Violet Rose, the Savant Scorpion, Female Half-Giant Swashbuckler 3/Swordsage 5 (6*)/Psychic Warrior 1/War Mind 10
Starting ability scores (32 pt. buy): Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 8
Racially modified ability scores: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 8
At level 13th; ECL 14th (sweet spot)
{table=head]
Level|
Class|
Base Attack Bonus|
Fort Save|
Ref Save|
Will Save|
Skills|
Feats|
Class Features
1st|Swordsage 1|
+0
|
+0
|
+2
|
+2
|Concentration 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks, Knowledge (dungeoneering) 4 ranks, Knowledge (history) 2 ranks, Knowledge (local) 4 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 4 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks, Knowledge (the Planes) 2 ranks|Education| Quick to Act +1, Discipline Focus – Weapon Focus (Shadow Hand)
2nd|Swashbuckler 1|
+1
|
+2
|
+2
|
+2
| Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1|Weapon Finesse|Arcane Stunt (
blur; replaces grace, CM 32)
3rd|Swashbuckler 2|
+2
|
+3
|
+2
|
+2
| Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1| Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Spiked Chain)|-
4th|Swordsage 2|
+3
|
+3
|
+3
|
+3
|Concentration +2, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1||Insightful Strike
5th|Swashbuckler 3|
+4
|
+3
|
+4
|
+4
| Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1| |AC Bonus
6th|Swordsage 3|
+5
|
+4
|
+4
|
+4
| Concentration +2, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1|Combat Expertise|
7th|Swordsage 4|
+6/+1
|
+4
|
+5
|
+5
| Concentration +2, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1| |Discipline Focus – Insightful Strike (Diamond Mind)
8th|Psychic Warrior 1|
+6/+1
|
+6
|
+5
|
+5
|Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1|Improved Trip|
9th|War Mind 1|
+7/+2
|
+8
|
+7
|
+5
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1, Psicraft 2 ranks|Knowledge Devotion|Chain of Personal Superiority +2
10th|War Mind 2|
+8/+3
|
+9
|
+7
|
+5
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1, Psicraft +1||Chain of Defensive Posture +2
11th|War Mind 3|
+9/+4
|
+9
|
+7
|
+6
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1, Psicraft +1 | |Enduring Body (DR 1/-)
12th|War Mind 4|
+10/+5
|
+10
|
+8
|
+6
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1|Practiced Manifester (War Mind)|-
13th|War Mind 5|
+11/+6/+1
|
+10
|
+8
|
+6
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1| |Sweeping Strike[/table]
Skills at 13th level
Concentration +19, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +13, Knowledge (history) +5, Knowledge (local) +16*, Knowledge (nature) +17*, Knowledge (psionics) +13, Knowledge (religion) +13, Knowledge (the Planes) +11, Psicraft +7
*: Education feat bonus to skills
Tactics
Violet Rose is built upon the concept of tripping and unusual ways to deal damage. Usually, her favored method of combat implies Expansion (for size increase, usually to two size categories to take advantage of reach and increased damage), Animal Affinity to enhance her Strength (and if possible, her Intelligence as well), and either Island of Blades or Step of the Wind depending on the terrain (she usually seeks to fight in difficult terrain so that she may take advantage of Step of the Wind, but she may use Island of Blades to support her allies with the unusual reach and flanking positions she may achieve. Thicken Skin is done early during the entry of a dungeon in order to reinforce her Armor Class.
Maneuver-wise, the idea is that Violet Rose can combine the sweeping strike maneuver (when possible) with either Sapphire Nightmare Blade or Insightful Strike to deal increased damage to two creatures, Burning Blade to use a full attack on two adjacent creatures, and Clinging Shadow Strike to impose a penalty to damage on two adjacent creatures. However, the key tactic of Violet Rose is to combine the incredible reach she gains with Expansion, the spiked chain (or drow scorpion chain), her size, her incredible Strength and her bonuses to trip two opponents that may be quite distant.
Damage-wise, Violet Rose depends mostly on her Strength and Intelligence, combining Insightful Strike and Chain of Personal Superiority along with her size modifiers to deal as much damage as possible. Another helping factor is Knowledge Devotion, which essentially allows her to gain an insight bonus on several creatures (if not to say all of them, given her insane amount of ranks in several Knowledge skills) and ensure she lands a hit.
Trip-wise, she has several factors that help her. One is the fact that she is built for trip, but the other is essentially that her Improved Trip bonus attack also applies with sweeping strike, which allows her to strike a creature when she makes a trip attempt (which she can do around three if she remains relatively still and using her full attack for trip attempts). Another strong tactic is using Devastating Throw, which is built for driving opponents away from her allies by launching them away. Usually, this move requires foregoing sweeping strike, so it is, much like Burning Brand to gain extra reach, a desperate measure (say, a panic button) for her.
