Building a Duelist...

[Technik4]

Hi, I'm trying to build a duelist (as the PrC) since I've always wanted to and it looks like I may have the chance. There are a couple conditions:

1. I'm playing a human male (age 36, so -1 Str, Dex, Con and +1 Int, Wis, and Cha)
2. I don't have my stats and they will be rolled 4d6, drop lowest, roll 6 times
3. My group sticks very close to RAW in terms of tweaking (no dropping the 'lawful' or 'multiclass' restriction on monks for instance)
4. I will be playing a 'has-been' character, formerly a captain of the guard and later adventurer of some renown he has spent the last 5 years drinking away all of his phat loot, scaring his friends and family away, and racking up big bar tabs.
5. The campaign is set in Forgotten Realms, but magic is not easy to come by and many NPCs will not have magical gear. Thus what we get may very well be what we get (and no one seems to be playing a spellcaster).
6. As experience will be coming slowly (few combats, mostly roleplaying) I'd like to enter the class as early as possible.
7. Allowable books may include Forgotten Realms and Complete books, but other things will have to go by the DM.

I am enquiring about builds (just the build to get to duelist...I'll figure the rest out later) mostly out of curiousity, because currently my build is:

Rog1-to Rog3/Ftr4 and then ride duelist

My concern is with the probability of low stats, will this character ever be able to take advantage of the duelist abilities (which require no armor, IIRC)? And will the character be viable before I get to take duelist levels...(of course).

Other builds I've considered:

Ari1-to Ari3/Ftr4
Mnk1-to Mnk3/Ftr4

Any suggestions?

 

[Darklone]

Which books are allowed? Complete Series? Which level is the char? 7?

If yes, I'd head for Rog3/Swash3/Ftr1 or Rog4/Swash3 with the Daring Outlaw feat. Gives you 3d6 or 4d6 sneak attack plus Int to damage.

You'll probably need good stats though. Str is not too important but helps with damage. Int should be 18 (bonus to AC and to damage), dex as well (put the 4th level increase here to compensate for the aging penalty). Con shouldn't be lower than 14 but you can take Imp Toughness with a Con 12.

The fastest way into the class is probably Swash3/Ftr3.

Telling Blow feat (PHB2) looks nice if you use a rapier, Imp Critical or a keen rapier is recommended. Alternatively, you might add more fighterlevels and the Daring Warrior feat... heading for Melee Weapon Mastery (PHB2).

 

[Nyaricus]

Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 4/Duelist X/Dervish X is a deadly, deadly combo, lemme tell you. Int bonus to AC, Damage and to-hit. [Borat]That's niiice[/Borat].

cheers,
--N

 

[Aeric]

For me, Fighter/swashbuckler/scout worked as a nice alternative to the duellist PrC. For one thing, you can still wear armor; even with a high Int, by the time you get enough levels to get the full bonus from Canny Defense, you will in all likelihood have a set of light armor that gives the same if not better AC bonus. If Canny Defense stacked with armor, it would be worth taking. If it was the 3.0 version where you got your full Int bonus at first level, you could at least cherry-pick. There's a lot of overlap with swashbuckler in terms of class abilities, so IMHO, duellist is inferior to swashbuckler.

My build for the aforementioned character focused on the spring attack feat tree. Scout added to my movement rate, AC while moving, and of course the skirmish damage. Max ranks in Tumble meant that even in those rare instances where I couldn't simply jump in, stab, and jump back out, the enemy would be hard-pressed to AoO me.

 

[hong]

For me, Fighter/swashbuckler/scout worked as a nice alternative to the duellist PrC.

"Are you a duelist?"

"No, I'm a fighter/swashbuckler/scout specialising in the rapier."

"And that doesn't strike you as needlessly complicated?"

"Not until now, no."

 

[Raspen]

for me with my duelist it was more about the feats then anything
fighter/rogue/duelest

Feats:
combat exp
dodge
mobility
imp combat exp
imp disarm
weopen feness
and focues

I disarmed so much my GM made rules just so he didnt have to give up the weopen

if your alowed to use the UA the feat item familar is a good one too giving you alot of options

 

[jasin]

Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 4/Duelist X/Dervish X is a deadly, deadly combo, lemme tell you. Int bonus to AC, Damage and to-hit. [Borat]That's niiice[/Borat]

Where is the Int bonus to to-hit coming from?

 

[brendan candries]

High to Low: Dex/Int/Con/Str/Wis/Cha

Swash1/Fighter4/Swash2/Duel10

1. Weapon Focus (Rapier); Dodge
2. Combat Expertise
3. Mobility; Iron Will
5. Weapon Spec (Rapier)
6. Power Critical (Rapier) [C War]
9. Melee Weapon Mastery (Piercing) [PHBII]
12. Improved Critical (Rapier)
15. Einhander [PHBII]

 

[Nifft]

How about Warblade 20?

If you specialize in Diamond Mind and Iron Heart, you will get to do all sorts of super-cool Duelist-type stuff. Without actually being a Duelist.

No Int to AC, but... you can get +2 AC vs. one opponent, or +2 AC when you move 10 ft., or you can use a Counter to substitute your attack roll for your AC.

You get Int to Reflex saves, to confirm criticals, to damage vs. flanked or flat-footed foes (like Sneak Attack), to resist bull rush, disarm, trip, etc., and to attack AND damage on AoOs (stacks with damage when flanking). So Int is pretty important.

Not sure if ToB is allowed, but if so, it's a fantastic resource.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Technik4]

Thanks for the suggestions -

I like Swashbuckler3/Fighter4/DuelistX, higher BAB than the rogue option though my Int will undoubtedly be less than 2d6 sneak attack. Still a worthy option. I'll repost when I get my stats and show how it turned out.