly feat (Player's Guide to Faerun) at level 1 to get better, and if you want to make for a slightly different build exchange two levels of something for two levels of monk and take the Carmendine Monk (Champions of Valor) feat at some point :)

That character really wants Abrupt Jaunt (Players Handbook II) too, as it fits the concept and is really really great too.

You might also want to look into the Swiftblade PrC here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327

[Keld Denar]

RoF was a 3.0 book. Bladesinger got reprinted in Complete Warrior. Its generally considered absolutely terribad. Its now 1/2 casting, lost a few of its good abilities (still has a free quicken 2/day, though), and is generally regarded as trash. About the only way to make it not absolutely terrible is to mount it on a partial caster chassis, like Suel Arcanamach, and even then, Abjurant Champion makes it look like a chump.

[absolmorph]

If you are set on the concept (as I have been) and not the class I would suggest a Wizard5/Eldritch knight 10/ Abjurant Champion 5 instead. That character is actually very good, very simple rules-wise and can do pretty much everything the Bladesinger can, without breaking anything or being difficult to the GM :)

If you want to make it even better, take the Otherworldly feat (Player's Guide to Faerun) at level 1 to get better, and if you want to make for a slightly different build exchange two levels of something for two levels of monk and take the Carmendine Monk (Champions of Valor) feat at some point :)

That character really wants Abrupt Jaunt (Players Handbook II) too, as it fits the concept and is really really great too.

You might also want to look into the Swiftblade PrC here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327
I'm more set on seeing how good the Bladesinger can be.
And the Bladesinger lacks the problem spells.


RoF was a 3.0 book. Bladesinger got reprinted in Complete Warrior. Its generally considered absolutely terribad. Its now 1/2 casting, lost a few of its good abilities (still has a free quicken 2/day, though), and is generally regarded as trash. About the only way to make it not absolutely terrible is to mount it on a partial caster chassis, like Suel Arcanamach, and even then, Abjurant Champion makes it look like a chump.
That's... Wow, that's a sad update. I must have been really tired to not realize that it's a 3.0 book.
The conversion of the original class isn't too hard, though. Expertise become Combat Expertise, and the "spell with a casting time of one action" becomes "spell with a casting time of a standard action".

[Elfinor]

Assuming you're using the CW version, I'll vomit some ideas out.

AFAIK, the quickest entry into the class is available via Fighter/Duskblade. I do not endorse this option.

Going for a Swashbuckler 3/Fighter/Conjurer is probably a better option, even though it has later entry.

Delaying further by adding one level of monk may also be a valid option. With Kung-Fu Genius (DR 319) you can add double INT to AC (with bladesinger). It can also pay for itself in terms of feat tax. This is a (slightly) better option if you can convince your DM to use the partial attack bonus rules.

Honestly, though, you are better off with another gish class. Even if you insist on Bladesinger, sprinkling your build with Spellsword 1 and/or Abjurant Champion X will help your spell progression a lot more. The one handed attack style it tries to encourage isn't a very viable melee combat style - I've included an RAW suggestion for making it work a bit better below. If you can get your DM to get all relevant bonuses to apply to 2 handed weapons as well, that would be better.

Other things to consider:

Practiced Spellcaster is practically a must. You'll be fairly feat starved though...
If you want to stick to Bladesinger themed weapons, then Longsword is better because of 2 handed weapon fighting (for power attack/charge tactics anyhow). It's a little cheesy, but taking a hand on and off a weapon is a free action IIRC. You can switch your weapon to one handed mode once you've finished a melee attack, thus keeping your Bladesinger bonus to AC intact for most incoming attacks. Your AOOs will still be doing one handed damage though. The annoying thing is that you can't do this with Song of Fury, which you were looking forward to, so:smallsigh: its viability (poor or less poor:smalltongue:) depends on the level range of the game.
If you choose a Swashbuckler base, the Arcane Stunt ACF (CM) is generally considered a better option.
Likewise, the Conjurer's Abrupt Jaunt ACF (PHB II) is very useful, it's effectively an escape death immediate action. You might also want to consider taking Focused Specialist (CM). I'd suggest banning evocation, ban other schools depending on playstyle. You're best off keeping transmutation.
If you gave up your familiar as recommended above then grabbing it again with Obtain Familiar (then Improved Familiar) is a good option. As a gish, you have more HP and hence so does your familiar.
If you look up 'low level spells for gishes' or something similar, you'll probably net more comprehensive advice than any suggested spell list I'll throw out.