Building the ultimate stylistic-flare fighter! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building the ultimate stylistic-flare fighter! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ivarrius
10-27-03, 04:23 PM Everyone here has read the swashbuckling stories, the duelists, the bards, the rangers... (everyone give the nod to Jarlaxle... damn what a great character).

So now.. I want to see the best builds possible for a stylish, swashbuckling, character who revels in money, jewels, extravagances and of course, melee output.

I am looking at this build here... but I am going to take more time to improve upon it... but here is the bare bones of it to get the ball rolling.

Bard4/Fighter4/Duelist2/ArcaneDuelist10
BAB +14 only, but the AD levels make up for that. The reason I want to go for all 10 levels of AD is for the lovely flurry of swords. I think its a great attack, and well worth the 10 levels (which also add a lot of other tasty treats).

Depending on your charisma, you can cast your buff spells from second level bard spells (and get potions for the others). Weapon Specialization will help with the AD Dextrous attack, allowing you to do more damage, and the bonus of +int mod and +cha mod to AC will help greatly.

Granted, I know this isn't the optimum damage dealer, but he has some perks, and I like the idea. But like I said, he will be improved upon over the next little while. I will edit my post when I fix him up.

Any other ideas you guys might have? Let's see yer builds for the style and art of combat.
JosephKell
10-27-03, 05:16 PM Originally posted by Ivarrius
Bard4/Fighter4/Duelist2/ArcaneDuelist10[/B] This is 3.0 right? Because in 3.5 Duelists don't get Precise Strike damage until level 5.
Eagle Prince
10-27-03, 05:26 PM Alright, how about monk 2/rogue4/duelist 7/drunken master 7, with a ki focus rapier. That should let you charge in a crooked line, even across rugged terrain, and make stunning attacks with your rapier, and you got some wicked unarmed power if you get disarmed or such. And you get Dex/Int/Wis to AC, along with a +10 dodge bonus for a -2 on attacks for fighting defensively.
Ivarrius
10-27-03, 06:10 PM Originally posted by JosephKell
This is 3.0 right? Because in 3.5 Duelists don't get Precise Strike damage until level 5.

No, it is 3.5, I am not too concerned with the precise strike damage, more with the Int to AC, the d10 for hitpoints, the bonus to initiative and the overall flavor of the character. I took the duelist PrC instead of two more levels of fighter. Makes for a few more goodies.

Besides, enchant your Weapon with something nice, like lifedrain, or whatever has a nice effect upon a succesful attack (like wounding) and just keep hitting with that rapier. Not concerned with a huge amount of damage right away, but with damage over time that will play well with the focus of the character.
Lago AM3P
10-27-03, 06:16 PM Stick the 'Karmic Strike' and 'Snatch Weapon' feat somewhere in there, and things can get pretty crazy.
Ivarrius
10-27-03, 06:18 PM Where is karmic Strike located?

I was going to go with deflect arrows for a feat because of the off hand being empty, and try to keep him from being hit (mirror image, blur etc).
Lago AM3P
10-27-03, 06:22 PM Karmic Strike = Oriental Adventures

Snatch Weapon actually requires you to have a free hand, though, while easier to pull off in D&D, assures that you are already fighting with a penalty to disarm checks.

So, if you're degrading your BAB with classes like the Arcane Duelist and the Bard, I don't know if that style really works for you.

What Snatch Weapon DOES do for you, however, is allow you to on a disarm catch your opponent's weapon and strike him with it as a free action. Then you could drop the weapon again and carry on smartly.

Consider how this feat interacts with Karmic Strike, which allows you, at the cost of -4 to your AC, take an AoO against any character who strikes you in melee.

The feat has become crazy-powerful in 3.5E.
draegl0th
10-27-03, 06:26 PM I think a Wizard/Eldritch Knight/Duelist would better fit your character concept. You only have to focus on two stats, a high AC unarmored, not to mention you get all the nasty tricks and buffs from spellcasting.

True Strike - Power Attack
Mirror Image/Blur
Greater Magic Weapon
Shield/Mage Armor

Power Attacking with a rapier may sound ironic, but you could justify it by saying it's a two-handed "forceful thrust" ;)
Ivarrius
10-27-03, 06:52 PM Draegloth - How do you propose I meet the prerequisites for said combo, I will admit, my interest is peaked. The combo could definetly work nicely. Please, enlighten me on how you would build that class combo... what would you take first?

