So we have a young daring half-elf bard lv6. 4d6 to roll keep highest 3 and reroll if total is under 10. The idea is to build a musketeer/swashbuckler/dashing 'swordswoman' (is that even English?) type of character starting from there. Complete books and core allowed.
She needs at least 4lv of bard, the 2 others could be for exemple fighter or perhaps paladin. Or they can be bard as well. I'm not a munchkin but I understand that such a build is generally weak for a melee character (only as secondary role at best), I'd like mechanical advice to make it 'good or at least decent'.
For class
I see going duelist from bard 6 and fighter or pal 2, or bard 8. Though inspire greatness and versatile performance from lv9 and 10 are worth considering.
For feats
I see dodge, mobility, w. finesse (for duelist).
Skills
Versatile performance: comedy and oratory fit well for the character's personnality and provide nice skills association. Add acrobatics.
Ability scores priority
All the above taken into consideration: Dexterity/charisma, intelligence, constitution, strength, wisdom.
Gear
Mithril chainshirt, rapier, charisma and dexterity boosters, ring of deflection, a buckler until I get the duelist PrC.
Class: Paladin 2 has amazing synergy with Bard.
Feats: Depends on your focus, I'd be more inclined to go the Power Attack/Vital Strike Route. Also, if 3.5's allowed, get Battle Caster feat, means you can wear Mithral Fullplate.
Skill: Whatever fits your character concept. Sense Motive and Perception are always good. + Diplomacy is a must.
Abilities: Cha>Str>Con>Dex>Wis>Int
Gear: Depends on your stats/feats. Mithral Breastplate's pretty good tho if you don't take Battle Caster.
my 2cp
Ok, considering everything you just said, this is what I'm hearing: You want a dashing swordsman, with a base in Bard and you'd prefer to enter the duelist prestige class.
If that's correct, I'd recommend taking 4 levels of Bard (as you stated) and then 3 levels of Swashbuckler from the Complete Warrior. I recommend this for a couple reasons: First, Duelists don't synergize very well with Bards. I know, it's totally backwards, but the duelist just isn't pulling much Charisma love. Swashbuckler will give you weapon finesse as a bonus feat, and let you add your intelligence bonus to weapon damage rolls with your rapier. This means you can dump strength and not be a useless lump at the table.
If you choose to go this route, I'd recommend changing your ability score priority to: Dex > Int > Cha/Con > Wis/Str. Duelists gain *everything* from intelligence & dexterity, and adding in swashbuckler only furthers the synergy. You'll want a charisma of at least 12 to pull off your concept, but pushing it up as high as 14 (natural or with items) won't be a bad idea. You only need 12 to cast second level spells, and if you later return to Bard you'll need as much as 13 to cast your third level spells.
This makes for a smarmy, cunning character who relies on charm and wits to do her damage. You won't be a damage grind house like a paladin or fighter, but you won't be a slouch either. Adding intelligence & your duelist class level to your damage will definitely keep you in the running. If you can afford to invest 13 into your strength you can pick up Power Attack to really stay on the leader boards. Otherwise, grab another level of bard somewhere down the line and pick up arcane strike.
Hmm .... not sure why the bard, though. Sounds like you just like the skill stuff about it, yes? If so, you're ignoring like 1/2 of what it brings - ie: magic. It's actually pretty significant as a magic-force, too.
Why mention this? Because if you cross w/Paladin, you undercut the concept a bit, IMO. You'll gain a better bab, but only for like 2 points (ie: minor given your magic sacrifice). You will (depending on how much Cha you make) gain some serious "to hit" boons out of smite, though the damage probably won't be all that impressive from it. Ideally, you'd want to combine this with some sort of available magic of your own (spells likely - but again, they don't have that much), just for pure lack of stopping power you'll have.
If you cross it with Fighter, you're even MORE undercutting the concept on account of (1) no real "class features" of use to you - Armor training will do nothing AT ALL for this concept (2) no real "light armored" feats (3) small dip for 2 points of BAB and (avg) of +1 hp.
