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My goals. To have a black blade that I can both 1) finesse (as in add my dex to attack rolls) and 2) have dex to damage.
So everything relevant (text copied from d20pfsrd because that's the easiest place to search online and I don't feel like copy/pasting then editing from the pdfs)
A black blade is always a one-handed slashing weapon, a rapier, or a sword cane.
So this excludes all light weapons as light weapons are not one-handed weapons.
First obvious answer is Dervish Dance. I'd really rather not choose this as I feel there should be better options out there now with the ACG. It also has some unwanted prereqs (perform and a specific deity).
Benefit: When wielding a scimitar with one hand, you can use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on melee attack and damage rolls. You treat the scimitar as a one-handed piercing weapon for all feats and class abilities that require such a weapon (such as a duelist’s precise strike ability). The scimitar must be for a creature of your size. You cannot use this feat if you are carrying a weapon or shield in your off hand.
Another choice looks to be Slashing Grace. That gives me dex to damage. But upon closer inspection I won't get both dex to damage and dex to hit with any weapon it applies to (within the context of what can be a black blade, that is, this is a narrow scope, after all). So I would hit hard, but I would never hit often enough for that to matter...
Benefit: Choose one kind of one-handed slashing weapon (such as the longsword). When wielding your chosen weapon one-handed, you can treat it as a one-handed piercing melee weapon for all feats and class abilities that require such a weapon (such as a swashbuckler's or a duelist's precise strike) and you can add your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to that weapon's damage. The weapon must be one appropriate for your size.
Weapon finesse only works with a light weapon (can't be a black blade--not one-handed), elven curve blade(two-handed so not one-handed), rapier (not slashing), whip (this could work, though it's not really a "blade), or spiked chain (two-handed).
So because light weapons are not one-handed weapons, it looks like my choices are just these two: Scimitar via Dervish Dance or Whip via Slashing Grace.
Am I missing anything?
Aldori Dueling sword.
If you have Exotic Wpn. Profiency, you can use Weapon Finesse on it even though it's not light. It's slashing, so you could use Slashing grace. And it could be a Black Blade.
That might be to feat-expensive for you, but it is an option...
dip a level of swashbuckler for swashbucklers finesse to open up your options with slashing grace is about as good as it gets.
Look out for a new feat allowing dex to damage with a rapier, coming soon (Can't remember what it's called but JJ spoiled it a short while ago).
I am led to believe that options will remain limited as designers don't want to obsolete strength.
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No, that's a good choice. The magus I'm making is also a kensai magus so I can pick any one weapon and be proficient with it. So it's not any more feat-expensive than any other option. It's not an 18-20 weapon like a scimitar, but at least I won't be like every other magus out there. It's at least an option to consider.
dip a level of swashbuckler for swashbucklers finesse to open up your options with slashing grace is about as good as it gets.
Look out for a new feat allowing dex to damage with a rapier, coming soon (Can't remember what it's called but JJ spoiled it a short while ago).
I am led to believe that options will remain limited as designers don't want to obsolete strength.
Rapier isn't a slashing weapon so can't be a black blade. I'm not going to multiclass as I don't want to stunt my spell casting.
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You're only reading the first part of the black blade. Rapiers and sword canes are also allowed.You're right, I forgot about the rest after slashing. Now I'm up to four options. Rapier with fencing grace will probably be a better option since it also gives a slight bonus against disarm checks. And it also has the higher crit range.
Whip or Scimitar
You basically have already hit your 2 options by RAW. The only other choice is a 1 level dip in Swashbuckler, then you can use Dex even with a Bastard sword. (Swashbuckler Finesse)
I have gone with both in the past.
Whip is more control, you are tripping and disarming more then damage however.
Scimitar is a crit fishing trip. Good for those nova touches like shocking grasp, but I hope you are starting at a high level, cause staying alive is HARD.Both times I went Kensai as it benefits both styles. Keep in mind, low level you have next to no AC. Kensai can not use any armor. Higher level, the Canny Defense really helps, just do not get caught flat footed.
More than two options now. Looks like there are four options - but one needs advanced class origins which comes out at the end of the month--the other needs ISWG and ACG. I'll be starting at level 2. There are some options for armor, though. Just because you're not proficient doesn't mean you can't wear any.
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The Whip is also a One Handed Slashing weapon that can be finessed. This means you could have it as a Black Blade, finesse it and take Slashing Grace.
Thanks, but that was clearly established in the first post already.
I believe I found a fifth option.
A Klar is a 1h slashing weapon. But it counts as a light shield which is a finessable weapon. If it were made out of mithril that would negate the 5% arcane spell failure chance and it would give an extra 1 AC ('cause it's a shield).
So Weapon Finesse would give it dex to hit and Slashing Grace would give it dex to damage.