Dwarven swashbuckler ...

[pennywit]

If I'm reading the rules correctly, a dwarven swashbuckler with the Slashing Grace can use a dwarven waraxe. Has anybody tried this build? It sounds like it could be numerically sound, but I can't shake the menta picture of a short hairy lumberjack dressed as Zorro.

[Charon's Little Helper]

Technically yes - but it wouldn't work well for a couple of reasons.

1 - Dwarves get a -2 charisma - that's bad for a swashbuckler.

2 - Swashbucklers recharge their panache by getting crits, so they likely want a weapon with an 18-20 crit.

3 - The big dwarf advantage of moving at standard speed in heavy armor is moot.

Frankly - a dwarf dipping a single level into swashbuckler to be able to finesse a waraxe wouldn't be bad. A dwarf going straight swashbuckler would be pretty weak.

[Paulicus]

It does seem like it'd be difficult to make, but if one enjoyed it, you could probably make it decent with some effort. A dip does sound much easier to build for.

edit: Actually, the main thing you'd lose out on is Charmed life (Dwarven bonus vs spells would help counter this a bit though). And part of the dodging panache deed, but that's not a big loss.

You could build your panache pool with feats and the Plume of Panache. At the very least you could swap out the feathers between combat, or stuff them all on your hat!

Using the Inspired Blade archetype and a rapier isn't exactly what you asked, but could be interesting.

[pennywit]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm currently playing a half-orcish inquisitor in the early stages of a RotRL campaign. Since nobody else plays a character capable of wearing serious armor, my inquisitor is the party's unofficial pincushion. He's stayed alive through trickery, luck, the Judgment of Healing, Ferocious Resolve, and the careful application of my Knowledge (game rules) skill, but I have a feeling, my inquisitor's not long for this world. I'm toying with a swashbuckler (trying for a Dex-based tank) or a dwarven warpriest with Steel Soul as a replacement character.

[My2Copper]

The dwarven favored class bonus applies to the warxe if he has slashing grace.

[revaar]

Another way to bolster your Panache pool could be to take a level of gunslinger, and get your boosted dwarven wisdom as a grit pool, which counts as the same thing.