Hey everybody!
I have an inspired blade swashbuckler that just turned level 4 recently and while I was leveling up I was starting to look at the Kineticist. It got me thinking that maybe dipping it a little would bring something new to my scoundrel.
Now, I figured I would stick with the swash until lvl 5 so I can pick up rapier training. After that there isn't anything super amazing on the swash so I could pick up the kineticist then. I also figured when I do, I'd pick up the Overwhelming Soul and Elemental Annihilator for at least 5 levels for a quick boost to his blasts, CHA synergy, and Blast Training/ Everpresent threat.
So, I guess I have a few questions. 1. Would I be gimping myself too much by doing this? 2. Would I be better off only taking Overwhelming Soul for the CHA synergy and the utility powers? 3. Should I start taking feats now that'll help when I dip?
My current stats and feats are
STR: 13 DEX: 18 CON: 10 INT: 14 WIS: 10 CHA: 15
Human Swash 1: Swash Finnesse, Weapon Focus (Rapier), Fencing Grace, Combat Reflexes
Swash 2:
Swash 3: Dodge
Swash 4: (Undetermined Combat Bonus Feat)
I was thinking of taking the ability score increase in CHA to boost my Panache and my kineticist powers when I dip.
If anyone could help me out with those questions and maybe a sample build of what I could do with this idea, I'd really appreciate it. I just have this picture of him dancing around the battlefield stabbing people with his rapier and blasting people with a cocky smile on is face that I can't get out of my head
Swashbuckler and kinny have no synergy in their mechanics, at least the way you're doing it. Your stats aren't terrible for your plan, but being 5 levels behind as a kineticist makes the abilities you gain very weak. Having a rapier in one hand means you can't gather power and unlike a rogue the swashbuckler gains little from having a weak standard action blast.
Whether you're gimping yourself too much depends on your game but you are gimping yourself a lot.
elemental can only make 1 attack in a round till lv6, then you can make a full attack with it. So a lv5/lv5 can only make that one attack.
Multiclassing spellcasters can work if you use magic to supplement the other class. You'd have to concentrate on non level dependent aspects and archetypes. Multiclassing wizard is great for self buffing, but crappy for offense. The key here is the utility talents.
Your tactic would gimp you heavily, yes.
Depending on element, you can make your Kinetic Blade a "Light or One-Handed Piercing Melee Weapon." This makes for a plausible character that uses Kinetic Whip as their Swashbuckler weapon.
...but, by the point you can use it reliably (Level 8) you'll already be behind by a fair deal. If you check out 3P it's more plausible as a certain book by someone palling around here does have a Kineticist take on Signature Deed. That shaves off two levels of Kineticist! Not near enough... Really though, what it comes down to is that it is a kinda cool nitch trick (in terms of concept if not DPR) only if you start life as a Kineticist. Even then being an Inspired Blade means it doesn't work and another archetype or Duelist would work way better. (I actually kinda fancy Duelist, but I also read Duelist in the Two Weapon Fighting way explained in Oterisk’s guide. Otherwise it is rather weak.)
At Best kin is a 2 level dip for a Utility Wild Talent and Elemental Defense you really, really want. Both of which would be gimped by Overwhelming Soul and Elemental Annihilator. Overwhelming Soul is bad because you can't pump the Elemental Defense or use burn talents and Elemental Annihilator cheats you of your Utility Wild Talent.
Basically, nope to all that.
So it's really gimping. Got it! Thanks guys.
Back to the drawing board I go!