Wanderlost
2017-08-25, 07:48 AM
So, this is a build I've kind of had in my head for a while. Having planned it out a little more thoroughly, I was wondering what people would think of it. Thus, I made an account here and am opening it up to share with all of you.
Before getting into how it works, I feel it's important to note:
This build requires a game setting allowing all published materials to be drawn from, as two of its core abilities come from Tome of Battle and Dragon Magazine respectively.
This build is done with low level effectiveness in mind, as well as having a powerful progression.
I, by no means, claim that this build is perfect in any way.
This concept is based around dual wielding short swords to maximum effectiveness.
At its core, it uses Punishing Stance from the first level class dip of Warblade for an extra 1d6 damage at a -2 AC penalty in combination with the Deadly Defense feat from Dragon Magazine, requiring that you're lightly armored or not armored and defensive fighting, or at least 2 points of Combat Expertise for 1d6 extra damage with a finesse weapon. Using both of these gives you 3d6 + STR damage per attack with normal shortswords; Punishing Stance gives a -2 to AC that's made up for with the 2 points of Combat Expertise, netting a -2 to-hit for a +2d6 damage bonus. To get this combo off the ground as soon as possible, use of the Human race is assumed. It also requires a minimum of 15 STR and 15 DEX at character creation, as it uses Improved Two-Weapon Fighting and Knockdown. Additionally, there's no reason not to take the alternative Fighter class feature that sacrifices Heavy Armor and Tower Shield proficiencies for +2 Init and DEX to damage on flatfooted enemies unless your DM disallows it.
The reason shortswords are used is because they are both light and finesse, and because I like the flavor. Hypothetically, any light/finesse weapons could be used.
Warblade 1/Fighter 2/Swordsage X; Progressed from left to right. X being all remaining levels.
Anyway, without further explanation, here's the Feat/Ability progression I've come up with. I've left maneuver and other stance choices out in the interest of simplicity.
1. Punishing Stance, Combat Expertise feat, and Two-Weapon Fighting feat
2. Weapon Finesse feat
3. Deadly Defense feat, Combat Reflexes feat
6. Improved Trip feat
9. Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat
12. Knock-Down feat
15. Robilar's Gambit feat
So, whether or not this build makes sense next to other optimized builds remains to be seen, but it does interest me and seem rather effective. Comparing it to a charger fighter, it offers a bit of a higher damage potential at lower levels (Assuming 16 STR on both at 3rd level: 2 attacks at +2 for 3d6 + 3 (9 - 19 each) vs. something like 1 attack at +3 for 2d6 + 10 (12 - 22)), but doesn't progress to the crazy place that the charger does. However, it doesn't require as many conditions to reach full effectiveness (straight line to target, etc.), and has maneuvers to stack on top of its heightened base damage... It does suffer from lesser control of Attack Bonus to Damage scaling though.
Anyway, let me know what you guys think, and what you might do to adapt it more to your own tastes.
Thanks for reading,
Wanderlost
Before getting into how it works, I feel it's important to note:
This build requires a game setting allowing all published materials to be drawn from, as two of its core abilities come from Tome of Battle and Dragon Magazine respectively.
This build is done with low level effectiveness in mind, as well as having a powerful progression.
I, by no means, claim that this build is perfect in any way.
This concept is based around dual wielding short swords to maximum effectiveness.
At its core, it uses Punishing Stance from the first level class dip of Warblade for an extra 1d6 damage at a -2 AC penalty in combination with the Deadly Defense feat from Dragon Magazine, requiring that you're lightly armored or not armored and defensive fighting, or at least 2 points of Combat Expertise for 1d6 extra damage with a finesse weapon. Using both of these gives you 3d6 + STR damage per attack with normal shortswords; Punishing Stance gives a -2 to AC that's made up for with the 2 points of Combat Expertise, netting a -2 to-hit for a +2d6 damage bonus. To get this combo off the ground as soon as possible, use of the Human race is assumed. It also requires a minimum of 15 STR and 15 DEX at character creation, as it uses Improved Two-Weapon Fighting and Knockdown. Additionally, there's no reason not to take the alternative Fighter class feature that sacrifices Heavy Armor and Tower Shield proficiencies for +2 Init and DEX to damage on flatfooted enemies unless your DM disallows it.
The reason shortswords are used is because they are both light and finesse, and because I like the flavor. Hypothetically, any light/finesse weapons could be used.
Warblade 1/Fighter 2/Swordsage X; Progressed from left to right. X being all remaining levels.
Anyway, without further explanation, here's the Feat/Ability progression I've come up with. I've left maneuver and other stance choices out in the interest of simplicity.
1. Punishing Stance, Combat Expertise feat, and Two-Weapon Fighting feat
2. Weapon Finesse feat
3. Deadly Defense feat, Combat Reflexes feat
6. Improved Trip feat
9. Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat
12. Knock-Down feat
15. Robilar's Gambit feat
So, whether or not this build makes sense next to other optimized builds remains to be seen, but it does interest me and seem rather effective. Comparing it to a charger fighter, it offers a bit of a higher damage potential at lower levels (Assuming 16 STR on both at 3rd level: 2 attacks at +2 for 3d6 + 3 (9 - 19 each) vs. something like 1 attack at +3 for 2d6 + 10 (12 - 22)), but doesn't progress to the crazy place that the charger does. However, it doesn't require as many conditions to reach full effectiveness (straight line to target, etc.), and has maneuvers to stack on top of its heightened base damage... It does suffer from lesser control of Attack Bonus to Damage scaling though.
Anyway, let me know what you guys think, and what you might do to adapt it more to your own tastes.
Thanks for reading,
Wanderlost