Benefits to a Martial character with high WIS?

[Jayson MF Kip]

I am currently contemplating a Snake Style (UC) user that prestige classes into Duelist. The main draw is being able to use Sense Motive as AC/Touch AC. To max the Sense Motive I'll want an above-average-to-high WIS.

Aside from skills/saves, are there any (perhaps more esoteric) reasons to have high WIS?

Thanks in advance.

[Kiinyan]

Eventually most duelists (who go dex based dervish dance/agile weapons) will exceed their max dex bonus from any armor. Going MoMS for snake style will give you wis to AC (as well as piercing unarmed strikes, this is one of the only ways to pull off TWF duelists, which can do some exceptional damage) and you can pick up crane style while you're at it.

Perception is the most used skill in the game. Buy the eyes of the eagle (best 2,500 investment I make on most of my characters) and you will rock.

Also, if you sweet talk your GM there is a weapon enhancement (guided from legacy of fire I believe) the gives wis to attack and damage.

[MrSin]

Beyond skills and saves? No, not really unless you have a class feature or feat that keys off wisdom such as spell casting or monk's AC.

[Weirdo]

It will largely depend on class.

Monks benefit from high Wis because it adds to their AC, Ki pool, and Stunning Fist DCs.

Gunslingers get more grit from a high Wis and Ranger spellcasting is based on Wis (they're mostly martials). Not sure these are the best classes for Duelist, though.

Inquisitors get Wis to identify monsters, Wis to Initiative at level 2, Wis-based spellcasting, and Wis-based domain benefits (which could include using Wis for Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks with the Conversion Inquisition). The Inquisitor may not be what you're looking for with their 6 levels of casting and a medium BAB (slow to qualify for duelist), but an Inquisitor 2 / Fighter 5 / Duelist X might be interesting depending on how high your Wis actually goes. Consider Unarmed Fighter since it'll make it easier to get Snake Style, though your Weapon Training will only apply to monk or natural weapons, which does not have a good selection of light or one-handed piercing weapons useable with duelist abilities.

There are probably a couple of feats that give Wis-based bonuses aside from what's packaged into Snake Fang. The only one that comes to mind that might be of interest to you is Touch of Serenity, especially if your base class is monk.

The weapon property Kiinyan mentioned is Guided.

[Jayson MF Kip]

Note to self: Get Legacy of Fire.

The idea of a Gunslinger duelist is so out there, I may have to build it. Dodge, Mobility, Shot on the Run? Still using Snake Style and unarmed strikes for Duelist class features. Hold a pistol in my off-hand (which still leaves one hand free...).

For the excercise at hand, I was thinking MoMS monk 2/Fighter 5/Duelist, or Unarmed Fighter 6/Duelist; but I'll see if a Ranger 6 or Inquisitor 2/Fighter 5 might be a better try.

Thanks again, and if anyone has more to add, again, thanks in advance.

[MrSin]

It specifies a light or one handed piercing melee weapon in your off hand for duelist. Not sure if that will affect your decision or not.

[Rycaut]

Does Duelist specify melee weapons? I thought it was light piercing one handed specifically to include the flavorful option of a gunslinger duelist?

Certainly in a home game as a DM I would definitely allow a pistol wielding duelist as the flavor feels right (if I'm allowing guns then a duelist that uses say a rapier and a pistol seems dead on for the prestige class. An unarmed version with monk levels also seems really solid and highly flavorful)

[MrSin]

Canny Defence specifies a melee weapon, the other skills do not in a quick glance. There's a little note on the PFSRD that says its meant for melee weapons. I don't actually know how well it works. Duelist has intellect synergy though, so it might be a little mad.

[Cult of Vorg]

Canny Defense only requires a melee weapon wielded, no shield and light/no armor.

Precise Strike requires no shield and no weapon attacks from off hand, to give damage to one hand or light piercing weapon.

So, pistol duelist is possible, but to get the damage you can't do sword and gun. (Unless GM counts the attack roll for Parry as not an attack, and you only use it for parries?)

Pistol dagger, possibly with the snake style unarmed strike twf, seems like it would be good to go. Hello graviton cleric.

[Mortalis]

Ftr, a sensei monk gains the ability to use their wisdom modifier for attack in lieu of dex or strength at level 2, although only on unarmed strikes and monk weapons. That is instead of Evasion though, so quite a trade off.

[Jayson MF Kip]

So, "pistol OR rapier" instead of "pistol AND rapier." Might have to make a 7th-sea-style "one shot per combat" gunslinger who switches t rapier dueling shortly thereafter.

[Weirdo]

Jayson MF Kip wrote:

So, "pistol OR rapier" instead of "pistol AND rapier." Might have to make a 7th-sea-style "one shot per combat" gunslinger who switches t rapier dueling shortly thereafter.

Very thematic, though you might have to do some extra work to turn a gunslinger into a switch hitter.

[Gobo Horde]

Along with the MOMS idea is panther style. You get a second aoo pool based off of your wis for when you provoke while moving. Combined with snake style can be quite fun tho I don't know about duelist.

[Umbranus]

An Orc or Half-Orc melee can benefit from high (or at least higher than usual) Wis because it allows him to take the keen scent feat.
Combined with blind fighting it makes invisible foes much less scary.