Warblade Concentration Build

[Gwazi Magnum]

Basically the idea is a Warblade with maximized constitution and concentration.

So is HP would be through the roof and that Constitution goes to improve his damage output at the same time.

How valid of a strategy/build do you think this would be?
The goal is pretty much a melee character who can just keep taking the hits while still being competent with damage.

[Phaederkiel]

I personally LOVE all the concentration strikes and counters diamond mind has to offer. The strikes are the thinking mans ubercharge, while the counters are crazy good if the dm allows their use when flatfooted.

But having a sky-high constitution is probably not the most efficient method.
A simple masterwork item can boost your skillcheck already by 2, and there are some magic Items that will easily allow a further +10, without much cheese. You can get another +3 and +2 via feats, if you want to be really dedicated.
Your con bonus will pale against this.
Having the big constitution is obviously niceish, but is more useful to the guy that full attacks, not for the guy with the moving-and-striking style.

The next question is: why warblade? The concentration maneuvers are mostly lowleveled enough to be available via dip, and here swordsage is much better.

As a base class the factotum comes to mind. A Factotum can add his classlvl to any skill once per day per skill.
He can do that AFTER he knows if he has thrown a critical.
Which means he can add another 20 dmg to the first crit he rolls with that strike. Or 40-60, if you got the double dmg one. Or far more, if you got your kukri made of this awful kaorti resin.
This is a build which thrives on critfishing.

Oh, and, btw: you can obviously double-dip, to get that tasty ATK reroll, and another get-out-jail-free card in Iron heart surge.

[Gwazi Magnum]

Reason for Warblade is to be a competent accurate melee fighter with full BAB and higher HD. Also the higher Constitution not only aids in melee combat with high HP but also aids in concentration, not massively but still good.

I mean a simple con of 20 gives +5 which is nice, and I'd probably be getting it higher with magic items and such.

[kharmakazy]

Throwing in "item familiar" is another good way to boost concentration if you have the feat to burn.

[Gwazi Magnum]

Throwing in "item familiar" is another good way to boost concentration if you have the feat to burn.

I assume you mean by investing skill ranks into it to make a bonus?

I'll probably do that if I make the warblade a warforged, in which case the familliar is permanent and I suffer no risk of losing it to anyone.

Thanks for the advice :)
With this now each level is basically a universal weapon specialization with my attacks.

[Fouredged Sword]

A spellcaster's vest (name may be wrong) will grant a +20 bonus to concentration 3/day. Not bad for that

[Roguenewb]

This idea is real popular on the forums lately. I Warblade is the better choice, but Swordsage isn't as big as a step down with all the CON based extra HP meaning the smaller HD versatility. Warblade gives you an awesome recovery mechanic and full BAB, Swordsage gives you more versatility and manuevers.

Just maxing ranks in CON, maybe discipline focus (Diamond Mind), possible something like Skill Focus (CONC) if you want the extra bonus and you'll be better at conc than attack rolls anyway. pick up all the basic skill items that give varying bonus types and you'll be good to go.

Like all things with ToB, the base classes are very forgiving. Even if you pick the worst manuevers per level, you'll still function. Go into eternal blade, and voila, a 10 and 10 build on focusing really good.

[Phaederkiel]

hmm, okay, i perhaps did not make my point clearly enough.


Warblade IS a very nice class. But its d12 hd is more suited to standing and full attacking than to zoom in and out using maneuvers.
Or, to say it the other way around: beeing able to zoom in (and possibly out again) and using a maneuver in between means that you do not need as much hp and can easily be a swordsage.

I might be somewhat biased, because in the recent game I dmed (where the warblade was outclassed by the swordsage at 90% of the situation) said swordsage was a raptorean and had flyby, which gives the ability to zoom out again.


Another argument: the concentration strikes delete ANY other kind of damage you would deal. Which means that you are far better off using a keen scimitar or kukri or rapier than any elsewhise useful melee weapon.
Same: your beautiful strength bonus matters very little. So going dex and weapon finesse for higher AC and ini is quite preferable, if you want to specialise in the insightful strikes.


That said: those strikes are so great that any class (with concentration as class skill) will make them work. Warblade probably being one of the best chassises available. Factotum is probably better, but it matters little.
Heck, I am tempted to learn this via feat with my wizard, just for having this big damage thingy once per encounter.

[OMG PONIES]

Steady Concentration (Races of Stone) could help you, as it allows you to always take 10. Autosuccess on any save with a DC of 35 or below (assuming 14 CON) is always fun. Also, if you're focusing on Concentration you may want to take a peek at the good old Kensai PrC from Complete Warrior. It'll slow your maneuver progression, but you can use Concentration to supercharge your STR for a few rounds. Their 5th-level ability "Withstand" is akin to the Reflex save-replacing Diamond Mind maneuver, but functions every time you need to save instead of 1/encounter. 8th level gives the odd ability to instill BAB or save bonuses in your allies. Since you're using Withstand instead of making Reflex saves, you can give your whole Reflex bonus to your ally.

Overall, I'm starting to think that Warblade 7/Factotum 3/Kensai 10 focused on STR, INT, and CON would be a lot of fun. Taking the levels as Warblade 5/Kensai 10/Factotum 3/Warblade 2 would net you 7th-level maneuvers by the end as well as giving you plenty of fun skill-based options. Don't forget the synergy b/w Concentration and Autohypnosis!

[kharmakazy]

hmm, okay, i perhaps did not make my point clearly enough.


Warblade IS a very nice class. But its d12 hd is more suited to standing and full attacking than to zoom in and out using maneuvers.
Or, to say it the other way around: beeing able to zoom in (and possibly out again) and using a maneuver in between means that you do not need as much hp and can easily be a swordsage.

I might be somewhat biased, because in the recent game I dmed (where the warblade was outclassed by the swordsage at 90% of the situation) said swordsage was a raptorean and had flyby, which gives the ability to zoom out again.


Another argument: the concentration strikes delete ANY other kind of damage you would deal. Which means that you are far better off using a keen scimitar or kukri or rapier than any elsewhise useful melee weapon.
Same: your beautiful strength bonus matters very little. So going dex and weapon finesse for higher AC and ini is quite preferable, if you want to specialise in the insightful strikes.


That said: those strikes are so great that any class (with concentration as class skill) will make them work. Warblade probably being one of the best chassises available. Factotum is probably better, but it matters little.
Heck, I am tempted to learn this via feat with my wizard, just for having this big damage thingy once per encounter.

I never not take at least two ToB classes if I take one. Dipping SS later in a build can net you a huge chunk of high level maneuvers all at once, and dipping crusader gets you +1 to hit/dam forever and the ability to punch you and your friends back to health.

[Rainbownaga]

If you have a psionic power pool, you can take 15 on a concentration check.

Not sure how you'd get a mastercraft concentration item without it being cheesy.

[Phaederkiel]

qi-gong balls, a straw to chew on, a small opium pipe, a special diadem...

there are quite a lot nice possibilities.

[kharmakazy]

Last time I did it, it was incense.