Dex or Int?

[e3_Jeb]

Basically I was wondering which would be best for an arrogant elven aristocrat duelist...

I'm about to become 8th level and I'm trying to decided whether I want to make my Dexterity 17 or my intelligence 17... Both will benefit my AC and neither will aid my my melee attack bonus (No Weapon Finnesse)... Whichever I choose I'll go with at 12th level also, so I'm wondering which would be the best investment... Getting a better Reflex save and bonuses to things like tumble or being smarter than our group's Paladin?

Well... What do you fine folks think? Thank you much...

 

[Piratecat]

Dex also adds to initiative, reflex saves and some interesting skills. Intelligence doesn't provide retroactive skill points. If you aren't a wizard, I'd go with dex.

 

[sithramir]

Both will raise your ac? I hope 17 means you have a +1 or +3 item? If not i want in a game where 17 gives me bonus's! Maybe you just meant when you get to 12th level.

As a duelist dex is nice for weapon finesse, however, your reflex is going to be insanely high as a duelist already. 1 point is good but 1 point in int means another skill point per level while still giving you ac bonus. If you weren't a duelist or were using weapon finesse i'd say definitely go with dex but as it is i'd just suggest going with int as reflex saves aren't huge, ac bonus is the same, no attack bonus's but you gain skill points which are HUGE for a lower skill point player (then again if you are not getting these til 12th level when it becomes even its useless and just go with dex).

It helps tumble, but not until 12th level where you have enough to meet all the DC's of basic stuff.

 

[DevoutlyApathetic]

I think everybodies missing the point....

Basically I was wondering which would be best for an arrogant elven aristocrat duelist...

Intelligence. You're a busy elf. You've got places to go, people to act superior to, and elder-than-thou attitudes to express. Intelligence.

 

[e3_Jeb]

It seems to be hovering around a two to one for Dex but I'll give it a while... Thank you Pirecat and sithramir for giving me some good reasons to go Dex. And thank you Devoutely Apethetic for picking up on that, I was wondering if anyone would take that into account, still though I'd like more things to balance before I choose...

 

[cptg1481]

DEX,INT, INT, DEX

Well, in terms of game play and mechanics I think that DEX will do you more good AC and all that...

However, I gotta go with the last guy, from a role play perspective the more intelligent the elf the more, well,...superior he can be. You can then out smart the paladin when you want and or when you don't want you can hold back your idea's (which are inherently superior until just the right moment and be the hero time and again with the solution in a pinch.

I think that would be a fun way to play an aristicrat...aloof, manipulative and a total spotlight ranger.

A "spotlight ranger" is an army term for someone who tends to take the easy way out when no one is looking while they have the unique ability to make themselves indepensible in the eyes of thier leaders/peers by reserving most of thier energy for when all eyes are on them and they can save the day.

Also when given mundane tasks and missions beneath them by others they tend to find a way out of it.

Intelligence is the best defence against being obsolete.

Aristocrats in my view want to be the answer man (or elf), the leaders etc. don't let that pesky paladin goody two shoes steal your spotlight there ranger!!!!

 

[e3_Jeb]

Well I'm shamelessly bumping this back to the first page in hopes that all of the Dexterity people will explain their rational... Hopefully by morning I'll have enough opinions to make for a mighty good time... Once again... Thank you all...

 

[the Jester]

Charisma.

 

[LuYangShih]

Intelligence. It makes more sense from a roleplaying standpoint. As an aside, I disagree with the rule that you cannot gain skillpoints retroactively when increasing Intelligence. All it does is make it so that no character with a class other than that of Wizard will increase it with the statistical points they get to spend.

 

[David Argall]

dex

+1 to AC, +1 to hit with bows, or if you use something like weapon finesse. +1 to initiative...

If you are not a wiz and your DM doesn't insist on lots of rp and little combat, the choice seems obvious.

Now, I am not so sure what you are doing with 2 odd numbers at 8th level. Almost alway better to even things out.