I wouldn't see a big problem with it if the biggest benefit were for Swashbucklers only. Weapon Specialization used to be a Fighter only thing, after all, and the bonus to damage probably isn't worlds apart for most PCs. If a Fighter has +6 Str and GWS for +4 that's +10 damage compared to the Slashing Grace user who probably has somewhere around +8 to +10 from Dex by that point. Unless I'm mistaken you can't multiclass Fighter with Swashbuckler since it is one of the base classes of the hybrid class.
There are probably a lot of cool tricks you can play with a Sun Blade. The biggest trick might be managing to get one though.
You can multiclass Fighter with Swashbuckler. They removed that restriction.
I wouldn't see a big problem with it if the biggest benefit were for Swashbucklers only. Weapon Specialization used to be a Fighter only thing, after all, and the bonus to damage probably isn't worlds apart for most PCs. If a Fighter has +6 Str and GWS for +4 that's +10 damage compared to the Slashing Grace user who probably has somewhere around +8 to +10 from Dex by that point. Unless I'm mistaken you can't multiclass Fighter with Swashbuckler since it is one of the base classes of the hybrid class.
There are probably a lot of cool tricks you can play with a Sun Blade. The biggest trick might be managing to get one though.
They removed that restriction when the book came out. It was a part of the playtest though.
Ok, I wasn't aware that the restriction had been removed. That potentially opens up some rather interesting combinations. It also means I might have made some suboptimal choices for current PCs (like Monk levels instead of Brawler levels - oh well)
@Nicos: Could you link the statement where the devs said it was a mistake?
Second: Now not only the feat is silly, now my explanation is silly, too? You should check the board rules.
Third: The example with the axe is right. It just might not be the best for dex to damage. Besides: Attacking the right spot is precision damage.
3: No, your example is far from right. In no way a guy using his 18 str to move the axe would hit as harder as a 5 str, 18 dex guy who just let the axe fall.
Now now, you did not understand my example. That explains why you think it is silly.
I never suggested that the low strength guy deals as much damage (while chopping wood) as the high strength guy. What I DID write is that the low strength guy would be better at chopping wood when using the heavy axe while the high strength guy would be similar with both.just flat out ignores that dex to damage can be interpreted as not hitting harder but hitting in the right spot.
I already told you that hitting the right spot is not dex to damage but precision. That is because to hit the right spot you have to be precise, you know?
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For future reference:
[...]So, this feat originally had nothing to do with damage. It was just a way for the swashbuckler, and a few other classes, to use slashing weapons with some of their class features. Thats it. As the book was getting close to print, we were looking over it and felt that was just too weak. The damage component was added to make the feat more attractive. It was not until after it went to the printer that we realized the odd case we had created (that you cannot get Dex to damage on a rapier). Since this was obviously a vital part of the iconic character for that class, we saw it as a real problem and started looking for a solution.[...]
Hence the Fencing Grace feat.
some notes
-They have never hinted that they wanted dex to damage for light weapons.
-They specifically wanted to get dex to damage to the rapier.
-James Jacobs however, has stated it makes no sense in his opinion to leave light weapons out of the feat considering how light weapons usually have smaller dices.
[...]Slashing Grace not counting for light weapons is, I can only hope, an error that will be eventually cleared up in an errata... although that's not my call, alas. My assumption is that this text was initially meant to say something like "choose any one-handed or smaller slashing weapon," since there are no flavor reasons to prevent swashbucklers from using light slashing weapons, and since light weapons do less damage than one-handed ones I can't think of a game balance reason to limit it as well. But again... not my call. FAQ the question though, and maybe it'll get fixed!!![...]
[His enfasis]
-Playtests revealed the STR swashbuckler was much better. Its probable the feat was created as an incentive to use dex.
- Some devs have stated they believe in general dex to damage was too powerful. Hence the relunctancy to get a dex to damage feat, argument which made no sense given de existance of Agile and Dervish Dance
Edit: Corrected a quote typo
1: I could, but I'm busy at the moment. It was Jason bulhman if my memory serve well, and it was in the very ACG page.
Mr. Bulhman has commented on Slashing Grace once (and only once) in the entirety of Paizo's forums, but it had nothing to do with light weapons. Rather, he said it was his intention that rapiers have a Slashing Grace type benefit, which would be rectified in a coming supplement. Perhaps you're thinking of another developer?
On a completely unrelated note, let's all refrain from name-calling here and keep things civil. (We can all discuss this like adults, yes?)
Edit: Ah! Ninja post by ElementalXX - good quote you found there, though it didn't come from Jason Bulhman; it came from James Jacobs. (It's important to note that he speaks to his own interpretation of what the feat should do, less what was originally intended by the drafters.)
Ah right sorry, i swapped the names.
Note:Dont you guys confuse James /Jason name I do all the time lol
You know, I remembered someone from Paizo writing about Slashing Grace with light weapons, but I just couldn't remember who. >_< (It was very frustrating, not being able to find that post amongst all the fan commentary.)
Just because something exists, it does not mean it was meant for PCs!
