Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tsuul 04-09-04, 05:21 PM	A freind is looking to build a swashbuckler/deulist type using a rapier. Any tips on progressions? Any pitfalls to look for? Thanks in advance.
LunarCaustic 04-09-04, 06:29 PM	I'm playing one right now as a fact I am playing an Elf Rouge5/Swashbuckler5/Dualist10 is the best balance I think Unless you play Human or Half-Elf then I would say go Rouge7/Swashbuckler3 ( right now I'm only Rouge1/Swasbucker1) high points in Dex, and Int and Cha if possible Feats: Dodge Mobility Spring Attack Combat Expt. Improved Fiegn Karmic Strike Improved Combat Expt. This should be good
Largegnome 04-10-04, 08:32 AM	I'd say Fighter 4/ Swash 3/ Rogue 3/ Duelist 10 should do fine....Take Weapon Specialization (rapier) since your damage will be terribly low against non-crittable opponents. Or you could be human Fighter 4/ Swash3/ Barbarian 2/ Exotic Weapon Master 1/ Duelist 10, with Elven Thinblade(CW) as a weapon fof choice. Take exotic weapon stunt (uncanny blow) and give your char a decent str. , so you can rage and wield Elven thinblade two-handed, and power attack when you fight opponents immune to Precise Strike and Insightful Strike. As a dm, I would not allow you to do this, but by the rules it should work, except that you can' t apply your dex modifier to Elven thinblade when using it two-handed, so you should rely on Str, that being the case. Also, barb 2 gives +10 feet movement (you could take spring attack) and uncanny dodge. Oh, and if your dm allows it, use whirling frenzy from UA... (never tried this build before, it only looked good on paper...if someone can correct me, I'll be glad to hear criticism.)
Darius the Barbarian 04-13-04, 02:53 AM	I'm playing one in one of our current campaigns. He's a tiefling, the planned build looks like that: Ftr4 (kensai variant from Dragon 310 - 1 bonus feat, +1 AR/dmg with chosen weapon, Weapon Specialization availability) Swb3 (Weapon Finesse, Grace, Insightful Strike) Paragon Tielfing 3 (all good saves, some nifty boosts, DEX +2) Rog4 (Uncanny Dodge, some SA, Evasion) Dst5+ (Canny Defense, etc. etc.) Looks pretty solid to me.
Kalender 04-13-04, 03:39 AM	If your DM allows you to mix different sources, you've got the rokugan ninja from AEG who also benefits greatly from the high int. (you can download it for free on the Internet on their page). IF it's allowed (big if) I'd try: Rogue4/Ninja4/Swashbuckler3/Duelist X/Something Y (for example) which is quite nice, has a ton of skillpoints, some sneak attack, int to AC, int to damage and int to initiative. Watch out for the will save, though, it will be quite low... You may also reduce duelist levels to get some fighter levels. The Dragon #314 has nice fighter variants. The Kensai, focused on rapier may be very nice for this build. I'd take human rather than elf, but that's mainly because I like feat-intensive builds, and you could pick ninja 5 for another SA dice without XP penalties.
toomre 04-13-04, 01:42 PM	You could try to get the most out of your Int score by using a build that gets intelligence to AC twice, the Invisible Blade's unfettered defense and the Bladedancer's bladesong style come to mind. Neither one says anything about not being cumulative with the Duelist's canny defense. For instance, a hafling dagger fighter, welding a single dagger, bab 20, very bad will save though, and like most duelist builds far less effective against those immune to criticals Fighter 2/Swashbuckler 3/Invisible Blade 5/Duelist 10