Swashbuckler item advice + Rules question

[Rayek]

Hi,
i will soon start a game as a Lvl 5 Swashbuckler(Inspired Blade.
We are starting with 10500GP.
At the moment i think im going to buy:
Rapier+1
Effortless Lace
Chainshirt+1
Buckler+1
Plume of Panache
Handy Haversack

I am unsure about the Effortless lace. It gives me the ability to use piranha strike with my rapier, but it costs 2500Gp and a feat just to get
-2 Attack and +4 Dmg. And this will probably just be a one time session, so our regular GM (me) can play once in while, so piranha strike wont scale up.
I could ditch both of these and get me a swordmasters flair, which gives me some great utility and frees up a feat.
Which of those alternatives would you prefer and if you gonna go for swordmasters flair+free feat - which feat would you take instead of piranha strike?
I already have Weapon finesse + Focus, fencing grace, improved critical, antagonize and combat reflexes.

Thanks in Advance,
Rayek

[BadBird]

Just take Weapon Specialization for +2 with no downside. People often skip Piranha/Power on Swashbuckler since it already has Precise Strike, and it's tougher to parry with an attack penalty. It's useful to take Power Attack for Cornugon Smash, but that's beyond your current situation.

Actually, you might want to consider not going Inspired Blade if you're able to spare the free feat. It's really attractive to get free focus and a larger Panache pool, but only getting Panache from critical hits and never from killing blows is actually a huge, huge hurdle, especially at a level where you don't score many crits.

[Rayek]

BadBird wrote:

Just take Weapon Specialization for +2 with no downside. People often skip Piranha/Power on Swashbuckler since it already has Precise Strike, and it's tougher to parry with an attack penalty. It's useful to take Power Attack for Cornugon Smash, but that's beyond your current situation.

Actually, you might want to consider not going Inspired Blade if you're able to spare the free feat. It's really attractive to get free focus and a larger Panache pool, but only getting Panache from critical hits and never from killing blows is actually a huge, huge hurdle, especially at a level where you don't score many crits.

I had considered Weapon Specialization and i think if i stick with inspired Blade i will take it.

If I drop Inspired Blade I lose:
1 point Panache
Weapon Focus(Rapier)
+1 Dmg on rapiers
For:
Ability to restore Panache with kills.

I am rly unsure about that, as i already threaten crit 30% of the time.

[Imbicatus]

1 point of panache is easily replaced.
Free weapon focus is nice, but you are stuck with only rapiers.
+1 damage is a minor loss, but it's only a trait.

The ability to regain panache on kills is huge. You you are using a high crit weapon with free improved critical, but there are times when you roll badly, and there are many times where you threaten but don't confirm.

[Rayek]

Imbicatus wrote:

1 point of panache is easily replaced.

Free weapon focus is nice, but you are stuck with only rapiers.
+1 damage is a minor loss, but it's only a trait.

The ability to regain panache on kills is huge. You you are using a high crit weapon with free improved critical, but there are times when you roll badly, and there are many times where you threaten but don't confirm.

So you too would advise me, to go straight swashbuckler, drop piranha strike and effortless sash and get swordmasters flair?

I am going to lose weapon focus(rapier) and have one feat open;
should i use that to grab weapon focus again or is there a better choice, I probably wont be able to take anything that has weapon focus as a prerequisite and its just +1 attack bonus, afterall.

[Imbicatus]

Actually, I'd take weapon focus cestus, with the intention of going down the outslug style. Outslug is great on swashbucklers, especially when combined with a blue scarf swordmasters flair.

[BadBird]

Well if you really want to be a crazy-dangerous swordmaster at level 5...

Swashbuckler 1/ Sacred Fist of Sarenrae 4
Dual Talent Human: 12, 16/18, 14, 10, 14/16, 8
Traits: Fate's Favored, Blade of Mercy

1SB (+Weapon Finesse) / Weapon Focus: Scimitar
2SF
3SF Dervish Dance
4SF
5SF Crusader's Flurry: Scimitar

Fervor Spells: Divine Favor, Empowered Cure Moderate Wounds
Blessings: Good - Holy Weapon / Healing - Powerful Healer

Scimitar +1
Belt of Dexterity +2
Bracers of Armor +1
Swordmaster's Flair: Blue Scarf
Plume of Panache

Two flurry attacks per round...

[Rayek]

Imbicatus wrote:

Actually, I'd take weapon focus cestus, with the intention of going down the outslug style. Outslug is great on swashbucklers, especially when combined with a blue scarf swordmasters flair.

Well its going to be a oneshot session, so i probably wont be able to get that style, but i#ll keep it in mind, if i am going to build another swashbuckler.

BadBird wrote:

Well if you really want to be a crazy-dangerous swordmaster at level 5...

Swashbuckler 1/ Sacred Fist of Sarenrae 4
Dual Talent Human: 12, 16/18, 14, 10, 14/16, 8
Traits: Fate's Favored, Blade of Mercy

1SB (+Weapon Finesse) / Weapon Focus: Scimitar
2SF
3SF Dervish Dance
4SF
5SF Crusader's Flurry: Scimitar

Fervor Spells: Divine Favor, Empowered Cure Moderate Wounds
Blessings: Good - Holy Weapon / Healing - Powerful Healer

Scimitar +1
Belt of Dexterity +2
Bracers of Armor +1
Swordmaster's Flair: Blue Scarf
Plume of Panache

Two flurry attacks per round...

This is a great idea but it doesnt rly fit my backstory, but i will play it sometime cuz its a rly great idea.