This thread got me thinking - can you build an effective Swashbuckler that uses unarmed strikes?
The key is taking Hamatulatsu Strike to make your unarmed attacks piercing, at which point they qualify for Precise Strike.
(To avoid any remaining rules questions regarding whether being able to do piercing damage with unarmed strikes qualifies them as a "piercing weapon", let's say you have the ok from your GM.)
The build probably starts with either: 1) a level of Monk to get Improved Unarmed Strike, Flurry of Blows, more damage, and either Combat Reflexes or Weapon Focus (unarmed strike) depending on if you take Hamatulatsu master. But, you lose the ability to use armor (although Mage Armor is still possible.) Or 2) two levels of Brawler to get Improved Unarmed Strike, Brawler's Flurry, Martial Flexibility, more damage, and a bonus feat. You can also take either Mutagenic Brawler to trade martial flexibility for a mutagen, or Snakebite Striker for sneak attack.
Or I suppose you could go straight Swashbuckler, take Improved Unarmed Strike and Weapon Focus (unarmed strike) at level 1, Hamatulatsu Strike at 3 and Two-Weapon Fighting at 4.
So, there are a few ways to make it work. It's feat-intensive, but should get more attacks per turn than the typical Swashbuckler is allowed. So what is the best build?
There is also Snake Style instead of Hamatulatsu Strike if you prefer.
And are you actually looking to use unarmed strike or just to FOB as a swashbuckler? What might be easier is to use the Slashing Grace feat with a Temple sword.
I had a ton of fun with a Tengu that started with two levels of Swashbuckler, then hit Master of Many Styles for a level then continued Swashbuckler (with one more level of MoMS later on). Eventually he was running around provoking attacks of opportunity from enemies and getting several attacks on each enemy each round.
Run past enemy
GM: I'm going to take that AoO
Me: I'll Panther Parry that. Hit. You've got a -2 to your attack. I'll use Opportune Parry and Riposte.
GM: I got a 22
Me: I got a 24, so I've parried. You missed, which triggers Snake Fang.
If you hit with snake fang, you also get a third attack as an immediate. If you don't, you can take that immediate action attack as your Riposte.
There is also Snake Style instead of Hamatulatsu Strike if you prefer.
And are you actually looking to use unarmed strike or just to FOB as a swashbuckler? What might be easier is to use the Slashing Grace feat with a Temple sword.
Snake Style is a good idea - takes one less feat (although Weapon Focus isn't bad anyway and lets you take Weapon Specialization later,) and has that cool defensive property.
Temple sword is intriguing, although it requires a different build because it (awkwardly) still uses Str to attack even if you get Dex to damage. So it's a more MAD build, but the crit range and extra damage are definite pros.
That would be true if you were using Slashing Grace without a level of Swashbuckler. With Slashing Grace the weapon qualifies for the Swashbuckler's Finesse so you do get Dex to hit and Dex to Damage.
Ah yes! So the Temple Sword Swashbuckler might look something like this:
Human Swashbuckler 1/Monk 1/Swashbuckler X
strength 8, dexterity 18, constitution 13, intelligence 10, wisdom 12, charisma 14
1: Weapon Focus (temple sword), Slashing Grace
2 (Monk): Combat Reflexes, Flurry of Blows, Stunning Fist, Unarmed Strike
3: Agile Maneuvers (?)
4: Precise Strike
5: Weapon Specialization (temple sword), Dodge (?)
Or an unarmed Swashbuckler:
Human Swashbuckler
strength 8, dexterity 18, constitution 14, intelligence 8, wisdom 10, charisma 16
1: Improved Unarmed Strike, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
3: Hamatulatsu Strike
4: Two-Weapon Fighting
5: Weapon Specialization (unarmed strike)
7: Pummeling Style
8: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
9: Greater Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
11: Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
12: Pummeling Charge
13: Greater Weapon Specialization (unarmed strike)
and pick up the Agile Amulet of Might Fists ASAP.
