Character build with "quick draw" advice


Advice


Strength 10 (+0)
Dexterity 15 (+2)
Constitution 14 (+2)
Intelligence 12 (+1)
Wisdom 10 (+0)
Charisma 16 (+3)

human Bard level 1 core only

My plan is to use hold 4 hand crossbows "Unless the DM lets me use firearms" on the character while using "quick draw" at level 3 "Unless there is some way to get it at level one?" I would use one then but it back until i am at the last one, then I would reload it and fight with one bow.

I will start with two-weapon fighting and Weapon Finesse "If I drop two char and add it to Str" or I will keep Deceitful for my out of combat fun.

Any advice for this play style.


Sheathing a weapon is a move action. You can drop the crossbow instead, but recovering it would be difficult in that case (at least a swift if you attached it to a weapon cord).

You'll need a third party source to get sheathing as a free action as well.


would I be able to attach it in the core version? If so what items would I need.


there is no way for a bard to get quick draw at 1st level and with your stats you should probably stick to ranged combat because you are rather squishy


Pathfinder Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Unseen Servant is a first level Bard spell.

You could use that to pick up the hand crossbows and put them away. It couldn't reload them, but at least it would help prevent you from littering the battlefield with discarded weapons.


BretI wrote:

Unseen Servant is a first level Bard spell.

You could use that to pick up the hand crossbows and put them away. It couldn't reload them, but at least it would help prevent you from littering the battlefield with discarded weapons.

an excellent way to avoid that pesky fine for littering, i hear it is fairly steep in elven communities


Any idea on how to add firearms in core? Also I will go with the unseen servant, only question is can others and myself see the servant?


if the dm says core only you are sol trying to add firearms


Also just because I can, the character will also carry around two rapier's. I was wondering about getting combat finess with improved disarm should he be brought into the fight.

I know he's squishy but I have to made him look some what dashing with the lady's.


you can look quite dashing with a bow


I could ... Even better when the enemy is covered in shiny bolts.

My goal isn't to max the character potential but do many fun things especially outside of combat. I was thinking of picking up those skill For if he gets into melee. He could disarm them fall back and send another bolt to the attackers face.


The group is made up of a barbarian and paladin. Then the lady's are a sorceress, druid and ranger.

The bard will be in the middle of the group.


I could move the 2 int over to str. I would only lose one skill.

The bard is the Jack of all trade but master of none.


This is the kind of ability lineup that will make you feel sad as a bard in combat. You can try a lot of tricks but they arent likely to work very often.

Stick with the crossbows and don't bother with the rapier. Even if you up str to 12 its only going to get you killed. Trust me on that. Keep the Int and make your skills shine in and out of combat.
If you still want to use the rapier use your high cha and build for feinting, use your rapier to buff with aid another and debuff with feint and intimidate, not to deal damage.

Eventually creatures will start getting DR, invalidating your crossbow bolts. In fact many common undead will be plenty immune from the get-go. Make sure you can do something else when that time comes, have a good long look at your spell list.

Focus on using skills as much as you can, even in combat, they are your strong point, damage is not.


The DM just allwed Fencing Grace at level 3.


Hand crossbows in Core are sad and pitiful and pretty terrible. That actually goes for them pretty much anytime, anywhere, unless you're some kind of tiefling with 11 levels in gunslinger (bolt ace) or a regular person with those 11 levels and another level in alchemist. Hand crossbows are probably best as a backup weapon and still not that good even after a bunch of levels and feat support.

Since you've got access to Fencing Grace, snap it up quickly. Avoid TWF, you don't have a lot of feats to be throwing around, and not enough in the way of static boosters to make it really worth while. Arcane Strike will be helpful and is a good Core option for bards.


Final build idea:

Strength 10 (+0)
Dexterity 15 (+2)
Constitution 14 (+2)
Intelligence 12 (+1)
Wisdom. 10 (+0)
Charisma 16 (+3)

Skills in: Bluff,Diplomacy,Slight of hand,Appraise,Knowlage'local',Disable device,Linguistics,Knowalge'nobility', and intimidate.

Feats will be weapon finesse and weapon focus 'Rapier'.

If i get one fighter level at level 2 I should be able to pick up Fencing Grace, correct?

He will go duel rapier later on and hold 3 crossbows on himself and have the unseen servant pick them up. He will also hold the wrist dagger in both hands.


Get quick draw and go crazy with 4 rapiers ......


Dual rapiers are probably a bad idea, as a -4 to hit is pretty much -20% hit chance, or -20% damage you'll be dishing out. Even with effortless lace on the second rapier, you're still losing out on damage and feats and versatility. Pick up Arcane Strike before you get dual rapiers. Get Fencing Grace at 3. Don't multiclass into Fighter, it'll slow down your bard-ness and the other benefits (weapon proficiency, armor training) are mostly wasted- you already plan on focusing on rapiers and need to use light armor to cast spells. Actually, if you had access to other books, I'd say take a level of inspired blade to pick up some swashbuckler goodies, as well as both weapon finesse and weapon focus (rapier), so you could get fencing grace at level 1.