My suggestions from various sources:
Complete Arcane:
Seeker of the Song PrC (pathfinderized, of course - mostly just lowering PrC req's as normal). Why? It grants AC bonus, save bonus, eventually grants DR all while using your perform ability. Pretty awesome, and *close* to that "swashbuckling" feel, IMO. This class *also* seems to down play the "caster levels" of the class and instead beefs up and adds options to the Bardic Music overall - every one of which is pretty darn useful and cool, and *potentially* more in-line with a swashbuckling concept since it's perform vs. spell based (as per a normal bard w/casting something for example). There is another PrC there, but it's FAR more magic-based for a bard (essentially, it beefs up casting to 9th level spell capacity and selections - not your concept, though).
Complete Mage:
Abjurant Champion - with the enhancement boons to Abjuration spells (shield, mage armor, etc), this is WELL worth the investment. It's also a 5 level PrC, so it's *short* to complete it and move forward. Potential problems here as the Bard's spells don't really mesh well, though. I'd *suggest* maybe dropping Bard outright in favor of 1 level of Mage, and then spend the rest on building your bab to hit the +5 to enter the class. This will totally derail your "bard" but will make for a "magical swashbuckler" very, VERY nicely.
Complete Warrior:
Swashbuckler to 3rd level. Beyond this is kind of a waste, though *maybe* sticking to 5th could be worth it to get a +1 on dodge bonus. Honestly, though, once you get that +int to damage, you're done with that old class as made in 3.5e.
For my $ - I'd say invest in Bard, then Swashbuckler to 3rd, then dip into Seeker of the Song, IF you're dead set on the Bard part for pulling off the "swashbuckler" feel. It'll give you the most "swash" for your bard choice and investment, I feel. The bardic extras of that PrC just outshine a LOT compared to what the duelist will bring to the table for you (in terms of your core class abilities and investments before PrC). Duelist bonus to AC is limited by your Int bonus, and unless you're sky-rocketing past a +2 on that, you won't lose much and will pick up from the get a +2 to AC while using your perform as a bard w/that Seeker PrC. Plus - it has COOL abilities w/out beefing up spell casting (which would necessarily become a distraction, given your choice to build, IMO - spell levels granted with minimal use/utility options). If, after picking up whatever Seeker abilities you want you still want the duelist - go for it.
IF, however, you're not dead-set on Bard, then rework the concept into "magical swashbuckler" and go Wizard 1, Fighter/Swashbuckler combo (to get +5 bab quickly, hell, swashbuckler/paladin can work here too as long as you've got pretty good Cha), and then pick up Abjurant Champion for the 5 levels (end up wizard 6 w/a caster level of 11 for whatever you *do* cast, and a +5 to the effects of Mage Armor and Shield spells, AND cast them as *swift* actions as a PrC ability by default. Oh! AND both of those get Extended for free through this PrC as well!!!).
If swashbuckler is your thing, go with the magical combo I outline for you above. It's pretty fantastic, actually. I'm totally getting my $'s worth using that combo in my own game at the moment. Very fun character with lots of options. Very much a *swashbuckler* first and foremost, using only the magic to enhance her (yes, the character's a woman) combat skills ... it's great!
HEhe ok thnx for the advice, I'm checking those options. I rolled 18, 15, 14, 14, 13, 11.
What about feats? Finesse, probably dodge, mobility and spring attack since am no front line fighter? What else? Ironskin chant?
dex>int>str>cha>con>wis would be my priority with those rolls.
For the duelist, I personally like taking TWF. You get their bonus to damage if you only make attacks with your primary weapon. It doesn't say that you can't duel wield and use your off hand for the parrying ability.
Bard 5 is important for the awesome abilities. Inspire Courage becomes +2 and Loremaster is killer if your GM values knowledge skills.
Don't discount Paladin 2. Smite will be a decent bonus to hit and Divine Grace will be awesome for you. I personally think this is better than the 2 feats you would get with fighter. Its not nearly as good as the 3 lvl swashbuckler class though (those other levels don't actually exist, they are an illusion.)
The only reasons i suggested Pal 2 are that you'll get Cha bns to all saves and you wanted a more melee combatant.
Your other option is Bard 1/Paladin 2/Fighter 2/Dragon Disciple 10
I've seen that played - very interesting. Alternatively, you could go Pal 4 in that build, but i think Fighter 2 is good value.
Honestly, the big issue is that everyone is trying to fit in duelist...because it's not that great of a class. It's not even that good at dueling. Three levels of swashbuckler from CWar supersede the entire PrC, and it's not because swashbuckler is that fantastic.
My advice?
Bard x/swash 3 who wields a rapier and calls himself a duelist.