Want to make a high damage melee character. Help appreciated.

[littha]

Book of nine swords characters tend to be stronger (in an all round way, not damage) than normal melee but significantly less powerful than just about every spellcaster or psion in existence.


Basically, they have tougher defences and more versatility than a non ToB damage dealing character but do significantly less damage. They are however pretty easy to play out of the box (their minimum level of optimisation is close to their maximum) so in some parties look too strong if the other melee are not so good.

[Mooncrow]

Also, do you guys think book of 9 swords is unbalaced? We have decided not to use it because some people were concerned that it may be. After seeing the way these characters are optimized though I'm starting to rethink that.

I would probably say that ToB is one of the best things that came out in 3.5.  It doesn't let melee reach the power level of a full caster, but it allows them to still be useful all the way until 20.  So, in short, if there are full casters in the party, then no, ToB is not unbalanced at all. 

[Yilstrom]

Ok, I'm getting excited now! I always thought Tome of Battle sounded super interesting just never really gave it a fair chance.

What would an optimized warblade look like? Anyone have a quick rundown of one. Also for my dagger thrower I could go with Bloodstorm Blade. What are your thoughts on that?

[Dreamweaver]

As for multiple AoO (and possibly many against the same target), you might look into a Robliar's Gambit build.

The feat, Robliar's Gambit, basically allows you, as a free action on your turn, to give everyone, until the start of your next turn, +4 to hit/damage against you BUT makes every attack performed against you grant you an AoO against the attacker.  Only difference is they get to finish their current attack prior to you performing your AoO.

Note: this is per attack they perform against you, NOT PER SUCCESSFUL ATTACK!

So, if they fail to hit you even with a +4 to their to hit roll, then they still attempted to attack you, provoking an AoO from you.

If you can combine this with the nigh infinite attacks that a Lightning Mace/Roundabout Kick combo can give you, you might even be able to perform infinite attacks on THEIR turns, heh.

[Gavinfoxx]

If you want to go lord of the rings style fantasy level, consider an Iron Heart / Stone Dragon Warblade.  Those characters are the most overtly non-magical in Tome of Battle, and they STILL kick ass... unfortunately, that doesn't fit your character archetype... I think the two weapon fighting options are generally a bit more overtly magical...

So, uh, you want a dual sword wielding, not overtly magical, melee-focused character that does massive damage?  Where 'massive' is close to one hundred a round or so? And I presume this game is low magic item too??

:|

Quit changing the location of the goalposts!

[veekie]

Ok, I'm getting excited now! I always thought Tome of Battle sounded super interesting just never really gave it a fair chance.

What would an optimized warblade look like? Anyone have a quick rundown of one. Also for my dagger thrower I could go with Bloodstorm Blade. What are your thoughts on that?

Depends heavily on specific builds, each discipline is good for a variety of different styles.

[littha]

Warblade is entirely defined by its manuvers, you probably wont take manuvers from every school so depending on what you are after you can pick what you want. For two weapon fighting you definitely want Tiger Claw

Diamond Mind: Calmness, meditation and single precise strikes. Think Bushido.
Iron Heart: Determination and Weapon mastery
Stone Dragon: Toughness and attacks that shatter objects and break through Damage reduction.
Tiger Claw: Wild bestial fighting, two weapon attaks and rending blows. Fountains of blood and the like
White Raven: Leader, give orders and inspiring speeches to buff your allies.

[Yilstrom]

Do any items exist that grant more attacks of opportunity?

[Satori]

Do any items exist that grant more attacks of opportunity?

Serpent Armor (MIC) grants Combat Reflexes.

There are also the Bracers of Opportunity.

[littha]

There are also a few stances from ToB that give extra ways to get AoO's like Thicket of Blades (which makes 5' steps give Attacks of Oppertunity).

[cjosephs1s]

Check out these feats for more AoO

Mage Slayer (ComArc)  Can't cast defensively but knows it on things you threaten
Defensive Sweep (PHB2)  Adjacent foes that don't move away during their turn provoke AoO
Supernatural Insticts (Fiend Cod 2)  If foe you threaten uses Supernatural ability you get AoO

[Kethrian]

Don't forget Expert Tactician (Comp Adv) - you and all allies get a +2 circumstance bonus to melee attack and damage rolls against any enemy you hit with an AoO for 1 round.  Doubly awesome if you have Imp. Trip, 'cause then you just have to hit with the touch attack, and don't necessarily need to succeed on the opposed roll.

[nijineko]

any immediate action effects?