Drow Swordsage!

[crimsonqueen]

Hello everyone :D How are you all this evening I come to you today with some help designing a gestalt Drow Swordsage! I'm having two problems here.

1. What should my other Class be? I can't really decide.

My ideas so far Swordsage//Fighter, Swordsage//Incarnate, or maybe even a Swordsage//combination for Shadowsmith or Shadow blade.

Update: I was also considering Swordsage/Warblade to gain access to the Iron Heart Disciplines any thoughts?

2. What Disciplines should I focus on?

Im thinking Diamond Mind & Shadow Hand but I am considering a 3rd what are your opinions?

Now for other bits of info its a level 10 campaign and my dm has waved the +2 level adjustment for me being a drow as it will help run the campaign along.

Also I have the following Base stats that I can place where I want 16, 14, 14, 12, 12, 10. These are all around stats I didn't roll these all people in the party are given the same stats to do as we see fit.

I'm also trying to decide if I should go with the Standard Drow or perhaps maybe even use the Deepwyrm Drow variant.

So any thoughts? Suggestions, and/or helpful tips? :)

Notes: We are starting at level 10.

The following are banned: Crusader, and Psionics (Just found out).

[gorfnab]

How about Swordsage // TWF based Rogue/Swashbuckler (Daring Outlaw) build?

[RFLS]

It really depends on what you're trying to make. If you want a master martial artist, a dip of 2-6 into Monk and then Rogue with the Ascetic Rogue feat might work.

Really, I'd need a better idea of what you're after before I can give you good advice.

Shameless, shameless self plug. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=14130425#post14130425)

[crimsonqueen]

It really depends on what you're trying to make. If you want a master martial artist, a dip of 2-6 into Monk and then Rogue with the Ascetic Rogue feat might work.

Really, I'd need a better idea of what you're after before I can give you good advice.

Shameless, shameless self plug. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=14130425#post14130425)

My character idea is that she is basically a worshiper of lolth who was a candidate for a organization that focused on the Shadow Hand Discipline until she was double crossed an betrayed. The idea is she fights in the darkness of the underdark using it to her advantage.

I haven't decided if I was going to go two weapon fighting daggers, or short swords but I had ideas like I was thinking Shadowsmith as that would allow me to create my weapons out of the darkness if I was ever disarmed. But at the same time I had other thoughts bouncing around in my head.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

I'd go mostly Swordsage with a mix of Ardent, Psychic Assassin (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723d), and Slayer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/slayer.htm). See if you can buy off (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) that Drow +2 LA instead of wasting levels on it. You'll probably need Practiced Manifester, definitely use Substitute Powers (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a), and your first Psychic Assassin special ability should be Mind Cripple. I'd also use the Unarmed Swordsage variant so you could use unarmed strikes in case you get disarmed.

Something like Ardent 5/ Psychic Assassin 6/ Slayer 9// Swordsage 5/ (stagger Ardent 4/ Swordsage 3)/ Swordsage 8 would be good. You could get more Psychic Assassin and stagger the levels a bit longer for Hide in Plain Sight, but you could easily just get a greater Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis (ToM) instead. You'll still get 9th level powers, 9th level maneuvers, and at least +16 BAB by 20th even if you lose six levels of Swordsage. You could also just go single-classed Swordsage instead of staggering those levels and pick up Practiced Manifester, but you'll miss four levels of powers known (4 total) and base power points (about 100 at the mid levels, 122 at 20th).

[crimsonqueen]

I'd go mostly Swordsage with a mix of Ardent, Psychic Assassin (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723d), and Slayer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/slayer.htm). See if you can buy off (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) that Drow +2 LA instead of wasting levels on it. You'll probably need Practiced Manifester, definitely use Substitute Powers (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a), and your first Psychic Assassin special ability should be Mind Cripple. I'd also use the Unarmed Swordsage variant so you could use unarmed strikes in case you get disarmed.

Something like Ardent 5/ Psychic Assassin 6/ Slayer 9// Swordsage 5/ (stagger Ardent 4/ Swordsage 3)/ Swordsage 8 would be good. You could get more Psychic Assassin and stagger the levels a bit longer for Hide in Plain Sight, but you could easily just get a greater Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis (ToM) instead. You'll still get 9th level powers, 9th level maneuvers, and at least +16 BAB by 20th even if you lose six levels of Swordsage. You could also just go single-classed Swordsage instead of staggering those levels and pick up Practiced Manifester, but you'll miss four levels of powers known (4 total) and base power points (about 100 at the mid levels, 122 at 20th).

I stated in the first post that the dm is ignoring the +2 level adjustment lol. :) Still its interesting ideas.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

The following are banned: Crusader, and Psionics (Just found out).

Well that throws a big ol' wrench in every one of my ideas...

How about Unarmed Swordsage//Sorcerer with Ascetic Mage, and go Arcane Duelist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20030224a) 4, selecting your unarmed strike as your chosen weapon. With Deepwyrm Drow you could benefit from Dragonblood-exclusive feats like Practical Metamagic, plus all those spells in Dragon Magic that are better when cast by someone who's Dragonblooded. Maybe even throw some Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327) on there for good measure, because everyone loves overlapping prerequisites.

