With regard to this book I like: + the basic idea of the classes and the in-a-way blend between fighters and monks + the different skills and feats that make a fighting character to something like a wizard with regard to his weapon. I spices greatly the fighting classes. + the story behind the 9 ways which is also good adaptable to any campaign I like less: - the classes presented in the book seem better fitted for solitary campaigns and/or for short time alliances. A swordsage out for study is not a fighter hanging around with his companions. So the usability of this book in game depends on creativity of the DM and of course on the different campaign settings.
This book has everything you need to enhance martial style of play in 3.5 Edition. The core idea which the book spins around is the introduction of 9 fighting styles, each one with a different flavour, each one with its distinctive combat maneuvers, which the three new character classes learn at a different pace and in different ways: the new classes detailed in the book are the Crusader, a militant zealoth following a church or an ideal; the Swordsage, a warrior focusing on meditation and insight to gain more and more power in combat; and the Warblade, an irruent and competent combatant, capable of gaining many bonuses in combat and always looking for glory. The fighting styles, as well as the general atmosphere of the book, have a distinctive oriental feeling, without becoming too "manga": every concept explained in this book is easily adaptable to any campaign and setting, without losing its potential. The book itself is nice, with its sturdy hardcover, and the combination of font and page background used in the text never fatigues eyes, being readable all the time; even the pictures are very cool... This manual is a must have for every DM interested in giving his players a new martial experience!Read full review
This book makes playing a Martial class extremely fun and engaging. You are no longer the typical meme'd fighter that just walks forward and swing. Oh no! You now have maneuvers and special attacks that can recharge *during* the fight. Become a better monk than the PHB monk and/or an actual skilled warrior that can impact fights while using fun & cool abilities on the baddies each round. My absolute favorite book in all of D&D 3.5ed for martial characters!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I intially decided to buy the book because I thought Fighters didn't have enough going for them in the game. So, I looked for a melee book and found the Complete Warrior and the Tome of Battle. The Tome of battle is fantastic because it gives melee something to do in combat besides...hit...hit..hit. You get to move into stances and use special attacks called manuevers. The only problem is that some of the skills are very, very powerful, so it's only fair that NPCs and opponents beable to use the skills as well.
Anything I can use to kill pc's I love and this book has a lot.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This was a really good book, I like the new classes and abilities presented. The maneuver's and stances. I like the balance between the classes, as an example, the sword sage has more available options and slots for maneuvers and stances and disciplines, granting them more flexibility, vs. the warblade who has less flexibility, but is more powerful in their narrower field. I like how the maneuvers are broken into their discipline in the book, helps identify which category they fall into. I also like the equipment and magical items, how they allow you to incorporate the material into the regular game, allowing other martial classes access to the abilities.
This is a great equalizer for melee classes. The maneuvers allow you to be on par with some of the magic slinging classes and still not trample on their toes when it comes to sheer versatility. Also the nine martial styles help further differentiate your character from just being a vanilla fighter or traditional rogue into a master of the Iron Heart discipline or a practitioner of the Shadow Hand style of combat. Not only a fun mechanics book but a great fluff book that adds a lot to any campaign.
but it’s not for every campaign setting.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Aside from the disorganized layout, everything about the book is great. From new base classes that are actually good, to the maneuvers that put warrior characters back into the race with wizards and clerics, this book has a ton of great ideas in it that correct glaring holes in the way warriors work in D&D 3.5.
Great, the Manuevers give your ordinary fighters powers akin to spells. If you choose one of the classes, by fourth level you get 8 manuevers/powers/feats. Each one the equivilant of an Arcane Spell. Great Magic Items, too. They increast in power as the character progresses in level.
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