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I once had a dream of making a Halfling Katana-Wielding Ranger. That idea got pushed back amongst my numerous characters.
Now, i want to contemplating getting a katana wielding halfling.
Samurai's are, imo, weak classes- with not much support for the class itself... but the Sword Saint archetype can get some decent damage with the katana and doesn't have to invest in Exotic Weapon Proficiency.
Lastly, i've been eyeing the Tortured Crusader for a possible build, and having Shizuru as his patron deity for Katana proficiency.
my dilemma is- actually figuring out how to build either. Slashing Grace is a definite option, but is feat intensive and don't know if Katanas are finesseable; versus a 13-Str/Power attack build.
For the Paladin build, i was leaning toward 15/12/14/12/14/12 [Tortured Crusaders are wis-based.]
So, any build ideas for either a Halfling Sword Saint or Tortured Crusader?
Katanas are not finessable in and of themselves, but there is a way around that:
Level 1: Samurai; take Weapon Focus (Katana).
Level 2: Samurai;
Level 3: Swashbuckler; take Slashing Grace.
Level 4+ Samurai and whatever feats you want.The Swashbuckler Finesse class ability will count as Weapon Finesse with any one-handed piercing weapon. Slashing Grace adds slashing weapons, such as the katana, and also gets you dex-to-damage.
So you won't really hit your stride until level 3. You may need to come up with other things to do during those levels to contribute to combat.
I think they play PFS, so they have the two level rebuild. Just sticking with samurai should work. It has a mount, but not really negative if it dies unlike the cavalier. As a Halfling though you could ride a wolf indoors. Challenge and resolve are pretty nice.
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IMO- there's too much conflict with that idea:
Swashbuckler's Finesse only applies to piercing weapons.
Slashing Grace looks for Weapon Finesse to enable Dex-to-DMG (and the other interactions).
Swashbuckler's Finesse won't count towards Finesse that Slashing Grace needs to be active.
I could A- invest in Weapon Finesse straight, and retrain when dipping into Swashbuckler; or B> use a Wakizashi, which is a piercing weapon- but Wakizashi is not a katana. :(
I could be wrong; the wording can be interpreted any number of ways.
But i've already gone through the debates of "Dex-based slashing grace vs str-based Power Attack" on small creature builds with my Ratfolk Barbarian.
IMHO- it'd be easier just to go with a Strength build to avoid tiresome feat-chains.
@MageHunter- the Sword Saint archetype looses the Mount for additional damage with a convoluted "technique". Besides, in PFS mounts are rarely used.
Random- is there a way to be proficient in weapons sized for medium creatures, as a small creature? I was thinking a Halfling Samurai with the "Childlike" trait, carrying a medium sized sword.
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Katana you need ewp if you want to use it in one hand but it still not a finesse weapon without a class feature to allow it. You could switch to a wakazashi.
Either build works with heavy armor strength and power attack. They don't really need much more. You can multi class for more power or build around a second thing you want to do in combat to enhance the RP of the character.
As for a mount if your going halfing a mount is great even in a dungeon.
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Proficiency is not correlated to the weapon size. The problem with oversized weapons is their effective "handedness".
A Small character can wield a Medium light weapon as a 1h weapon with -2 to hit, or a Large light weapon as a 2h weapon with -4 to hit.
Furthermore, a Small character can wield a Medium 1h weapon as a 2h weapon with -2 to hit.
However, a Small character cannot wield a Medium sized 2h weapon.
If you really want an oversized weapon, your best option would be finding the Medium-sized 1h weapon with the most damage. The obvious solution is Bastard Sword. Being a 1h weapon, you can wield a Medium one as a 2h weapon for 1d10 damage.
To offset the -2 penalty you can use an Effortless Lace or a pair of Irongrip Gauntlet (either or both might be banned in PFS though).
Another option is simply use a Small-sized Butchering Axe, which deals already 2d6 damage, although it's not a sword.
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Proficiency is not correlated to the weapon size. The problem with oversized weapons is their effective "handedness".
