Morag the Gatherer wrote:
With a swashbuckler your primary stats are dex & cha but inspired blade complicates that a bit since intelligence now combines with charisma to determine your penashe points.
Also, unless your GM allows in Fencing grace, there's no good way to get dex to damage with your rapier until you can add agile to your weapon.
If your GM goes with fencing grace take that feat at 1st level and you'll be using dex to both hit and damage so you can max out dex and leave str alone.
At 5th level you get the improved critical feat for free (normally an 8th level feat) so you'll be criting on 15-20.
If you go the high dex route be sure to watch what armor you wear to make sure it has a high enough dex allowance. One of my characters is currently drooling over some leaf armor.
Also be aware swashbucklers have terrible saves (except for reflex) so picking a trait that buffs your will save a bit (there are a number to chose from) might be a good idea. You get bonus feats every 4 levels so a human starting at 5th level will have 4 feats to play with. Its worth considering using 1 of them toward improving your will save.
As for the 4 feats
Fencing grace is a must (you get weapon finesse for free)
Combat reflexes is another (gives you multiple attacks of opportunity)
Step up is one I like (if an opponent takes a 5' step away from you, you get to follow)
Weapon focus is a prerequisite for many other combat feats (gives +1 to attack rolls)
There are way to many more to list.
Anyway, that's the advise from someone who has made exactly 1 inspired blade swashbuckler.
Morag
Thanks for the advice!
This probably is a stupid question but where can I find Slashing Grace? I don't see it in the Advance Class Guide so I'm assuming it's in a splat book right? Also I thought Inspired Blade got weapon focus through "Inspired Finesse"?
