Tri-stalt help - int focused character.

[Genuine]

A few groundrules first. This is a gestalt character combining three classes instead of two. One of each sides needs to be 'Martial,' 'Magic,' and 'Utility.' The definitions of each type are fairly loose, but I need to be able to explain why something fits somewhere. He is a level 10.

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A note about my personal play style: I hate playing Dungeons, Dragons & Logistics. This is why I tend to like fixed-spell-list or spontaneous casters over prepared types. I know that this hurts my flexibility, and it makes for a weaker character who isn't as IP proofed as possible, but the actual play is more fun for me. This is why I've got levels in Psion instead of Wizard (it also means I don't have to worry about ACF, not that it's a big deal because I'm relying on inertial armor anyways).

The character I've got right now is simply a Warblade//Psion//Factotum 8/Swordsage2. He is a dragonborn half-elf.

For the martial portion: I like warblade, the high HP is pleasant, as is the maneuvers. I'm planning on PRCing into Eternal Blade shortly. Other than perhaps dipping a couple levels of fighter for the feats, or taking a few levels of Crusader for the lulz, I'm fairly happy with it.

I went with Factotum for the utility, extra actions are nice and the Into bonus to everything (trip checks, init, jumping) is fun too. I think that I'd like to keep at least one level of swordsage dipped, for the sake of a few utility manuevers and stances, and also for the free weapon focus feat (which is needed for the Eternal Blade PrC anyway). That still leaves a level open to choose, but I'm at a loss of what to slide in. Ardent, for the cheap mantle bonuses? Or more swordsage levels, or some easy to enter PrC? (I'm avoiding the obvious choice, chameleon, as keeping track of all the floating bonuses is a pain in the neck that I don't much want to get into).

As for Psion, It's a fairly straightforward caster class, if not as uber as possible. I was sort of planning on going Nomad (more on that later), but psycho-metabolism is tempting, and shaper is always a solid choice.



In general, I'm thinking I want his primary defenses to be based around mobility and stealth. Also, it isn't to hard to supplement his massive skill abilities (not great on their own, but he's still a factotum, so why not?) with a few maneuver and power choices. Ideally, he aught to be able to do just about anything out-of-combat that isn't a face skill.

I'm wondering if PrCing the psion into elocator or uncarnate would be worthwhile? Lost caster levels suck, I know, but those are both flavorfull PrCs that would seriously aid in mobility and scout-work.

Any suggestions? Especially for classes/PrCs that I've missed?

[StreamOfTheSky]

Your build as it stands seems quite solid.  Swordsage 2 will allow you to grab a 3rd level stance and give wis to AC (not sure what your wis is or if you're using a 2H weapon or sword and board, may not actually be helpful).  I assume you're taking Eternal Blade on the Warblade side?  Or has the DM allowed you to do it on the Factotum/Swordsage side?  As for psion, I would not lose a manifester level with those prestige classes.  Only one that's worth a ML loss, IMO, is Thrallherd.  That said, the book that shall not be named had a prestige class for psions that basically gave away the wilder's surge ability and iirc was full ML advancement.  But...using that book would also mean accepting all the stupid awful unnecessary nerfs it added to the game.  A double edged sword, to be sure.

Just how high is your int bonus?  Have you checked the X stat to Y thread for ideas?

[Genuine]

This is going to be headslapper, I'm sure, but what is the Book that shall not be named?

I'm planning on going THW, other varieties are a bit too feat intensive. I was planning on filling most of my non-bonus feats with Font of Inspiration, I feel like a few extra standard actions per encounter would be more helpful than an extra melee attack.

[Genuine]

Also, stats are currently (before magic items): Str: 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 13, Cha 12.

The race is dragonborn, though I'm not super attached to it: the base is half-elf so that I can qualify for both Eternal Blade and Able Learner; Dragonborn helps the half-elf suck less. Also, the stats were rolled, not purchased; I can swap things if necessary (like Str and dex, which would result in Str 14, Dex 14 after the racial mods).

[Harald]

The Book That Shall Not Be Named is the Complete Psionics. The one with the Lurk, the Ardent... and also many unexplicable stealth nerfs to many powers.

[Rebel7284]

Some questions:
1. I assume, as is typically the case, that only one prestige class at a time is allowed?
2. How does Eternal Blade and other TOB PrCs interact with Gestalt?  By default, all initiator classes are progressed, so this would boost your swordsage levels too!
3. Similar to 2, A crusader dip seems nice on the warblade side since it will be progressed by Eternal Blade and thus give you higher level maneuvers. You can also do the crusader trick of cutting off your number of available maneuvers in order to spam and re-recover maneuvers every turn.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

The Psion / Elocator part ... works just fine. Since Elocator loses
a few MLs but it's a 6 skill class, you could easily justify building
back in the lost MLs via more Psion, but over on the utility side.

Uncarnate is a bad idea. 
Ghost template class is better.  See TML's guide.

Thrallherd is a good idea, better/different than Elocator.

[Genuine]

We're allowed multiple PrCs - however, the PrC must be taken on the side which gave the pre-reqs in the first place. (i.e. can't take elocator on the factotum side without psionic manifesting).