At level 20th
{table=head]
Level|
Class|
Base Attack Bonus|
Fort Save|
Ref Save|
Will Save|
Skills|
Feats|
Class Features
1st|Swordsage 1|
+0
|
+0
|
+2
|
+2
|Concentration 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks, Knowledge (dungeoneering) 4 ranks, Knowledge (history) 2 ranks, Knowledge (local) 4 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 4 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks, Knowledge (the Planes) 2 ranks|Education| Quick to Act +1, Discipline Focus – Weapon Focus (Shadow Hand)
2nd|Swashbuckler 1|
+1
|
+2
|
+2
|
+2
| Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1|Weapon Finesse| Arcane Stunt (blur; replaces grace, CM 32)
3rd|Swashbuckler 2|
+2
|
+3
|
+2
|
+2
| Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1| Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Spiked Chain)|-
4th|Swordsage 2|
+3
|
+3
|
+3
|
+3
|Concentration +2, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1||Insightful Strike
5th|Swashbuckler 3|
+4
|
+3
|
+4
|
+4
| Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1| |AC Bonus
6th|Swordsage 3|
+5
|
+4
|
+4
|
+4
| Concentration +2, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1|Combat Expertise|
7th|Swordsage 4|
+6/+1
|
+4
|
+5
|
+5
| Concentration +2, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1| |Discipline Focus – Insightful Strike (Diamond Mind)
8th|Psychic Warrior 1|
+6/+1
|
+6
|
+5
|
+5
|Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1|Improved Trip|
9th|War Mind 1|
+7/+2
|
+8
|
+7
|
+5
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1, Psicraft 2 ranks|Knowledge Devotion|Chain of Personal Superiority +2
10th|War Mind 2|
+8/+3
|
+9
|
+7
|
+5
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1, Psicraft +1||Chain of Defensive Posture +2
11th|War Mind 3|
+9/+4
|
+9
|
+7
|
+6
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1, Psicraft +1 | |Enduring Body (DR 1/-)
12th|War Mind 4|
+10/+5
|
+10
|
+8
|
+6
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1|Practiced Manifester (War Mind)|-
13th|War Mind 5|
+11/+6/+1
|
+10
|
+8
|
+6
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (nature) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1| |Sweeping Strike
14th|War Mind 6|
+12/+7/+2
|
+11
|
+9
|
+7
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1| |Enduring Body (DR 2/-)
15th|War Mind 7|
+13/+8/+3
|
+11
|
+9
|
+7
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1|Adaptive Style|Chain of Personal Superiority +4
16th|War Mind 8|
+14/+9/+4
|
+12
|
+10
|
+7
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1| |Chain of Defensive Posture +4
17th|War Mind 9|
+15/+10/+5
|
+12
|
+10
|
+8
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1| |Enduring Body (DR 3/-)
18th|War Mind 10|
+16/+11/+6/+1
|
+13
|
+11
|
+8
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Knowledge (the Planes) +1|Extend Power|Chain of Overwhelming Force
19th|Swordsage 5|
+16/+11/+6/+1
|
+13
|
+11
|
+8
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +2, Knowledge (religion) +2, Knowledge (the Planes) +2| |Quick to Act +2
20th*|Swordsage 6|
+17/+12/+7/+2
|
+14
|
+12
|
+9
| Concentration +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (psionics) +2, Knowledge (religion) +2, Knowledge (the Planes) +2| |-[/table]
*: Since the Half-Giant has Level Adjustment of +1, the 20th level character progression is only accessible if Violet bought off her level adjustment.
Note: Because the character gains Int 16 at 8th level, Violet gains an extra skill point per level from that moment onward. In case the extra skill point cannot be added at 8th level, remove 1 rank from Concentration.
Skills at 20th level
Concentration +25 (26**), Knowledge (arcana) +19 (20**), Knowledge (dungeoneering) +19 (20**), Knowledge (history) +5, Knowledge (local) +21*, Knowledge (nature) +20*, Knowledge (psionics) +18 (20**), Knowledge (religion) +18 (20**), Knowledge (the Planes) +18 (20**), Psicraft +7
*: Education feat bonus to skills
**: Since Violet has a Level Adjustment of +1, the following skills have two numbers; the one in parenthesis indicate the skills with the added class level of Swordsage.
Tactics
At 20th level, Violet Rose has incorporated a few more levels of Swordsage to take advantage of multiple new tricks, both psionically and martially.
The first is essentially replacing Devastating Throw for Ballista Throw and use her opponent as a weapon. The other is getting Ruby Nightmare Blade, which allows her to combine her size, her Intelligence, her Strength, her expansion attack, and other bonuses to deal twice the amount of damage to two adjacent creatures, taking good advantage of sweeping strike (and potentially going nova with Chain of Overwhelming Force, even worse if considering that she may use a boost alongside it). The third is basically using Greater Insightful Strike for a huge static amount of damage to two opponents by using sweeping strike.
However, the biggest benefit is in the powers, which resolve part of the problems she may face in combat. Power Weapon allows her to attack incorporeal creatures, as well as gaining the properties of force even if only once per round. Psychokinetic Weapon allows her to use both her spiked chain and her drow scorpion chain in succession, in a way similar to Spiritual Weapon, but also allowing her to strike flying creatures using the weapon's reach. However, the biggest and baddest trick is Perfect Riposte, which is essentially a poor man's Karmic Strike/Robilar's Gambit, causing creatures that miss her to fall victim to her trip attempt, thus potentially unlocking an extra attack and taking advantage of sweeping strike.
