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So I have read a few posts about this type of character a few times. Here are they key points I would like to build around:
- -High damage full attacks
-strong parry AC
-Disarm as AoO in response to attacks
So I'm really just stuck on the feats I'm looking for to pull this off, and what styles would be worth using.
Boar style
pros:
+2d6 DMG (rend)
Piercing unarmed strikes
Free Demorilize cheecks
1d6 Bleed
cons:
Piercing dmg requires 2nd feat
zero synergy with disarming
Dragon style
pros:
x2 STR dmg 1st attack
x1.5 STR dmg all attacks
only 2 feats worth getting
cons:
doesnt provide piercing dmg
zero synergy with disarming
no Dex to dmg
Snake style
pros:
piercing dmg
free AoO when enemy misses
combos with parry
cons:
2nd feat is worthless
immediate action dependent
works poorly with riposte
Panther style
pros:
Free AoO
retaliatory strike =/= AoO
Disarm resolves before AoO completed
combos with parry + Riposte
cons:
No piercing dmg
Move action prevents full attack
WIS based retaliatory limit
Any styles that do not provide piercing dmg require another feat to obtain it. Master of many styles blending is a very viable options.
The pre-errata Kata Master Monk had Opportune Parry and Riposte (along with some other deeds), and you could use unarmed strikes for all deeds and abilities.
Not sure if your GM will let that slide though.
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Here's a character I'm using in PFS, who uses Snake Style in full plate. He only has one level of Swashbuckler, since some of the later abilities don't work in heavy armor, but Swashbuckler is pretty frontloaded with the deeds.
Keep in mind that your panache will be much more limited compared to a build that eventually gets a 15-20 threat range, so I don't think you can rely on parry for your defense. So Snake Style with a good Sense Motive might be critical for protecting yourself.
2 levels of Brawler are probably a good idea for you, so you can get flurry of blows, free IUS, another bonus feat, and martial flexibility.
Good point. I had parry and riposte backwards in my head, thinking it required to parry, and costed to riposte.
I should hopefully be killing plenty of targets to keep that filed as the 3 stages of serpents style all require immediate or swift action, so don't blend well together.
Would using a cestus work? It's not quite unarmed but it's a light piercing weapon so it'd count for swashbuckler finesse which frees up some feat choices.
I'm confused as to why Snake style "Works poorly with riposte" ...
I'm playing a level 11 swashbuckler ... Snake Style is amazing (well, the 1st and 3rd one) -- the first is used if you need to parry / dodge a magic spell (touch attacks), the third -- just ignore it, and watch the attacks come in.
They attack you, you parry (spend a point), then DON'T use your immediate action to riposte ... Snake Fang gives it to you for free.
I grabbed Vicious Stomp to use with Targetted Strike ...
The best part though, is grabbing the teamwork feat "Paired Opportunist", with a ring of tactical precision to loan to your fellow melee character (or make them get it themselves if you are leveling as a team) .... the sheer amount of AoOs is depressing for the DM (and, with that many attacks, regaining panache isn't difficult)
It combos amazingly with Parry, as you stated it gives you an AoO for free after a successful Parry, however since all 3 stages of the feat utilize an immediate action, you cant do all 3 or a riposte in any combo.
1] Riposte = 1 attack2] Serpent Style = sense motive to AC
3] Side Wind = 5 foot step
4] Snake fang = 1 Attack
Since Snake fang and Riposte are identical in use, I'm wasting a feat/class feature. The pros far outweigh the cons in this stlyes case, but its worth noting.
Snake Fang and Riposte supplement/enhance each other, they are not identical.
We're on the same page. I'm referring more to the "spend" portion of the feat, not the "passive" portion that does combo very well.
For anyone curious, I've settled on a build like this:
Human
str 11
dex 19
con 10
int 7
wis 10
cha 16
LVL 1, Monk of many styles: Improved unarmed strike, Stunning fist, Snake Style, two-weapon fighting, Deadly Agility*
LVL 2, Swashbuckler: Weapon finesse
LVL 3, Monk of many styles: Snake Fang, Combat Reflexes
LVL 4, Mysterious stranger Gunslinger:
LVL 5, Swashbuckler: Agile Maneuvers
LVL 6, Swashbuckler:
LVL 7, Swashbuckler: Improved Disarm, Greater Disarm
Some notes that make this build legal:
-We have removed Combat expertise and int 13 from all feats that do not actually require the use of combat expertise to be preformed
-*path of war 3pp material
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Agile maneuvers is pretty much a waste. All weapon based maneuvers (disarm, sunder, trip) don't need it. That leaves bull rush, overrun, dirty trick, and grapple. Bull Rush and overrun are sub-par, and grapple looks good until you realize that when you are grappling someone, you are also grappled, and have a -4 dex penalty.
It's only useful for dirty tricks, and unless you specialize in dirty tricks it's not worth it.
MoMS 3 might be good to get you access to Monastic Legacy
Might I inquire why you're taking a level of Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger? Is it to get double Cha for your Panache? I think forfeiting/delaying your Swashbuckler levels probably isn't worth it.
Disarm seems like a strange thing to pursue. It's doesn't work on a lot of opponents, making it pretty situational.
Not that I particularly want to encourage more people to play the overpowered Path of War classes, but if your GM is including PoW, why not just play a class from that? They make every official martial obsolete other than super-minmaxed pounce-Barbarians and the like. If anyone else is playing one, there's no way you can keep up with them while playing official. A Warlord is a Charisma-using martial and the Steelfist Commando archetype is unarmed-focused and basically a straight upgrade to the already powerful class.
... at least you acknowledge Dreamscarred Press is 3pp...
how are you getting snake fang at lv3? you need 9 ranks in sense motive before you can take it.