[D&D 3.5] I need a Warblade crunch concept

[Lateral]

What the title said. I want to play a Warblade, but I can't think of an interesting schtick. So, Playground, what ideas do you have for a sketched build that is at least partly Warblade with an interesting design concept?

[Greenish]

Sword & board. Elegant, ageless classic that doesn't see much play in 3.5.

[Lateral]

Well, yeah, S&B is underused, but it also kind'a... bores me. Y'know, it's just too common in general fantasy. I'm looking for something kind'a out there.

I was thinking of doing something with Warblade and War Mind, since that sounds like fun, but I can't think of a good tactical theme. How many levels of War Mind would be good?

Also, I can't find at what levels a Warblade gains access to each level of maneuvers. Could someone point me to it?

[AslanCross]

All Martial Adepts gain access to maneuver levels in a similar fashion to Wizards and Clerics:
Initiator level 1-2: 1st Level Maneuvers
IL 3-4: 2nd Level Maneuvers
...
and so on.

If you plan on dipping Psychic Warrior to boost your War Mind's PP or get some of the tasty first-level maneuvers, I suggest going Diamond Mind for Rapier love. (Or if you want to go two-handed, you can take a greatsword, bastard sword or Courtblade if you have the EWP to spare)
Concentration is a class skill for all your classes, so you can multiclass without endangering your Nightmare Blade maneuvers.

If you're willing to get more Psychic Warrior levels you could also just go Soulbound Weapon to be a better soulknife than a soulknife AND get maneuvers while you're at it.

[Greenish]

Well, yeah, S&B is underused, but it also kind'a... bores me. Y'know, it's just too common in general fantasy. I'm looking for something kind'a out there.

Well, drop the sword, and just use the board.

I was thinking of doing something with Warblade and War Mind, since that sounds like fun, but I can't think of a good tactical theme. How many levels of War Mind would be good?

Might go for all 10, interspersed with warblade levels.

Also, I can't find at what levels a Warblade gains access to each level of maneuvers. Could someone point me to it?

Same as wizard with spells.

[Lateral]

Ah, okay. I was actually thinking of going straight into War Mind without dipping Psychic Warrior, because I can't see an advantage to it. The problem with 10 levels of War Mind is that it leaves my IL at 15, barring access to 9th level maneuvers. Is there a way I can boost my IL by at least two while still going Warblade 10/War Mind 10?

[Greenish]

Ah, okay. I was actually thinking of going straight into War Mind without dipping Psychic Warrior, because I can't see an advantage to it. The problem with 10 levels of War Mind is that it leaves my IL at 15, barring access to 9th level maneuvers. Is there a way I can boost my IL by at least two while still going Warblade 10/War Mind 10?

Not really, no. Asking for a psionic version of JPM might work.

[Zaq]

Might I interest you in a simple Bardblade?

[Zeofar]

Also, I can't find at what levels a Warblade gains access to each level of maneuvers. Could someone point me to it?

Already explained, but if you want to know precisely, it's on page 39 of Tome of Battle.

[Lateral]

Not really, no. Asking for a psionic version of JPM might work.

What's a JPM?

I don't really feel like a Bardblade. I think I've got the class sorted out, I just kinda need to pick a main discipline and some kind of weapon. I'm thinking Guisarme, with a tripper build if I go Guisarme. Is that viable with a Warblade/War Mind?

[Claudius Maximus]

Jade Phoenix Mage. It's a ToB gish class.

[Endarire]

Hood - Be a Final Fantasy dragoon!

[Lateral]

Oh, okay.

Wait, I did a massive stupid. I completely forgot to mention that I don't actually own a copy of ToB. (Or any other 3.5 resource, as a matter of fact.) The Warblade and pretty much all of the maneuvers are on the web... but Jade Phoenix Mage is not.

Edit: Yeah, I thought about going Dragoon, but I already have a dragoon PC who sees play regularly. I don't have a tripper, and I've heard that Warblades are good at it.

[Optimator]

I once made a Warblade that had 3 levels of Swashbuckler and one level in Sneak Attack Hit-and-Run Fighter, used Improved Feint followed by Strikes to abuse the crap out of Staggering Strike. Used a rapier and Einhander from the PHB2 and fought defensively/Combat Expertise-d. Very fun and, since it's a Warblade, very useful.

