Okay, so I want to make a npc fighter who specializes in Glass Knives, somewhat inspired by Raven from Snow Crash. To that end, I want a fighter who makes his own glass knives and uses them effectively to kill people.
Logic behind build:
Conceptually I want him to be a human, for the extra feat and skill point. He's supposed to be a mercenary type, so he's driven by money and such.
I want him to make the daggers out of obsidian glass, since they'll be super cheap for him to make(1/6th the cost of normal ones) so he can have LOADS of them. He can then utilize the disposable weapon feat to auto confirm crits & the splintering weapon feat to cause bleed on non-crit hits.
To maximize these feats, I think I need to TWF to get the most of them, but I don't want to go deeper than normal TWF & double slice since I think it's a waste.
I also think a 3 level dip into Breaker Barbarian would be appropriate too, so he can avoid penalties with broken weapons & actually get a small damage buff out of it. Not to mention uncanny dodge, rage, and some fast movement.
I'm using a 15 point buy.
Human Fighter 10/Breaker Barbarian 3
(before items)
STR 18
DEX 16
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 12
CHA 7
Feats
H Quick Draw
1 Weapon Focus(Daggers)
F1 Disposable Weapon
F2 Splintering Weapon
3 Skill Focus(Craft(Weapons))
F4 Weapon Specialization (Daggers)
5 ???
F6 Two Weapon Fighting
7 Double Slice
F8 Greater Weapon Focus(Daggers)
9 Disruptive
F10 SpellBreaker
11 ???
13 ???
So, can you guys offer any advice for the spare feats? Or perhaps there are better feats to use with this? Could I use some defensive options? Or do I need more offensive feats? I'm open to criticism, but I do wanna keep to the core of the concept.
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I know conceptually you are thinking Daggers. But what about Kukri? They are still knives so you can keep your concept, but they have a higher crit range. At 11 you can take Improved Critical for the Kukri and really have a dangerous character. Then at 13 take something like Blinding Critical or Sickening Critical. Something that on a crit confirm takes an enemy out of combat.
I'd push 2WF up to 5 and at 6 take Iron Will. I'd even go so far as to tell you move 2WF up to 3 and take Skill Focus at 6 with Iron Will at 5. Not having those penalties for 2WF earlier is better when your BAB is lower. Just my opinion.
No Power Attack?
And have you talked to your GM about this? Because I can see several ways he could make your life miserable.
For example, you are going to be spending a huge amount of your down-time just making your knives. Second, while Golarion doesn't have a Geneva Convention I could definitely see Clerics of good-aligned deities (or even many non-good), Paladins, and Hellknights giving you a hard time.
I think it would be a fun character at lower levels but at higher levels when you almost need a magical weapon to get past DR for you have a plan to keep up? Im not trying to punch holes in the build, intact its interesting to me, enough so that I would try it in an upcoming campaign but that's the only concern I would have with this build
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To that note, Penetrating Strike when you can get it. Punch that DR in the face.
Also not sure how this would be considered evil?
Penetrating wounds with glass shards imbedded in them are a b%~~$ to treat since the shards don't show up on x-rays and can be all but invisible when you're trying to find them by hand.
That's why glass and ceramic are banned as both bullet and bomb casing materials.
First, thanks for the feedback and keep it comming!
Its an NPC. So it doesn't have to worry about anything since I assume he's GM. I just don't know if it is being added to the party or its an enemy.
Spot on, this is an evil mercenary type npc who'll fight the party a few times before they presumably kill him or make him an offer he can't refuse.
No Power Attack?
Thought it didn't work so well with TWFing, but I'm not opposed to it. Never been opposed to some extra damage.
Second, while Golarion doesn't have a Geneva Convention I could definitely see Clerics of good-aligned deities (or even many non-good), Paladins, and Hellknights giving you a hard time.
I will confirm this is an Neutral Evil character, concerned solely on the amount of coin in his possession working for a CE organization. And part of why he's using Glass Weapons is exactly as you said, they're evil, nasty things. Plus they're cool mechancially with some feats like these.
I know conceptually you are thinking Daggers. But what about Kukri? They are still knives so you can keep your concept, but they have a higher crit range. At 11 you can take Improved Critical for the Kukri and really have a dangerous character. Then at 13 take something like Blinding Critical or Sickening Critical. Something that on a crit confirm takes an enemy out of combat.
I concur they would be better, but the fact of the matter is that I can get 3 obsidian daggers to the gold if I have the NPC make them. If he made Kukri, that'd be 1 & a half gold each. At 3 gp, I'd have 9 Daggers and 2 Kukri.
The economy of weapons I intend on breaking practically every single fight means I'm not very inclined to go with the more expensive route. That said, the Kukris are still an option, just ones I'm more hesitant to go till I actually plot out his wealth and so on for magical items.
I'd push 2WF up to 5 and at 6 take Iron Will. I'd even go so far as to tell you move 2WF up to 3 and take Skill Focus at 6 with Iron Will at 5. Not having those penalties for 2WF earlier is better when your BAB is lower. Just my opinion.
