We are playing CoCT. I am currently a 10th level swashbuckler. I just assumed the mantle of Black Jack. My DM is giving me a total rebuild option for my class, he is hinting at adding some vigilante, but still up to me.
I was thinking of going with Virtuous Bravo for 10 levels than maybe vigilante. The bravo seems to be a better swashbuckler than the swashbuckler. I can choose anything but rapier is my weapon of choice to stick with the whole thematic of Black Jack.
I am still using first edition, but any official book is okay to pull from. I liked the bravo because of the healing as I am the "tank" of the group and I get my ass kicked every encounter with my whopping 25 AC.
Any advice using the classes above would be great or any class ideas that still incorporates the rapier would also be appreciated.
Virtuous bravo paladin is indeed a lot like swashbuckler+. It can multiclass but won't gain enough from a level or two in vigilante to justify the dip unless you really, really like the dual identity.
If you're taking a lot of hits then the swordplay style feat is an option, or alternately getting into tripping or dirty tricks can impose a big debuff frequently. A swordmaster's flair (red sash) can stop people charging you effectively.
my general advice to anyone with panache, more so to tank build with it, is to grab the 'blue scarf' form of a Swordmaster's Flair asap. a free +5 ft reach for1 min a day (+1 more min per panache spent) is pure gold for this price.
it got even better after this faq made it so it count as having the hand free (and can be held in same hand as a buckler).
also if your using a buckler (and a flair, it doesn't mind the following), then your hand is count as free. this let you go in with crane style feat tree. if you grab all 3 feats and requirements (dodge + unarmed strike)and 3 ranks in acrobatics (which as ~swashbuckler you already should have for moving around without provoking) you'd get a +4 dodge to all ac, +4 more for melee (so +8 to melee) and only -1 to hit for all that,when fighting defensively.
-i splash a level of the scaled fist unchained monk to get dodge and unarmed strike for free, use my cha for ac bonus(which make my ac even higher !) and flurry with a waveblade for more attacks (which is something as a one handed weapon fighting build you really need to get closer to two handed\2 weapon wielders). then get some1 to cast mage armor on me (if i don't get a way to do it myself. so many ways). my ac at level 7-8 was around 40~ most of the day before temp buffs, and most of it was also touch ac.
side note. after all this if you can also spare feat for deflect arrows (you got the requirements after all) then if you go total defense (which makes your ac even higher and take a standard action so you can still move a bit) you can deflect one missile attack and one melee attack per round (and get an aoo for the melee). this with the reach from flair can hurt non-pouncing builds melee enemies as if you keep moving they will only get one attack on you, which you can deflect. while you get aoo for deflecting. (and if they try and range, is where the deflect arrows come in handy)
Thanks for the advice, never thought to look at monk. Will take a peek. I will also look into the flair. Thanks.
you're welcome, just pointing out. i specifically referred to the scale fist monk who uses cha instead of wis for class abilities and some feats (like stunning fist).
it's a pretty solid ac build. you get dodge feat, dodging bonus form the class you took, ac from mage armor and from the buckler (which can be magical), from your dex and from your cha, then +4 when fighting defensively and +4 more against melee. i'm pretty sure you'l pass your old ac 25 by far. (this is before deflection from ring of protection and nat ac amulets etc etc).
in return you get -1 to attacks when fighting defensively (instead of the normal -4) and lower your bonus damage form precise strike deed and smite evil by one. but you get 1 more free flurry attack when you full attack with the right weapons so your dps should be higher. and that is why you take uncahiend monk who get all monk weapons - waveblade is 1d6 piercing( or slashing) with 18-20/2 crit - just like a rapier for normal swashbucklers. (also uncahined monk has full bab and no -2 to attack when he flurry)
If you are already LG and paladinic in roleplay then go virtuous bravo, if you aren’t, then look at the Daring Champion cavalier archetype. It is another “better swashbuckler” class, and is focussed on using rapier and buckler.
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You can make a good "swashbuckler" type character with Inspired Blade Swahbuckler 1 / Investigator X (commonly referred to as a "Swashtigator"). You have both panache and inspiration available to pull off crazy maneuvers. Alchemy + mutagen enables a fantastic armor class, so you can be extremely tanky, and Studied Combat is great for parrying.
I played a tiefling swashtigator in CoCT, and held back on maximizing my AC to avoid annoying the GM (rarely used Shield extracts, for example).
I like trying new classes and as my party will be taking a crack at D&D 5E next go round I wanted to playtest a few that I haven't yet. I came up with a new concept and thought I would post it to see if it would be viable. Sorry for the incoming wall of text.
1st level: Swashbuckler: Inspired Blade. Feats: Fencing Grace (L), Weapon Finesses' (B), Weapon Focus (B) and Piranha Strike (L).
2nd level: Swashbuckler: Inspired Blade. Charmed Life 3/day.
3rd level: Swashbuckler: Inspired Blade. Feat: Extra Panache. Nimble +1 AC.
4th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Travel Domain - +10 to move. Orisons, Monster Lore and Stern Gaze.
5th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Cunning Initiative (+2), Detect Alignment. Feat: Combat Reflexes.
6th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Solo Tactics, Teamwork Feat: Outflank.
7th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Feat: Dodge. Sneak Attack 1d6.
8th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Bane (7 rnds), Discern Lies (7 rnds). Study Target: +2 to hit and dam, move action unless sneak damaged.
9th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Feat: Battle Cry. Teamwork Feat: Intercept Charge.
10th level: Inquisitor: Sanctified Slayer. Study Target now a swift action. Sneak Attack 2d6.
11th level: Vigilante: Avenger. Feat: Critical Focus. Dual Identity, Social Guise and Social Talent: Social Grace (Diplomacy).
Not to bump my own thread but I came up with a different concepts and would like whoever's opinion on it. Sorry for the wall of text.
Race: Human – Heart of the Fey: +1 Reflex and Will saves, Knowledge Nature and Perception are class skills this replaces skilled.
Class: Swashbuckler (3), Oracle (7) and Vigilante. Favored class will be the Oracle.
Archetype: Swashbuckler Inspired Blade, Oracle Dual Cursed.
Traits: Addicted Friend +2 Knowledge local and Reactionary +2 to initiative.
Level 1: Swashbuckler: Deeds: Parry and Riposte and Panache Pool of 6.
Level 2: Swashbuckler: Charmed Life 3/day.
Level 3: Swashbuckler: Deeds: Kip up, Menacing Swordplay, Precise Strike and Swashbuckler Initiative.
Level 4: Oracle: Shadow Mystery, Revelation is Dark Secrets (L); Curses are Legalistic (Sickened if I break an oath) and Tongues (Only speak in Celestial or Infernal) with Tongues going forward. +1 skill points this level (FCB).
Level 5: Oracle: Mystery Spell is Blurred Movement. Panache Pool is now 8. +1 skill points this level (FCB).
Level 6: Oracle: Revelation is Pierce the Shadows (L). +1 hit point this level (FCB).
Level 7: Oracle: Mystery spell is Invisibility. + 1 level one spells this level (FCB).
Level 8: Oracle: Revelation is Shadow Projection (B/A). + 1 level one spells this level (FCB).
Level 9: Oracle: Mystery spell is Deeper Darkness. New curse language is Infernal. +1 level two spell this level (FCB).
Level 10: Oracle: Revelations are Stealth Mastery (L) and Wings of Darkness (F). +1 level two spell this level (FCB).
Level 11: Vigilante: Dual Identity, Seamless Guise, Social Talent – Well Known Expert and Stalker Specialization.