[Zaq]

What are you hoping to get out of War Mind, exactly? It's not a terrible class, but I'd hesitate to call it better than simply taking more Warblade levels, at least without knowing what you have in mind.

[Lateral]

What are you hoping to get out of War Mind, exactly? It's not a terrible class, but I'd hesitate to call it better than simply taking more Warblade levels, at least without knowing what you have in mind.

Mostly 'cause I think it's awesome, is extremely flavorful, fits perfectly with the fluff I've got in mind, and because psionics rule. It's a pretty good PrC for entering with a psionic race (or the Wild Talent feat), and... frankly, it's frakking awesome. Psychic warrior powers are good buffs, and even low level ones are good. (I like Prevenom Weapon, because by RAW, it's not expended on a successful hit, so I can do 8 Constitution damage on a full attack.)

Hey, there's an idea; a MWF Tashalatora Psychic Warrior wielding monk weapons focused on attacking with as many of them as possible, all coated with Prevenom, to get a crapload of CON damage!

...Eh, some other time.

[Doomboy911]

Frenzied berserker with a wallblade that has viciousness and speed. You are now a lean mean killing machine. Frenzied berserker is from complete warrior and wall blade is from quintessential fighter 2.

[Lateral]

Frenzied berserker with a wallblade that has viciousness and speed. You are now a lean mean killing machine. Frenzied berserker is from complete warrior and wall blade is from quintessential fighter 2.

Thanks, but Frenzied Berserker won't work.

[AslanCross]

Are you open to using Kalashtar? It's the best race for psionics due to getting PP every level even if they aren't taking levels in a psionic class. Plus you get a cool Mindlink power.

[Claudius Maximus]

And some of the Quori Link Crystals are very good.

[Ecalsneerg]

Warblade 4/Sanctified Mind 1/Warmind x/Sanctified Mind +5

Sanctified Mind is from Lords of Madness, advances manfesting levels 2-6 and has some cross-class skill requirements. Combined with a psionic race, you end up with a little bit of ToB maneuvers, and a full-BAB psionic character.

[Darrin]

The problem with 10 levels of War Mind is that it leaves my IL at 15, barring access to 9th level maneuvers. Is there a way I can boost my IL by at least two while still going Warblade 10/War Mind 10?

Not quite. The best I can do is:

Warblade 5/War Mind 9/Legacy Champion 6.
BAB: +18
IL: 17.5
(Legacy Champion 2-6 adds to IL +1.5/level if you advance Warblade)

Actually, I'm not sure you really want that many levels of War Mind. Most folks just get 5, once you've got Sweeping Strike you've got the best it has to offer.

You could probably get War Mind 10 and 9th level maneuvers with bloodline levels, but I think there's only one person on the planet who understands how they really work, and I'm not entirely sure I agree with all his conclusions.

[Derjuin]

Well, for a weapon idea, if you feel like it:

Kusari-gama, from the DMG. It's a light one-handed weapon with reach and can trip/disarm/etc like a spiked chain

[Draz74]

Warblade is great for:

• making a quarterstaff wielder who actually doesn't suck
• making a sword-and-board type who actually doesn't suck
• making a TWF who actually doesn't suck (dual-kukri crit-fishing)
• making a samurai who actually doesn't suck
• making a "barbarian," but with more variety in his attacks
• making a swashbuckler who doesn't suck ... especially if you multiclass. (Swashbuckler 3 / Warblade X is decent, but you can also combine Warblade with several other classes for this concept, such as Psychic Rogue or Swordsage. I particularly want to try a swashbuckler character who is simply Factotum / Warblade.)
• making a Master of Nine, who mostly ends up being "a Warblade, but with more Maneuvers Readied and access to Setting Sun." But if you don't have access to ToB, this option's probably out.

It sounds like you're specifically hoping for a psionic-mix of Warblade, though. I think the Psychic Rogue / Warblade swashbuckler combo could be pretty awesome. Lots of Diamond Mind stuff, obviously, and Instant Clarity.