Defensively, her combination of Combat Expertise, Shifting Defense and tripping allow her to keep a reasonably strong control over the field, while her bonus to AC by means of Wisdom, her swift
blur tactic, her Cloak of Deception allows her a swift escape from trouble or a tactical strike to take an enemy unaware, and her Chain of Defensive Posture reinforces even more her defenses.
Finally, despite quite late, Adaptive Style exists to shift her tactics from offense to defense in about 6 seconds, making her quite strong.
Ability Score Increases per Character Level
4th – Intelligence
8th – Intelligence
12th – Dexterity
16th – Wisdom
20th – Dexterity
{table=head]
Character Level|
Initiator Level|
Maneuvers Known|
Maneuvers Readied|
Stances Known|
Maneuvers or Stances Learned
1st|1st|
6
|
4
|
1
|Burning Blade, Clinging Shadow Strike, Moment of Perfect Mind*, Mighty Throw, Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Step of the Wind (stance)
2nd|1st|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
3rd|2nd|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
4th|3rd|
+1
|
-
|
+1
|Burning Brand*, Island of Blades (stance)
5th|3rd|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
6th|4th|
+1
|
+1
|
-
|Cloak of Deception
7th|5th|
+1
|
-
|
-
|Mighty Throw -> Devastating Throw, Insightful Strike*
8th|6th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
9th|6th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
10th|7th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
11th|7th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
12th|8th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
13th|8th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
14th|9th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
15th|9th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
16th|10th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
17th|11th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
18th|11th|
-
|
-
|
-
|-
19th|12th|
+1
|
+1
|
+1
|Ruby Nightmare Blade*, Shifting Defense (stance)
20th|13th|
+1
|
-
|
-
|Devastating Throw->Ballista Throw*, Avalanche of Blades*[/table]
*: Readied maneuver
{table=head]
Character Level|
PP Per Day|
Manifester Level|
Powers Learned
1st-7th|2|-|-
8th|2 (+1)|1st (PP)|Adrenaline Boost
9th|4 (+1)|1st (WM)|Expansion
10th|7 (+2)|2nd|Thicken Skin
11th|11 (+3)|3rd|-
12th|16 (+4)|8th|Animal Affinity
13th|22 (+5)|9th|-
14th|30 (+6)|10th|Power Weapon
15th|39 (+7)|11th|-
16th|49 (+8)|12th|Psychokinetic Weapon
17th|60 (+9)|13th|-
18th-20th|72 (+10)|14th|Perfect Riposte[/table]
Note: Points in parenthesis indicate bonus power points based on Wisdom modifier.
Half-Giant Racial Traits
- +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity
- Giant type
- Medium size
- Base land speed is 30 feet.
- Low-Light Vision
- Fire Acclimated (+2 racial bonus on saving throws against all fire spells and effects)
- Powerful Build: The physical stature of half-giants lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A half-giant is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A half-giant can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
- Naturally Psionic: Half-giants gain 2 bonus power points at 1st level.
- Psi-Like Ability: 1/day—stomp. Manifester level is equal to ½ Hit Dice (minimum 1st). The save DC is Charisma-based.
- Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, Ignan.
- Favored Class: Psychic warrior.
- Level Adjustment: +1.
Background
Violet Rose is a woman with an estranged past. Once believing to be a Riedran Edgewalker, the contact with an artifact of the giants at Xen'drik revealed the truth about her past. The "daughter" of a human scholar and a group of adventurers (a half-elf cunning swordsman and minstrel from the Lhazaar principalities, a drow tracker from Xen'drik and master of the scorpion chain, and an Adaran human warrior whom eventually became her master in the Sublime Way), she lived for most of her life in the mountain range of Kosthra Amn, a group of mountains within the land of Adar in Sarlona where the legendary Reshar built his Temple of the Nine Swords before its destruction. After being captured and brainwashed by the people of Riedra, a chance encounter within Xen'drik returned her memories, and with them, an oath of revenge. She is known as "the Scorpion Savant", as translated in Common from the original dialect of the Drow, for her skill with the scorpion chain and for the several topics of knowledge in which she is versed, specifically on the anatomy of virtually every living creature in the world.
Material used
- Expanded Psionics Handbook: information on Half-Giants, Psychic Warrior and War Mind; Extend Power feat (also on SRD)
- Player's Handbook: information on Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Weapon Finesse (also on SRD)
- Complete Warrior: information on Swashbuckler (page 12)
- Complete Mage: information on Arcane Stunt (page 32)
- Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords: information on Swordsage (page 16), Adaptive Style (page ), maneuvers and stances (page 48-51; 52, 62-65, 70-85).
- Complete Psionic: information on powers Power Weapon, Psychokinetic Weapon, Perfect Riposte (pages 93, 95, 96); Practiced Manifester (page 57)
- Eberron Campaign Setting: information on Education feat (page 52)
- Complete Champion: information on Knowledge Devotion (page 60)
- Secrets of Sarlona: information about Adar, Riedra, and other background information