Fair enough, I'll keep it in mind.
think it would be a fun character at lower levels but at higher levels when you almost need a magical weapon to get past DR for you have a plan to keep up? Im not trying to punch holes in the build, intact its interesting to me, enough so that I would try it in an upcoming campaign but that's the only concern I would have with this buildPlan is to have a real dagger(or two) with the appropriate enchancement; but no more than that. Cause if they're masterwork or better, they lose the fragile property; which means I lose my auto crit and bleed potential.
More over, this is a character meant to fight humanoids/PCs. So I'm not so concerned with getting past DR as a normal character might and I can't say for sure if using glass daggers would work for a real PC unless you spend a lot of time fighting humanoids.
New Feat list:
Feats
H Quick Draw
1 Weapon Focus(Daggers)
F1 Disposable Weapon
F2 Splintering Weapon
3 Skill Focus(Craft(Weapons))
F4 Weapon Specialization (Daggers)
5 Two Weapon Fighting
F6 Double Slice
7 Power Attack
F8 Greater Weapon Focus(Daggers)
9 Disruptive
F10 SpellBreaker
11 Improved Critical
13 Iron Will
I really don't like spending a feat for Critical Focus, since I ideally want to just confirm them by breaking my weapon, and it's just a Pre-req for the other critical feats but I do like the idea of the other crit feats So I will get those later on. Also I may drop Iron Will for something else, since I forgot about the +2 to will saves I get from raging.
As for Gear, I didn't realize just how much money I would get at 13th level... Not Sure what to give him. Thinking it won't be a problem though to switch to Kukri's for my specializations & focuses.
Thinking I want to give him:
-Snakescale Armor These are typical garb of the faction he's currently working for. I could enhance them more to make them better.
-Belt of Physical Might(+4 Dex & Str) 40 K.
-Amulet of Natural Armor(+4) 32K
-Ring of protection(+4) 32K
-Ring of Evastion 25K
-Cloak of Resistance 25K
-Goggles of Night 12K
-+3 Weapon 18K
Obviously this overshoots my wealth. Any suggestions on what to cut or change out?
Keep in mind he's not gonna want to break those high + weapons to confirm crits so focus wouldn't be bad to use for whatever main hand enchanted weapon you have.....
Keep in mind he's not gonna want to break those high + weapons to confirm crits so focus wouldn't be bad to use for whatever main hand enchanted weapon you have.....
I don't think I can use disposable or splintering with those anyways, since they lose the fragile quality with Mwk or better.
You do bring up a good point though, so it won't be completely wasted.
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Also not sure how this would be considered evil?
Penetrating wounds with glass shards imbedded in them are a b@!*# to treat since the shards don't show up on x-rays and can be all but invisible when you're trying to find them by hand.
That's why glass and ceramic are banned as both bullet and bomb casing materials.
Real World Logic=Null and Void in a Game where Evil actions are spelled out.
While WE as Human beings on Earth with Earth Wars and Earth problems may see it as cruel and evil, that isn't the case here. If he were using these instruments to TORTURE someone then yes I agree, but since it is just a viable battle tactic I don't believe by RAW you will find anyone that will agree its an evil act and therefore makes the character evil for doing it.
Now, glass daggers/kurki's made from this WOULD be evil.
Penetrating wounds with glass shards imbedded in them are a b+$%$ to treat since the shards don't show up on x-rays and can be all but invisible when you're trying to find them by hand.That's why glass and ceramic are banned as both bullet and bomb casing materials.
1.) X-Rays in Golarion?
2.) By Golarion logic, anybody who casts any offensive spell of higher than first level is an evil bastard who must be killed on sight by good aligned people.
3.) By real world logic, it's no worse than the practice of using serrated blades smeared with ripe feces to promote infection.
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Oh man, I love this idea... I could see using lower level versions of this character to represent a tribe of stone-age warriors; Arcadians, perhaps? Adventurers with metal armor and weaponry likely wouldn't see them as much of a threat, but with Disposable Weapon and Splintering Weapon they could pack a surprising punch. :)
I like this concept too.
Just a note about making daggers out of obsidian in the real world. It ain't easy, I know, I've tried. Shaping and sharpening obsidian is a painstaking and time-consuming process (that will also leave you with lots of sliced fingers).
Now normal glass you shape when molten might be a bit easier, but you still gotta do the edge knapping to get that razor sharp edge...
Luckily Pathfinder isn't the real world though...
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Shaping obsidian, glass, and stone can be difficult (and painful) but, as in anything, practice makes perfect. An experienced knapper wouldn't have too much trouble hammering out an obsidian blade quickly and reliably, assuming they have the right tools. I've seen people do some pretty amazing things with flint in a lot less time than you might expect. In fact, prehistoric hunters would typically bring just one or two cutting tools with them on a hunt, and work them into different shapes as needed while they were butchering a kill.