Help I'm new to ToB, can you help me? I'd like advice.

[hdestroyer22]

So I'm making a level 10 character. I'm finally been allowed to use any book in d&d as well as some pathfinder. I know that for the most part the mention of PF is a taboo, but if you have input regarding PF ideas then please by all means do so.

Now I want to stick to builds revolving ToB, but I don't know much about it. I would love to make a two handed weapon melee character using a scythe predominantly a crit based class. That goes with out saying I'm open to anything. If any one knows the the anime One Piece, a second idea would be a Roronora Zorro build would be cool. I assume using ToB would be the easiest way to do so. I was thinking sword sage, but who knows.

Please help

[Kane0]

A warblade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176968) should be able to do that pretty well, with the bonus ability to change from scythe specialisation to any other weapon with about an hours practice.

A solid and straightforward build would be to focus on Iron heart with a minor in White raven or Diamond Mind, and the Mountain Hammer and Mountain Tombstone Strike moves from Stone Dragon. Take power attack and get a respectable Int score to take advantage of the perks of the class and start hacking at your enemies. Make sure to get a mix of Maneuvers that allow you to attack, counter and defend yourself.

Warblades also have the benefit of being the simplest ToB class to operate in terms of maneuvers. You choose your maneuvers readied, use them up then spend a standard action to get them all back. 5 mins of prep time will change your readied maneuvers from your pool of maneuvers known.

Throwing in a couple dip levels of other classes can be good too, 2 levels of fighter is pretty good for example. But doing so means you cannot have two stances active at once, which is a pretty nice capstone.

[Grod_The_Giant]

The nice thing about ToB is that it's really hard to screw up. There aren't really any crappy classes or maneuvers in there, and they don't require much external support. Just put your points in Strength and Con, grab Power Attack and rock out. If you want more specific advice, have a Warblade handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176968).

Oh, and pro tip: when you're picking your maneuvers, do them one level at a time-- pick your maneuvers from Warblade 1, then make the changes as though you'd picked up Warblade 2, Warblade 3, and so on. It makes it much easier to keep track of retraining and requirements.

[hdestroyer22]

Thanks for the tips, what do you guys think of the shadow sun ninja PrC?

[Big Fau]

Thanks for the tips, what do you guys think of the shadow sun ninja PrC?

It hurts, but it's OK for 8 levels. 10th level isn't worth it unless your DM really wants you to become a vampire.

[elliott20]

... how would you stat out Zoro though? I mean, do the rules even support a third sword?

though, really, the third sword for the most part seems to just be used for doing big hits, so I suppose it can be handwaved as just part of the extra damage from maneuvers.

[BowStreetRunner]

The first thing I will point out about the scythe is that critical hits are still based on a percentage. So no matter how good your percentage change to crit, you will always do better with more attacks. Which means two-weapon fighting is generally superior for crit-fishing. Two-handed weapons work better with a power attack based build.

I currently run a TWF Ranger/Warblade crit fisher - although you can build a very effective one with just warblade.

One option might be to go with the Blood in the Water stance, dual-wielding a pair of Kukris. From Tiger Claw, pick up maneuvers like Wolf Fang Strike, Dancing Mongoose and his big brother Raging Mongoose, Girallon Windmill Flesh Rip, and Pouncing Charge. From Iron Heart, pick up maneuvers like Steel Wind, Mithral Tornado and his big brother Adamantine Hurricane, and Scything Blade. Diamond Mind can give you Avalance of Blades and Time Stands Still.

Since you are using TWF you will want to take as many as you can from Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, Melee Weapon Mastery: Slashing, and Knowledge Devotion in order to raise your damage bonus, both to get damage through over DR as well as to make your crits count. Picking up TWF, Improved TWF and Greater TWF are important of course. If you wield a pair of +1 Aptitude Kukris you will want to take Lightning Mace as well. You can use your warblade's Weapon Aptitude ability to change Weapon Focus (kukri) to Weapon Focus (light mace) at this point. This means you also need Combat Reflexes (which is nice on this build anyway) so you might as well include Double Hit too. Taking Improved Critical may seem wasteful when you can buy keen weapons, but that's a +1 bonus on each weapon that you could save for something else. I would save for a pair of +1 Shadow Striking Aptitude Kukris myself. Damage reduction is harder on TWF builds than on THF builds, and Shadow Striking gets past most DR.