So here's the thing. A long time ago I made an Aasimar character that has enough credit to be played at level 2, but I haven't yet. Then I sat on it a while I played my Barbarian. So now I remade it as having one level of Swashbuckler and one level of Paladin. The plan is to just go vanilla paladin after that, with ultimately ten levels of paladin and one level of Swashbuckler.
So here's the other thing, it doesn't have a ton of skill points (which always bugged me about the Paladin), and these two are the odd ones out. I'll have three skill points per level, and I was going to level Diplomacy every level, Perception OR escape artist every level, then use the third one to gradually level up climb, swim, and acrobatics.
So my two fears are thus: I'll be grappled easily, or I'll be sneak attacked easily. It's dex based, so I'll have a less then stellar flat footed (while doomed to lack uncanny dodge), and a less then stellar CMB. My buddy told me that most things grappling you are nigh unescapable anyway, but I figure the Daring Do panache ability (add a d6 + another D6 every time you roll a 6) might make up the difference. I also know that Perception is one of the most useful things in the game, but I have no wisdom mod, so it won't be amazing. Because of that, neither skill seems worth taking if I don't put a point in every level.
I'm really paranoid, because if anything happens to this character, I can't make another Aasimar. Thoughts?
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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You know, you can use CMB instead of Escape Artist to get out of a grapple. Since you're full BAB, your CMB will be scaling up automatically without consuming ranks.
As a countermeasure for grapples, the spell grease can be made into an oil: 50gp for a +10 against grapples, and it's even straight CRB.
I suggest putting ranks in Perception. If you have Ultimate Campaign, you could also take the Seeker trait to make it a class skill and get a +1 to it.
Oil of grease stacks with Alchemical Greaseas well. So invest ranks in perception and just grease yourself up if you see anything that wants to give you a squeeze!
There's a dwarven trait you can take with adopted which prevents you from being flat footed in suprise rounds -- not sure if it is legal in PFS though, sorry.
Your CMB should cover you for grapples. You can also get agile maneuvers if you absolutely must boost it, but I would just carry some oils of grease as backup if you are really terrified about it.
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Main thing, in case you do get grappled, and don't think you can get free, is to always, always, always, have a one-handed or light weapon available. Spiked gauntlet would probably be a good backup, especially if you are going to be going Finesse, anyhow.
Eventually, enhance it with agile, and you get to add Dex mod instead of Str mod to damage as well as to hit with it.
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Main thing, in case you do get grappled, and don't think you can get free, is to always, always, always, have a one-handed or light weapon available. Spiked gauntlet would probably be a good backup, especially if you are going to be going Finesse, anyhow.
Eventually, enhance it with agile, and you get to add Dex mod instead of Str mod to damage as well as to hit with it.
Some of my spellcasters wear a cestus. Both to threaten and as a weapon that doesn't need drawing when grappled.
Though, if your friend has liberating command some Escape Artist ranks are very useful.
Yeah, good points. I think I will go with Perception. It would be almost the same as maxing Escape Artist if I took Agile Maneuvers (the same number, except minus the possibility of Daring Do). Plus, unless there's something I'm missing, I can attempt combat maneuvers and draw the attack of opportunity on purpose so I can Parry and Riposte. With that feat I'd be pretty good at actually succeeding at the maneuver. But if I take that at three, then I'll have to push back Combat reflexes to 5 (so I can parry more then once a turn). But oh well.