Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Netmonmatt 03-24-06, 10:11 PM	He's Catfolk, with STR 14, DEX 19, CON 14, INT 14, WIS 12, CHA 15. I wanted to make him dual-wield high threat weapons, but the fact that many enemies later on IGNORE crits seems to be a problem, even if I get spells like Grave Strike and the like... Also, I know I will be filling a frontline role, but I don't know if I should buy a bow in that case, even WITH this amount of dex...
arjomanes 03-25-06, 01:57 AM	You should always have a bow because you won't always be in melee combat. Also close range weapons like daggers are always handy. The crit damage is a problem, but it's more easily solved than the fact that when you full-attack an enemy they get to full attack you back. Can you move your ability scores around? It makes far more sense to boost your CON than your CHA; if you're going to be on the front lines you need all the HP you can get. Also, since you're a swashbuckler your INT is more useful than your CHA (since you add INT modifier to damage after 3rd level, plus it gives you more skill points). Personally, I would have pulled back on the DEX and CHA and boosted my CON and INT a bit more. Unless I'm missing something; were you planning on taking levels in sorceror or bard or something charisma-based? You don't want everything tied into critical attacks; sometimes that just won't work, so you need more options. A keen rapier is cool, but you'll need more than that against many enemies. Tripping, grappling, throwing fire, or setting up the opponent for the tank to take down can all be effective against an opponent you're weak against. As far as high DR enemies, it makes sense to have a holy weapon, since most of your enemies will be evil, and adamantine is pretty essential. Also energy weapons are very useful for TWF's. That will allow you to at least damage them. You could look at increasing your bonus damage (maybe rogue levels for sneak attack, energy damage on weapons, etc. in addition to your insightful strike) and increasing your armor class without losing your class abilities. Think about PrC's early like the Dervish, Invisible Blade, or Master Thrower; they might offer more options long-term than a straight swashbuckler will, but you'll need to plan out the feats ahead of time since you'll have a limited number of feats available. Don't know if that helps.
Shaggy_Shaggs 03-25-06, 02:00 AM	Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 2/Dervish 10/Tempest 5 is rather nice for TWFers.
Kresalak 03-25-06, 11:48 AM	See if your DM would be willing to allow you entrance into Champion of Correlon Larethian, which gives you Dex to damage with some weapons and the scimitar, which Dervish lets you treat as a light weapon, making it finessable, and letting you add your Int to damage with Insightful Strike. My favorite build is Swachbuckler 3/Cobra Strike Monk (UA variant) 2/Fighter 2/Dervish 9/CoCL 2/Something else 2. If your DM let's Wildrunner Primal Scream work with Dervish Dance, use two levels of that. Grab Carmendine Monk or Kung Fu Genious (they do the exact same thing) for Int to AC instead of Wis, then grab Initiate of Faerie Mysteries for Int to HP instead of Con, ask your DM if he will let Whirling Steel Strike work with a scimitar, if he does then you can flurry with a scimitar, and grab the standard two weapon fighting feats. Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 2/Dervish 10/XYZ 5 (Tempest is OK, but there are other things) is also a good build, but I like mine better.
shadowfox628 03-25-06, 11:55 AM	Psst.... Spiked Chain... Highly underrated. Very useful when combined with Weapon Finesse. However, if you're really concerned, Rapier. Make it Keen, and, when you can, get Improved Critical. However, I don't believe that you can duel weild while using Weapon Finesse.
Shaggy_Shaggs 03-25-06, 02:33 PM	However, if you're really concerned, Rapier. Make it Keen, and, when you can, get Improved Critical. However, I don't believe that you can duel weild while using Weapon Finesse. Oh, you can dual wield rapiers just fine. The issue is, dual wielding them isn't a great idea because even though you can simultaneously dual wield and finesse them, they are still considered one-handed weapons and give you the -4/-4 attack penalty rather than -2/-2.
Netmonmatt 03-25-06, 04:50 PM	Thanks, you've all helped alot. 1) Catfolk gets +2 to Dex and Cha, sorry I didn't point that out. Cha is actually my lowest score, the boost was added on it's own. 2) The problem is, my LAST character was THE only tank. Human, Gold Dragon Bloodline, but he got a HORRIBLE 2nd level hp roll and died due to having only 15 HP... Which in effect, makes it that there isn't a tank to set up FOR, except, well, myself. =_=; 3) Spiked Chain sounds cool. 4) Doesn't Keen and Improved Critical NOT stack? 5) I should have said what my DM has allowed in the campaign, my fault. >_< He has allowed Core, Complete Series, Races of Series, BoVD, BoED. I don't know how much use BoVD will be to me, as my character is CG, but...
arjomanes 03-26-06, 01:14 AM	Correct. Keen and Improved Critical don't stack. I highly recommend not taking Imp Critical as a feat since you can spend a +1 enhancement to gain what would otherwise cost a feat. Hardly a worthwhile trade in my opinion, especially if you're planning on taking a PrC. If you had a fighter20, then sure waste the feat if you want. Spiked chain with improved trip is a common combination. You get the benefits of reach/larger threat area and the awesome benefits of improved trip. I'm not sure if your strength is optimal for a tripping-focused character though, but it does complement other melee attacks very nicely.
SilentOne 03-26-06, 01:48 AM	See if your DM would be willing to allow you entrance into Champion of Correlon Larethian, which gives you Dex to damage with some weapons and the scimitar Just no. Read the book again. Plus, there's that big NEEDS TO BE AN ELF prerequisite there.
Kresalak 03-26-06, 04:24 PM	Just no. Read the book again. Plus, there's that big NEEDS TO BE AN ELF prerequisite there. I know that it needs to be an elf. However, the "elf only" part is for flavor, not balance, so if your DM allows you to change the flavor (not how I actually said "See if your DM would be willing to allow you entrance into Champion of Correlon Larethian"), you could play the class. Honestly, did you even read the sentence you quoted? I actually said that you should ask your DM if he would allow this. Your post smacked of hostility, which I see no reason for. Anyway, is it possible for you to rearange your stats? Having a higher Intelligence would be much better for the classic TWF Swashbuckler, since you get Int to damage. Dervish makes you want to use scimitars, which fit your criteria of being a high threat range weapon. As it stands, you might be better served by a classic TWF rogue, since you only really need a high Dex for that.
xvthreetwoonevx 03-26-06, 05:26 PM	If you can talk your DM into allowing the Player's Guide to Eberron, the Revenant Blade is awesome, though you have to be a Valenar Elf. Ruathar from RotW will help with that. Other than that, all the suggestions are pretty good so far.