Tome of Battle which discipline?

[Fizzban]

Which discipline (sword style) from the Tome of Battle do you like the best and why? Which discipline do you think is the most useful and why?

I like the Diamond Mind discipline. It seems the most “I am one with the blade” I like the samurai feel you could have with it.

The most useful I’m going to say the Iron Heart discipline. It seems like a good balance of defense and offense. You can take as much as you dish out. However, the White Raven discipline seems like a good party booster for those who don’t mind taking a backseat when the fighting breaks out. Everyone likes a little help in a fight.

My Two Copper

Fizz

[Talion09]

Fizzban wrote:

Which discipline (sword style) from the Tome of Battle do you like the best and why? Which discipline do you think is the most useful and why?

I like the Diamond Mind discipline. It seems the most “I am one with the blade” I like the samurai feel you could have with it.

The most useful I’m going to say the Iron Heart discipline. It seems like a good balance of defense and offense. You can take as much as you dish out. However, the White Raven discipline seems like a good party booster for those who don’t mind taking a backseat when the fighting breaks out. Everyone likes a little help in a fight.

My Two Copper

Fizz

I'm playing a Warblade 7 right now, and I focused on Diamond Mind and Iron Heart, and its worked out pretty well. The Diamond Mind - Concentration check instead of a save - maneuevers have saved my butt a couple of times, and so has Wall of Blades.

I have to say that Lightning Recovery is awesome as well, especially if used with Wall of Blades to prevent a big hit.

But my favorite offensive manuever is actually one that I picked up through a Martial Study Feat... Burning Blade is great as a warblade maneuver, when you can use it repeatedly every few rounds with a full attack.

The other Warblade in our party that focuses on Tiger's Claw has worked out pretty well, as has the Crusader. Can you tell that we picked up the new book right when we were creating characters for a new campaign, lol

[MaxSlasher26]

I'm planning on playing a Warblade of Diamond Mind and Iron Heart in my next game. I wanted to play a tank-like character (which Iron Heart can help with) but with some interesting abilities beyond mostly smashy stuff (Diamond Mind).

[ericthecleric]

There’s a lot of abilities I like, I’m not sure I have a favourite discipline. Although I do like Desert Wind a lot, primarily due to the Burning Blade, Searing Blade, and Inferno Blade boosts.
Shadow Hand has some nice abilities too, like Assassin’s Stance.
Devoted mind also has some good stances- Martial Spirit and Aura of Triumph (you heal yourself or allies when you hit an opponent).
Leading the Charge is also really cool, as are several other White Raven abilities.
Tiger’s Claw is great too, particularly at high levels.
In short, I like the boosts and stances; I’m not that bothered about strikes- why give up a full attack to make just one attack, however much damage you may deal?
From a player’s point of view, the system grants a lot of flexibility.
From a DM’s point of view, I really like this book. It really helps to even the odds; for example, give a group of giants the Leading the Charge stance or a few Desert Wind boosts, and any party of PCs is in a world of hurt.

[Frats]

I don't actually own the book nor have I ever seen it, but from the sound of it, it's like playing Guildwars or World of Warcraft, not D&D.

Could be me though...

[Fizzban]

Frats wrote:

I don't actually own the book nor have I ever seen it, but from the sound of it, it's like playing Guildwars or World of Warcraft, not D&D.

How's that? I have never played Guildwars and I've only played World of Warcraft at a friend's house.

Fizz

[Tizoc the Olman Scribe]

I picked up the boook and enjoyed reviewing it but have yet to use it in play. Do you think the new rules could represent an "elven bladesinger"? How would you build one?

[Talion09]

Frats wrote:

I don't actually own the book nor have I ever seen it, but from the sound of it, it's like playing Guildwars or World of Warcraft, not D&D.

Could be me though...

Is it a little "video-game" like? Yeah, although the introduction does state that they were going for more of a martial arts/anime style, which is something that games like WoW also draw on...

But is that a bad thing? It allows you to play a warrior-type character who has a little more variety than just full attack and/or maybe pull off a feat chain. But the limitation is that you can't continually use the same ability, nor can you have all of them available at the same time.

PS. Some might say the same thing about Warforged & DnD ;-)

[Talion09]

Tizoc the Olman Scribe wrote:

I picked up the boook and enjoyed reviewing it but have yet to use it in play. Do you think the new rules could represent an "elven bladesinger"? How would you build one?

Well, there is an Elven specific PRC (Eternal Blade?) in the book, but in all honesty, I haven't looked too closely at it.

Before going with my human Warblade, I did try making an Elven Swordsage, who focused on Desert Wind and Diamond Mind feats... combine that with the Spring Attack feat chain, and at higher levels the new feats in that chain from PHB II, and you have a pretty skilled and mobile swordsman. And you could add in a few Setting Sun feats as well (Giant Killing Stance especially), to go with more of the "skill over brawn" emphasis.