Hello everyone! My group is a few weeks away from starting the Giantslayer adventure path and I'm finishing up my character creation. I have a few questions about my build before I start playing.
The custom race I'm using is simply Human with Darkvision, Celestial Resistance, and +2 Dex and Cha instead of +2 to any one ability.
Half-Aasimar(Musetouched) Swashbuckler
STR 10, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 16
Feats
L1 Weapon Focus (Rapier), Fencing Grace
L3 Combat Reflexes
L4 Weapon Specialization
L5 Extra Panache
L7 Outflank
L8 Undecided
L9 Greater Weapon Focus
L11 Signature Deed (Opportune Parry and Riposte)
My questions are as follows:
1. Are there any must-have feats that I've forgotten or need to look out for after level 11? I plan on taking Critical Focus and at least 1 critical feat.
2. Would it be worth it to dip 1 level of Rogue at 5th level? I've looked at the acrobat archetype and accomplished sneak attack feat, but I'm not sure it's worth the 1 level delay on all of my Swashbuckler abilities and dip in BAB.
Quick note: Signature deed doesn't work with Opportune Parry and Riposte. "This deed’s cost cannot be reduced by any ability or effect that reduces the number of panache points a deed costs."
I assume your custom race includes the bonus human feat. Otherwise you will need the inspired blade archetype to have both weapon focus and fencing grace at first. Since you are specializing in rapier, it might be worth it to look at the archetype anyway.
If you are planning on taking Greater weapon focus, I'd take it at 8th instead of 9th, since the 9th can be any feat as opposed to just a combat feat.
Extra Panache might not be worth it, depending on how often you are spending per day. Check to see how often you are running low by that point.
Outflank is a teamwork feat. Make sure that you have a teammate willing to take it or it is a wasted feat for you.
From your point spread, it looks like you are doing 15 point buy. Is that correct? Be careful about your strength, unless your group place fast and loose with encumbrance. If strength is not a concern, perhaps drop it to 8 to boost your wisdom to 12.
Don't forget greater weapon specialization at 12th.
The rogue dip is almost certainly not worth it, unless you really want trapfinding or the skill points for some reason. Especially at 5th, as that is when you get your weapon training (including the free improved critical). The only exception I can think of is if you are planning on focusing on menacing swordplay, in which case the Thug archetype might be worth it. Even in this case, I would still wait until 6th.
I second Dilvias. Inspired Blade gives Int AND Cha mod as panache pool, so it's better than Extra Panache ... you only get Panache for crits though.
I wouldn't dip Rogue. Ninja two levels for ki pool plus things like Mirror Image and Vanish might be funny, but I'd rather take sorcerer with shield spell...
..... plus brooch of shielding if the campaign is human spellcaster heavy.
But youre right, there are some better spells... or wand useage.
Thanks for getting back to me with such great advice, guys!
Quick note: Signature deed doesn't work with Opportune Parry and Riposte.
I was not aware of that. It looks like precise strike has the same caveat. I'm not sure I want to take this now.
I assume your custom race includes the bonus human feat. Otherwise you will need the inspired blade archetype to have both weapon focus and fencing grace at first. Since you are specializing in rapier, it might be worth it to look at the archetype anyway.
Yep, I needed fencing grace as soon as possible so I made sure I had a bonus feat. I hadn't looked at inspired blade until now. It doesn't seem to have many downsides.
If you are planning on taking Greater weapon focus, I'd take it at 8th instead of 9th, since the 9th can be any feat as opposed to just a combat feat.
I think I planned to take it at 9th because of the Rogue level. My BAB would be LVL-1.
Extra Panache might not be worth it, depending on how often you are spending per day. Check to see how often you are running low by that point.
I was planning on using Parry and Riposte a lot. If I end up taking Inspired Blade I think I'll be in more dire need of this feat.
Outflank is a teamwork feat. Make sure that you have a teammate willing to take it or it is a wasted feat for you.
I've already coordinated this with another player, although I don't know for sure when he plans to take it. I figure the sooner the better.
From your point spread, it looks like you are doing 15 point buy. Is that correct? Be careful about your strength, unless your group place fast and loose with encumbrance.
Yes, 15 points. I know strength is a concern early on. I planned on picking up either a mithral chain shirt or muleback cords ASAP.
The rogue dip is almost certainly not worth it, unless you really want trapfinding or the skill points for some reason.
I will most likely be the party's skill monkey, so extra skill points and disable device as a class skill sounded nice. Now that I think about it, acrobat doesn't make sense because my armor check penalty will be really low anyways. I figured with a level of rogue and high acrobatics I could get behind enemies to get a little extra damage. Even more with accomplished sneak attack, outflank, and parry/riposte.
Or get a buckler. Always on, no wasted actions, no BAB/hp/level loss, can be upgraded up to +6 shield AC.
That's my plan. Surprisingly, I can't get shield focus or any of the related feats. Buckler proficiency and shield proficiency are separate apparently.