By level 12, you can do the Pummeling Charge Pounce for 6 attacks, each of which has Precise Strike damage.
You might as well just go this:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-a rchetypes/kata-master
Period.
I really think if you wanted to do this, you'd want to start with 2 MoMS and go strength based. Your build is doing 1d3-1 before you having the Agile Amulet; that is completely unacceptable for any number of sessions.
You might as well just go this:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-a rchetypes/kata-masterPeriod.
Kata master does not get Precise Strike... which is the whole point of this build.
I really think if you wanted to do this, you'd want to start with 2 MoMS and go strength based. Your build is doing 1d3-1 before you having the Agile Amulet; that is completely unacceptable for any number of sessions.
MoMS 2 is a good idea - I thought about it but discarded it back when I thought Pummeling Bully was a prerequisite for Pummeling Charge. For the first few levels you'd probably be fighting with a scizore or a trident, so either 1d10-1 or 1d8-1, but yeah, it's not really a level 1 build... more designed to start at level 4 or 5.
You might as well just go this:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-a rchetypes/kata-masterPeriod.
Kata master does not get Precise Strike... which is the whole point of this build.
I really think if you wanted to do this, you'd want to start with 2 MoMS and go strength based. Your build is doing 1d3-1 before you having the Agile Amulet; that is completely unacceptable for any number of sessions.MoMS 2 is a good idea - I thought about it but discarded it back when I thought Pummeling Bully was a prerequisite for Pummeling Charge. For the first few levels you'd probably be fighting with a scizore or a trident, so either 1d10-1 or 1d8-1, but yeah, it's not really a level 1 build... more designed to start at level 4 or 5.
The real gem is Fuse Style; getting Pummeling Charge at level 2 is of course great, but being able to use it at the same time as Dragon Style is even better. Of course, if you're starting at level 5 and don't have to worry about the levels with no Agile Amulet then that's less of a problem. Still a solid idea so you can pick up Panther, though.
MoMS is also interesting because by trading Flurry, it removes the penalty for wearing armor.
Human Master of Many Styles Monk 2/Swashbuckler X
strength 16, dexterity 15, constitution 14, intelligence 8, wisdom 10, charisma 14
or
strength 8, dexterity 18, constitution 14, intelligence 8, wisdom 10, charisma 16
1 (MoMS): Improved Unarmed Strike, Pummeling Style, Snake Style, Two-Weapon Fighting
2 (MoMS): Pummeling Charge
3: Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
5: Combat Reflexes
6: Weapon Specialization (unarmed strike)
7: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
9: (?)
10: Greater Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
11: (?)
13: Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
14: (?)
15: Greater Weapon Specialization (unarmed strike)
Benefit: While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus.Cestus does Cestus damage.
Not unarmed strike damage.
I think he means 1d4, instead of 1d6 or better.
1 (MoMS): Improved Unarmed Strike, Pummeling Style, Snake Style, Two-Weapon Fighting
Pummeling Style has a pre-req of BAB 6.
Snake Style has a pre-req of Sense Motive 3. You can only take one of them at level 1 via MoMS avoiding their pre-reqs.
This is why I started out with two levels of swashbuckler and switched over to MoMS at 3
Edit: Don't mind me. BAB6 OR Flurry. I'm going to drink some tea and wake up.
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I think he means 1d4, instead of 1d6 or better.Benefit: While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus.Cestus does Cestus damage.
Not unarmed strike damage.
which, again, is incorrect. An unarmed strike is an unarmed strike regardless of the knuckle jewelry modifying it.
which, again, is incorrect. An unarmed strike is an unarmed strike regardless of the knuckle jewelry modifying it.I think he means 1d4, instead of 1d6 or better.Benefit: While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus.Cestus does Cestus damage.
Not unarmed strike damage.
I think there's a FAQ or something around making it so weapons can no longer get Monk melee damage.
anyway i'll drop this here, before the thread gets hijacked.