1. (Unarmed) Swordsage 1// Sorcerer 1, Fell Drain, 2 flaws, (Expeditious) Dodge, Mobility, Metamagic Specialist
2. Swordsage 2// Sorcerer 2
3. Swordsage 3// Sorcerer 3, Weapon Finesse
4. Swordsage 4// Sorcerer 4
5. Swordsage 5// Sorcerer 5
6. Swordsage 6// Sorcerer 6, Ascetic Mage
7. Sorcerer 7// Swiftblade 1, Spring Attack
8. Swordsage 7// Swiftblade 2
9. Sorcerer 8// Arcane Duelist 1, Practical Metamagic: Fell Drain
10. Sorcerer 9// Arcane Duelist 2
11. Sorcerer 10// Arcane Duelist 3
12. Sorcerer 11// Arcane Duelist 4, Arcane Strike
13. Swordsage 8// Swiftblade 3
14. Sorcerer 12// Swiftblade 4
15. Swordsage 9// Swiftblade 5, Darkstalker
16. Swordsage 10// Swiftblade 6
17. Sorcerer 13// Swiftblade 7, Bounding Assault
18. Swordsage 11// Swiftblade 8, Invisible Spell
19. Swordsage 12// Swiftblade 9
20. Sorcerer 14// Swiftblade 10

That starts with Arcane Duelist 2 and Ascetic Mage, so you add your Cha bonus to your AC twice. You can add your Enchant Chosen Weapon on top of Greater Magic Weapon, and throw on (Lesser Rod of Extended) Greater Mighty Wallop while you're at it. Get a custom Runestaff (MIC) with all of your buffs that you'll only be casting once or twice per day, plus plenty of situational spells. Starting out you'll be able to cast Fell Drain Death Armor, so be sure to get a Circlet of Rapid Casting (MIC).

This build gets full Sorcerer spellcasting, 8th level maneuvers, and at least +16 BAB by 20th. You can replace Sorcerer 13-14 for two more Swordsage to get 9th level maneuvers and still have 9th level spells by 20th, but you'll want Practiced Spellcaster. Invisible Spell is extremely useful, especially when you've cast Arcane Spellsurge and want to cast more than one spell in one round.

[crimsonqueen]

Well that throws a big ol' wrench in every one of my ideas...

How about Unarmed Swordsage//Sorcerer with Ascetic Mage, and go Arcane Duelist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20030224a) 4, selecting your unarmed strike as your chosen weapon. With Deepwyrm Drow you could benefit from Dragonblood-exclusive feats like Practical Metamagic, plus all those spells in Dragon Magic that are better when cast by someone who's Dragonblooded. Maybe even throw some Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327) on there for good measure, because everyone loves overlapping prerequisites.

1. (Unarmed) Swordsage 1// Sorcerer 1, Fell Drain, 2 flaws, (Expeditious) Dodge, Mobility, Metamagic Specialist
2. Swordsage 2// Sorcerer 2
3. Swordsage 3// Sorcerer 3, Weapon Finesse
4. Swordsage 4// Sorcerer 4
5. Swordsage 5// Sorcerer 5
6. Swordsage 6// Sorcerer 6, Ascetic Mage
7. Sorcerer 7// Swiftblade 1, Spring Attack
8. Swordsage 7// Swiftblade 2
9. Sorcerer 8// Arcane Duelist 1, Practical Metamagic: Fell Drain
10. Sorcerer 9// Arcane Duelist 2
11. Sorcerer 10// Arcane Duelist 3
12. Sorcerer 11// Arcane Duelist 4, Arcane Strike
13. Swordsage 8// Swiftblade 3
14. Sorcerer 12// Swiftblade 4
15. Swordsage 9// Swiftblade 5, Darkstalker
16. Swordsage 10// Swiftblade 6
17. Sorcerer 13// Swiftblade 7, Bounding Assault
18. Swordsage 11// Swiftblade 8, Invisible Spell
19. Swordsage 12// Swiftblade 9
20. Sorcerer 14// Swiftblade 10

That starts with Arcane Duelist 2 and Ascetic Mage, so you add your Cha bonus to your AC twice. You can add your Enchant Chosen Weapon on top of Greater Magic Weapon, and throw on (Lesser Rod of Extended) Greater Mighty Wallop while you're at it. Get a custom Runestaff (MIC) with all of your buffs that you'll only be casting once or twice per day, plus plenty of situational spells. Starting out you'll be able to cast Fell Drain Death Armor, so be sure to get a Circlet of Rapid Casting (MIC).

This build gets full Sorcerer spellcasting, 8th level maneuvers, and at least +16 BAB by 20th. You can replace Sorcerer 13-14 for two more Swordsage to get 9th level maneuvers and still have 9th level spells by 20th, but you'll want Practiced Spellcaster. Invisible Spell is extremely useful, especially when you've cast Arcane Spellsurge and want to cast more than one spell in one round.

@.@ I'm terrible with spellcasters but this is an interesting build. X3 How about we try a armed sword sage suggestion build focused on Diamond mind and Shadow hand? It would fit better with the image of the character I have in my head.

[Krazzman]

Hmmm Interesting.

I would go with Swordsage on one side and something interesting (like Factotum) on the other.

Stats I would allocate in this weighting:
For "Mundane":
Dex=Int>Con>Str>Wis=Cha.
or the Castingstat as highest for a magical build.

Adaptive Style at first Level.
Duel Wielding Daggers to get into Bloodclaw Master and taking Shadow Hand and Tiger Claw Maneuvers.
Swordsage/Bloodclaw Master//Fighter2/Spirit Lion Totem Barbarian 1(for Pounce) with Whirling Frenzy/Rogue(Dagger variant)/Invisible Blade

This should be a semi good build. Others might give better advice but this would have without spells:
Pounce, good Maneuvers (sort of teleportation and debuff), Sneak Attack, Whirling Frenzy.