Although I am a strong proponent of the bard flavor, I am interested to see how else this can be achieved through otehr class combos, so keep em coming :)
Lago AM3P
10-27-03, 06:58 PM Oh. And, Eldritch Knight route you also get access to the Bigby's Chain, Telekinesis (both which got huge props in this edition), and the sheer awesomeness that his shadow magic and polymorphing.

I think I know who my money's on.
draegl0th
10-27-03, 07:11 PM I won't call this build fully optimized, but it is the best build I managed without ruining your character concept.

Human

01 Ftr1 Weapon Finesse, Dodge
02 Wiz1
03 Wiz2 Mobility
04 Wiz3
05 Wiz4
06 Wiz5 Spring Attack, Extend Spell
07 Eld1 Improved Initiative
08 Eld2
09 Eld3 Quicken Spell
10 Eld4
11 Eld5
12 Eld6 Combat Expertise
13 Eld7
14 Eld8
15 Eld9 Expert Tactician
16 Dul1
17 Dul2
18 Dul3 Improved Feint
19 Dul4
20 Dul5

It's basically a Eldritch Knight with Duelist levels. You might find 9th level spells more useful than Duelist abilities later on, but hey ;)
Matt Neuman
10-27-03, 07:58 PM Rogue 10/Duelist 10 is actually quite effective.
Quijin
10-27-03, 09:23 PM in 3.5, they toned down the duelist so much, he can only an int bonus to ac by levels, for example: +1 at 1st, +2 at 2nd, +3 at 3rd ect....., and this is only if you have a high enough int modifier,
Kenkai
10-28-03, 02:13 AM they killed the duelist...

me thinks i'll torture my DM until he lets us use the 3.0 duelist :behold:
Ivarrius
10-28-03, 10:05 AM I like that idea Draegloth, but how will it play out from beginning to end. seems you might be a bit weak until about level 10, as far as melee goes, and that is kind of what I was hoping to get to quickly - an effective, yet stylish fighter.

I don't agree with the whole Jarlaxle as a fighter thing, because I figure he has much more to him than that. So essentially I am trying to build my own Jarlaxle.

Any other hints?
Matt Neuman
10-28-03, 11:19 AM IMO the 3.5 Duelist is just fine. It's not broken anymore. 3.0 was.

It used to be one of the ultimate 1 or 2 level dip PrCs.

I actually like the 3.5 version more.

