Flying Blade Swashbuckler advice


Advice


It's definitely the way I want to go with a character. But I see some serious problems in damage output (DR of 5 could stop most attacks). Any good ways to even this out?


If you throw daggers you can get +1 to damage with the River Rat trait.
Weapon Specialization, and the Startoss Style feat chain adds +2 damage for each of them you have (so up to +8).

You should probably ask your GM if Flying Blade Training counts as Weapon Training for purposes of Weapon Mastery feats, because you'll want Ricochet toss so you can open up your belt slot and not have to spread cash around so many different weapons. It doesn't by RAW, but this is also silly. If your GM won't go along with this, Martial Focus is +1 damage so it's not the worst feat you can get.


If GM rules against FBT = Weapon Training, you may want to consider three levels of Weapon Master. This opens up usage of Advanced Weapon Training with bonus feats (swash levels count as fighter levels) and also Gloves of Dueling. Focus and Specialization chains are bland, but they'll increase your numbers. If you're willing to invest five levels in Fighter, AWT Focused Weapon will bump your dagger or starknife dice to d6.

AWT - Warrior Spirit will open up the Sharding enchantment (or others as necessary), if you're still waiting on Ricochet Shot.

Do thrown weapons count as ranged for the purposes of Impressive Grit?

What is it that makes the Flying Blade a definite for you?


There's also Desna's Shooting Star from the Divine Fighting Technique feat. It lets you use your Charisma for attack and damage when using a starknife.


TheMagicIndian wrote:
There's also Desna's Shooting Star from the Divine Fighting Technique feat. It lets you use your Charisma for attack and damage when using a starknife.

A minor tangent away from Flying Blade, but DSS has insane synergy with the Sword Devil Ranger archetype (Worldscape). Single-stat your AC/Atk/Dmg off of Charisma if unarmored (while still adding Dex to AC). In addition, the archetype also offers a second combat style (take your pick of Thrown Weapon, Archery, or Faithful - Desna), and a few times a day atk/dmg spike in the form of Death Vow (extra uses available with a feat).

Sovereign Court

Assuming your GM allows it, Desna's Shooting Star is 100% the way to go.

Another option, that ranged in viability depending on what level you start at and such, is to build for STR and get a [url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-of-mighty-hurling/]Belt of Mighty Hurling[/card] as soon as you can.

Assuming Human, you could build out your scores like 17/14/13/10/10/14. This way you're not entirely worthless before getting the Belt, and once you do (assuming the level 4 point goes into STR) it'll have you at +5 STR for both hit and damage.


Take a look at Stabby McStabbyface

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mis1&page=2?The-PFS-DPR-Olympics-12th-leve l-challenge#97

There might be a few ideas in there.


I think the way to go with this archetype is to build a switch hitter. If you look at the deeds the combination of Parry and Riposte and Disrupting Counter really makes you a rather vicious melee combatant.


I was about to say "well, most of your tech will work for both ranged and up close" but then I remembered back when the Swashbuckler was new there was an ambiguity as to whether Slashing grace applied to thrown weapon attacks because of the "when wielding" language (is a thrown weapon still wielded? Does it matter as you have already wielded it once you threw it?) and Desna's Shooting Star appears to have the same language.

Was that ever resolved?


Dagger of Doubling is really nice - no more ammunition worries.

Sovereign Court

pad300 wrote:


Dagger of Doubling is really nice - no more ammunition worries.

I'm a big fan of Blinkback Belt for that.

Dark Archive

Wayne Bradbury wrote:
pad300 wrote:


Dagger of Doubling is really nice - no more ammunition worries.

I'm a big fan of Blinkback Belt for that.

I'm also a big fan of the Doubling Dagger, but it locks you at a +1 weapon. Blinkback belt is clean cut, but it denies you a crucial part of your big 6. When damage is a major concern, these problems might lead to massive frustration.

The 1-2-3 punch of Martial Focus, Quickdraw, and Ricochet Toss allows you to make use of a single, full power weapon without oddball damage enchants or specific gear requirements. The major downside is the large feat tax, but I think it's manageable on a Human or with a Fighter dip.

DR is a huge pain, but it's almost singlehandedly solved by the Clustered Shots feat. Just make sure that your favorite weapon is made of adamantine so Hardness isn't an issue.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Advice / Flying Blade Swashbuckler advice All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Advice
Druid Gear