critical weapons and character build help

[Ogrehatescomputers]

i'm going to be playing in a new game my friend is running and would like to build a dex based fighter type (does not have to be a fighter for class) and would like to focus on getting critical hits.

we are going to be fourth level.
28 point buy (based of dnd 3.5)
4th lvl starting money


I was thinking of just making a rapier wielding kinda guy but really was wondering more if their was any other weapon or other feats other than improved crit that i should take.

 

[Mad Hamish]

A lot of it depends on what you intend to do.
Note that a dex based melee fighter will never be as effective as a strength based melee fighter with the possible exception of a dual weapon character with sneak attack or another way of pumping additional damage out, but dual weapon wielding is fairly feat intensive.

If you're going dual weapon Kukri's are certainly worth considering.

In terms of feats there's Critical Focus and follow on feats for it which are great but need 9th level for a full BAB class to qualify and more for the follow ons

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

PF does not do dex-based warriors well at all.

That said, the only truly effective dex-based warrior I've seen is a Magus that uses the Dervish Dance feat and fights with a scimitar. Spellstrike + Spell Combat makes for a brutal full attack, especially once you can use your arcana pool to give the scimitar Keen.

Since you're using only 1 hand as per dervish dance and Magus anyway, a strong option would be to build for the Crane Style feat tree found in Ultimate Combat. Especially Crane Wing, that is REALLY helpful.

[sblock]Crane Riposte (Combat)
You use your defensive abilities to make overpowering counterattacks.

Prerequisites: Crane Style, Crane Wing, Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus +8 or monk level 7th.

Benefit: You take only a –1 penalty on attack rolls for fighting defensively. Whenever you use Crane Wing to deflect an opponent's attack, you can make an attack of opportunity against that opponent after the attack is deflected.

Crane Style (Combat, Style)
Your unarmed fighting techniques blend poise with graceful defense.

Prerequisites: Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus +2 or monk level 1st.

Benefit: You take only a –2 penalty on attack rolls for fighting defensively. While using this style and fighting defensively or using the total defense action, you gain an additional +1 dodge bonus to your Armor Class.

Crane Wing (Combat)
You move with the speed and finesse of an avian hunter, your sweeping blocks and graceful motions allowing you to deflect melee attacks with ease.

Prerequisites: Crane Style, Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus +5 or monk level 5th.

Benefit: Once per round while using Crane Style, when you have at least one hand free and are either fighting defensively or using the total defense action, you can deflect one melee weapon attack that would normally hit you. You expend no action to deflect the attack, but you must be aware of it and not flat-footed. An attack so deflected deals no damage to you[/sblock]

You could take critical feats later, but I think they're kinda a waste. You want to crit so your spells (Shocking Grasp being your work horse) do MOAR DAMAGE.
Oh, and there's this spell to really wreck someone's offensive abilities on a crit.

 

[Ogrehatescomputers]

Stream,

holy mother of God. That's just mean. Frigid touch? Yes, i'm building that now. I would have never in a million years thought of that build. It'll take a long while but be well worth it. And it'll make for an interesting character to roleplay during the games as well. We dont have near as much combat as other campaigns I've been involved with but (and to my DM'S great credit) every battle we have had has been a pretty intense ordeal where I actually feared for my character more than the normal fight.

Thanks for your advice.