Feedback on the Nord's Blade.

[Amechra]

Alright, I've looked around, and I've seen people expressing considerable love for a class I made up over the course of a night's work and with some pretty vocal arguments with the people in the initial thread.

I'd just like to ask...

What do you like about it, in particular, those of you who like it?
Is it the feel of the class?
Mechanics?
Balance?
What?

As a refresher, a link.

[sirpercival]

I will say that much of that love has been given by me & phae...

[Amechra]

True... but why do you love it?

[Libertad]

Some of my thoughts:

Right Place at the Right Time: this can give the character a super-high initiative: a Nord's Blade Elf with 16 Dex and 14 Cha has a +7 Initiative, +11 with Improved Initiative.  In 3.5, where combat can be fast and lethal (in terms of rounds), who goes first can determine encounters.  A charisma-based spellcaster willing to take a three-level dip and Practiced Spellcaster can be a force to be reckoned with.

Bonus Luck Feat: Someone seeking to make full use of the Nord's Blade needs the PHB, Tome of Battle, and Complete Scoundrel.  The former two are expected for a ToB class, but that's three books just for one class.  It can probably be substituted for something else.

Mutable Past: If a Nord's Blade raises his Intelligence score to 18, then doesn't he get bonus skill points as though he had the score since 1st level?

Overall, I lost the idea of the class and think it's very cool!  I might incorporate it into future games of mine!

[phaedrusxy]

I love the mechanics of being able to manipulate the heck out of the dice rolls, and the flavor of being a warrior touched by fate somehow. I really can't wait till the game I'm playing one in gets further along, so I can see how it actually plays.

The odd mechanic for learning and using martial maneuvers is kind of icing on the cake, for me. It's nice, but I could live with a more "normal" progression for that.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Libertad's post reminded me: the interaction with Luck feats is nothing short of amazing. Some might even say overpowered, I'd guess... Being able to reroll saving throws and initiative checks is incredibly powerful, in my opinion. I am a big subscriber to the whole idea of IP proofing, and this class can get you far down the road towards those goals by itself.