I have a character concept, but I need class advice.


Advice


My concept is for a Drow duelist.

A bit of backstory: He was the 3rd born and 1st son of a minor drow house, and he didn't get much attention, as others were much more important. He did manage to get a duelist of some reputation to be his master of the art and things were more or less stable like that for years. Turns out the duelist master was an assassin in the employ of another drow house, and had overnight slain all the important people of this character's house, the escaped to the surface.

the Duelist isn't particularly evil (although some is inevitable with the drow.) and dueling is his life. He'd be more than willing to give someone a fair dueling lesson, and doesn't particularly enjoy killing. That being said; He's hunting down the man who murdered his house, and will likely bathe in his blood, given the chance.

He doesn't advertise that he's a drow, but he doesn't hide it either. His outfit consists of a shirt, pants, boots a longcoat with hood, long gloves, and a full-face mask.

What I'm looking for in a class is someone who excels in one-on-one duels (preferrably dex-based because style.), and is capable of diplomacy, bluff and disguise.

I'm more familiar with D&D 4e which has less flexibility than pathfinder, so some of the info may be unnecessary.


So like a rogue/duelist?


Ausk Valrosh wrote:
So like a rogue/duelist?

I was thinking of swashbucker or magus, but thought I'd turn to the forums for advice.

Sczarni

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Swashbuckler, no doubt.

Charisma, Full BAB, ability to parry, Dex/Cha based.

I don't think more can be said.


Oh yeah forgot about the new classes. Swashbuckler ftw.


The Lion Cleric wrote:

Swashbuckler, no doubt.

Charisma, Full BAB, ability to parry, Dex/Cha based.

I don't think more can be said.

Yeah, It's likely I'll go with that, but I'd like to have some other ideas. Magus and fighter could both pull it off (fighter can pull off nearly every marshal concept.), and was wondering if there were any other viable classes.

Sovereign Court

About 500% Swashbuckler, based on what you described. Slayer is also a strong option, though, and a dip into Shadowdancer could bolster your stealth abilities.

There is, of course, the Duelist prestige class, but I think it was pretty much obsoleted by the Swashbuckler.

EDIT: The new charisma-based Magus archetype is a long shot but could work if your party really needs arcane casting.


You could always try an Arcane Duelist if you want to build upon the backstory with some magic.


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Just some alternatives to Swashbuckler:

- Daring Champion Cavalier
- Learned Duelist Fighter
- Swordlord Fighter / Swordlord PrC

Scarab Sages

Stygian slayer would be good if you want to play up the drow darkness angle.


Swash is the obvious choice.

If it wasn't for the skills requested I'd say Magus. Unfortunately Magi tend to dump Cha, unless you're using the Eldritch Scion... and the Scion is pretty bad.

Daring Champion might be one of the best dueling classes around for Challenge + Precise Strike = 2x level-to-damage.

In terms of the actual utility of those classes, I'd say it goes Magus > Daring Champion > Swashbuckler, but all are pretty solid choices.


Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber

there's also this for just flavor, if you want to make his station somewhat important/mechanical.


I am playing a Jaraxle/Dr. Who character concept myself with a similar back story.

character:
my character is 1/2 elf drow-blooded Rogue (melee)

This is my advancement plan: Rogue 4/ Alchemist [Vivisectionist] x
Str 18 (10,+2) Dex 15 (7) Con 12 (2) Int 14 (5) Wis 10 Cha 7 (-4)

Traits: bruising intellect, surprise weapon
Rogue1 1. Catch off guard
Rogue2 2. TWF (combat talent)
Alchemist1 3. Extra Rogue Talent (offense/defense)
Rogue3 4. --
Rogue4 5. Bludgeoner, Enforcer (Ninja trick)
Alch2 6. preserve organs (discovery)
Alch3 7. Sap adept

At 7th: +10/+10 umbrella/ books (1d6+4+4d6+8)x2 plus shaken and grants +8 dodge bonus to my AC.

I thought it funny--and cool--to use an umbrella and maybe a satchel with his books as his improvised weapons.

I wanted a fun, but deadly melee build.


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I think I'm gonna go with good ol' Swashy. Thanks for the advice and suggestions.

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32

I'd do a swashbuckler with a 1 level dip into spire defender magus. Spire defender takes care of combat expertise and dodge feats and sets us well for a 1-3 level dip into shadow dancer which mixes with swash nicely.

I'd strongly recommend a garment of many sleeves for $200 gp it can be any outfit including cold weather and royal.


Another possibility: Go Magus or Slayer, but pick up the Amateur Swashbuckler feat or Flamboyant Arcana.


If your DM is cool with Dreamscarred Press stuff, either a Warlord or Stalker would be an excellent way to go. If you want a charismatic warrior type, Warlord is your guy, or if you would rather him be more skill based and stealthy, then its all about the Stalker.