To offset the -2 penalty you can use an Effortless Lace or a pair of Irongrip Gauntlet (either or both might be banned in PFS though).
Another option is simply use a Small-sized Butchering Axe, which deals already 2d6 damage, although it's not a sword.
Neither the Lace or Gauntlets are legal, nor is the Butchering Axe which defeats the purpose of the "katana halfling" idea.
As interesting as the samurai idea is- i don't really see it becoming anything interesting.
Challenge is a woefully underwhelming, underutilized class ability.
The Sword Saint's "quick draw" technique is a full-round that a> requires the sword be in the sheath- when necessitates the oft overlooked Quick Stow feat; b> makes a possible Spring Attack build impossible.
I'm honestly more invested in a possible Tortured Crusader build than a Sword Saint.
I once had a dream of making a Halfling Katana-Wielding Ranger. That idea got pushed back amongst my numerous characters. Now, i want to contemplating getting a katana wielding halfling. Samurai's are, imo, weak classes- with not much support for the class itself...Samurai is one of the best martial classes in the game: rerolls on saving-throws are to die for, and samurai get them right away at 1st-level! (It is not possible to overrate how big of deal that is.)
Lastly, i've been eyeing the Tortured Crusader for a possible build, and having Shizuru as his patron deity for Katana proficiency.OK, so you're dipping cleric (BAB-1) after electing to be a halfling (STR-2 behind a non-small race strength build). That's -3, adjusted to -2 (small race +1 to hit) so far, and hold that thought....
my dilemma is- actually figuring out how to build either. Slashing Grace is a definite option, but is feat intensive and don't know if Katanas are finesseable; versus a 13-Str/Power attack build.They are NOT finesseable without a lot of work.
I'd honestly rather not multiclass.
Well that's another -2 behind every other martial who stirs in a little rage. Your 1st-level halfling will be running around with a d6 katana doing -4 attribute damage relative to the angry half-orc with a d10 polearm. It'll cost your halfling 10 build points, exactly half your point-buy allotment in PFS, to start with a 14 strength. If he two-hands, he'll be doing d6+3, meaning he's only about 25% to one-shot a 1st-level mook opponent (figuring 50% to hit and 50% to do enough to drop a 1HD goblin). The barbarian, with the same ten points into strength, rages to 20 and lays about for d10+7 (2d8+9 if acquiring Enlarge).
Solution: use dexterity, because that's the stat your chosen race gets a bonus to. First rule of Pathfinder optimization: don't build counter to your race's bonuses.
- - -
str-10
dex+17 (halfling, 15,14,12,12,12,12 20pt-array)
con:14
int:12
wis:12
cha+14
1. barbarian1 [drunken brute/savage-technologist], Extra Rage
-or-
1. bloodrager1 [urban][celestial bloodline], Extra Rage
2. uRogue1 [Weapon Finesse][SA+1d6]
3. samurai1 [core], Mounted Combat
4. uRogue2 [Evasion][combat trick: Two Weapon Fighting], Dex>18
5. uRogue3 [SA+2d6][Finesse:Wakizashi], Boon Companion
6. samurai2 [Order...?]
7. samurai3 [Expertise: wakizashi], [Improved TWF, or Piranha Strike, or FEAT(g)]
The way it works:
1st: You fire a sling or shoot a crossbow. (At least you're really good at it.) Welcome to 1st level.
2nd: Can hit in melee now with a sometime bonus die. Also useful to the party w/skills, traps.
3rd: Rate of move and number of attacks double with a mount. Reroll save/day.
4th: Laying further groundwork for....
5th: ...a huge jump in power with +7 dex-to-damage raging with a belt.
6th: 2nd Challenge/day w/Vambraces (see below)
Equipment: military saddle, Belt of Incredible Dexterity, Vambraces of the Tactician, Champion's Banner, various sundries to UMD (such as a wand of mage armor), and 2x Scabbard of Vigor (stow plain wakizashis in until the primary is upgraded to +1/Furious)
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Lastly, i've been eyeing the Tortured Crusader for a possible build, and having Shizuru as his patron deity for Katana proficiency.OK, so you're dipping cleric (BAB-1) after electing to be a halfling (STR-2 behind a non-small race strength build). That's -3, adjusted to -2 (small race +1 to hit) so far, and hold that thought.