I honestly think if the 3.0 version had never seen print people would feel more favorably toward the 3.5 version.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ivarrius 10-27-03, 04:23 PM	Everyone here has read the swashbuckling stories, the duelists, the bards, the rangers... (everyone give the nod to Jarlaxle... damn what a great character). So now.. I want to see the best builds possible for a stylish, swashbuckling, character who revels in money, jewels, extravagances and of course, melee output. I am looking at this build here... but I am going to take more time to improve upon it... but here is the bare bones of it to get the ball rolling. Bard4/Fighter4/Duelist2/ArcaneDuelist10 BAB +14 only, but the AD levels make up for that. The reason I want to go for all 10 levels of AD is for the lovely flurry of swords. I think its a great attack, and well worth the 10 levels (which also add a lot of other tasty treats). Depending on your charisma, you can cast your buff spells from second level bard spells (and get potions for the others). Weapon Specialization will help with the AD Dextrous attack, allowing you to do more damage, and the bonus of +int mod and +cha mod to AC will help greatly. Granted, I know this isn't the optimum damage dealer, but he has some perks, and I like the idea. But like I said, he will be improved upon over the next little while. I will edit my post when I fix him up. Any other ideas you guys might have? Let's see yer builds for the style and art of combat.
JosephKell 10-27-03, 05:16 PM	Originally posted by Ivarrius Bard4/Fighter4/Duelist2/ArcaneDuelist10[/B] This is 3.0 right? Because in 3.5 Duelists don't get Precise Strike damage until level 5.
Eagle Prince 10-27-03, 05:26 PM	Alright, how about monk 2/rogue4/duelist 7/drunken master 7, with a ki focus rapier. That should let you charge in a crooked line, even across rugged terrain, and make stunning attacks with your rapier, and you got some wicked unarmed power if you get disarmed or such. And you get Dex/Int/Wis to AC, along with a +10 dodge bonus for a -2 on attacks for fighting defensively.
Ivarrius 10-27-03, 06:10 PM	Originally posted by JosephKell This is 3.0 right? Because in 3.5 Duelists don't get Precise Strike damage until level 5. No, it is 3.5, I am not too concerned with the precise strike damage, more with the Int to AC, the d10 for hitpoints, the bonus to initiative and the overall flavor of the character. I took the duelist PrC instead of two more levels of fighter. Makes for a few more goodies. Besides, enchant your Weapon with something nice, like lifedrain, or whatever has a nice effect upon a succesful attack (like wounding) and just keep hitting with that rapier. Not concerned with a huge amount of damage right away, but with damage over time that will play well with the focus of the character.
Lago AM3P 10-27-03, 06:16 PM	Stick the 'Karmic Strike' and 'Snatch Weapon' feat somewhere in there, and things can get pretty crazy.
Ivarrius 10-27-03, 06:18 PM	Where is karmic Strike located? I was going to go with deflect arrows for a feat because of the off hand being empty, and try to keep him from being hit (mirror image, blur etc).
Lago AM3P 10-27-03, 06:22 PM	Karmic Strike = Oriental Adventures Snatch Weapon actually requires you to have a free hand, though, while easier to pull off in D&D, assures that you are already fighting with a penalty to disarm checks. So, if you're degrading your BAB with classes like the Arcane Duelist and the Bard, I don't know if that style really works for you. What Snatch Weapon DOES do for you, however, is allow you to on a disarm catch your opponent's weapon and strike him with it as a free action. Then you could drop the weapon again and carry on smartly. Consider how this feat interacts with Karmic Strike, which allows you, at the cost of -4 to your AC, take an AoO against any character who strikes you in melee. The feat has become crazy-powerful in 3.5E.
draegl0th 10-27-03, 06:26 PM	I think a Wizard/Eldritch Knight/Duelist would better fit your character concept. You only have to focus on two stats, a high AC unarmored, not to mention you get all the nasty tricks and buffs from spellcasting. True Strike - Power Attack Mirror Image/Blur Greater Magic Weapon Shield/Mage Armor Power Attacking with a rapier may sound ironic, but you could justify it by saying it's a two-handed "forceful thrust" ;)
Ivarrius 10-27-03, 06:52 PM	Draegloth - How do you propose I meet the prerequisites for said combo, I will admit, my interest is peaked. The combo could definetly work nicely. Please, enlighten me on how you would build that class combo... what would you take first? Although I am a strong proponent of the bard flavor, I am interested to see how else this can be achieved through otehr class combos, so keep em coming :)
Lago AM3P 10-27-03, 06:58 PM	Oh. And, Eldritch Knight route you also get access to the Bigby's Chain, Telekinesis (both which got huge props in this edition), and the sheer awesomeness that his shadow magic and polymorphing. I think I know who my money's on.
draegl0th 10-27-03, 07:11 PM	I won't call this build fully optimized, but it is the best build I managed without ruining your character concept. Human 01 Ftr1 Weapon Finesse, Dodge 02 Wiz1 03 Wiz2 Mobility 04 Wiz3 05 Wiz4 06 Wiz5 Spring Attack, Extend Spell 07 Eld1 Improved Initiative 08 Eld2 09 Eld3 Quicken Spell 10 Eld4 11 Eld5 12 Eld6 Combat Expertise 13 Eld7 14 Eld8 15 Eld9 Expert Tactician 16 Dul1 17 Dul2 18 Dul3 Improved Feint 19 Dul4 20 Dul5 It's basically a Eldritch Knight with Duelist levels. You might find 9th level spells more useful than Duelist abilities later on, but hey ;)
Matt Neuman 10-27-03, 07:58 PM	Rogue 10/Duelist 10 is actually quite effective.
Quijin 10-27-03, 09:23 PM	in 3.5, they toned down the duelist so much, he can only an int bonus to ac by levels, for example: +1 at 1st, +2 at 2nd, +3 at 3rd ect....., and this is only if you have a high enough int modifier,
Kenkai 10-28-03, 02:13 AM	they killed the duelist... me thinks i'll torture my DM until he lets us use the 3.0 duelist :behold:
Ivarrius 10-28-03, 10:05 AM	I like that idea Draegloth, but how will it play out from beginning to end. seems you might be a bit weak until about level 10, as far as melee goes, and that is kind of what I was hoping to get to quickly - an effective, yet stylish fighter. I don't agree with the whole Jarlaxle as a fighter thing, because I figure he has much more to him than that. So essentially I am trying to build my own Jarlaxle. Any other hints?
Matt Neuman 10-28-03, 11:19 AM	IMO the 3.5 Duelist is just fine. It's not broken anymore. 3.0 was. It used to be one of the ultimate 1 or 2 level dip PrCs. I actually like the 3.5 version more. I honestly think if the 3.0 version had never seen print people would feel more favorably toward the 3.5 version.