Bladesinger (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

"By song and steel--you will fall!"

Introduction

3e Summary::Boost your whole party's damage to impressive heights using your bardsong while being a formidable foe yourself.

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References

  • Unearthed Arcana
  • Dragon Magic
  • Complete Warrior
  • Dungeon Master's Guide II
  • Tome of Battle
  • Magic Item Compendium
  • Races of the Dragon
  • Spell Compendium
  • Dungeonscape
  • Player's Handbook II
  • Eberron Campaign Setting

Game Rule Components

Spells

  • Inspirational Boost

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): (Assuming 32 Point Buy) 16 14 12 15 8 13

Race: 3e Race::Draconic Human (Mostly for the stat bonuses, buy off +1 LA. Need 15 Intelligence and Charisma for Words of Creation)

ECL Class/HD/LA Base
Attack Bonus
Saving Throws Feats Class
Features
Special
FortRefWill
1stBard 1+0+0+2+2Dragontouched, Draconic Heritage (Battle), Power Attack, Dragonfire InspirationBardic Music, Countersong, Inspire Courage +1, Lore Song
2ndWarblade 1+1+2+2+2Battle Clarity, Weapon Aptitude
3rdBard 2+2+2+3+3Song of the White Raven
4thWarblade 2+3+3+3+3Uncanny Dodge
5thWarblade 3+4+3+4+4Battle Ardor
6thBard 3+5+4+4+4Song of the HeartInspire Competence
7thWarblade 4+6+5+4+4
8thWarblade 5+7+5+4+4Iron Heart AuraInspire Courage +2
9thWarblade 6+8+6+5+5Words of CreationImproved Uncanny Dodge
10thWarblade 7+9+6+5+5Battle Cunning
11thWarblade 8+10+7+5+5
12thWarblade 9+11+7+6+6Stormguard Warrior, Combat Reflexes
13thWarblade 10+12+8+6+6
14thWarblade 11+13+8+6+6Battle Skill, Inspire Courage +3
15thWarblade 12+14+9+7+7Robilar's Gambit
16thWarblade 13+15+9+7+7Improved Initiative
17thWarblade 14+16+10+7+7
18thWarblade 15+17+10+8+8OptionalBattle Mastery
19thWarblade 16+18+11+8+8
20thWarblade 17+19+11+8+8DiehardInspire Courage +4

At level 20: 3e Final Class Progression::Bard 3 / Warblade 17

Optional Feats

  • Defensive Sweep to generate another Attack of Opportunity with Stormguard Warrior, especially if you have a Zone Controller in the party
  • Improved Buckler Defense for extra AC
  • Close-Quarters Fighting for excellent defense against grapplers

Items of Note

  • Badge of Valor
  • Vest of Legends
  • Wand of Inspirational Boost

Highlights

  • Must be good (Exalted)
  • Assumed stats at level 20:
    • Inspire Courage: 4 (Base) x 2 (Words of Creation) + 1 (Song of the Heart) + 1 (Inspirational Boost) + 1 (Badge of Valor) = +11, Dragonfire Inspiration + Draconic Heritage (Battle) = 11d6 Sonic damage
    • Strength: 16 (Base) + 2 (Race) + 6 (Item) + 5 (Tome) + 5 (Level) = 34 (+12)
    • Attack Bonus: 19 (BAB) + 12 (Str) + 5 (Magic) = +36/+31/+26/+21
    • Damage: 2d6 (Greatsword) + 18 (Str) + 5d6+5 (Magic) + 11d6 (Bardsong) = 18d6+24
    • Total damage per attack comes out to 87 (on average). Should all attacks hit that's 348 damage. (200.1 when weighted against AC 40)
  • Shore up the low Will save with Moment of Perfect Mind

Note

That's with a regular full attack. Add extras (such as Time Stands Still, Raging Mongoose, Diamond Nightmare Blade and others) and you can reach far higher damage.

Combat Sequence


  • Charge
  • Full attack and maneuvers

Munchkin-Size Me

  • Get another bard or use a wand to cast Creaking Cacophony to double your Sonic damage.
  • At high levels, Diehard can be used to good effect when combined with the Delay Death spell (Spell Compendium).

Limitations

  • Creatures with resistance/immunity to Sonic damage. Fortunately, not many of these exist.
  • Bardic Music quota is equal to Bard class level.

DM Counters

  • Usual melee defences apart from AC (illusions, concealment, distance, etc)
  • Silence

Variants

  • If you're willing to give up on the awesomeness that is Stormguard Warrior when combined with Robilar's Gambit, you can pick up the Two-Weapon Fighting tree for extra attacks. Take Two-Weapon Fighting instead of Power Attack, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting instead of Robilar's Gambit, and Greater Two-Weapon Fighting as the optional feat. If you choose to go this route, a few levels of Bloodclaw Master may be appropriate.
  • You can switch in Crusader instead of Warblade. If you do so, take Stone Power instead of Power Attack (combines incredibly with Steely Resolve), Endurance instead of Stormguard Warrior, and Steadfast Determination instead of Robilar's Gambit to shore up the low Will save. Finally, as the optional feat pick up Stand Still and combine with Thicket of Blades and a glaive + armor spikes for good Zone Control.
  • It's possible to switch the three Bard levels and one of Warblade for Paladin and insert the From Smite to Song feat (Champions of Valor) instead of Song of the Heart to achieve full BAB with this build.
  • Alternatively, one can pick up the From Smite to Song feat (Champions of Valor) in place of Song of the White Raven to switch out the Warblade levels for Paladin, the build becoming Bard 3 / Paladin (probably of Freedom) 17. If you do so, also consider picking up Initiate of Milil (Champions of Valor) to get all the bardic songs which the Bard gains access to.

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