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I have been working on this build for a bit now. I think I like it, though I have made some mistakes. Playing PFS so I can't change them now. I was curious what you guys thought of this Swordsman Build. He will be a Fighter 2/Rogue 10 or Fighter 3/Rogue 9. My rationale is I am not really in love with any advanced talents from the rogue and you do not get another sneak attack level till 11th which I won't get.
I have designated feat progression with L for level, T for Rogue Talent, C for class and R for Race.
1st:
C: Combat Expertise
L: Improved Feint
R: Power Attack
2nd:
C: Step Up
3rd:
L: Skill Focus: Bluff
4th:
T: Weapon Training: Great Sword
5th:
L: Deceitful
7th:
L: Following Step
8th:
T: Combat Trick: Vital Strike
9th:
L: Step up and Strike
11th:
L: Toughness
I had originally envisioned having more feats. I was going to use Combat trick to keep up with feat progression of a fighter. Then I read that little line that said each talent can only be taken once. This made me sad. This is why I also ended up with step up at 2nd level and so I just followed it out. I can abandon those two chain feats taht follow it if you can think of a way to make it better.
There is probably much better things to take at 11th as well but I can't really think of any. Maybe Improved disarm?
Rogue Talent Tree:
2nd: Weapon Training Great Sword
4th: Bleeding Attack
6th: Combat Trick: Vital Strike
8th: Resiliency maybe? I dunno
10th: ???
So since I cannot find any tricks I really like I was thinking of taking that last level of fighter there to bump up the hp and BAB. That is also why I was looking at Toughness there to get a bump up hp.
Thoughts?
Looking now at thinking I should have used Ninja over Rogue. Since I am looking specifically for combat.
How are you getting Weapon Training with only 2-3 Fighter levels?
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So, if you're going rogue, TWF is the best option. Your build looks fine for the first 5 levels but you're going to die a lot after that unless you have push over judges. You are going to get the ever-living snot kicked out of you because your damage is going to be mediocre and dependent upon other being up in melee with you. You're going to have poor AC because the best thing you will have is Mithral Breastplate and a mediocre Dex. Sure you will be fine in most non-season 4 scenarios, but I would not risk it.
Where are you in PFS? Are you past level 2?
Here is my suggestion for you
FTG1 1st- Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
Rog1 2nd- Sneak Attack 1d6
FTG2 3rd-Power Atack, Furious Focus
Go Weapon Master/ Scout, which at 8th level you will be able to sneak attack every time you move, which you will be doing anyway.
So after this point you can really do whatever, but here is the point of the build, you will use spring attack to get in and set up a flank on your turn, give it one hell of a smack and then run off. Rinse and repeat. At later levels, a Bite, claw, claw rend will easily kill you, so don't give them time to do it.
@ Rynjin: Weapon Master gives weapon training at 3rd level.
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@Rynjiin Weapon Training is a Rogue talent that that gives weapon focus.
@Ill not sure what you are talking about. I have full plate +1 right now. By my calculation I am only 2 attack off a fighter. I feint and they lose their dex bonus, then at level 5 I hit for 4d6+9. I have a +20 to bluff (5 level + 3 class skill + 3 skill focus + 2 Deceitful + 5 mask + 2 charisma) at 5 so I am pretty much auto feinting most things.
I think furious focus will be a good idea to get rid of that penalty from Power attack. This is espicially true since I plan to vital strike. So at level 8 I will be doing 7d6+12. That seems like decent damage to me.
I currently have a 22 ac and if money goes well enough I should be at 29 ac by level 8. That seems okay.
What I wanna know is why you want a Rogue for this concept.
4d6+9 is nice I guess, but 2d6+15 is still better.
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@Ill I think I should have mixed it with Ninja instead of Rogue. The Ki pool could have done a lot to offset that loss of evasion. At least I could give myself Darkvision and a few other things. In PFS I am only 1hp per level behind a fighter so at level 11 it is a total of what 13. That is a lot but not a huge difference.
@Rynjin How are you getting +15 damage? I have an 18 str right now. Am I doing my math wrong somewhere? The whole concept is based off using feint to get sneak attack. As I said I think Ninja would have been better now that I look at it. Problem is I am in PFS and level 5, can't really fix it.
I think building in Furious focus at 7 and moving the rest of the feats down and discarding toughness is the way to go. Since the build is planning to only do 1 attack anyhow.
Criminey I just looked at PA and I have been doing it wrong. Should be -2 + 6 right now. So my damage in PA mode should be 2d6+12 + 2d6 for sneak attack.
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@Ill I also have a very good reflex save even without the evasion. Luckily the Full plate does not reduce the reflex save as a whole. I think that is worth it. The whole concept is to tank but also do a solid amount of damage.
So when I max out at level 11 I will be doing 2d6 + 15 (HA! that is where the 15 came from silly PA), +2d6 for vital strike and +5d6 for sneak attack when I can feint or flank. So that is a total of 9d6+15 almost comparable to a wizard that level. Not to mention adding bleeding damage at that level of 5 a round.
Hm?
No, I was just saying that static bonuses like a Fighter gets from Weapon Training are usually better than extra dice. If your entire concept were built around maximum damage, you'd probably have been better off as a straight Fighter or Barbarian. Or at least a Scout Rogue so you don't have to Feint to get SA.
I was just wondering what your plan was from the start.
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The concept was a skilled swordsman. That is it. A middle ages Knight if you will. Good on the battle field but knows how to stab someone in the back when appropriate.
I agree min damage is higher with straight fighter or barbarian though which statistically speaking comes out better. On the other hand what fun is that? :)
Did I mention I used prestige points to have a squire (whom I yell SWORD BOY!!! to) and a Herald to announce my arrival. :D
And that makes it all worth it.
No sarcasm, I'm jelly of your squire/herald.
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So last night we are playing and we arrive at the investigation location. Everyone is getting ready to sneak and I point to my herald who pulls out a trumpet and attempts to announce our arrival. One of the other players quickly grabbed his trumpet and shushed him.
IC I was like, 'What are you doing?! We are no common criminal, grave robbing scum. Well you might be but I am not. I am Sir Tacheon Pulse, esteemed member of Pathfinder Society. They should know of my arrival and make all necessary arrangements befitting a man of my station.'