ToB Warforged?

[Von Krieger]

I'm wanting to try out the Tome of Battle in a group where we're running the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft module. Presuming that there is going to be a very large pile of undead, I've decided on Warforged, since the living construct type means that I can avoid some of the nastier abilities and such. The group has a Cleric, Druid, and Sorcerer, and as the new guy I'm going to be trying to fit my character in to fill the durable melee type role.

We've got 32 point buy, and dragon mags and Savage Species have been forbidden. No traits, no flaws.

I'm not a hundred percent married to the Warforged race as well, it's just that when I think of "Sturdy, durable type to eagerly wade into masses of the undead" I think Warforged. First level feat is (I'm thinking) Adamantine Body.

I'll be starting at level 6.

[Jackinthegreen]

Crusader typically does the durability thing pretty well.  You'll have no problems getting your background to work with smashing undead in.  Make sure you use maneuver cards to help out with the crusader's recovery mechanic.

You might want to see what the cleric and druid are doing on the melee front though.  Both can excel quite well in that area.

[Concerned Ninja Citizen]

Warforged could make a solid Warblade or Crusader. The wis hit makes Swordsage a less attractive option but they're more the auxiliary melee than the sturdy tank type anyway.

Besides SS and mags, I take it most books are available?

Do you know the optimization level of the group and/or what their characters are designed to do (Cleric, in particular, can cover a multitude of roles)?

ToB, esp Crusader and Warblade, tends to be very user friendly. You can pretty much toss a character together, pick maneuvers that seem cool, and do fine in a moderately optimized party.

The damage reduction from Adamantine Body will synergy nicely with the Crusader's steely resolve feature and Crusader has heavy armor proficiency (does AB require you to be proficient in the armor type you are considered to be wearing?) so it might be a better choice than warblade.

[Saxavarius]

A lock down Crusader is nasty due to stand still and thicket of blades; you literally punish enemies for moving or not moving.
hereis a link to some printable maneuver cards as it can be a pain to make the yourself, just make sure your paper is a little thicker than the normal printer paper. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20061225a

[Von Krieger]

Yeah, I was figuring Crusader. Was pondering Cloistered Cleric 2/Crusader 3/RKV 1.

Dunno if going the DMM Persist route will work out effectively, I think I can get 4 to start with 4 from extra turning/undeath, and 2 from a Reliquary holy symbol. And I'll be limited to 1st and 2nd level spells for the vast majority of the module.

I could go Cleric 4/Cru 1, which would mean I start out able to use 2nd level manuevers and spells, and 3rd level once I ding 7. Though I lose out on a few points of BAB, and have lower HD, which makes me not quite as tanky as I could be.

I'm thinking DMM persisting Lesser Vigor as my one spell that I can persist, or is there a better 1st or second level spell candidate for the place?

[Gribel]

I'm thinking DMM persisting Lesser Vigor as my one spell that I can persist, or is there a better 1st or second level spell candidate for the place?

Lesser Vigor is a touch spell, meaning it might not be persistable depending on your DM's interpretation.

[SorO_Lost]

The group already has a Cleric and a semi-tank (the druid).

If you're not going full bruteforce I'd suggest dipping something that makes you more skillful.

[Von Krieger]

Turns out that the cleric is being a healbot.

[Tonymitsu]

I would also double-check how your DM thinks Devoted Spirit healing will interact with a warforged.

Their racial ability states exactly, "spells from the healing subschool and supernatural abilities that cure hit point damage or ability damage provide only
half their normal effect to a warforged."

ToB says that all maneuvers in the book are extraordinary abilities unless the description of the individual maneuver states otherwise.  None of the Devoted Spirit maneuvers say this except for Strike of Righteous Vitality, which says it duplicates the effects of a heal spell.

RAW, by virtue of specific wording, there is nothing preventing you from gaining full healing from Devoted Spirit strikes and stances.  But the intent of the wording on warforged is clear enough that it might raise an eyebrow or two.