Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BMStroh 06-05-06, 10:20 AM	I've been thinking about making up a swashbuckler as a replacement character. My current warlock is the "fly out of reach and drop blasts on the bad guys until they stop moving" sort, and frankly, it's becoming a lot repetitive... However, reading over the swashbuckler class doesn't inspire me quite as much as the swashbuckler archetype, especially considering some of the new feats in the PHB2. I've also seen numerous references via Google that indicate a lot of folks figure the swashbuckler class is only good for a 3 level dip to get the Int bonus to damage. My current thinking is to build a fighter, and make him a swashbuckler via feat selection. I can probably live without an Int bonus to damage. However, the downside here is that I lose a few skill points (although not as many as I originally thought - swashbuckler is only 2 more than fighter). This is more a balance question than an optimization question - I don't necessarily need to be a major death-dealer, but looking at the other characters around the table, I need to be effective. And, considering the swashbuckler, he has to have style. Any thoughts on the balance of dropping a hit die level in trade for extra skill points? How much would d10 -> d8 be worth? And would the Insightful Strike be balanced as a feat? Or considering that Improved Feint is something I'm looking at anyway, I might be better off dropping a rogue level in every now and then and just sticking with Ftr/Rog in some combination. I'm replacing a character at 11th level, so I've got some feats and things to work with. Any advice? Thanks!
Xeraph 06-05-06, 01:59 PM	Ive been working on some Swashbuckler build. Heres what i have made up so far. Human 1 - Monk 1 Dodge (Monk), Kung-fu Genius (Human), Exotic Weapon Proficiency [Any Medium Sized Weapon] or Improved Initiative 2 - Monk 2 Mobility (Monk) 3 - Fighter 1 Combat Expertise (Fighter), Weapon Focus [Any Medium Sized Weapon] 4 - Fighter 2 Graceful Edge (Fighter) 5 - Swashbuckler 1 Weapon Finesse (Swashbuckler) 6 - Swashbuckler 2 Unorthodox Flurry 7 - Swashbuckler 3 8 - Fighter 3 9 - Fighter 4 Quick Draw, Elusive Target 10 - Fighter 5 11 - Fighter 6 Single Blade Style [Any Medium Sized Weapon] (Fighter) Ok, so what do we get? Misc Fort: +11 Ref: +7 Will: +6 AC: Dex + Int + 2 (Single Blade Style) + 1 (Graceful Edge) Attack: +10 base attack + Dex (Weapon Finesse) + 1 (Weapon Focus) Damage: As your "Medium Sized Weapon" + int + str You will always have a hand free for some unarmed damage. You can flurry with your "Medium Sized Weapon". Einhander might fit in aswell. This is a rough draft, trying to make the best of a swordsman with a hand free. For "Medium Sized Weapon" choice i reccomend Great Scimitar, Great Pick, Morningstar or Elven Longblade... Maybe even Whip Dagger. Future levels could be Duskblade, Dervish, Exotic Weapon Master, maybe even Invisible Blade for double int to AC. Cheers.