I've been thinking about building someone who, as suggested in the subject, specialises in the whip and combat manoeuvres. It was inspired when reading one of the bard guides and it suggested it as something of a dare, but the 3/4 BAB worries me as far as CMB is concerned, falling behind even faster than a full BAB would.
To that end I've been imagining either a fighter or brawler, some race to get whip as a weapon out of the gate (human, half-orc, half-elf are the ones I know of), focusing on Str to avoid wasting a feat on Weapon Finesse, and either a spiked shield (fighter) or a bare fist (brawler) for threatening and actually hurting people (and a little AC for fighters).
Naturally, one downside is having two weapons--even if Whippy isn't truly TWFing her way through life, enchanting is going to be a pain in the coin purse. But is this actually survivable, assuming I give my party a head's-up that I'm not going to be the primary basher?
Have you looked at the Mysterious Avenger Swashbuckler archetype? Full BAB, whip proficiency, Avenger Finesse, Avenger's Target, Panache, Deeds, etc. It is good by itself or as a dip for the fighter build. Pumping up your Cha gives you more Panache and improves Intimidate in case you want Enforcer. (Which you probably do.)
Avenger's Finesse will let you be Dex-based. That's good for a whip build, primarily because the large reach from Improved Whip Mastery combined with Combat Reflexes will let you make oodles of AoOs. Whip Builds do require lots of feats so Mysterious Avenger 1/Fighter X is a nice combo.
Special Abilities:
A Swashbuckler with a Prehensile Whip can use Panache to make one attack at 20' rather than 15'.
The Dueling special ability is great for whips.
Have you looked at the Mysterious Avenger Swashbuckler archetype? Full BAB, whip proficiency, Avenger Finesse, Avenger's Target, Panache, Deeds, etc. It is good by itself or as a dip for the fighter build. Pumping up your Cha gives you more Panache and improves Intimidate in case you want Enforcer. (Which you probably do.)
Avenger's Finesse will let you be Dex-based. That's good for a whip build, primarily because the large reach from Improved Whip Mastery combined with Combat Reflexes will let you make oodles of AoOs. Whip Builds do require lots of feats so Mysterious Avenger 1/Fighter X is a nice combo.
Special Abilities:
A Swashbuckler with a Prehensile Whip can use Panache to make one attack at 20' rather than 15'.
The Dueling special ability is great for whips.
Hmmmmm. Very tempting now. I'd need to think more about swashbucklers in general, but the image of a brave adventurer wielding her whip (and of course a second weapon in case) is a very fine one.
