Min/Max Boards

Thanks. I'm assuming monk is there for decisive strike. If I went tash i would just drop ss. Done a tash egoist before. DM said they'd be open to a homebrew multi class feat for ToB so I'm going to ponder that. Thank you.

Hi, getting right to it. I am primarily a DM that has *gasp* gotten an opportunity to play yay! I know I'd like to try out both Ardent and the Swordsage as neither of those classes has been played at all by myself, or very much at all by my players.

Thing is I am drawing a complete blank on what I want the character to DO. It has been years of making characters as NPCs causing or reacting to a world event or the PCs (I said world event already didn't I?)  that I feel like an animal that has been caged so long that now released I'm just blinking in the sunlight, feeling confused and missing my chew toy.

So that said, I seek advice. Not a full build I am capable of building something, just need an idea to build toward. Swordsage/Ardent is very Wis based and right out of the box has a very jedi feel but both classes are good at fulfilling various roles and archetypes. Unfortunately the wing chun passive way feel of a wis-y character is not helping my empty mind on the subject.

All books 3.5 available+Dragon Compendium+some PF stuff
Psionics are well represented and some of the C.Psi nerfs have been retconned(not sure which ones yet)
Flaws, fractional BAB and LA buyoff are on the table.
Moderate to low-high group optimization. Players are competent sandbox trained D&Ders. No status quo D&D in our groups. That said there is a definite gentleman's agreement thing going on. No TO and everyone plays well together and they don't make me want to tear my hair out ALL the time.

I'm thinking swordsage dips with the bulk in ardent but what does my ardent DO? The character will come once I get a mechanic going. Kind of backwards I know.
Ideas? What would you do with an ardent swordsage?

Help appreciated.