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Hey all!

I'm looking into building a Kitsune Mesmerist but I want a little more kick in it so I'm thinking of mixing in a level of Swashbuckler. I was hoping to get some advice on the build :)

The idea is to be an effective Mesmerist who can also also do something useful when the spells have run out (my opinion of the Mesmerist is that it looks great but I worry that it lacks the combat viability of the Bard to make up for the reduced, 6 level casting). My solution is to take a dip in a martial class.

Here's the current plan:

25 point buy.

Stats (after Kitsune adjustments (-2 STR, +2 DEX, +2 CHA):

STR: 5
DEX: 19
CON: 13
INT: 10
WIS: 7
CHA: 20

I know these stats take some big risks to get some high rewards but that's pretty much the direction I'm taking the character in- I want to rely on finesse, grace and charisma to evade death, rather than toughness or durability. If it goes pear-shaped and I die due to the sub-par CON then that's life ;)

I'll also need a set of Muleback Cords to carry my equipment.

Bonus ability points at 4 and 8 will go towards rounding off DEX and CON.

Level 1: Inspired Blade (Swashbuckler)
- Provides Weapon Winesse with a rapier
- Also provides Weapon Focus with rapiers
Feat: Slashing Grace

Level 2: Spirit Walker (Mesmerist)
- Spirit Walker loses some Mesmerist features to gain a neat ability to raise recently dead targets as temporary combatants
- Also gains the the ability to cast enchantments on undead (gets better as it levels)

Level 3: Spirit Walker (Mesmerist)
Feat: Realistic Likeness

Skills will be focused on providing party face capabilities and stealth

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As an alternative to the above build I'd also be very interested if anyone has any ideas for a dip that would allow the Mesmerist to fight effectively using Fox Shape (using DEX to hit/damage) as that would be pure awesome. This would involve using the Superior Shapeshifter alternate racial trait from Blood of the Beast (drop Kitsune Magic for the ability to turn into a fox at level 1 (no time limit)- same as the Fox Shape feat.

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum business so I hope I'm in the right area. Anyhoo, I've been searching for an answer this question everywhere and I haven't found anything yet- so hopefully people here can help!

I'm considering building a Kitsune Swashbuckler 1/Mesmerist X. My query is based around the Swashbuckler's Opportune Parry and Riposte and how it works when combined with a caster class- specifically when on the receiving end of an Attack of Opportunity due to having cast a spell in a threatened square (but not casting defensively).

Here's an example scenario below:

1: Turn begins. I use my Movement to enter a square adjacent to enemy A.

2: I use my Standard Action to cast a spell (let's say Murderous Command) on enemy B who is 20 feet away. I do this without casting defensively.

3: Enemy A gets an Attack of Opportunity against me.

4: I use Opportune Parry and Riposte to parry the attack. This expends a use of one of my own Attacks of Opportunity for the round.

5: I succeed on my Parry roll and the attack is nullified. The spell completes without interruption and enemy B is now enchanted.

6: I use Opportune Parry and Riposte to riposte against enemy A. This is an Immediate Action. I succeed on my roll and damage enemy A.

7: My turn ends.

So I'm here to ask if this scenario works within the rules?

-Can Opportune Parry and Riposte be used against an enemy's Attack of Opportunity? (The rules specify that enemy "melee attacks" can be parried. This doesn't appear to be limited to "Attack Actions", just melee attacks).

-Can I use Opportune Parry and Riposte in the same turn as casting a spell as a Standard Action?

Opportune Parry and Riposte uses up a use of Attack of Opportunity to parry and an Immediate Action to riposte (along with the necessary panache points). The spell is a Standard Action. As far as I can tell, rules as written, there is no conflict here. But I'm no expert on the matter so I hope people can help me out- I might be missing something.

My hope is to make a Kitsune Swashbuckler 1/Mesmerist X who wanders up to enemies, casts a spell in their face and then parries/ripostes any Attacks of Opportunity that come back at her.

Naturally I'll only be able to riposte once per round but the parries are only limited to my available panache/Attacks of Opportunity, as far as I can tell.

I hope I've been clear about things- if people want any more details I'm happy to provide them.

Thanks very much in advance!