Hello everybody,
as said in the title I'm looking for some help with a swashbuckler/bard build for an incoming Skull & Shackles game. I'd want to be a useful and well rounded character, buff and cast etc, but also be able to hold my own in melee. Of course I will be the default face of the group.
It will be much easier to just stand in the back and let the the others do the fighting but I really want to be the captain and, let's face it, no crew would ever elect a coward who can't even fight.
What I have is: 20 PB, core races only, all Paizo books. Probably starting level 2. Traits are a definite maybe, we always had just one, taken from the campaign traits. But we used to have 15 PB only too, so maybe I can talk the GM into let us take two traits.
Party probably of 4, not too concerned with optimization. I don't know what the others are going to play, though.
I am torn between something like Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade?) 3 and then Bard all the way or simply going straight bard.
Race? Human? With Focus Study? Half-elf, for the Skill Focus and the two favored class? Elf wouldn't be bad either but I can't really picture an Elf pirate.
Stat wise, something like this seems viable to you? I'd love more CON but I simply have to many skills I need/want.
7
18 (16+2 racial)
12
14
10
15
I don't need to dish out tons of damage but I'd like to contribute to the fighting in more ways than simply singing and casting Grease.
Suggested feats and progression?
Fencing Grace seems like a no brainer if I go Swashbuckler (if GM allows it), and probably Lingering Performance. I like Flagbearer, as waving around my personal jolly roger would be cool, but I need a free hand for casting. Spellsong seems nice too.
Finally, suggestions on spells and skills? Gear?
Thank you for any advice, I'll really appreciate it!
Use the daring champion if your going to dip if for no other reason than the better save.
Fighting with a whip would be very thematic if you are vying for captain.
If you want to go Bard then I would caution against taking too many other levels. The payoff of Swashbuckler 3 is Precise Strike, but if you're not taking any more Swashbuckler levels after that then it's not really worth it. You'll miss the caster levels in Bard too much I think.
Unfortunately every time I try to make a whip build I cringe at all the feats, but let's give it a try:
1 (Mysterious Avenger Swashbuckler): Weapon Focus (whip), Weapon Finesse, Opportune Parry and Riposte
2 (Sea Singer Bard): Inspire Courage, Sea Shanty, World Traveler
3 (Bard): Whip Mastery, Familiar, Sea Legs
4 (Bard): Still Water
5 (Bard): Combat Reflexes
6 (Bard):
7 (Bard): Improved Whip Mastery, Whistle the Wind
Or you could go straight Bard and rearrange it to take Combat Reflexes at 1, Weapon Focus (whip) at 3, and Whip Mastery at 5.
Whip is a versatile weapon - you can trip, disarm, use Aid Another from a distance, use it as a grappling hook to swing from the booms, although you might need the Agile enchantment before you do any worthwhile damage. If you go on to get Greater Whip Mastery you can also grapple with it.
Thoughts?
Why is a whip thematic for a captain? Sounds more like a slaver to me...
Why is a whip thematic for a captain? Sounds more like a slaver to me...
I agree. Cutlass and pistols sound more "correct" for a captian type.
I would also deep six the Swashbuckler idea. Bard/Gunslinger would work better, especially with the Mysterious Stranger archetype for the CHA symmetry.
With 3 swashbuckler levels you get to use intimidate as a swift action after hitting an enemy, which seems great for a pirate captain, though it would conflict with arcane strike (if you go for that). You'll definitely want the trait to keep your caster level up (Magical Knack?), and probably focus on the non-spellcasting parts of a bard, since your spellcasting will be wayyyyyyy behind.
Or you can get the parry deed with a single level in Swashbuckler (better for spell access), or even use the Amateur Swashbuckler feat, depending on how much 'swash' you want in your buckler.
Why is a whip thematic for a captain? Sounds more like a slaver to me...
It's a symbol of authority! When a pirate needs to be disciplined, doesn't the captain pull out the ol' cat-o'-nine-tails?
One option would be to reflavor the Dawnflower Dervish. Scimitar and cutlass have the same stats so it wouldn't be a problem to do so.
The issue with that idea is that the DD's bardic performances only work on the DD herself (but at twice the potency!) so you'd be the one dealing damage rather than helping others do so.
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I second downflower dervish, by going this archetype you dont have to do annoying dipping in swashbuckler or waste feat on taxes for slashing graces, it would lack your caster progression. Also enchantment and mind affecting powers are REALLY good in this AP, there are lots and lots of humanoids. A bard will do good here.
Also... get pengeant of the peacock, its just so good, and this ap has a lot of information gathering, it will pay you off to have all knowledge skills
Hint: Make sure to pump your diplomacy, you will thank me
Thank you for your help, guys!
The whip would be useful but one of the other players is a whip bard in a rotrl game and I don't want to copy him. And I second that seems more slaver than captain.
DD would make all much easier but losing inspiring courage on the crew is painful. And I should be "a worshiper of the goddes of dawn", that I guess means Sarenrae, that I guess would be quite pissed of one of her worshiper being a pirate. Maybe I can reflavor it as a Besmara thing.
Pageant of the peacock is incredibly good and I will take it for sure!
