I've always been enamored with making a duelist, and I've been trying to build one in a campaign I've been playing in. The DM has told us that characters would likely be 12th level by the time the game finishes (starting at level 1) but I would like to have hit my "peak" at about 10th level. I've started with 2 levels of rogue so far, but now that I am about to reach third level, a number of choices are available and I'm not sure what direction to go in.
Also, I have been reading around and it seems that the Duelist is, not quite as optimal as some other regular classes; if the character would become too sub-optimal as compared to some of the standards out there, I will probably scrap the idea entirely.
The world is low magic, and the character's race is a homebrewed one, whose main features are some minor bonuses to stealth, perception and a land speed of 40 ft.
Now I was going to take one more level of rogue, and some levels of fighter, taking the free-hand fighter archetype. But the free-hand fighter seems to be very focused on disarming. So far, our opponents have all wielded weapons, but the campaign does not seem to be an urban one (although since the world is low magic, perhaps we will only face humanoids?). Another option is to take some regular levels of fighter, and have the character dual-wield, foregoing the off-hand attack to use precise strike, but this almost sounds like spring attack. And I'm not sure if I like spring attack at all.
So if you could please give me some input, I would appreciate that very much.
I'd take 5 levels of fighter so you can get weapon training 1, and eventually gloves of dueling to increase that. Dervish dance will give you added damage for your scimitar based on dex, not strength.
Duelists are cool, but don't seem to match fighters for damage output. Since you don't need heavy armor, you'll have a little more to spend on your weapons. Also, get magic items to raise your dex and intelligence, thus raising your damage and AC.
There are a few discussions of duelists around here. Check 'em out.
You may want to consider going with magus. You'll be fighting with a one-handed weapon already for spell combat, you're Int bonus will help with Canny Defense, and you'll be getting to Duelist at the same level you would as a rogue. Plus you'll have spells too! Actually, I think I'm gonna build one for my next game.
I've been curious about a build that uses the Aldori Swordlord fighter substitution and possibly a few duelist levels. Using the substitution features and Crane Style you can fight defensively effectively for -0 to attack and +6 to AC (+2 base, +1 3+ ranks in acrobatics, +2 Aldori sub feature, +1 crane style) when you do a full attack, and you get an extra dodge AC bonus when full attacking. The dueling mastery feat allows you to use the aldori sword for the duelist PrC, and gives you a +2 shield bonus to ac (+1 if the sword is wielded in both hands) as well. The downside is that you lose your first weapon training for a feature allowing you to do damage when disarming, so you'd need level 9 for WT.
Consider it, at least. Your defense will be quite impressive, but your damage may hurt somewhat. However, as I see it there is no reason a duelist can't hold their one-handed weapon in both hands and power attack for more damage.
The Singleton fighter is also ok, but intentionally or not they delayed his WT progression - so it might be a good idea to jump to duelist around level 7 when you get your second AC bump. With a scimitar and the dervish dance feat, you should do quite well - but again, it might be a good idea not to dump strength too far and have enough so you can qualify for the power attack feat.
I'm actually not a big fan
I've heard people knock the Duelist in 3.5, but I haven't really heard any arguments for or against it in Pathfinder. It seems like a useable, if narrowly focused, class. What's the verdict on duelist?
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I've heard people knock the Duelist in 3.5, but I haven't really heard any arguments for or against it in Pathfinder. It seems like a useable, if narrowly focused, class. What's the verdict on duelist?
I am currently playing a Duelist right now it really depends on your leveling pref. when I was using fighter it was harder yes you get great BaB and all the bonus feats but a high INT fighter is really gimped when leveling too the Duelist Prc
What I went with was Magus with the Kensai Subsistution in the UC book you lose on the armor prof but you gain the Canny Defence skill that is the same as the Duelist. than and with Spell Blending Arcana he can cast mage armor anyway to really give him a boost to AC. And he can add his INT modifier to confirm crits and initiative
Currently at Magus 9 / Duelist 4
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I've heard people knock the Duelist in 3.5, but I haven't really heard any arguments for or against it in Pathfinder. It seems like a useable, if narrowly focused, class. What's the verdict on duelist?
back in 3.5 they had a feat by the name of "kung-fu genius" it gave monks the ability to use int over wis for ac. so if you went 4 monk,4fighter, into duelist you could have an insane ac with a bunch of feats. then if you wanted to 3 swash buckler was a very optimized build. i liked it more in 3.5 then a pathfinder only setting. better ways of doing what its trying to do if you only have access to pathfinder.
oh i found the character sheet, i named him "wesley" as in the princess bride lol. i miss that character.
I've heard people knock the Duelist in 3.5, but I haven't really heard any arguments for or against it in Pathfinder. It seems like a useable, if narrowly focused, class. What's the verdict on duelist?I am currently playing a Duelist right now it really depends on your leveling pref. when I was using fighter it was harder yes you get great BaB and all the bonus feats but a high INT fighter is really gimped when leveling too the Duelist Prc
What I went with was Magus with the Kensai Subsistution in the UC book you lose on the armor prof but you gain the Canny Defence skill that is the same as the Duelist. than and with Spell Blending Arcana he can cast mage armor anyway to really give him a boost to AC. And he can add his INT modifier to confirm crits and initiative
Currently at Magus 9 / Duelist 4
I'm looking at the Kensai archetype and I can see your point. If I were to go for this, I would either stick with Kensai alone or go with a regular magus/duelist. Maybe Bladebound, but we'll see. Thanks!
BTW, one thing that surprised me a lot the first time we discussed the PF duelist: for the extra damage, you only need a piercing one-handed weapon, but there's no problem (as far as I read it) actually holding this weapon in 2 hands for better strength to damage conversion and power attack. A trident duelist with high strength could be interesting - although I'm not sure if s/he would be better than a pure fighter.