And why am i dipping into Cleric for a Paladin build?
The Vambraces cost 8,000. A belt of Dex is 4. At 6th level, i'd have other priorities than some armbands.
Lastly- i don't care for "PFS Rules of Optimization." I understand building to the races strengths, but that doesn't exclude going counter.
Why can't i play a str-based Halfling Paladin, or a Ratfolk Barbarian?
Making dex builds takes a lot of working the system and time to come on line.
Everyone is too focused on a dex build. why not explore other options?
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Have you considered pure Fighter? You get the extra feats to take EWP: Katana with little sweat, weapon specialization and weapon training help close the gap with stronger races damage-wise.
Another possibility, though it works better if you have an extra front-liner in the party is the Yojimbo samurai archetype. You get bodyguard as a bonus feat, and your bonus to aid another an ally's AC increases by 1. Stack this with the Helpful halfling racial trait and you're passing out +5 AC to your allies with bodyguard.
If you want to add a little occult flavor, a medium channeling champion gets EWP for free while the spirit is channeled. You also get scaling attack and damage bonuses from the spirit. The halfling favored class bonus is a bonus to your seance boon, which for the champion spirit is even more damage. You also get a limit number of spells case off Cha, which you have a racial bonus to. For PFS, I recommend the relic channeler archetype to avoid having to deal with location-based spirits.
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I'm honestly more invested in a possible Tortured Crusader build than a Sword Saint.
Can I ask you why Tortured Crusauder and not Paladin with Oath of Vengeance? I'm not saying you can't, it's just to understand what your concept is.
With classic Paladin you'd get partial synergy with the Halfling's racial bonus to Cha and you'd still be able to convert uses of Lay on Hands into Smite Evil. Furthermore, the Tortured Crusauder stats array you posted initially seems wrong, since it doesn't add up to 20pt.Also, nor the vanilla Paladin or Tortured Crusauder gets proficiency with their deity's favored weapon. This means that, either you must take Exotic Weapon Proficiency, or you could save some money (1500gp) and buy this cracked ioun stone.
Anyway, for the Wis-based Paladin I'd go:
17-2 12+2 12 10 14 8+2
While for the classic Paladin:
17-2 12+2 12 10 8 14+2
Str 15 allows you to raise it to 18 at 4th level (+1 from level, +2 from belt). In both cases I'd pick the Helpful [Halfling] trait (because it's awesome), wait until I can afford an Ioun Stone and get Fey Foundling at 1st level and Power Attack at 3rd. Then, with the vanilla Paladin I'd take the Mercy feats, not sure how I'd go with Tortured Crusauder though.
Another completely different option, in case you're interested more in being small than being a Halfling, would be going Wayang. The -2 to Wisdom is a hit for the Tortured Crusauder build, but it's less heavy than -2 to Str anyway in my opinion. On the other hand, while not particularly resonating with classic Paladin, it has no drawbacks either, and makes a great stealthy character too.
I hope it helps. Good luck with your character!
First rule of Pathfinder optimization: don't build counter to...
I thought the first rule of Pathfinder optimization was: Don't talk about optimization.
The most easy choice here is unchained rogue with a wakizashi 3-4 levels at least or overall.
Warpriest of Shizuru is an option of course. Proficiency and Weapon Focus!
As a DEX and especially DEX to damage build this is very difficult and only obtainable with multiclassing Swashbuckler.
Plain Swashbuckler itself is also difficult, because you don´t get the proficiency and need yet another feat.
1 level samurai, then swashbuckler is probably best.
Or you go fighter and take advanced weapon training fighters finesse at level 5. That would be some feats though:
EWP:Katana, Weapon Finesse, WF Katana, Slashing Grace, Advanced Weapon Training Fighters Finesse.