An Inspired Blade gets the ability to declare any hit to be a crit threat when using the Inspired Strike deed. Combine that with the spell Bless Weapon, which lets you auto-confirm crit threats against evil creatures, and now you can make it so all your hits are critical hits.
Granted, it costs one or two panache per attack (depending on if you roll a natural crit threat) and it only works against evil creatures, but it seems like a great way to supernova vs the BBEG.
Any way to enhance this, possibly by adding riders that activate on crits? The critical feats are the obvious choice, I'm wondering if there's anything more devious.
It does only work for a rapier (which has a x2 crit multiplier).
edit: well, this was a response to a deleted post but I guess it's worth pointing out anyway.
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It's a neat trick! I'm assuming you picked up Signature Deed (Parry & Riposte) since that's the only deed worth saving / spending panache on?
However this is far too situation specific / expensive to build around and I feel a swashbuckler should be picking up critical feats anyways. So instead of "how can we make this more devious" it's more "hey swashbucklers check out this cool nova combo you can do for 1-2 rounds if your cleric buffs you".
Honestly though I don't see this coming into play as most inspired blades should dump int and don't have trouble critically hitting anyways.
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Considering that precise strike is not multiplied on a critical, this deed is rather lackluster. Swashbucklers don't crit to do damage, they crit to regain panache and you don't regain panache when you use it.
It's best use is to be combined with targeted strike or bleeding wound to give an extra bonus to hit, and to ignore the auto-crit. Although, it would be pretty sweet with Butterfly's Sting and a friend with a x4 weapon.
Precise Strike isn't doubled, but Weapon Specialization, Rapier Training, Power Attack, magic weapon damage, and Str/Dex bonus are all doubled on a crit. You're looking at an extra 20+ damage for each hit, and an extra 2-3 crits per round. It's not the hugest crit damage, but it will add up.
Take 2 levels in warpriest and bless yourself as a swift action.
I dunno, maybe Leadership feat to get a follower with Butterfly Sting? (unless this is PFS.)
Also this assumes you have a friendly paladin in the party or perhaps a wand of Bless Weapon and a decent UMD?
Knight-Inheritor's Ring
http://www.archivesofnethys.com/MagicRingsDisplay.aspx?FinalName=Knight-Inh eritor%27s%20Ring
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Precise Strike isn't doubled, but Weapon Specialization, Rapier Training, Power Attack, magic weapon damage, and Str/Dex bonus are all doubled on a crit. You're looking at an extra 20+ damage for each hit, and an extra 2-3 crits per round. It's not the hugest crit damage, but it will add up.
Granted it's adds up, but I don't think it's enough damage to spend two panache points to use, when you already have a 15-20 crit range and will regain panache when you crit normally.
Bless weapon is a fantastic buff for a swashbuckler though, regardless of if you use Inspired Strike or not.
An Inspired Blade gets the ability to declare any hit to be a crit threat when using the Inspired Strike deed. Combine that with the spell Bless Weapon, which lets you auto-confirm crit threats against evil creatures, and now you can make it so all your hits are critical hits.
Granted, it costs one or two panache per attack (depending on if you roll a natural crit threat) and it only works against evil creatures, but it seems like a great way to supernova vs the BBEG.
Any way to enhance this, possibly by adding riders that activate on crits? The critical feats are the obvious choice, I'm wondering if there's anything more devious.
I dunno, maybe Leadership feat to get a follower with Butterfly Sting? (unless this is PFS.)
Also this assumes you have a friendly paladin in the party or perhaps a wand of Bless Weapon and a decent UMD?
You don't need a follower. Just take Butterfly's Sting. If there's another melee fighter around who does more damage, pass them the crit. If not, take the crit yourself.
I'd probably dip a level of Brawler so I could pick up different critical feats on the fly at higher levels. See who you're fighting and spend a move action to pick up an appropriate critical feat.