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2 feats really, exotic weapon for free from 1/2 elf....weapon finesse for fee via swashbuckler. weapon focus and slash grace is all that is left. Complete in no time...level 3 in this build.
Just stuck between falcata with smaller crit range by larger crit multiplier...or smaller multiplier and larger range, especially once keen/imp crit arrives.
if you can get DM permission, kukri is a good one and makes a lot of sense.
I would personally just stick to a Rapier and get it all online by level 1 thanks to Inspired Blade (Weapon Focus and Weapon Finesse for free with Rapiers)
Then again I'd stick to Inspired Blade in general just because of Improved Critical by level 5...so delicious.
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Sigh.
Not interested in rapier...nor going more than a dip in swash for access to panache, swash finesse and the 1st level deeds.
This is a 5th level PC, so it is online as soon as it enters the game.
I appreciate the advice, but it comes down to a weapon with smaller crit range but larger crit multiplier...or larger ranger and smaller multiplier...which would people choose?
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I understand, and it's cool. Falcata is the strongest crit profile in the game with 19-20/x3, but unless you have a huge static modifier to damage, that crit profile is close enough to a 18-20/x2 or a x4 crit profile.
Mechanically, they are all close enough to pick whichever one fits best with your vision of the character without worrying too much about the math.
Also inspired blade doesn't give dex to damage like slash grace allows.
What Imbicatus said. Inspired blade gives you swash finesse and weapon focus which means you spent your 1st level feat on Fencing Grace. Dex to hit and dam at 1st. Spend all your other feats as you like.
^ The reason I like Inspired Blade so much. Honestly I think those abilities should come online at level 2...Dex to damage for any class with 1 level dip is so silly XD
Falcata is the mathematically superior choice.
It's a slim margin, but hey.
I wouldn't use a feat for it. If I REALLY wanted one, I'd take 1/2 orc and get it for free that way.
You can also use that new item from Giant Hunters Handbook (forget the name of it... Could check my post history) and two-weapon fight with these weapons without the extra penalty.
Of course, that will be pretty much all your feats at 5th level, ignoring bonus feats from Ranger Combat Style/slayer talents.
Graystone, that's probably a Falchion you are thinking of.
You can also use that new item from Giant Hunters Handbook (forget the name of it... Could check my post history) and two-weapon fight with these weapons without the extra penalty.
Of course, that will be pretty much all your feats at 5th level, ignoring bonus feats from Ranger Combat Style/slayer talents.
Graystone, that's probably a Falchion you are thinking of.
Effortless Lace. The only issue is you treat it like a light weapon. Who knows if you can still use it with slashing grace (only usable on one handed).
And yes, went braindead for a moment with the Falchion. For the Falcata, snag Tengu instead.
Yes, effortless lace. I think the weapon type is still a one-handed weapon and it is being wielded one-handed, you just treat that specific weapon as light.
But I can see where the wording gets iffy. Are you wielding the weapon one-handed? Can a weapon be wielded "light"? I think the "wielded one-handed" part is talking about one- vs two-handed, and a light weapon is definitely wielded one-handed, but that's just my interpretation.
I'd most likely go with that interpretation too, but then I also thought you should be able to wield a bastard sword one handed with a -4 without the proficiency and they ended up ruling against that so just because it makes sense doesn't mean it's right. With the lace you end up with a weapon you treat as light but you need two hands to use without an exotic proficiency. Another curious one is a Taiaha with the lace. You now have a light double weapon. So a light weapon you can use as a two handed weapon...
It would be best to expect possible table variation to be on the safe side.
Well put. It's not a straight-forward issue and Effortless Lace adds many more questions to an already-muddled topic.
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While I agree with everyone else's advice, nobody is really answering the question you want. Wider threat range, or higher multiplier?
Mathematically, 19-20/x2 and 20/x3 are equal and 18-20/x2 and 2/x4 are equal. 19-20/x3 is technically slightly ahead of all of those.
However, I would always choose a wider threat range anyway, because critting more often will be more visible to you and it will make you feel as though your choice matters more. It is also less likely to result in overkill, which wastes the x3 critical damage in the end.
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:) thx mpl. I appreciate their help, but yeah not really too many people directly anwswering the actual question.S'all good though.
I know there are formula for all this I never remember it, though it seems to the eye, at least for me that 18-20/x2 is better than 19-20/x3.
