Challenge: help me build my character

[d12]

So, I have an idea for a character but little notion of how to put him down on paper. So, get out your character building hats. Here goes:

I want to play a charming, quick-witted and dashing swashbuckler type with the ability to cast some arcane spells. Think "muskateer + han solo with tricks up his sleeve." He adventures for the thrill, the women and the gold (in that order) but he has a noble heart that he can't ignore despite the fact that he would like to.

Here are the guidelines:

He uses a rapier (possibly with other weapons)

He can cast arcane spells but does not focus on evocation type spells like fireball and magic missile

He likes to have a little something ready for whatever might cross his path

He prefers talk over fighting, stealth over fighting, and trickery over fighting but he is not afriad of a fight if it comes to it

Chaotic Good

32 point buy

19,000 gp

Human, Half-Elf, Elf, Halfling, Aasimar or Teifling

7th level (or ECL) but offer suggestions for development up to 20th

Use any WoTC or Malhavoc product (3.5)

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Well, this build screams half-elf bard.

S 10
D 14
C 12
I 13
W 10
Ch 16

.... but if you don't like bards, take a look at the Hexblade. They're a little nastier.

 

[d12]

I'm thinking "not bard" or at least "not all bard." I will look at the hex blade.

 

[Darklone]

Swashbuckler/Bard... Hmm.

 

[d12]

I don't have a copy of Complete Warrior yet but from what I can find online it looks like Swashbuckler would be a good main class with wizard thrown in and also possibly some rogue. I like the Swashbuckler's skill list and class abilites a lot.

 

[iwatt]

I don't have a copy of Complete Warrior yet but from what I can find online it looks like Swashbuckler would be a good main class with wizard thrown in and also possibly some rogue. I like the Swashbuckler's skill list and class abilites a lot.

What about Rogue/Sorcerer? less combat staying power, but very versatile. and it avoids the bard aspects that many dislike (I don't). You could gear him towards enchantment spells. Add in some Fighter levels if necessary. Of course a swashbuckler/sorcerer might work better, but you get less skill points. And rogues can make better face men than bards in the sense that they can be face men and something else.

 

[d12]

Suddenly, something like a Swashbuckler/Wizard/Eldritch Knight is starting to look pretty cool. Ooh, my head spins with too many possibilites.

Sw1
Sw1/Wiz1
Sw2/Wiz 1
Sw3/Wiz1
Sw4/Wiz1
Sw4/Wiz2
Sw5/Wiz2
Sw6/Wiz2
Sw7/Wiz2
Sw8/Wiz3
Sw8/Wiz4
Sw9/Wiz5
Sw9/Wiz5/EK1
Sw9/Wiz5/EK2

20th - Sw13/Wiz5/EK2

This would give me a BAB of 16/11/6/1 at 20th level, and access to 4th level wizard spells at 16th level.

Hmmm...I bet someone here can do better than me.

 

[d12]

What about Rogue/Sorcerer? less combat staying power, but very versatile. and it avoids the bard aspects that many dislike (I don't). You could gear him towards enchantment spells. Add in some Fighter levels if necessary. Of course a swashbuckler/sorcerer might work better, but you get less skill points. And rogues can make better face men than bards in the sense that they can be face men and something else.

Hmmm..... throw out the combat stuff and focus him as a the non-combat guy/ utlity guy of the party. I like it.

 

[Technik4]

Sounds almost just like a Mage-Blade from AU (or AE).

They don't get a really great spell selection, but you wear medium armor with no spellcasting failure while retaining your movement bonus. Charisma is their primary spellcasting attribute, so that goes well with your concept and they get Med BAB and all their saves are Med. The only kicker is the skill selection isn't that great and 2 sp/level. So, I made a human and gave him an Int bonus. To somewhat compensate you have 3rd level spells but not too many spells per day (11/day, only one 3rd level).

The character follows all of AU (AE) rules, so Sneak is Hide+Move Silently and there are no exclusive skills.

He prefers talk over fighting, stealth over fighting, and trickery over fighting but he is not afriad of a fight if it comes to it

Human Mageblade 7

Str 12
Dex 17
Con 12
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 16

[ Raised Dex at level 4.]

BAB: +5
Saves: +5/+7/+4
HD: 6d8+14
AC: 22 (Flat-Footed 22, Touch 13)
Init: +3
Speed: 40 ft.

Class Abilities: Simple Weapon Proficiency, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Light Armor Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency, Shield Proficiency, Athame (Focus for spells, no failure while holding it; Strikes anyone who other than its wielder who tries to use it [Attacks 1/rd at wielder's bonuses]; Has a +2 enhancement bonus), Shimmering Shield 1/day (+3 Deflection bonus, activate as standard action, lasts 7 rounds), Sprightly Step (Retain Movement in Medium Armor).

Feats: Fleet of Foot (+10 Speed), Affinity with Sneak (+4 Sneak, 1st level only), Intuitive Sense (Keep Dex Bonus when Flat-Footed), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus - Rapier, *Rapid Strikes - Rapier (Make an additional attack as part of Full-Attack at half BAB, can use Character Level/day).

Skill Ranks (Total): Diplomacy 5 (+8), Jump 10 (+10), CC Sneak 5 (+9), Spellcraft 10 (+12), CC Tumble 5 (+12)

Items: (19k) Defending Athame +2 (Rapier) , +2 Breastplate, +1 Light Shield , Boots of Tumbling +5, Gloves of Dexterity +2, Cloak of Resistance +1, (~500g left)

Attacks: +13 (+2 Defending Rapier 1d6+3, 18-20/x2)
*Full Attack: +13/+10 (+2 Defending Rapier 1d6+3, 18-20/x2)

[A Mageblade can enchant his Athame (focus weapon) without giving it an enhancement bonus because one of his class abilities is that the Athame gets an enhancement bonus +1/4 levels.]

Spells Slots Per Day (5/5/4/1)
0: Bash, Canny Effort, Detect Magic, Glowglobe, Saving Grace
1: Acrobatics, Charm, Precise Vision, Predict Weather, Safe Fall
2: Ability Boost (Lesser), Beastskin (Lesser), Subtle Steps, See Invisibility
3: Slow

The spells are focused on utility or skill increases, which make up for his lack of a lot of skill ranks.

Well, that was fun I just got AE and like statting up characters, I hope some of this can help!

Technik

 

[Thanee]

Human Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 3/Wizard 5/Eldritch Knight 9

At 7th level:

Human Rogue 2/Swashbuckler 2/Wizard 3

(8th level: Swashbuckler.)

Str 10
Dex 15+1
Con 14
Int 16
Wis 8
Cha 14

(8th and 12th level: +1 Int each.)

Skills: Bluff +8(6), Diplomacy +10(4), Disable Device +13(10), Gather Information +8(4), Hide +10(7), Intimidate +10(6), Knowledge (arcana) +8(5), Knowledge (local) +8(5), Listen +5(6), Move Silently +10(7), Search +13(10), Sense Motive +5(6), Spellcraft +12(7), Spot +5(6), Tumble +8(5).

(Skills can be built up almost freely, thanks to Able Learner. Maybe Disable Device/Search doen't fit so well (just thought they are nice to have as a Rogue), you could use those 20 ranks also to max out Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information and Sense Motive instead, for example.)

Feats: Able Learner (Human 1st), Improved Initiative (1st), Weapon Finesse (Swashbuckler 1st), Combat Expertise (3rd), Improved Disarm (6th).

(Later you could learn Arcane Strike maybe. And don't forget Practiced Spellcaster.)

Bye
Thanee