So I'm playing a dex-based vanilla Investigator. This was the first Pathfinder character I built, and somehow he has survived to 8th level despite my multiple failures in the build. He's mostly back on track now, largely thanks to some generosity from my GM in the first few levels.
I recently discovered the Inspired Blade Swashbuckler and subsequently discovered everyone mentions this class dip for dex-based Investigators. Mixed with my GM's retraining house-rules, by taking Inspired Blade for 8th level, I will be allowed to retrain Weapon Focus (lvl3 feat) this level and instantly retrain Weapon Finesse (lvl5 feat) at 9.
The problem is I'm not sure what to take for those retrained feats. I've toyed around with going the extra talent route to get Infusion, but I've been using all but 1 or 2 of my lvl 1 extracts every day, so this doesn't seem too useful for this party. Weapon Versatility seems pretty cool since I am always using a rapier, but also seems like it will only come to play on rare occasions. I'd love to take something like Improved Critical, but the house ruling is that the feat has to fit the qualifications of the level feat it is replacing as per the vanilla rules for feats granted by class features.
Any recommendations?
Current Build: Human, Investigator 7
STR 8, DEX 16, CON 12, INT 17, WIS 12, CHA 16
Lvl1 - Fast Learner, Improvisation
Lvl3 - Weapon Focus (Rapier), Talent: Mutagen
Lvl5 - Weapon Finesse, Talent: Quick Study
Lvl7 - Fencing Grace, Talent: Amazing Inspiration
I agree, pure investigator is quite strong and the main draw of swash is fast access AND parry and riposte. If you're not falling head over heels for PaR then I'd stick with pure investigator.
The original thought for the build was as a face, hence the high charisma. But that has not panned out really. I thought getting parry and riposte with this dip could make up for throwing the 16 in that stat.
Also, if nothing else, freeing up 2 feats would allow me to take Iron Will to shore up the bad save -- I had dominate person get me twice in the last month. I was just hoping there were some more interesting uses for those feat slots.
lv9 opens up combat inspiration, a great thing to pick up.
And lv7 has opened up sickening strike. free automatic sickening, also great to pick up via feat if you haven't.
Tough call, really depends on what your roll is. Piranha strike would probably help in damage. I would avoid infusion, like you noticed, your too busy using it on yourself :P Instead of amazing inspiration I would branch out to underworld inspiration or expanded inspiration. Sickening strike and combat inspiration is always good
There is a work around through effortless lace (which doesn't work for PFS I think). I was thinking about going that route for lvl9, but while whatever you want to buy is available in our campaign, the party is constantly cash poor. We upped from 3 to 5 adventurers, so the split is not great.
I was lucky enough to make mine with a 13 str for carrying capacity and for power attack. Mine is level 6 and for a generalist he is extremely good (+14 to hit and 1d6+13 damage) Funny thing with him is the cha 7 but having 14 to bluff and diplomacy. AC is 29 (32 if he pulls out the wand of shield)