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Okay, obligatory warning:
This is not an optimal choice. It is, in fact, almost always a bad choice, mechanically speaking. Unless you're a Monk...and some people would say just being a monk is a bad choice, too.
Okay, so how to do it best: be a Monk, or be a Kensai Magus...and not a lot else. The Savage Barbarian is better than nothing...but really only catches up with armor wearers at 19th level or so, and gives up DR to do it. So still not that good.
Are you sure it needs to be an unarmored build? Lightly armored builds are much better mechanically and usually flavored similarly.
My extremely MAD and not exactly optimized but cool nonetheless contribution:
Martial Artist 1
Kensai 3
Savage / Urban Barbarian 16
Elf (20 pt buy)
Str 10
Dex 23 (16 + 2 racial +5 from levelling up)
Con 10 (12 - 2 racial)
Int 16 (14 + 2 racial)
Wis 14
Cha 8
Use your greater controlled rage to give you a further +6 to dex
+3 int, +2 wis, +10 Dex, +3 Dodge, +4 Natural, +4 Mage Armour = 36 Base AC before factoring in Items, Feats, Rage Powers etc. I haven't done the math, but I figure you can pump this by another 20 or so AC with a ring of deflection, a +6 Dex item, a +6 Wis Item , inherent boosts to Wis and Dex, and other such goodies. Feats like combat expertise, crane style, dodge etc. would probably serve well.
Naturally, you'd be a finesse fighter, with an Agile Elven Curved Blade, or two Wakizashis, or a single one handed weapon if for some reason you want to use spell combat.
Obviously, this build has its flaws, but I think it'd be really fun to play!
Even better, with 3 levels of Magus you can craft your own wondrous items, or with the +2 spellcaster levels trait you can craft your own magic weapons.
Also, I think I'd revise my point buy as follows:
Str 10
Dex 22 (15+2 racial+5 from leveling up)
Con 10 (12 -2 racial)
Int 16 (14+2 racial)
Wis 16
Cha 7
For the first couple levels, I'd use unarmed strikes w/ Flurry. I'd probably start something like this:
Traits: Magical Knack, Reactive
1 Martial Artist (Dodge, Weapon Finesse, Improved Unarmed, Stunning Fist)
2 Savage / Urban Barbarian
3 Kensai (Exotic Weapon Prof: Wakizashi, Weapon Focus: Wakizashi, Two Weapon Fighting)
4 Kensai
5 Kensai (Craft Magic Arms and Armour)
6-20 Savage / Urban Barbarian
It'd be rough going til you can craft those agile wakizashis, but after that it's smooth sailing.
- Druid with a single level dip into Master of Many Styles Monk
- Synthesist Summoner (using mage armor)
- (full BAB class) 1 / wizard X / Eldritch Knight 10 (using mage armor)
Pick one of the above. It's not a coincidence that all three heavily feature spellcasting.
It is important what you aim for. Do you want to do damage? Maneuvers? Do you have a key combo or key move in mind, like bull-rushing, grappling or such?
You could, for example, take a dip into monk sensei for 2 levels. This would allow you to use wisdom for attack. Your AC will also profit from it, so will your will saves and some skills, perception not being the least.
With spells, magic items like bracers you can also remain unarmored but still have a good AC.
You could even take eldritch heritage to get some goodies like invisibility.
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That is an outstanding point, I guess I should elaborate on the 3 concepts I have in mind. I know the background and story for each, and the type of character I want to roleplay, but I’m struggling with a build that won’t be a total detriment to the party by being lightly or unarmored.
#1. A disgraced Andoran Naval Officer or Marine forced out of the Andoran Navy for selling slaves he was supposed to be freeing. I picture him as an aspiring master swordsman who uses either a rapier or possibly an Aldori Swordsman. Or possibly doing the Dervish Dance feat and skinning the scimitar as a “saber”.
#2. A wandering Samurai who was taken prisoner and sold into slavery. After a long series of masters who sold him over and over, he has found himself in the Shackles. For the mechanics, I guess the Sword Saint, or any other Cavalier archetype that doesn’t use a mount. As far as the Order, that’s wide open.
#3. An Ulfen berserker using a great sword. He would be an exiled warrior from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings who got marooned in Absalom after White Estrid’s raid on Nidal and breaking of the Chelaxian blockade. Then looking for work he signed on with a pirate crew. Mechanics wise I was picturing him as using a greatsword (or a reskinned weapon of some other type that looks like a great sword) or as dual wielding 2 axes.
