Swashbuckler help

[Sadbackstory.exe]

So lately I've been making characters based off of characters I really like in books. Recently I have nearly finished reading The Princess Bride and i got inspired to make Inigo Montoya in pathfinder. Swashbuckler is a perfect fit for him, but I'm stuck between using the default Swashbuckler or the Inspired Blade archetype.

Pros:
1. panache from both int and charisma instead of just charisma
2. Free weapon focus feat
3. Critical range increases to 14-20 instead of 15-20 (15-20 at lvl 5, but the extra point at lvl 20)

Cons:
1. Can't recover panache by killing, only crits
2. 1 replacement deed that isn't quite as good
3. Only rapiers (which I was going for anyways)

Those are the only pros and cons as far as I can tell unless I missed something. The larger pool is nice, as well as the free feat, but I don't know if not gaining panache from killing is worth it.

[shaurun]

Take Inspired. When I've played it I rarely found myself in trouble of not having panache. Maybe at low levels.

Anyways, your effectiveness will totally depend on the feats you have and I can advice you some like:
Fencing Grace - DEX to damage with rapiers
Quick Draw since you have some boosts on it
Lunge - that's really great
Critical Focus since this is crit build
Combat Reflexes since you perhaps want to use opportune parry and riposte often

Extra Panache is a nice feat to increase your pool.

If you plan to defend yourself with opportune parry and riposte, never take feats which will lower your attack, like Power Attack. Seize Advantage feat will help you to use power attack of your enemies against them.

Also note that double threat range for 18-20 weapon is 15-20, not 14-20.

[Sadbackstory.exe]

Thanks for the reply! I did decide to go with inspired, as I rolled quite high so I could afford getting more int easily.

Thank you for reminding me of quick draw! I completely forgot about it! Gosh that would be a blunder.

I was actually going for piranha strike.

At lvl 20 inspired blade gets it's critical threat range increased by 1 so a total of 14-20

[avr]

Piranha strike only works with light weapons IIRC, not with a rapier.

[Sadbackstory.exe]

Thanks for reminding me. For some reason I thought rapiers were light weapons. I have enough str for power attack instead anyway so that doesn't throw off my planning anyways

[BadBird]

The item Swordmaster's Flair: Blue Scarf is crazy good. Reach Rapier.

Power Attack does lower your attack bonus for Parry, but if you use Cornugon Smash then you can use Power Attack to demoralize and lower enemy attack bonus as well. Menacing Swordplay also demoralizes, but Swashbucklers have way better uses for swift actions.

Swashbucklers multiclass very easily, and there are some strong options out there. Inspired Blade and Weapon Master is a great combo.

[Erpa]

You'll critical way more than simply killing. My group's swashbuckler never has wants for panache with only getting them back from criticals.

[Lanathar]

You will probably want to try and fit in feats / traits that boost Will and Fortitude save as they will be very weak

Another option is Half orc with sacred tattoo and faith's favored trait (which nets you +2 to all saves)
But that might not fit with your story

Focusing on one weapon is not a problem in the world of fencing/slashing grace as you need weapon focus to qualify for that. So vanilla swashbuckler will be sticking to one weapon as well

Free weapon focus will allow you to qualify for fencing grace at level 1 even if not human which is a big deal

Something else to consider with regards to saving throws is perhaps taking a multiclass of some kind that grants one or both of the weak saving throws. But you are talking about going straight 20 as you mentioned the capstone (are you really expecting to get there?)

[Darklone]

Easy saving throw fix for very high CHA swashies: Multiclass two levels Paladin.

[Wonderstell]

Darklone wrote:

Easy saving throw fix for very high CHA swashies: Multiclass two levels Paladin.

Then again, if you can justify taking two levels of Paladin, it's probably better to just go Virtuous Bravo.

[BadBird]

The trait Irrepressible lets you use CHA for charm and compulsion saves, which are generally the ones you really don't want to fail.