Swashbuckler 1/Sword saint samurai 8
Race: Unsure
Pointbuy: 15
Feats:
- Weapon focus (katana)
- Slashing grace
- Quickdraw (because weapon expertise doesn't work as prereq)
- Equipment trick: Hurling scabbard
- Weapon specialization (katana)
- splintering weapon
Tactic: When facing a worthy opponent challenge him, move up and if able attack any goons with the sheathed sword (combat sheath). Next round I use Iaijutsu Strike. As the weapon is drawn as part of Iaijutsu Strike I can then activate the hurling scabbard equipment trick and throw the scabbard at the foe (provoking for throwing in the threatened area). If the scabbard (made of a fragile material) hits I use splintering weapon to cause bleed damage.
This attack does: 1d8+dexmod+samurai level+2+4d6 and the scabbard does: 1d6+strength mod+1d4 bleed
I might even be able to use a 5ft step between drawing and striking to avoid the AoO for the ranged attack.
Sounds flavorful if not powerful, what parts of the above are set in stone and which are open to change? Are you starting at 9th level?
I am brainstorming for a new pc, so in theory everything is open to change. And yes I am starting at 9th level.
Casters above 6th level get less pointbuy so I would either be a dedicated caster or stay away from it. Which means no multiclass.
A slayer could do much the same sort of thing with a full attack. Something like
1: power attack
2t: ranger combat style (thrown): quick draw
3: equipment trick (combat scabbard)
4t: weapon training: weapon focus (maybe with a nodachi?)
5: amateur swashbuckler (parry)
6t: rct: false opening
7: lunge
8t: unwitting ally
9: opening volley
With false opening on the initial hurled scabbard you get sneak attack on both strikes. If the hurled scabbard hits you get +4 on the next attack. If desired unwitting ally + lunge will be useful to get sneak attack without having to take an AoO.
I think the damage will be similar with the extra attack, sneak attack, studied target amd all but it'll be more versatile.
Ooh a sword saint build. You get Quick Draw for katana for free at samurai 3 iirc so it is sort of redundant.
I'm quite fond of the thug rogue1/sword saint x (order of the cockatrice) build for more intimidate debuffing. Or thug 3 maybe.
Ooh a sword saint build. You get Quick Draw for katana for free at samurai 3 iirc so it is sort of redundant.
I'm quite fond of the thug rogue1/sword saint x (order of the cockatrice) build for more intimidate debuffing.
The samurai can draw a katana as if he had quick-draw. But for the equipment trick you need quick-draw as a prerequisite.
@AVR: Sounds good, I'll have a closer look when I got more time. It would need to be strength based this way. One of the reasons I did my build with the swashbuckler level was to get slashing grace and with that dex to AC, attack and dmg. Seems easier with low point buy.
Well, not to attack. Slashing grace lets you treat a katana as if it were a one-handed piercing weapon for feats and class features - but that isn't enough to apply weapon finesse to it.
If you really want dex to AC, attack and damage you'll need to wield a rapier or scimitar and take fencing grace or dervish dance respectively, or get a +x agile weapon which is on the weapon finesse list and take Weapon Finesse. The latter works with a wakizashi but not a katana.
Nevermind, reread swashbuckler.
Oh yeah, my mistake above, amateur swashbuckler won't be that useful with a 2H weapon, so take furious focus or iron will instead.
I could well see me combining some of your ideas with a 1 level swashbuckler or daring champion dip to get swashbuckler's finesse and by that qualify for slashing grace.
By going daring champion I could dump cha and make things easier for me that way.
Half Orc daring champion cavalier 1/ slayer 8
STR: 10 DEX: 18 CON: 14 INT: 12 WIS: 12 CHA: 7
Feats and Talents:
1: EWP: Katana
2t: ranger combat style (thrown): quick draw
3: equipment trick (combat scabbard)
4t: weapon training: weapon focus (Katana)
5: Slashing grace (katana)
6t: rcs: false opening
7: Splintering weapon
8t: combat trick: opening volley
9: Improved critical (katana)
Traits:
- Brute (orc) or tusked (orc)