Experience with new Swashbuckler (1st) in Dragons Demand

[Helaman]

We are close to leveling now and I've played the character for 3 sessions now.

Its been a decent face character - not outstanding - but can hold his own.
Its a good combatant.
It sucks at damage.

Str 13, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 14.
Weapon Focus: Rapier
Trait: Fencer and Absolom Hotspur

The new riposte rules give me a hit most rounds but I generally do 3-4 points. It takes a hit and a riposte to drop a Kobold.

My friends the BloodRager and the Brawler? They do a minimum of 7-8 points of damage a hit and tear everything apart.

At early levels I am really valuing the weapon finesse because now I don't suck at hitting. But my damage dealing potential is pretty weak.

[Cheapy]

How often were you hit compared to the brawler and bloodrager? How were you in the initiative order? What was your to-hit like compared to them?

Were you making use of Power Attack? Which race were you?

Lots of questions :)

[Helaman]

Human (2nd feat is in a non optimal area which I just re-discovered I am not eligible for - some alterations needed there so MAY pick up Pwr Attack before next session [Still level 1], but didn't have it for the purposes of the play test)

I hit about the same frequency. My hits wound. Their hits tend to kill... outright.

The Brawler has only 10 Con in favour of 16 Dex and so the Brawler and I are both reasonably high in the initiative order.

[Taenia]

Swashbuckler damage is lacking early but by 3rd you should see good returns and there are routes to make it even stronger.

[blahpers]

So far you look superior to most finesse builds of the same level if you leave off builds with Dervish Dance.

I did precious little damage with a Dex paladin until I finished dipping two levels of Dawnflower Dervish, but I did hit frequently.

[RafaelBraga]

Go for Dervish Dance at 3rd... conquer the world. Outclass all fighters.