I am helping my gf, she is new-ish to the game, make a back-up PC. It has come down to these weapons...she thematically likes the katana better, but if falcata was hands down much much better then she would be convinced to go that route.
After going through the replies already here we are going to build up to level 5 swash for the precision damage bonus, improved crit and the weapon training.
On that note: Does the Precision damage multiply on a crit? I assume it goes by the same rules as sneak attack precision damage, but want to be 100%.
It does not multiply on a crit, unfortunately. That's the side effect of being precision based damage.
Also note that when you are a Swashbuckler, critting more often is even more important than critting harder because you will get more Panache back more often.
Keep in mind that the "free" proficiency isn't really free but part of that races's modifiers. If you are going half elf just for the proficiency you could have gone human and had any other feat. Many other feats would provide more bonus than exotic proficiency.
The half elf exotic is most worth it when the class starts with +0BAB and can't pick up exotic. Also more worth it when your class doesn't give you any good martial proficiencies.
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Keep in mind that the "free" proficiency isn't really free but part of that races's modifiers. If you are going half elf just for the proficiency you could have gone human and had any other feat. Many other fears would provide more bonus than exotic proficiency.
The half elf exotic is most worth it when the class starts with +0BAB and can't pick up exotic. Also more worth it when your class doesn't give you any good martial proficiencies.
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.Skill Focus or Proficiency in a weapon and not expend a normal feat.
--in competition with human free feat
bascially 6 of one 1/2 dozen of another...for the purposes of this build. Sure there is more flexibility with the human feat, but that flexibility is not needed for this build. Don't wanna spend a regular feat on EWP and can get it via racial trait. Could have gone Human to get that feat but....+1 skill point/ level vs being an elf and a human for requirement, plus low light vision, plus +2 vs enchantments, plus immunity vs sleep effects, plus 2 favoured classes...
Yeah it was not all about the feat.
Makes me curious as to why every one looks to rebuild the build. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the conversation and different viewpoints but it seems more like, "You are doing it wrong" than "Here is the answer you are looking for".
Shrug
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Well part of it is the skill focus is usually better than the exotic weapon for a martial character. The difference between a Katana and a scimitar/rapier is one point of average damage.
Skill focus will let you take eldritch heritage, which is usually worth far more than the EWP assuming you have the CHA for it, which as a swashbuckler you should.
You can also use that new item from Giant Hunters Handbook (forget the name of it... Could check my post history) and two-weapon fight with these weapons without the extra penalty.
Of course, that will be pretty much all your feats at 5th level, ignoring bonus feats from Ranger Combat Style/slayer talents.
Graystone, that's probably a Falchion you are thinking of.
Thought you might like an exerpt, I trimmed out some of the irelevent stuff to how we are suggesting using it in this case, you wrap it around the hilt of your weapon.
This elegant silk ribbon gleams like mithral and feels like polished steel.... ...If the weapon is wielded by a creature whose size matches that of the weapon’s intended wielder, the weapon is treated as a light melee weapon when determining whether it can be used with Weapon Finesse, as well as with any feat, spell, or special weapon ability that can be used in conjunction with light weapons.
As you can see it basically upgrades Weapon Finesse to Swashbucklers Finesse with a slotless item. You can also enchant a weapon with this with the Agile enchantment if wanted.
I would personally just stick to a Rapier and get it all online by level 1 thanks to Inspired Blade (Weapon Focus and Weapon Finesse for free with Rapiers)
Then again I'd stick to Inspired Blade in general just because of Improved Critical by level 5...so delicious.
All Swashbucklers get Improved Critical by level 5. Personally I don't think the benefits of Inspired Blade outweigh the cost. Not getting Panache for putting down monsters hurts.
I would also go with the wider crit range for the Panache recovery.
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Well part of it is the skill focus is usually better than the exotic weapon for a martial character. The difference between a Katana and a scimitar/rapier is one point of average damage.
Skill focus will let you take eldritch heritage, which is usually worth far more than the EWP assuming you have the CHA for it, which as a swashbuckler you should.
Meh.
Rapier flat out isn't desired. The trade of Skill Focus to EWP is desired to gain better crit functionality or extra damage for the player, as minimal as it may seem for those who like to optimize every aspect.
Eldritch heritage is an interesting idea to present to her.
Two Weapon Fighting with Sawtooth Sabres might be an interesting way to build a slayer with a single dip in swashbuckler. (Probably not optimal mind as you'll need four feats to get it to work).
H-Elf can take the Human Favored Class Bonus too