Winterfox707 wrote:
Get quick draw and go crazy with 4 rapiers ......

More rapiers is not a solution. Unless they're Rapiers of Puncturing, which isn't Core, they're probably not worth it.

Also avoid crossbow specialization like the plague- there isn't enough support for it in Core. Sure, carry a crossbow or bow around with you, but don't burn out all your feats trying to get it.


Would it be a -4 with my Dex bonus ?

So I would roll to hit them add all my bonus then take the -4?


Well, TWF imposes a -2 if you have two light weapons. However, rapiers are one-handed weapons, which means that TWF imposes a -4. So yeah, that happens after you add all your bonuses.

The thing here.


I forgot to add that "combat focus" needs a base attack bonus +1. How could I did this so I can get the fencing Grace at level 3?


1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

Because you get BAB +1 by level 2 with any single class, or at level 1 if you have a full martial class like Fighter or Swashbuckler.


1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

But I don't get a feat at level 2 as a bard and you need a +1 BAB for combat focus.


Wouldn't this set me back till level 5 unless I doped at level to to pick it up with a fighter feat and then level up the bard at level 3 and get the fencing Grace feat.


Start with a level in Fighter or Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade), then take Bard at level 2 and up. You'll have BAB +1 at level 1.


Does Core mean Core Rule Book Only, or does it mean the Core Paizo Hardbacks (APG, UM, UC)?


Fairly certain Core means Core, but that's a good question.


My Self wrote:
Start with a level in Fighter or Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade), then take Bard at level 2 and up. You'll have BAB +1 at level 1.

Why Inspired Blade? Surely vanilla Swashbuckler would be better for a CHA based character?


Gavmania wrote:
My Self wrote:
Start with a level in Fighter or Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade), then take Bard at level 2 and up. You'll have BAB +1 at level 1.
Why Inspired Blade? Surely vanilla Swashbuckler would be better for a CHA based character?

Weapon Focus (rapier) + Weapon Finesse at 1st level.


Core rule book minus the use of fencing grace .

I will start as a bard to get all the fun bard toys. I could drop str down to 8 since I will be using dex for everything. Or will negative str hurt me else where.

The only issue I see is bards don't get a +1BAB at level one but figters do and that get the extra feat.


If you start as Bard, you can't pick up weapon focus at level 1- you'll need to choose a weaker feat. That'll put off your ability to get Fencing Grace until level 3, if multiclass to Fighter. If you don't, you'll get Fencing Grace at level 5. If you take level 1 as a Fighter, you can get Fencing Grace at level 1. I'd strongly recommend you start as a fighter then take the rest of your levels as Bard, or start as a Bard and don't multiclass.


Sorry if it's over my head but what am I missing out on if I do bard-fighter-bard over foght-bard.


For feats as a plain bard, I'd recommend:
1: Weapon Finesse, Arcane Strike
Weapon Finesse is DEX to hit, Arcane Strike will help patch up your damage until you get Fencing Grace.
3: Weapon Focus (Rapier)
5: Fencing Grace

Fighter really won't help you unless you take it at 1st level.


Ok, lemme reorganize it:

Bard 1:
You have BAB 0 and 2 feats. That means Weapon Finesee, but no Weapon Focus.

Fighter 1:
You have BAB 1 and 3 feats. That means you can get Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus, AND Fencing grace all at level 1.

Weapon Finesse: No prerequisites
Weapon Focus: BAB 1
Fencing Grace: Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus


.... I completely missed your last sentence. Looks like I can't have the best of both worlds.

Looks like I will get it at level 5.


What about dropping set to 8 from 10 and making it

8 str
16 dex
14 con
10 wis
16 cha

Seeing how I have to wait 5 levels I would think the penetly would be a bad idea.


Winterfox707 wrote:

.... I completely missed your last sentence. Looks like I can't have the best of both worlds.

Looks like I will get it at level 5.

Bards can't cast in medium or heavy armor anyways, which is one of the big draws of being a Fighter. There are Bard archetypes that let you do that, but no archetypes are Core.

You could also try asking your DM very, very nicely to waive the Weapon Focus requirement on Fencing Grace, with the promise that you'll take it as your next available feat.


Winterfox707 wrote:

What about dropping set to 8 from 10 and making it

8 str
16 dex
14 con
10 wis
16 cha

Seeing how I have to wait 5 levels I would think the penetly would be a bad idea.

Well, if you go straight bard, you'll probably pick up your first two feats as Weapon Finesse and Arcane Strike. Arcane Strike will negate the -1 damage, and Weapon Finesse will give you a bonus to hit.


I'm lucky he even let me have fencing grace and a new char.


Winterfox707 wrote:
I'm lucky he even let me have fencing grace and a new char.

That's true, you should thank him for that.

It's unfortunate that hand crossbows are so terrible. But as you are, you should probably go with the rapier. Also, you should pick up a shield, probably a light shield or a buckler. It'll help your AC, and it doesn't affect your weapon.

Feats
1: Arcane Strike, Weapon Finesse
3: Weapon Focus
5: Fencing Grace

If you can, try to also convince your DM to let you get piranha strike. It's basically just dexterity-based power attack.

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