Dodge-based fighter?

[Rerednaw]

Greetings Pathfinders!

I've been playing fighters since the days of AD&D. A concept I've always wanted is the dodge-based melee fighter. Basically agility over being an armored behemoth. A big 2-hander weapon is fine though. Think typical anime trope (bodyguard with huge sword) or even Auron from Final Fantasy X.

So for thematic reasons I'd like to stick with non or light armor. No shield. And he's in the enemy's face so no reach weapon.

Is this viable? (In 3.5 I went with a swashbuckler. I also tried the Dervish Prestige class and but it didn't work thematically.)

I suppose I could suck it up until Celestial Chain becomes available...but I'd prefer using abilities. This concept is based on ability, i.e. feat-based instead of being gear-based.

I toyed with the idea of a monk...but I really want this to be a fighter. Not a monk.

Fighter single class only. Please no artificial, flavor, fillers, or colors (no class dips). :)
Paizo only, no third party.
All archetypes, feats, racial bonuses acceptable.

So far what I've seen is basically fighting defensively with combat expertise (maybe go as far as using a blocking weapon...but that's gear again.) Figure he will take on DPR because these are feats for defense and not offense and defensive fighting style means he'll be missing more often...definitely open to suggestions.

Any help appreciated, thanks!

[Brad McDowell]

Unarmed Fighter archtype. Crane style feats with a 9 section whip. 3 ranks of Acrobatics.

Edit: going Straight fighter means Crane Riposte at level 9. 2 levels of Monk MoMS gets Riposte at level 2, and then you can pick any archtype of Fighter you'd like. Although this way you won't have proficiency with the 9 section whip.

[Master of the Dark Triad]

I second crane style.

So, this has to a be a single class FIGHTER? As in the class? Just trying to clarify.

[TheSideKick]

shoei monk. you cant get more fightery then that, and if you wanted to play an archer fighter, sohei is the best in the game.

i mean you can basically TWF a great sword as a sohei, then pull out your bow the next round and fire off 7 arrows at level 10.

other then that, you could try a weapon finessing elven curve bladed weilding dodge monkey with the mobile fighter archetype. lets you stay mobile and still deal good damage.

a second idea would be to drop fighter and get a barbarian varient like invulnerable rager. then go with pounce and focus on moral effects like Cornugon Smash

[RainyDayNinja]

You could try the Lore Warden archetype. They get Combat Expertise for free, not to mention extra skill points and class skills, but only get proficiency in light armor.

Also, there's a Swashbuckler in the Advanced Class Guide playtest that you might want to look at.

With decent Int, you could eventually go into the Duelist PrC, and pick up Canny Defense for extra dodge bonuses based on Int and level. (I'd personally go for a Kensai Magus to pick that up from level 1, but I guess that's right out for you.)

[Nicos]

Free hand fighter with dervish dance and crnae style feats.

[Lo&beholder]

Bare with me here, if you look at monks master of many styles archetype it says you qualify for styles in the chain of that style so long as you have the first one.

That being said, when you read the fighter unarmed archetype, what i take away from reading that is that you don't even need the first step in the style, just grab crane riposte and sit on it until you get crane style 2nd level then crane wing 5th level.
Ta Da! Defensive Fighting is -1 to attack with a +4 dodge bonus to AC.

All without monk dipping.

Hint: read the last paragraph in acrobatics.
Plus You already have to pick up Dodge for feat so no wasted mojo.

As far as that goes I do recommend taking monk to the 4th level for the "DODGE Concept" because if you read the ki pool section of the monk you can spend 1 ki point as a swift action for either +4 Dodge to AC for the round or 20ft of extra movement in the round. If you stop at level 4 the trade off is one less BAB and alignment restrictions.
Also if you go to 4th level you can tack on the Qingong (drop slow fall for bark skin) /OR/ Monk of the Sacred Mountain (drop evasion for Toughness and +1 nat armor then drop slow fall for being Trip immune).
You could take either archetype and still take MoMS arche to grab all the crane style feats by 2nd level.

Don't be fooled by the Martial Artist though to escape the alignment restriction cause that kills the ki pool.

good luck

[Rerednaw]

Master of the Dark Triad wrote:

I second crane style.

So, this has to a be a single class FIGHTER? As in the class? Just trying to clarify.

Yes that's the hope!

Thanks for all the suggestions folks...going to do some reading now on all those ideas. :)