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For a rather unique option - particularly for a character with a considerable amount of anger - there's the possibility of an Urban Barbarian wielding an Elven Curved Blade; in a world of preening rapier duelists, he learned to channel his anger into a combination of grace and power with a finessable two-hander.


BadBird wrote:
For a rather unique option - particularly for a character with a considerable amount of anger - there's the possibility of an Urban Barbarian wielding an Elven Curved Blade; in a world of preening rapier duelists, he learned to channel his anger into a combination of grace and power with a finessable two-hander.

That is indeed a unique build... I'll keep it in mind.

maybe even make an alt.


To expand on the concept since I'm now thinking about it, here's some potential flavor concepts:

Quote:


His anger, at least in part, stems from his contempt for the rigid structure of his society in which he is somehow both privileged and a second-class citizen - he's not sure which situation he hates more [Urban Barbarian].

A deep sympathy and longing for the savage equality and freedom of the wild [Beast Totem] drives him to prove himself over others, and he's ferociously resistant to being restrained or tricked [Brutal Pugilist, Strength Surge Power].

Drow society has - of course - taught him to be extremely wary of magic [Superstition Power &etc].

While his contemporaries studied rigid forms and techniques to dominate foes, he practiced superiority through sheer prowess and the intimidation it brings [Cornugon Smash].

There are pros and cons compared to a Swashbuckler, but Beast Totem and Controlled Rage compare well to the 'Nimble' ability.

Instead of a curved blade, Dervish Dance and Amateur Swashbuckler is an option for one-handed scimitar dueling that's a lot like a duelist.

Or if you want to get really weaponmastery, one level of Swashbuckler and the Slashing Grace feat would allow an Urban Barbarian to do some pretty bad-ass dual-wielding while using all the basic Swashbuckler Deeds. Very aggressive slashing death.


I think Magus would be nice. If you can manage Cha 14 you can take Amateur swashbuckler to get A panache pool and oppotune parry deed( or what ever it is called) at level 1 you get finesse, at level 3 it is dervish Dance and the first of the two swashbuckler deeds. And at 5 amateur swash and the other swash arcane to get level to damage as well. From here on you will have level and dex to damage with a scimetar. You can parry and do magic. The skills are not so hot on a magus but with a decent int and a trait you can be ok there i think.
If skills are important i suggest you take a one level swash dip and then go investigater the rest of the way.
Or slayer they are great in combat and the manhunter ring in your concept fits well.

Grand Lodge

Is this set in Golarion, the base Pathfinder setting?


Just on it being a Drow, I would put my vote in for Slayer; he might havethe style and etiquette of a swashbuckler... but he's still a drow learning technique from another drop.

But were it any other race/ Swashbuckler / Daring Champion cavalier, sure.

Grand Lodge

Golarion Drow were created during Earthfall, when the great Starstone fell to the earth, creating the Age of Darkness.

Whilst many Elves retreated to their home-planet of Castrovel, some refused to abandon Golarion. So, they hid in the Darklands.

When Earthfall happened, the massive tremors resulted in a brief awakening of Rovagug, whose wakened mind reached out, and touched the Elves, mixing with the Darklands' strange radiations and the elves' own feelings of betrayal and anger towards those who abandoned them.

It transformed them, turning their hair white, they skin dark, and replaced the race's natural tendencies towards independence and good, with Rovagug's evil; these elves became the first generation of drow.

Now, their form is physical manifestation of the pure hatred of all living things, from the taint of Rovagug's destructive evil.

To be Drow, is to be Elven, twisted evil.

Even now, an Elf who becomes irredeemably evil, risks becoming Drow themselves.

Drow are fleshwarpers, and demon-worshipers.

During the Age of Darkness, the demon lord Haagenti gifted the secrets of fleshwarping to the drow as recognition of their worship and usefulness.

They create horrible twisted abominations, not unlike their blackened souls.

Golarion is not Faerun, and there is no good Drow goddess.

Only obscure legends, tell of anything resembling a good Drow.

They are only unconfirmed myths.

By the way, I suggest Daring Champion Cavalier, with either the Order of the Cockatrice, or Order of the Flame.

Dark Archive

Drow get rapiers as a racial weapon. They get bonuses to Dex and Cha. It sing Swashbuckler.

To mix it up with a bit of Drow magic, multiclass with Bard of some flavour. You have been living underground so for character reasons you might get rid of Bardic Knowledge. Buccaneer has fluff about ships bit if you ignore that, the rest fits. You get to do non-lethal strikes with no penalty, which is what a fencing tutor would do. You get a bardic song of surrender which adds to the vibe of him teaching fools a lesson.

Arcane Duellist with Swashbuckler will make you a very, very good swordsman, full stop. And a flash bastard. Swashbuckler 2/AD 18.

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