Crackdown Warblade

[linklord231]

So I'm currently playing a Warblade/Crusader looking to go into Eternal Blade, and I'm trying to decide whether to go Warblade 8/Crusader 2 or Warblade 7/Crusader 3. 

Current build spoilered:

(click to show/hide)

Lvl 1  Warblade 1:  Moment of Perfect Mind DM, Steely Strike IH, Sudden Leap TC -- Stance:  Hunter's Sense TC
Lvl 2  Warblade 2:  Steel Wind IH
Lvl 3  Warblade 3:  Wall of Blades IH
Lvl 4  Warblade 4:  Swap Steel Wind IH for Iron Heart Surge IH, -- Stance: Absolute Steel Stance IH
Lvl 5  Crusader 1:  Crusader's Strike DS, Charging Minotaur SD, Douse the Flames WR, Mountain Hammer SD, Battle Leader's Charge WR -- Stance:  Martial Spirit DS
Lvl 6  Warblade 5:  White Raven Tactics WR
Lvl 7  Crusader 2:  Stance:  Thicket of Blades DS
Lvl 8  Warblade 6:  Swap Steely Strike IH for Ruby Nightmare Blade DM
Lvl 9  Warblade 7:  Dancing Mongoose TC

With Warblade 8 I would swap Sudden Leap for Distrupting Blow, but I would lose out on Zealous Surge and my low saves wouldn't progress.  I'm not sure what I'd pick up with my Crusader maneuver known; probably Divine Surge or Radiant Charge. 
Sounds like a no-brainer, right?  But the thing is, I need another Diamond Mind maneuver known in order to qualify for Avalanche of Blades and Time Stands Still at later levels. 
Thoughts?

[emaNsdrawkcaB]

Well, you could always take Martial Study for that extra maneuver needed. Also, I'm not exactly sure why you decided to go Warblade 3, when 4 would net you an Initiator level of 3 at level 5 with Crusader, and you can take level 2 maneuvers.

I'd go Warblade 4/ Crusader 1/ Warblade 2/ Crusader 1/ Warblade 2/ Eternal Blade 10

Consider swapping out the last 2 levels of Warblade for the first 2 levels of Bloodclaw Master if you don't mind the weapon restriction.

[linklord231]

Derp, I did that.  I just listed my levels in the wrong order. 

I thought about Martial Study, but don't have the free feat for it.  Actually, does wearing a Crown of the White Raven (or whatever the Diamond Mind one is) allow you to use the extra maneuver known for the purposes of meeting prerequisites?  Otherwise, I'll try to convince my DM to let me retcon Dancing Mongoose for Disrupting Blow - it shouldn't be a problem because I never actually used Mongoose during that session. 

Bloodclaw master looses a point of BAB, which means delaying Eternal Blade by a level and not getting Island in Time until epic.  I did think really hard about Bloodstorm Blade though, but decided against it because it only has half IL progression and so I'd only get one 9th level maneuver, and also because it doesn't really fit the character that well. 

[emaNsdrawkcaB]

Damn, I forgot about the 3/4 BAB progression. It's one of those that doesn't make any sense. Like Warforged Juggernaut...

Yes, you can qualify for maneuvers(feats/PrCs) with items. Also, you can remove the item and still use it, because maneuvers count for their own prerequisites.

[Endarire]

How'zbout a WhirlPounce Barbarian1 dip?

[Jackinthegreen]

Damn, I forgot about the 3/4 BAB progression. It's one of those that doesn't make any sense. Like Warforged Juggernaut...

   3/4 BAB for a juggernaut is just wrong on so many levels... (all five levels to be precise).

[linklord231]

I'd like to stay away from Whirlpounce because our group has a relatively unoptimized Barbarian 9 already, who didn't take whirlpounce, and I don't want to rub it in. 
I say "relatively" because the rest of the party is a Rogue dual-weilding hand crossbows and a Sorcerer who's trying really hard to be a Beguiler, but without the class features.