|
I've got a PFS character that was intended to be a dex-based swashtigator, with a single level of Inspired Blade swashbucker before going Investigator up to 12. I haven't played him at level 2 yet, so I can still rebuild, and I'm thinking I might modify to fit my character concept.
This character is a tiefling (born back in 2014 when that was allowed without a special boon). He was brought up a slave, and forced to fight other slaves. Once he escaped, he put his very clever brain to work, but still has the skills he used to survive those pit fights.
The swashbuckler seems a bit too fancy for this, and a martial class with martial flexibility would be more in keeping with the character concept. I was thinking either brawler, eventually going for Snake Style, or Free-Style fighter with a reach weapon, probably a Lucerne Hammer.
Now, this character is meant to be tough but kind of scrawny, and focused on skills rather than strength, so I wouldn't want to go above 14 strength to start. I'm aware that's sub-optimal, but he's a 'fight smarter not harder' kind of guy.
Would you recommend brawler or free-style fighter for the level 1 dip? Any other tips? Thanks!
|
If the primary goal is getting Martial Flex from a 1-level dip, brawler is far superior. Freestyle fighter does give you that and nothing else, but at the cost of the bonus feat.
A one level dip in brawler gives you Martial Flex, plus IUS (huge plus if you're going with a reach weapon), plus better reflex saves and 2 extra skill points. You'll also get brawler's cunning and martial training, but those likely won't have any benefit to you based on the character concept.
Sounds like you need to go with a STR build if your doing Reach weapons.
Brawler 1/Investigator is a viable concept as well due to IUS, Martial Flexibility, Brawler's cunning, +2 Fort Saves, +1 BaB.
Now as for the Hammer you want to use. You will not be proficient with it, and it is not worth taking a feat. But good news is your can use a longspear until you can drop 1500gp on a Ioun stone to give your proficiency with the weapon. But if your going fo a Dex reach build look at the elvan Branched spear. Allows you to use weapon finesse for attack. Tho you still need to get Dex to damage.
The thing with the Inspired Blade Swashbuckler dip is that your getting Fencing Grace Level 1, allowing Dex to damage. This gives you most your Melee tools that you will need to survive with until you can pick up Mutagen and Fast Study. That is the main reason people go with a Swashigator. They are masters of Skills and half decent in combat. STR builds blow them out the water on Combat but are not too far behind on skills. Since PFS is not optimized a STR build tends to be good enough to pass most skill checks.
|
I play a Strength build and haven't maxed out skills at all (even with 9 skill points per level, you have so many class skills) but I'm competent at most of them. It's enough for PFS to have like a 16 Intelligence as Investigator.
You say you want to sort of play a Strength build but not quite hulking big strength build. That's fine, but it kinda pushes you away from typical polearm use. Instead you could look at going for a natural attack build.
As a tiefling you can start out with two claw attacks, and at higher levels you can use Monstrous Physique to turn into a gargoyle or vouivre for scarier attacks. However, all of them will be buffed by Mutagen, Heroism and Studied Combat.
For that sort of build, Brawler doesn't add all that much. You don't need that many feats. You'd get more mileage out of maybe bloodrager (for a Furious amulet of mighty fists, as well as Strength, fast movement, wand use, and maybe an interesting bloodline power).