Uses of Dancing Weapon for high damage characters.

[elcman]

I'm running into a conundrum with this ability.

I have this phenomenal weapon that has the ability to be a dancing blade. I'm a barbarian, which, I know, seems counter to the character's magic suspicious nature, but... we've worked around that in, uh, ways.

So, I'm finding that Dancing Blade is a bit weak in a few ways:
* Standard Action to release.
* Only bonuses are what it is inherently capable of.
* Occupies the same space as the character.
* Four Rounds.

Considering, in a fully raged state, I do 2d6+17 damage with Power Attack, letting go of the blade as a standard action gives me a 2d6+2, missing +15 damage for that round.

Damage Calculation:

((4 Str + 2 enraged + 4 power attack) * 1.5 two handed + 2 blade bonus)

I can't release and direct the blade forward on its own to attack and follow in with a secondary blade. Yes, there's a lot of metagaming here, but stepping up to a baddie means I am opening myself to a series of Full Round attacks.

Releasing the blade early and the charging on my turn means I get 3 rounds instead of 4, plus, if already engaged, it means my first attack on something close is much diminished.

So... with all that being said, does anyone have suggestions on the best approach for use of a dancing blade since... it's a long ways off from what it was in the 3.0-3.5 books?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. :D

[elcman]

Totally biffed this and put it in the wrong section. :/