So when I first started PFS I made a Human Dual Talent Bard and made him a skill bot with Improvisation Feat and Fast Learner. He was intended to be the Team Face with some buffing spells and a rapier. Well then Advanced Class guide Playtest came out and wow, swashbucklers... just wow. So now my lvl 7 bard will become a lvl 7 bard/ lvl 1 swashbuckler (Inspired Blade). Knowing he will never be as good of a front line fighter akin to a true swashbuckler, I envision him as a spell casting skirmisher. He buffs himself, allies, then wades into melee for flanking assists. I ask the community- what Feats does a swashbuckler need to become a viable combat skirmisher?
Can you post your build so far?
If you can get it, Power Attack and Cornugon Smash is a great combo. Arcane Strike isn't exactly a huge bonus and it costs a swift action, but it can look pretty good if your build is struggling with attack and damage. At level 11, Discordant Voice can add a funky little bonus to attacks as well.
*Fencing Grace*. I didn't mention that on my previous post because I took it completely for granted.
A skill/casting bard shouldn't multiclass full stop. There's just nothing of value to your primary functions. It's like saying "I'm just going to stop leveling here."
That seems awfully bleak. It's a painful one level delay in everything Bard to instantly go from inept to capable with a rapier (assuming you had a decent dex, of course). With a +2 Inspire Courage and Allegro, dex-to-damage rapier can certainly contribute. It does depend on what the build looked like before, though...
he is lvl 7 bard with enough to get to lvl 8 but i have not played him yet so still weighing options. I do not min-max my toons just what would be fun to play.
S-16
D-18
C-13
I-14
W-10
Ch-16
He has mithral +2 Chain Shirt,mithral buckler +1, Cloak of Res +1, Belt of Physical Might +2 (Str/Dex), +1 CI Rapier.
taking the Inspired Blade arch grants bonus panache and with parry and riposte his quishyness can be mitigated somewhat. appropriate skills- Acrobatics +18, Bluff +17. granted i know he will never be a front line combatant like a lvl 8 pure swashbuckler, but for thematic purposes how do i make him a decent flanker for combat?
Well, to be honest that's kind of a tough spot to start gearing up for melee. You can't pick up a new feat until 9, and Fencing Grace isn't very relevant because you split strength and dex. Ideally you would be getting attack, armor and hopefully damage from one nice high ability score; but instead you're at a place where neither strength nor dexterity will give you all that much damage, and though you can Power Attack two-handed with a rapier since you aren't using Fencing Grace, it will cripple your already weak attack rating if you try to compensate with it. It's not a hopeless situation - you would get free Weapon Focus and could maybe switch to a +4dex belt. But it's quite a few steps down from the ideal for getting in there with a weapon.