How to Sword Scion

[Flames of Chaos]

Apologies first off if I'm posting this in the wrong place as it's been some time since I've been on the forums, either 1e or 2e.

That being said, how on earth does one make an effective Sword Scion at 1st level? The background says you get access to Aldori dueling swords, but it doesn't say you just get one and it's freaking 30 GP to buy, which is double your starting gold. I would appreciate any and all advice as I'm making a back-up char for a Kingmaker run and I'm still wrapping my head around the fighter class.

Are there better classes for Sword Scion while I'm at it?

Thanks all and good luck with your campaigns, whether running or playing.

[CaffeinatedNinja]

Aldori dueling sword has been changed to be 2gp. It was accidentally printed with the old starting cost of 20gp in Kingmaker. So just buy one for 2gp and enjoy!

As for the best class to use it, it is a melee dex weapon. So probably Fighter, Swashbuckler or Ranger. Could also work with a laughing shadow magus or a few others.

[Captain Morgan]

Is the Sword Scion worth it? It gives you a lot for that advanced weapon and it feels like skill feats should be relevant in this campaign.

[VanceMadrox]

Sword Scion is actually great if you want to use an Aldori Dueling Sword.

The Sword Scion background doesn't get a Trained Skill or Skill Feat.

Losing these might seem bad but you have to factor in the other options for getting scaling Proficiency with Aldori Dueling Swords.

The actual Aldori Duelist Archetype is just plain bad compared to APG Duelist Archetype.

A Sword Scion with Duelist will likely be stronger than another background with Aldori Duelist.

The only other way I know of to scale the Aldori Dueling Sword is with Unconventional Weaponry, a general feat. Only Humans can get a General Feat at 1st level and you're using either your Heritage or Ancestry Feat to do so.

Getting scaling proficiency from a Background is actually great.

You're effectively trading a Skill Feat for a +1 Damage Die Increase and free use of your Heritage/Ancestry feat. (I'm counting the general feat and 1 Skill Training as about the same).

I can guarantee that if there was a Skill feat that increased your Damage Die every martial would take it.

[Captain Morgan]

Yeah, it is a nice option, but you're also losing a trained skill. Which is fine on a rogue, perhaps, but the Swashbuckler has a tougher time with it. A skill feat and a skill training are both about half an ancestry feat, so the trade feels roughly even.

And upgrading your damage dice is cool, but I'm not sure d8 is that much better than d6+deadly. It is a pretty big hit to your overall versatility, especially at low levels.

[VanceMadrox]

You're not really losing a trained skill compared to someone who wants to use an Aldori Sword without the Sword Scion background, only compared to someone who chooses another weapon.

Aldori Dueling Sword is a good option. +1 Damage on Non Fighters is slightly better than Deadly. But like most things in Pathfinder 2e either is viable.