Thicket of blades do the same thing as 3.5? In 3.5, it was a stance (book of 9 swords) that let you make an AoO off of 5-foot steps (now called shifting). Pretty mean, especially when you use a large-sized reach weapon (with powerful build) and something to make you go up one size (two if you are a high enough level psychic warrior). You get knockdown, which allows you to make an automatic trip attempt every time you do 10 or more damage, a +8 to trip from size (+12 if you go up two sizes from expansion), +4 from improved trip, and a big strength bonus, along with any magical items you might have. Oh, and you could make a strong case that with improved trip, after you make a successful trip attempt from knockdown, you get a free attack on the now-prone opponent. So you make your AoO, do at least 10 damage, trip them, and hit them again. And you can do this to anyone within 15 or 20 feet, not sure on that part. (short haft allows you to use a reach weapon inside its normal range, or you can use a gauntlet, which I don't think counts as TWF as long as you aren't attacking with both of them in the same action)
Course, if you are fighting a gargantuan centipede, you are SOL.