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The only reason to go rapier is if you would rather spend money than a feat on damage. An Agile Rapier will do almost everything for you that Dervish Dance will, and will let you use your off hand for something else if you need to. It's also more thematic for a duelist if style is important to you. It is a mechanically weaker option though, as you are not tied to a specific enchantment on a specific weapon with the feat.
Rapier. Scimitar is not finesse-able.
The scimitar can be used with Weapon Finesse if you have the Dervish Dance Feat...
Rapier = less feats required
Scimitar = less weapon properties required
The Dawnflower Dervish Bard archetype gets Dervish Dance for free at 1st level, no prerequisites...so scimitar, same Feats required, if you want to play a Bard Duellist that is, =)
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I'm taking the crane style feats. Monk doesn't really fit the character concept, so just the feats, no class levels in it. Goblins give a +4 to DEX, but humans give the bonus feat. Which is better mechanically? My main problem for goblins is that small weapons do less damage. Does that make that big of a difference?
Small size is a difference of .5 damage between a d4 and a d6. Reduced STR wont matter since you are using DEX for damage. You won't notice a difference in damage at all.
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The campaign starts at 5. I'll have dervish dance by then, so survivability until then isn't a problem. So, Imbicatus, are you saying goblin is better?
I'm saying mechanically, there is no drawbacks to a goblin duelist other than role-playing ones. A duelist gets it's damage from static bonuses, not weapon dice. Race is a flavor choice.
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Would the bonus to AC and to hit rolls from a higher DEX and being small be worth losing a bonus feat?
That's up to you. In most situations, especially when starting from level 5, it's worth it. Also with a goblin, you can take the alternate racial trait to get a bite attack. That will allow you an extra attack per round to apply your duelist damage to. That's probably worth the feat alone.
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One thing to keep in mind, the rapier with agile enhancement will make putting keen on it a +3 total costwise.
Whereas the scimitar route will give you the bonus of the agile enhancement to all scimitars wielded and will not cause your other enhancements to increase in cost.
This is not a defining factor so much as simply one to consider when making the choice. Keen is a nice bonus to have for the duelist.
If you have spent agile on it, the next bump is 11000 gold strong. of course there is the feat Improved Critical. That comes with a feat expenditure and a high bab requirement. So pros and cons.
Scimitar:
Con: One feat Dervish, you were going to have to take the Finesse feat either way. You cannot have a weapon or shield in your other hand.
Pros: You can start the game with dex to damage and hit along with keen on your weapon. Or if you don't care about keen, then something else or an item instead.
Rapier:
Pros: Feat to spend elsewhere, No requirement I am aware of regarding offhand.
Cons: spending gold on agile for dex to damage, Next bump such as keen will cost 11000 gold. Or a high bab feat that will be competing with other awesome feat choices at that level.
Of course, this in complete and total absence of story and concept just pure mechanics.
PS: with a gobbo I would do the scimitar route and if your bite came up enough get an AOMF with agile enchantment. Maybe even TWF with scimitar and bite. Things to consider.... Sounds fun either way.
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important note about the off hand with a duelist:
"When making a precise strike, a duelist cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand or use a shield."
As this is a major aspect of damage for your character it is worth noting. Also check with your GM, he may role that a bite falls into the same category as a weapon in your other hand.
Edit: also Urban Barbarian rocks for this idea. I have a duelist with no duelist levels. Just UB and Unarmed fighter. He is a wrecking ball.
Edit 2:
Don't go Goblin. You need a 13 strength to get power attack and can't use Piranha strike with the Scimitar. Assuming that feat is even available in your game.
The scimitar is the best because you don't have to pay for dex damage. The rapier is still quite good, as is the light pick. I also like the dagger for it's ability to use precise strike at range. The Aldori Dueling Sword gets Dex to damage if you take one level in the prestige class, which is easily possible.
Also, Rangers can get power attack without meeting prerequisites if the choose the Two-Handed Style, ironically even if they never use a two handed weapon.
A duelist can TWF with the Thorn Bracer or a Blade Boot, or Unarmed with the Snake Style, since they keep the off hand free.