I haven't asked, but I'm going to bet that a PrC which boosts initiator levels isn't going to boost the initiator level from another 'side' of the tri-stalt. Though it does make a crusader/warblade setup interesting.

Actually, I think I should ask if the Factotum can use psionic powers via arcane dilettante. That would be an easy way to qualify for a bunch of psionic PrCs, especially given that I'm not sure of what to fit in there.

[sirpercival]

Is homebrew allowed?  Because, there's been some love for factotums, and one of the links in there has a feat which lets you grab psionic powers with Arcane Dilettante.

[Tr011]

Focused on Int... Hm...
Barbarian 1/Fighter 2/Monk 2/Battle-Trickster 2/Warblade 3//Psion 10//Factotum 8/Swordsage 2
That way you loose some unimportant Warblade-Stuff, loose some HD (especially with the Monk-levels, but worth it since you get more feats, one could be Improved Toughness to get more HP overall while still getting Feat and save advantage). With the Variants for Barbarian, Fighter and Monk you can get class features and feats at that side from a wide section, i.e. Hit&Run from DotU).

/edit: If you make him Elan, get Mobility & Dodge from Monk and take Evasive Reflexes, find a way to get a decent DR (there are several ways for that) and make sure that your AC matters, couple it with 20% miss chance and you will be absolutly immortal.

[Jackinthegreen]

Kind of a shame Kung Fu Genius isn't allowed.  Carmendine Monk isn't either.

Being squeamish about Dragon material is typical, but Champions of Valor shouldn't be a stretch to get allowed.

[Halinn]

Kind of a shame Kung Fu Genius isn't allowed.  Carmendine Monk isn't either.

Being squeamish about Dragon material is typical, but Champions of Valor shouldn't be a stretch to get allowed.

Might be disallowed on a general "no campaign setting stuff" rule, although that leaves one to wonder why Races of Eberron is allowed then

[sirpercival]

Technically RoE is not setting-specific -- the races therein were reprinted in MMs, and the format is like the other Races Of books.

[Rebel7284]

Assuming Spell Resistance == Power Resistance, taking Factotum to 11 may be optimal.  After all, high Spell Resistance IS sometimes a problem. 

[Schizek]

The character I've got right now is simply a Warblade//Psion//Factotum 8/Swordsage2. He is a dragonborn half-elf.

Factotum is great in any gestalt but you will need to decide if you really spellcaster or gish or melee. From my point of view Str 16 is waste. You don't need Swordsage because Factotun ability on 11lvl is much more impressive than some minor bonuses from Swordsage.

You should consider:
Side A: Factotum 10 in future go to 20lvl with this class
Side B: Psion 5/Psionic Mindbender1/Cerebremancer 4
Side C: Beguiler 6/Monk 2/Warlock 2

-Feats:Liked Power,Carmendine Monk or Kung-fu Genius(transfer monk into Int),Mindsight
rest feats spend on Font of inspiration
-Invocations: Beguling Influence,Dragonic Knowledge if MG agree to take DFA invocations;

Because Beguiler give you free Silent Spell you can make some combinations with power Schizm to cast Power+Spell in the same rund if you connect that to Factotum 8 ability you can cast a lot in one round.

I would recommend some race with int bonus like: Lesser Tiefling,Grey Elf etc

[Tr011]

You should consider:
Side A: Factotum 10 in future go to 20lvl with this class
Side B: Psion 5/Psionic Mindbender1/Cerebremancer 4
Side C: Beguiler 6/Monk 2/Warlock 2

This looses BAB IIRC.

-Feats:Liked Power,Carmendine Monk or Kung-fu Genius(transfer monk into Int),Mindsight
rest feats spend on Font of inspiration
-Invocations: Beguling Influence,Dragonic Knowledge if MG agree to take DFA invocations;

Because Beguiler give you free Silent Spell you can make some combinations with power Schizm to cast Power+Spell in the same rund if you connect that to Factotum 8 ability you can cast a lot in one round.

I would recommend some race with int bonus like: Lesser Tiefling,Grey Elf etc

Neither the Feats nor the Races are available IIRC.

[Shadowhunter]

Swashbuckler 3 anyone?
Weapon Finesse + Int to damage with finesseable weapons?

[Schizek]

This looses BAB IIRC.

As spellcaster you don't need bab that much and you still have 3/4 bab from factotum and int to hit.

Neither the Feats nor the Races are available IIRC.

Only feats that will allow to change Wis into Int in monk. Gray Elf is from SRD he can still use it.

Dnd rewards specialization Genuine should decide what role he will would take. Gish builds are great on paper but they can be terrible in practice.
My build give great Magic+Utility:
-Very high knowledge: ranks+2x Int+6 Invocation+4 Call to mind
-Stealth:Invisibility +Move Silently(Ranks+Dex+Int)+Trapfinding
-Social:ranks+Int+6 invocation,powers and spells
-Magic:2x Full caster:Beguiler+Psion

 

[Tr011]

It is still a Tristalt build. There is no reason other than taking the classes in the wrong order to have low BAB or saves.

[Schizek]

What about templates, How do you add them? One side or all sides?
 
If you really want to play psion you should decide for Egoist for Metamorphosis power. That way you could ignore Dex and Str and just change into something big and nasty. You can play some race that have outsider type like Tiefling to get more possible forms.