Well I have a character concept and its not very good optimizing wise.
The game is Gestalt but I dont want to mae the character overly power, more flavor less power I guess.
I was thinking Buckler Duelist 5//Swashbuckler 5 (Using Slashing Grace to give power to the Falcata)
The game starts at level 5, But I am not sure where to go with Buckler Duelist side, if I went to level 7 with it I could move at full speed in medium armor but that cuts into the dodge panache and such on the Swashbuckler side. I considered taking Gunslinger to give him a ranged resource such as a pistol or a crossbow.
But I also considered Bard maybe, to self buff and buff the party, and a few spells that might be useful. I would lose access to 6th level spells for sure, but 1-5 level of spells is not bad or a guy who's main point is straight up combat.
I was thinking of using the Dhampir race, using the Advanced Template which is bought off by level 3 so its rolled into class levels.
The Buckler Duelist doesn't really offer anything enticing. Just go Swashbuckler (or Daring Champion Cavalier) up one side and either Bard or Oracle up the other. It gives up basically nothing from offense: You get your Weapon Training and Full BAB from Swashbuckler, and so what if you can't shield bash with a buckler? Doing so would have cost a ton of feats and you'd be losing Precise Strike anyways. Either of those other classes would add a huge pile of survivability, and utility in and out of combat.
If you want more combat prowess and the ability to move at full speed in armors heavier than the light category, consider going fighter. There are some useful archetypes like "free hand fighter" that would synergize well with swashbuckler.
The Buckler Duelist doesn't really offer anything enticing. Just go Swashbuckler (or Daring Champion Cavalier) up one side and either Bard or Oracle up the other. It gives up basically nothing from offense: You get your Weapon Training and Full BAB from Swashbuckler, and so what if you can't shield bash with a buckler? Doing so would have cost a ton of feats and you'd be losing Precise Strike anyways. Either of those other classes would add a huge pile of survivability, and utility in and out of combat.
I was curious if you could Shield Bash, and then make use of the Lunge feat if you had a full attack option?
I may do a Bard//Swashbuckler then.
I am curious if anyone here knows the Selfish Archetypes and which would work best for a fighter who uses a buckler and sword combo.
I thought about taking a two level dip into Paladin.
If you want more combat prowess and the ability to move at full speed in armors heavier than the light category, consider going fighter. There are some useful archetypes like "free hand fighter" that would synergize well with swashbuckler.
Most of what the Fighter would bring is redundant with Swashbuckler on the other side of the gestalt. The rest can't come close to what Bard or Oracle would bring. As a Swashbuckler he won't be earing heavier than Light armor anyways. And Free Hand Fighter is frankly garbage.
Mobile Fighter is more the archetype I would be looking at if I was look at a fighter archetype for this. Perhaps find somewhere to fit in nimble moves and acrobatic steps, but that could be covered with a spell these days.