I've owned Tome of Battle since the year it came out, but have never had an opportunity to play a character using anything from it, but my opportunity has finally arrived. One of my players is going to start an Oriental Adventures campaign. It will be his first time as a DM, and when he asked for what books he should look to for info, I suggested he try finding a used copy of ToB (frikkin' expensive!) Well, he got his hands on one, and he likes it, but for this initial campaign he's most thinking of allowing the Warblade.
Lucky me, that's what I wanted to play. Looking to mesh well with the setting, I'm planning to play a Warblade "samurai" focusing on Diamond Mind and Iron Heart maneuvers. He said he would probably restrict what disciplines I could choose from, but these two seemed like the one's he would most allow (we just talked about it in passing at the start of my campaign session tonight, so things weren't super clear, but I'm 99% sure DM and IH are good-to-go). So, I may be able to pull in something like Mountain Hammer, but for now let's assume that I'm only getting maneuvers from Diamond Mind and Iron Heart.
3.5 game
28 point buy
Starting at 3rd level
Wealth will be on the heavy side (starting 3rd level with 4000 gp plus ancestral weapons/armor [MW katana, etc])
It will likely move toward a "military campaign" style. Think Mongols planning to invade our peaceful Chinese empire.
"All 3.5 allowed" - though subject to approval (I imagine trying to bring in something from Forgotten Realms, etc, wouldn't work, but the "Brown Books" should be fine for feats, etc.)
OA campaign setting
Rokugan setting books - again, subject to DM approval. If there's something utterly broken, it won't be allowed.
Not sure if I have to take an [ancestor] feat as my human bonus feat (as prescribed in OA).
I looked over the Tome of Battle for Dummies handbook, and I'm liking the look of Stormguard Warrior, but worry about finding good ways to fuel it. Without lots of Tiger Claw mid-level ways to get extra attacks (Dancing mongoose) I have to wait 'til 13th level to get Avalanche of Blades.
The other option would be to focus on Karmic Strike, but that's quite feat intensive for a straight Warblade, and being in either punishing stance or stance of clarity (assuming more than one foe) means my AC will already be crap (planning to wear a Chain Shirt + Chahar-aina + Dastana = AC 16 +Dex +magic)
Human
Str 16, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
1. Warblade 1 - Power Attack, Combat Reflexes
2. Warblade 2
3. Warblade 3 - Combat Expertise
4. Warblade 4
5. Warblade 5 - Ironheart Aura
6. Warblade 6 - Stormguard Warrior
After that I'm stuck.
I could take dodge at first level in place of combat reflexes (pushing that back to the 9th level bonus feat), but then I'd be stuck with Dodge as one of my main feats starting out... But then at 9th level I'd be able to pick up Karmic Strike, and the Stormguard Warrior fun would really begin.
Here are my planned maneuvers known through 6th level
Character Level
1 - Moment of Perfect Mind, Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Steel Wind; Stance - Punishing Stance
2 - Steely Strike
3 - Emerald Razor
4 - Sapphire Nightmare Blade? -> Wall of Blades; Stance - Stance of Clarity
5 - Insightful Strike
6 - X? -> Iron Heart Surge
Any insight from someone who has actually had game-time behind a Warblade would be greatly appreciated.