Scoundrels and Rapscallions...build help

[MisterV]

I have been playing rpgs for a very long time, but it haven’t played in the last 10 years. Now the opportunity to play has come up and I am excited to get back into it. I played 3.5, but this will be my first Pathfinder game.

I am interested in playing a scoundrel. Not a bad guy, but one who can cheat at cards or dice. A guy who can hold his own ina battle of wits and with a sword. I’m thinking a dex based melee character with a reasonable cha.

Is this doable? I don’t need to be the baddest guy on the field, but I don’t want to feel useless in combat.

I don’t know the creation rules yet, so just an idea of how stats should be arrayed will work.

Thanks in advance.

[Asmodeus' Advocate]

Look into the archaeologist archetype for bards!

Or, y'know, you could play a rogue . . . but really, archaeologist bard.

Pathfinder is pretty similar to 3.5, but it's been around a while and has a lot of resources, so trying to read all of them is a fool's errand. (It's easier if you've been keeping up.) There are guides to help you sort through it all. Here's a guide to the differences between 3.5 and Pathfinder, from back when pathfinder was new.

But it's best if you get an outernet friend to walk you through character generation!

EDIT

If you want to go with the archaeologist bard, I'd go with a stat array that prioritizes DEX, CHA, CON, STR, INT, WIS in that order. On a fifteen point buy, it'd look something like:
STR 10
DEX 15
CON 14
INT 10
WIS 8
CHA 14
I'd be a human, for the extra feat. In pathfinder, you can add your DEX to damage instead of strength with the feat "Fencing Grace" as long as you're using a rapier. Fencing Grace requires Weapon Finesse and Weapon Focus, so I'd get those at first level and then Fencing Grace at third. In Pathfinder humans also get +2 to any stat they want, so I'd add that to DEX to start the game with a seventeen.

If your DM is using the traits system from the Advanced Player's Guide, then I'd take Fate's Favored from Ultimate Campaign. Even without it, though, you'll do alright in fights.

[CactusUnicorn]

Some other options are going unchained rogue (a pure upgrade from the core rogue) or swashbuckler. Swashbuckler needs high Dex and Cha too.

Instead of fencing grace you could get slashing grace. or starry grace. if you want to is a different kind of weapon

[MisterV]

I love the Swashbuckler. But no guide...

Can he TWF or does he need all the feats for the dex based fights? I’ll have time look a little more this weekend.

[Phntm888]

TWF is actually not a good move on the Swashbuckler. Fencing Grace (and Slashing Grace with it) both have the requirement that, in order to work, you have to have your other hand free. So, if you TWF, you don't get Dexterity to damage. However, the Swashbuckler does get "Swashbuckler Finesse", which gives you the ability to use your Dexterity to hit without having to get the Weapon Finesse feat. Swashbuckler Finesse also counts as Weapon Finesse for the purpose meeting feat prerequisites.

For a Swashbuckler, you'll want your stats to work out kind of like this: Dexterity=>Charisma=>Constitution=>Wisdom=>Strength==Intelligen ce. You really don't want to drop anything below 10, with the possible exception of Intelligence if you aren't too concerned about skill points. The Swashbuckler doesn't have a high base Will save modifier, so where the Bard can get away with a little less Wisdom, the Swashbuckler cannot. Using the 15 Point Buy example above:

STR 10
DEX 15
CON 13
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 14

If you go human, put your +2 into Dex to get to 17.

The next most important decision for you to make is what your primary weapon is going to be, since that will inform your feat selections going forward. This weapon should be a one-handed weapon. The rapier is the most common choice, but thanks to Slashing Grace, you can use slashing weapons, such as the longsword or the scimitar, with your Swashbuckler's Finesse ability, and they count as light or one-handed piercing weapons for the purposes of regaining Panache. Once you've decided on that, take the Weapon Focus feat for that weapon. If you are a human, use your bonus feat for Fencing Grace (if you choose a rapier) or Slashing Grace (if you choose a slashing weapon). If you are not a human, you should choose either of the Grace feats at level 3.

The grace feats become less essential if your GM uses either a generous point buy (25 or so), or if he lets you roll stats and you roll well, so you can start with a bit of Strength. Without the Grace feats, you'll find that your damage lags considerably behind the rest of the party, since you aren't adding your attack stat (Dexterity) to damage, the way a greatsword swinging Fighter is. A high point buy or high rolls helps to mitigate this somewhat, but you'll still eventually want to focus on single-handed dueling.

[Asmodeus' Advocate]

There is a guide, it's right here.

Glad to help! And tell me how your it goes, when you have your first session. :)