Halfling Swashbuckler, alternative trait

[Humbob]

Hello,
I am about to start my second campaign and am excited to create a halfling swashbuckler who will be joining the Hells Rebels. I am going to specialize in the Scimitar, and realized that halflings weapon familiarity trait will probably not be of much use to me going forward. I am trying to decide what the best alternative trait to weapons familiarity would be, and I am looking at
Underfoot Dodger and Shadowhunter as my primary options, as well as Dimdweller and Behind the Veil.
Does anybody have any suggestions?

[VoodistMonk]

Probably Shadowhunter, because it could come in useful.

[Humbob]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Probably Shadowhunter, because it could come in useful.

Thanks, I was thinking that might make sense in character as well because she is a follower of Sarenrae. Who better to hunt shadows than a follower of the sun?

[PCScipio]

Not something that replaces Weapon Familiarity, but for a melee character, I recommend taking the Fleet of Foot alternate racial trait.

Moving away from the subject of Alternate Racial Traits, it's worth considering the Irrepressible trait (NOT the alternate racial trait from Horror Adventures). For Hells Rebels, Blade of Mercy (for Sarenrae worshippers) can also be helpful; depending on exactly how the GM runs the game, there are some enemies it's best not to kill (e.g. dottari).

[Humbob]

PCScipio wrote:

Not something that replaces Weapon Familiarity, but for a melee character, I recommend taking the Fleet of Foot alternate racial trait.

Moving away from the subject of Alternate Racial Traits, it's worth considering the Irrepressible trait (NOT the alternate racial trait from Horror Adventures). For Hells Rebels, Blade of Mercy (for Sarenrae worshippers) can also be helpful; depending on exactly how the GM runs the game, there are some enemies it's best not to kill (e.g. dottari).

Those all sound awesome! I will definitely take Fleet of Foot. I was thinking I would actually take the Flame of the Dawn trait, as it hypes up my crit damage, but Blade of Mercy might be a good idea.

Do you think that it would make sense to take Blade of Mercy over Anatomist? I like it for the character, but I also want any buffs to crit confirms that I can garner.

[PCScipio]

I personally don't take critical feats, since I don't seem to roll critical threats enough, even with an 18-20 range. I'm playing a halfling Dawnflower Dervish Bard in Hell's Rebels. I killed two dottari at the Aria Park protest, due to (un)lucky criticals. I ended up taking Extra Traits (Irrepressible, Blade of Mercy) as my 5th lvl feat.

I think dottari deaths increase the Silver Ravens' Notoriety score; when it gets too high, it triggers a harsh crackdown by the regime.

[VoodistMonk]

Remember, the alternative racial feature Low Blow helps with crit confirmation, too.

I assume you are using the Whirling Dervish archetype for this.

I really like Lunge @ 7 to take advantage of the Whirlwind Dance Deed. Or it can wait until the bonus feat at level 8.

If you take the Child of the Temple faith trait to pick up Knowledge Religion, you can later Deific Obedience/Diverse Obedience later... not only is it thematic, but the SLA's and stuffs usually help martial classes be more versatile.

[Humbob]

Thanks friends, I think for my Swashy lass I am going to take as follows:

Traits-Child of Kintargo, Blade of Mercy, Flame of the Dawn, and Entomophobe.

Alternative Racial Traits-Fleet of Foot, Low Blow, Shadow Hunter.

First feat is Weapons Familiarity which I will follow up with Slashing Grace.
I appreciate the consultation.

[VoodistMonk]

I believe you mean Weapon Focus... but if you are using the Whirling Dervish archetype, you get Dex to damage at level 4, anyways.

You could then take Dazzling Display instead of Slashing Grace. That gives you a debuff that helps everyone, enhancing your versatility.