Help with Fey'ri Eternal Blade (FR/3.5)

[beardman]

Hey gang.

I'm making a backup character for a forgotten realms game. The game will theoretically be going into high levels so I've decided on a war blade based Eternal Blade build. The character will be a Fey'ri (Races of Faerun) as it's pretty good despite being an LA +2 (we're using LA buy off) race and counts as an elf for eternal blade. The fly speed, alter self at will and being a native outsider are nice too.

What I'm having trouble deciding on is the first half of the build. I'm up in the air regarding both the class(es) and feats. The only feat that has been decided on is weapon focus as a prerequisite for eternal blade. Here are my thoughts. A lance can be with the fly speed to multiply damage. It can also be used as a reach weapon while on the ground. The downside is that I know practically nothing about such a build beyond combat reflexes.

The theoretical build is crusader3/warblade6/lion totem barbarian1/eternal blade10. This is not remotely set in stone. Any input would help at this point.

All wotc books are open with possible second and third party material open as well.

[phaedrusxy]

What's that third level of crusader for? Cru2/WB7/Bar1/EB 10 would have the same IL of 16 for crusader and 18 for WB. The 3rd level of crusader gets you a 1x/day save reroll, while WB 7 gets you +Int mod to damage against flanked/flat-footed opponents plus another maneuver known. I definitely understand the value of save rerolls, but if you pick up the Diamond Mind counters (especially the Will save) I would definitely rather have that 7th level of Warblade.

[beardman]

Good call. Forgot all about those. I do have to confess that the weak will save has me worried. Luckily it's easy enough to spend some time in an otyugh hole and pick up a item that gives a bonus.

Now, does anybody have advice on feats for a flying charger?

Edit: I forgot to add this in the OP. PC would enter play at one level lower than current character which is presently seven.

[Jackinthegreen]

A lance is only really good for its damage bonus when using a mounted charge.  You won't be doing that, so perhaps consider something like the guisarme instead.  The damage bonus from using a diving charge applies to piercing and slashing weapons based on the Dragonborn and Raptorn descriptions.  For the general fly stuff it's just talons or claws or something that are allowed, so chat with your DM about what's going on for a proper player character race that can fly and isn't either of those.

Ask about the otyugh hole too since some DMs are hesitant to allow that sort of thing unless you've got a damn good backstory for it and can justify it within the DM's world.

Chargers need Power Attack, Improved Bullrush, and Shock Trooper at the very least.  Usually Battle Jump and Leap Attack are added in for even more damage on the charge but since you're flying those likely won't apply.

[beardman]

The dive attack isn't a huge deal.  Can always get to height in whatever form and then change into a raptoran to dive. Thanks for the feats.

[linklord231]

I feel like you're going to be hurting if you're coming in at level 4 when the rest of the party is level 7.  They just got 4th level spells and you don't even have 3rd level maneuvers. 

If you're not using the Outsider type for something important, I'd consider asking your DM if he'll let you be a Lesser Fey'ri (Player's Guide to Faerun, 191).  Fey'ri are technically Planetouched, so the Lesser Planetouched option should apply to them.  I'd recommend dropping the LA to +1 instead of +0 like the book says, because it seems fairly clear that they weren't thinking of Fey'ri when they wrote that option. 

Depending on how your DM rules LA buy off being used on a character starting at high level, he might allow you to start with 12,000 XP (3k short of level 6, as if you had bought off your LA at level 3). 

[beardman]

The party ranges in level from 5-8. It's a fairly low op game. The only full caster is my current cleric.

[beardman]

Can anyone actually explain la and buyoff to me? This is my first build going outside of phb race. I'll be starting with 18k xp. With a human, I'd be sixth level and halfway to seventh. How would that work both with la and with buyoff?

[Jackinthegreen]

Assuming you're playing at +2LA then once you get 6 class levels (so essentially get to 8th level) you spend 6,000 XP to lower your LA by 1.

Since you won't be starting at 8th level you won't be able to buy any LA off.  Your total XP puts you between 6th and 7th, so you're at 6 ECL.  Which means 2 LA and 4 class levels.

[beardman]

That makes sense now. Thanks for all the help.

[linklord231]

Can anyone actually explain la and buyoff to me? This is my first build going outside of phb race. I'll be starting with 18k xp.

Perfect.  With a conservative ruling on Lesser Fey'ri and a liberal ruling on LA buy-off (meaning he rules that a Lesser Fey'ri is LA +1 and you can buy it off as soon as you're eligible, even before the game starts), you could pay 2k XP (I misremembered before, it's "current ECL - 1 x 1,000) and start with 16k, enough to still be 6th level and ECL 6 at the start of play. 

[beardman]

It's a nice idea but I'm not about to give up being a native outsider when alter self is an at will power.

[linklord231]

I'm not sure if it's the most recent printing, but Races of Faerun specifies that their Alter Self ability only allows them to take the shape of a Humanoid.  You'd have to cast it as the spell in order to abuse the Outsider type. 

[Jackinthegreen]

The Player's Guide to Faerun: Monster Update web enhancement is the latest update, which means it's 3.5.  That also says the fey'ri can only become a humanoid form.  It's a Change Shape ability instead of Alter Self, and it mentions referencing the Monster Manual special qualities glossary.  Change Shape can be found on the SRD here.

So if your DM goes with that then you won't be able to Alter Self into any outsider, or indeed at all because it's the Change Shape ability instead.  Keeping the outsider type mostly means you'll be immune to certain spells like Charm Person while being susceptible to certain things that target outsiders.  I don't have a specific example on hand for that.

The Lesser Planetouched rules are in Player's Guide to Faerun page 190.  The most reasonable course of action for the fey'ri is turning it into humanoid and having it be +1 LA instead of +0 since they still get extra abilities above what a +0 would have.  If you went that route then you'd be at 15k XP because buying off 1 LA is 3k XP.  15k puts you exactly at 6th level instead of halfway between 6th and 7th.

So basically by becoming humanoid you'd gain 2 levels.  I'd recommend taking that option if you can.

[beardman]

Thanks for the help everybody. After considering everything mentioned, I think I'll be going in a different direction.

[Jackinthegreen]

You're welcome!  Sorry it didn't pan out, but you did learn a bit about LA buyoff at least so it's not a total waste.