I'm redoing an old character, my very first Pathfinder character, as her original build was completely horrible. She is a gnome archaeologist bard with the first level being Inspired Blade Swashbuckler. The Swash level is for the bonus feats so that she can actually do damage in a melee fight if needed.
My plan for her is to be the one they ask for any needed knowledge rolls, as well as Disarming enemies with her whip. Using the whip will prevent AoOs due to reach and gives a small bonus to the roll.
The first trait I will be giving her is Fate's Favorite. This will boost her Archaeologist's Luck class feature. I'm trying to decide what the other trait should be. I've narrowed it down to these:
Criminal: +1 Disable Device, class skill.
Etymologist: +1 Linguistics, class skill, +1 bonus language.
Maestro of the Society: +3 rounds of Bardic Performance or Archaeologist's Luck per day.
Intrepid Volunteer: Use Dex instead of Strength for Disarm. (Halfling trait, requires Adopted.)
Faction? It's in the Social traits list.
Once you take lingering performance, those +3 rounds of performance actually add +9 rounds.
it is practically mandatory if you aren't grabbing another source of rounds, such as the feat for extra performance rounds. The archetype doesn't get extra rounds from level- if you want to use the main mechanic, you need to find a way to make it last longer.
Of course, the investment can be well worth it- the luck adds to saves, after all.
I do plan to take Lingering Performance, yes. I'm trying to decide if I want it at level 3 or 5. Inspired Blade gives Weapon Finesse but only for the rapier. If I don't take the Intrepid Volunteer trait, I'll need regular Weapon Finesse so I can use my Dex for Disarming instead of my low Str.
Actually, you are going to want agile maneuvers to add your dex to disarm.
If you're using the whip, you don't need any other feat or trait to get dex to those maneuvers. Link
Edit: Personally, I'd use the trait for disable device, unless you already have a guy for that. You can always use a feat later to boost your perform rounds.
I stand corrected.
The Weapon Finesse I get from the level of Swashbuckler only applies to the Rapier. I can take Agile Maneuvers yes, but without either feat or the trait, I will not be able to use my Dex for the Disarm roll.
Why don’t you just drop inspired blade and focus on the whip over the rapier?
If you're considering etymologist, you should probably consider the gnome racial (Gifted tongues?) 2 languages per point of linguistics iirc.
Trait wise, Find your Kin.
Plus, I'd seriously consider bone kukri, if you're going swish.
Why don’t you just drop inspired blade and focus on the whip over the rapier?
I think it is because he is aiming for dex to damage at level 1.
Fencing grace requires weapon finesse and weapon focus(rapier) (slashing grace is similar, but uses weapon focus for the weapon you want to use). Swashbucklers get weapon finesse automatically. But getting both weapon finesse and a left over feat for fencing grace... that is the problem.
it isn't hard for a human- they have two feats. But he is playing a gnome. So inspired blade is the easiet way to dex to damage on such a build- the archetype gives free weapon focus.
Exactly. While I would like to focus on the Disarm Maneuver, that won't always be possible. For example - monsters that aren't using weapons, or having an opponent right next to me. Inspired Blade lets me do actual damage in a fight right off the bat.
I think I'll go with the Agile Maneuvers feat at level 3. I'm leaning towards Criminal or Maestro.
You know what's weird? Archaeologist Bard gives a bonus to Disable Device, yet doesn't make it a class skill. I wonder if that's a mistake.
If I decide not to go with 'Maestro of the Society' then I'll be going with 'Nimble Fingers, Keen Mind' instead. It gives the same bonuses as 'Criminal' but is better in terms for backstory and RP.
Ah, I see. I missed that.
Yeah, I knew about that one. It's fun for RP, but only really good for climbing.
The problem with a small-race disarm specialist is that eventually the opponents are large and aren't carrying manufactured weapons.
I wouldn't devote too much to the mechanic.
Yeah, that does become a problem later on, I guess.
I can't take Indomitable Faith. I'm already taking Fate's Favored and that's also a Faith trait. Fate's Favored will boost my Archaeologist's Luck as soon as I take a level in Archaeologist Bard. And Archaeologist's Luck applies to every roll, including saves.
If I decide not to go with 'Maestro of the Society' then I'll be going with 'Nimble Fingers, Keen Mind' instead. It gives the same bonuses as 'Criminal' but is better in terms for backstory and RP.
If you go this route, you'll also need to pick up the Trapfinding class feature via a rogue talent - otherwise you can't disable magical traps.
Do you mean Trap Spotter? That's the only Rogue Talent that comes close to the class feature that I can find.
What was the "completely horrible" original build?
I forget the exact stats, but I put too much into Wis and Con and not enough into Cha. The GM homeruled that everyone got Weapon Finesse for free, so I picked the feat Technologist and the traits Numerian Archaeologist and Prehensile Whip. None of which really helped me any.
That's good. I was planning on using my level 4 Rogue Talent on Combat Trick to get a feat.
Along with my bard here, I'm planning to retrain a trait for the character I'm currently playing. She's a halfling hunter with a focus on flanking with her companion, which she rides. As well as forcing the opponents to provoke an AoO from her and the companion at later levels. I originally gave her Muscle of the Society to boost her carrying, but that's no longer needed.
Her other trait is Dirty Fighter (a Combat trait) and her feats go like this:
1: Weapon Finesse
2: Outflank (class feature)
3: Weapon Focus, Pack Flanking
5: Dervish Dance
6: Broken Wing Gambit
7: Combat Reflexes
9: Precise Strike, Paired Opportunists.
We're on level 5 at the moment.
Any suggestions?
Ooh, I found another trait that could be useful. It's a regional trait that gives +1 Intimidate when wielding a whip and once a day when you successfully use a whip to trip or disarm, you get one panache point back. It's called Scourge of the Seas.
The trait Snowstride looks pretty good too, allowing me to attempt a trip maneuver on Large creatures instead of just Medium and smaller.
A halfling on a medium mount isn't going to have (that many) problems in dungeons.
Heather? Get Pack Flanking and Paired Opportunists. Wolf gets Greater Trip. You pick a different maneuver type and go Greater in it. Tag-team AoOpolusa. If you upgrade animal at some point, get one whose natural weapon can use tusk blades (horn or tusk for gore).
Ah, I totally forgot that you don't need Weapon Focus for Dervish Dance. I can retrain it to get Broken Wing Gambit now. Then Paired Opportunists at level 6, and I can take Shake It Off as my level 9 Teamwork Feat. I've played this character once before and I was doing quite a lot of damage.