Skilled combatants often find that discipline combined with training is the key to a long life -- and a great battle. Take a peek at some of the latest combat options your martial-minded character can implement in our Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords excerpts. In this book, both players and Dungeon Masters can find a slew of new options for characters, including feats; prestige classes that build on the disciplines included in the tome; new magic items and spells; and new monsters and organizations. The excerpts below include a brief section of the Introduction, the warblade, a table showing you what feats are in the book, some information about the Iron Heart discipline, and the item called Supernal Clarity.
| General Feats |
Prerequisites |
Benefit |
| Adaptive Style |
Crusader, swordsage, or warblade level 1st |
Change readied maneuvers with a full-round action |
| Avenging Strike |
Any good alignment |
Add Cha bonus on attack and damage against an evil outsider a few times per day |
| Blade Meditation[1] |
Concentration 1 rank, base attack bonus +4, one martial maneuver from any discipline |
+1 damage on strikes, +2 on skill check, +1 save DC with discipline-related weapons, skills, and maneuvers |
| Desert Fire |
One Desert Wind strike |
+1d6 skirmish damage when using a Desert Wind strike |
| Desert Wind Dodge |
Dex 13, one Desert Wind maneuver |
Move 10 feet, +1 AC, +1 fire damage |
| Devoted Bulwark |
One Devoted Spirit maneuver |
+1 AC when foe damages you |
| Evasive Reflexes |
Dex 13 |
Instantly take 5-ft. step instead of an attack of opportunity |
| Extra Granted Maneuver |
Crusader level 1st |
Ready one more maneuver from your maneuvers known |
| Extra Readied Maneuver |
Swordsage level 1st |
Ready one more maneuver from your maneuvers known |
| Falling Sun Attack |
Stunning Fist, one Setting Sun strike |
Make Setting Sun strike a stunning attack, +1 to DC of stunning attacks and Setting Sun strikes |
| Ironheart Aura |
One Iron Heart stance |
Adjacent allies gain +2 bonus on saves while you are in an Iron Heart stance |
| Martial Stance[1] |
One martial maneuver |
Learn one martial stance |
| Martial Study[1] |
-- |
Gain the use of a martial maneuver |
| Rapid Assault |
Base attack bonus +1 |
+1d6 melee damage in first round of combat |
| Shadow Blade |
One Shadow Hand maneuver |
Use Dex modifier instead of Str modifier on damage rolls with Shadow Sun weapons |
| Shadow Trickster |
Caster level 1st, one Shadow Hand stance |
+1 bonus on save DCs of illusions while in a Shadow Hand stance |
| Song of the White Raven |
Bardic music (inspire courage), one White Raven maneuver |
Use inspire courage as swift action while in a White Raven stance |
| Snap Kick |
Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus +6 |
Make an extra attack, all attacks at -2 |
| Stone Power |
Str 13, one Stone Dragon maneuver |
Trade attack bonus for temporary hit points |
| Sudden Recovery |
One martial maneuver |
Recover an expended maneuver as a swift action 1/day |
| Superior Unarmed Strike |
Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus +3 |
Deal greater unarmed damage |
| Tiger Blooded |
Ability to rage, wild shape, or shift; one Tiger Claw maneuver |
Knock smaller foes back while raging or wild shaped |
| Unnerving Calm |
Concentration 1 rank, one Diamond Mind strike |
Use Concentration in duel of wills, gain +2 bonus on attacks after successful duel for 1 round |
| Vital Recovery |
Two martial maneuvers |
Heal 3 + level points of damage when you recover a maneuver |
| White Raven Defense |
One White Raven maneuver |
+1 bonus to AC while adjacent to ally; adjacent allies gain +1 AC while you wield a White Raven weapon |
1 A fighter can select this feat as one of his fighter bonus feats.
By Richard Baker, Frank Brunner, Joseph D. Carriker