[FelixG]

Spiked chain tripper warblade is one of my favorite builds...ever

[Lateral]

Are you open to using Kalashtar? It's the best race for psionics due to getting PP every level even if they aren't taking levels in a psionic class. Plus you get a cool Mindlink power.

Hmm... I'm not sure what a Kalashtar actually does... They get +2 on bluff/diplomacy/intimidate and +2 on will saves vs. mind-affecting effects, no racial ability modifiers and +1 pp per level, right?

Not quite. The best I can do is:

Warblade 5/War Mind 9/Legacy Champion 6.
BAB: +18
IL: 17.5
(Legacy Champion 2-6 adds to IL +1.5/level if you advance Warblade)

Actually, I'm not sure you really want that many levels of War Mind. Most folks just get 5, once you've got Sweeping Strike you've got the best it has to offer.

I don't own ToB, remember? I can't do Legacy Champion unless it's on the web. I thought about going Warblade 15/War Mind 5 (not in that order, necessarily)... if I do War Mind 10, I get 5th level powers, 70 PP per day, better Chain of Defensive Posture/Personal Superiority, Enduring Body 3/-, and Chain of Overwhelming Force. If I do Warblade 15/ War Mind 5, I get only 2nd level powers, 20 pp, and less powerful Chains (Enduring Body sucks), but 9th level maneuvers instead of 8th, a bonus feat, and Battle Skill/Mastery. I don't know...

Well, for a weapon idea, if you feel like it:

Kusari-gama, from the DMG. It's a light one-handed weapon with reach and can trip/disarm/etc like a spiked chain

Yeah, I know about kusari-gamas. Problem is, they're so frakking cool that... I've already built a PC who dual-wields them. He's just so epic that I don't wanna steal his thunder. Seriously, at this point, I'm going with some kind of polearm.
-------------
Okay, I've got an idea. Siangham are awesome. Flails are epic. I'mma dual wield the two.

[stabbitty death]

if your looking for something out there just be a gyrspike specialist

[Draz74]

I don't own ToB, remember? I can't do Legacy Champion unless it's on the web.

It's not on the web, but it's not in ToB either, so he couldn't be expected to know that you didn't have access to it.

(It's in Weapons of Legacy, and it has 8/10 "class level continuation" that people use to boost their initiator level.)

[Dusk Eclipse]

Oh, okay.

Wait, I did a massive stupid. I completely forgot to mention that I don't actually own a copy of ToB. (Or any other 3.5 resource, as a matter of fact.) The Warblade and pretty much all of the maneuvers are on the web... but Jade Phoenix Mage is not.

Edit: Yeah, I thought about going Dragoon, but I already have a dragoon PC who sees play regularly. I don't have a tripper, and I've heard that Warblades are good at it.

Felt that I should remind other posters this little tidbit of information.

Now Lateral, if you are not adverse to Homebrew, may I interest you on this great class the Ephemeral Blade made by our very own Eldariel You could go something like Warblade 5/War Mind 2/Ephemeral Blade 10/Warblade +3 .

That would give you full War Mind manifesting, IL 19 full BAB, and some extremely nice teleport options, now you would have to stick to Diamond mind school wise, but it is considered one of ( if no the) best disciplines AFAIK

[Lateral]

Felt that I should remind other posters this little tidbit of information.

Now Lateral, if you are not adverse to Homebrew, may I interest you on this great class the Ephemeral Blade made by our very own Eldariel You could go something like Warblade 5/War Mind 2/Ephemeral Blade 10/Warblade +3 .

That would give you full War Mind manifesting, IL 19 full BAB, and some extremely nice teleport options, now you would have to stick to Diamond mind school wise, but it is considered one of ( if no the) best disciplines AFAIK

That looks really cool, but I no longer get Sweeping Strike. Ah well, this is cooler. Problem is, regaining Psionic Focus is a move action... Oh wait, Instant Clarity.

Hmm, okay. So, I can move (perhaps with a rush), make a strike, lose Psionic Focus to use a power on the guy I just struck, and take a swift to regain Psionic Focus. Next turn, either I do it again or I full attack and regain maneuvers. Rinse and repeat, until I run out of PP (I'll leave one or two PP so I can still use psionic feats). Then, same thing minus using powers.