Personally I can't imagine a strength-dumped Pirate Captain for a moment. Climb the ropes? Swim with your boots and sword on? Wrestle the Squid? Keel-haul the straggler? Calypso help your sorry hide; someone get that pirate a sandwich.
If I was going to build such a character- and this is more personal preferences than optimization- I would go for 13 strength and power attack - partly to buff up damage, but also because Cornugon Smash is both powerful and perfect flavor for an intimidating type.
As tempting as a level dip is, don't rule out manually taking Dervish Dance if you can spare the feats; level 1 panache stuff is great, but not quite as great as it initially looks.
For a totally out-there flavor option... there's the 'Voodoo' Bard / Oracle 1 pirate captain. Take a single level of Nature/Lore/Lunar Oracle and grab the revelation that lets you use your charisma for dexterity. Not only do you not have to worry about finesse, you've got the ability to run any weapon you want beating the stuffing out of people with 1.5x strength and power attack. You can even Dual-Curse and use Extra Revelation to grab Misfortune for extra voodoo.
"He lurched onto the deck like his limbs weren't quite his own, in a way that would have been almost comical... if his presence wasn't so terrible. He looked slowly left and right, the almost imperceptible whisper of the beyond rattling up for a moment wherever his gaze fell; and as his fierce, burled arm moved, slowly, with a faint tremble, to rest upon his wicked scimitar, the thought of mutiny slunk away breathless with its tail between its legs."
Just be sure to double check with your GM on pageant of the peacock. I know there's been some debate on it recently, but he might be of the opinion it only applies to 'pretending to smart' as the fluff suggests (which is more appropriate power-wise, IMO).
If Dreamscarred stuff is kosher you could also do a Warlord who focuses on Golden Lion and Scarlet Throne, and takes the Deadly Agility feat. No spells but you are an excellent combatant and charisma focused leader of men.
Take Amatuer Swashbuckler at 1st level, to get the Parry/Riposte deed, then when you take your level of Swashbuckler DON'T trade it for the extra panache feat, as that is optional (the feat says you -may- do it).
Technically there is zero benefit to not switching out Amateur Swashbuckler for Extra Panache, because once you lose the prerequisite (of not having the panache class feature) you can no longer use the feat. Whether or not you switch it out for Extra Panache you still can't parry and riposte, so this combo can't legally let your picaroon parry and riposte.
Since I was bored at work, I figured I'd toss together something with the concept I was talking about - Instead of using Swashbuckler for Ability compression you use Oracle:
Oracle of Nature 1 / Arcane Duelist Bard X
Human - Dual Talent
Traits: Magical Knack, Reactionary
STR 16/18
DEX 7
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 9
CHA 16/18
1.(Oracle). Improved Initiative
2. +Arcane Strike
3. Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Falcata, +Combat Caster
5. Power Attack
7. Cornugon Smash / +Disruptive
9. Intimidating Prowess
11. Discordant Voice
Running with Strength and Charisma, you've got damage approaching Barbarian levels, solid DC's, and almost as much AC as you would have with a dexterity build; your CMD is also absurdly high and you can use Intimidating Prowess to bring your scary level to god-like proportions, dished out as a free action through your attacks. The drawbacks can be somewhat compensated for. Among its other perks, Arcane Duelist lets you arcane bond your sword like a wizard, so you have a potent weapon and an extra high level spell.
Using a pistol is of course not gonna work out... It's savage-swordsman-voodoo-pirate rather than rapier-and-pistol-stock-pirate. I just figured I'd post the option as something that's thematic but different from the standard pirate stuff.
@ Gambit, unfortunatly 3pp is out, the GM doesn't want to have to learn more rules.
Ok, BadBird I'm sold. But what if I go straight bard instead that Arcane Duelist? Just wondering if is the tradeoff worth it: what's the point of bladethirst if I have Inspire Courage? Bonus feat for Versatile Performance is probably fair, as Arcane Bond for Lore Master. I will probably never wear an armor heavier than light, but i would probably never use Jack of all trades either.
Looking at the mysteries, Lore and Lunar let add Cha to AC and Ref, and Nature to AC and CMD. I'd go with Nature as you suggested.
For curses I was looking at Haunted or Legalistic. Haunted would be more Voodoo style but I already have half of the spells it would grant; Legalistic would be cool for a LE captain, but it seems very circumstancial, you have bonus only when you're trying to fulfill a promise or while talking to an individual one-on-one.
@ Jon, Noble scion of war is incredibly good and will be my first level feat, period.
Thats a shame, they are even doing a Privateer archetype that can be taken by Warlords in the 2nd Path of War book.
Bladethirst isn't worth it, except maybe when you're in a situation where having a ghost touch or +3 weapon is important. I went Arcane Duelist for the extra goodies rather than performances, but it's not necessary for the concept, just kind of a cool way to make a more dangerous melee bard. I like the idea of bonding with your scary, esoteric voodoo-blade and getting to upgrade it as if you had the Craft feat, and having to spend a feat on Arcane Strike would mean sticking with a Longsword - not a big deal, but flavor-wise Longsword just seems too mundane for the concept.
Jon is dead right about Scion, that's great.