The central theme of all of them is that they are either lightly or, preferably, unarmored.
Thank you again for the help!
Human: Monk 1/Sorcerer (Crossblooded Empyreal/Draconic) 2/Fighter (Lore Warden) 1/Sorcerer +2/Dragon Disciple 4/Eldritch Knight 10
This lets you focus on Wisdom and Strength, for the most part, with a few points tossed into Dex and Con. The early levels are a little "meh", but it picks up after that.
At level 3 you could have an AC of at least 24 when fighting defensively at only a -2 to your attack, and with a pretty high Strength score. Use Mage Armor, 16 wisdom, 14 Dex, Dodge, 3 ranks Acrobatics, Crane Style, Fight Defensively. Anything else you tack on after that is even better, amulet of natural armor, ring of protection, boosts to Wisdom/Dexterity, Shield spell, Haste, Natural Armor from Draconic Bloodline AND Dragon Disciple (+4 NA with Robes of Arcane Heritage at 10th level, and you can take Improved Natural Armor feats if you have feats to burn). At level 10, you could easily be rocking 34 AC (and deflecting one attack per round with Crane Wing) while having solid offensive output.
ASK YOUR DM: I would use a One-handed weapon in two hands during my turn with this character, as your strength modifier will be awesome and you can get 1.5 times your mod as damage AND power attack for the x3...but this only works with the Crane Style feats if your DM allows you to take one hand off the weapon as a free action after you attack. I don't know of any official rule for this.
Later on you'll have access to good spells, so defenses like Mirror Image and other great spells are also possible. You'll also have resist fire, acid, and cold 10 by 10th level (if you choose a dragon with the fire element), which is kinda cool. At about 13th you can get Crane Riposte, too, which is nice for a character who'll be able to deal some pain.
#2 I really like a kensai magus that goes the mystical sword route. You blade magic is a "thundersword". Walk around with a symbol of lightning splitting a tree on the back of your clothes and really focus on shocking grasp delivered with your sword, and intensified shocking grasp in your 2nd level slots etc. Purposely nerf your spell casting. Dip 1 level into unarmed fighter and take crane or snake style to keep yourself alive.
#3 Invulnerable rager with a 1 level dip into unbreakable fighter, level 5 pick up stalwart. Just don't give a hoot about AC, dare people to break your DR. If you spend the feats to get the Crane Style (flavor it however you wish) and fight defensively, you get DR 4/-, on top of your Invulnerable rager DR. At 11 it bumps up to 8/- if take improved stalwart (for a snug 13/- if you are 10 levels deep in invulnerable rager).
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#1. A disgraced Andoran Naval Officer or Marine forced out of the Andoran Navy for selling slaves he was supposed to be freeing. I picture him as an aspiring master swordsman who uses either a rapier or possibly an Aldori Swordsman. Or possibly doing the Dervish Dance feat and skinning the scimitar as a “saber”.
Easily done, and the one I'd go with. I reccomend Fighter (Lore Warden) possibly going into Duelist, with Dervish Dance, plus Improved Trip and Improved Disarm. It's very doable and effective, though more so in a Chain Shirt than not wearing any armor.
a. Thank you!
b. Can someone verify that I'm understanding this right... Will the Agile Enchantment (+dex to damage w/ a finessable weapon) stack with the dex damage bonus from the Dervish Dance feat?
Thanks!
Nope! They both say that you replace damage from strength with dexterity. If you replace something twice, you still only have one thing, not two. Dbl. damage would be insane.
1. I would take two levels of Master of Many styles to get Crane style going as well as extra bonuses to AC if you didn't dump Wisdom. Negating one melee attack a round is about as good a defense as you can get without armor. Then go Lore Warden or Free Hand Fighter for 5 levels until you can enter Duelist at level 8. Once you get a parry from Duelist, you can effectively block two melee attacks a round a good amount of the time.
2. The Master of Many styles could work even better for the flavor of this character, and the Wakizashi works for The Duelist as well. Other options are to use a polearm/tripping technique that will stop charges and reduce the number of attacks on you per round. Combat Reflexes is a must for this kind of build.
3. I have always wanted to go with the invulnerable barbarian archetype, I still think it would be fun. Make friends with a cleric or life oracle.