Help with build: Dexterity based Swashbuckler->Duelist

[Genesist]

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting on the forums. I had the idea to make a dexterity based warrior who also adds intelligence to damage and AC. I however do not have much experience with standard D and D (mostly done variants), and am wondering if I can get some tips on the build I have come with. I have done plenty of research, but with limited experience I am sure that I have overlooked a few things.

Swashbuckler (Complete Warrior)
Warlord (Tome of battle)
Fighter (Player's Handbook)
Duelist (Sword and Fist)

I am going under be automatically proficient with the main gauche due to starting as swash, as well as not having an exp penalty for multicalssing (within reason).

My plan is to use the main guache and a rapier. I am starting as an air goblin, giving a +4 bonus to dex, with a -2 to str and con. Please tell me if you recommend another race. I have 21 dex, 13 str, 13 con, 17 int, 13 wis, and 13 cha. Other than feats I included a few of the major bonuses gained from class at that level. We start at level one.

1. Swashbuckler: Feat: Two weapon fighting feat, auto get weap finesse
2. Swashbuckler:
3. Swashbuckler: Dodge feat, auto int to damage
4. Fighter: improved weapon finesse feat
5. Warlord: Mountain hammer, punishing stance, stone vise, adamantine bones
6. Fighter: mobility feat ambidexterity feat
7. Duelist: Int to AC
8. Duelist:
9. Duelist: Main guache feat
10. Duelist:
11. Duelist:
12. Duelist: not sure what feat to add
13. Duelist:
14. Duelist:
15. Duelist:
16. Duelist:: not sure what feat to add

So please, improvements/suggestions?

 

[Eman Resu]

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting on the forums. I had the idea to make a dexterity based warrior who also adds intelligence to damage and AC. I however do not have much experience with standard D and D (mostly done variants), and am wondering if I can get some tips on the build I have come with. I have done plenty of research, but with limited experience I am sure that I have overlooked a few things.

Swashbuckler (Complete Warrior)
Warlord (Tome of battle)
Fighter (Player's Handbook)
Duelist (Sword and Fist)

I am going under be automatically proficient with the main gauche due to starting as swash, as well as not having an exp penalty for multicalssing (within reason).

My plan is to use the main guache and a rapier. I am starting as an air goblin, giving a +4 bonus to dex, with a -2 to str and con. Please tell me if you recommend another race. I have 21 dex, 13 str, 13 con, 17 int, 13 wis, and 13 cha. Other than feats I included a few of the major bonuses gained from class at that level. We start at level one.

1. Swashbuckler: Feat: Two weapon fighting feat, auto get weap finesse
2. Swashbuckler:
3. Swashbuckler: Dodge feat, auto int to damage
4. Fighter: improved weapon finesse feat
5. Warlord: Mountain hammer, punishing stance, stone vise, adamantine bones
6. Fighter: mobility feat ambidexterity feat
7. Duelist: Int to AC
8. Duelist:
9. Duelist: Main guache feat
10. Duelist:
11. Duelist:
12. Duelist: not sure what feat to add
13. Duelist:
14. Duelist:
15. Duelist:
16. Duelist:: not sure what feat to add

So please, improvements/suggestions?

improved initiative and lightening initiative (name ? its the +8 to init), Karmatic strike (for some situations), combat reflexes, spring attack, bounding assault, two wep defense, imp two wep fighting, greater two wep fighting, imp critical, great we p finese (dex to damage as well). Not sure about warlord, so I dont know those class/feat abilities...

happy hunting/wenching/womanizing!

PS: practice your outrageous French accent, alla Peter Sellers or Holy Grail... this will annoy the heck out of the other PC's, once the entire party is annoyed by you and you always get the girl only then will you be a poofter!

Eman Resu

 

[Genesist]

I avoid two weapon fighting, as it does not function with duelist, which is what I was interested in. I will look into the rest of what you suggested, thanks for the advice! Also considered two weap defense, but didn't seem worth it.

 

[Eman Resu]

I avoid two weapon fighting, as it does not function with duelist, which is what I was interested in. I will look into the rest of what you suggested, thanks for the advice! Also considered two weap defense, but didn't seem worth it.

ohh I thought you said you were planning on using the "parry dagger" and Rapier, that is two wep fighting

 

[Genesist]

Also I have improved weapon finesse in the build, and did take one level of two weapon fighting, just so that I can use the main gauche for the extra AC, wondering if it's worth it at all.

 

[Genesist]

What is the parrying dagger from?

 

[Eman Resu]

What is the parrying dagger from?

I was ref to your main-gauche as a defensive weapon, much like a spiked buckler would be.

 

[Dandu]

Duelist is a bad PrC that locks you into a weak fighting style. I'd avoid it like the Wailing Death. You can get a lot of AC, but as the Maginot Line proved, enemies can simply walk around you and kill the rest of your party before dealing with you.

I'd go Swashbuckler3/WarbladeX. Throw on a Tome of Battle prestige class if you want.

 

[Eman Resu]

Also I have improved weapon finesse in the build, and did take one level of two weapon fighting, just so that I can use the main gauche for the extra AC, wondering if it's worth it at all.

You could use fist, knee & foot as a traditional off hand attack while weilding 1 wep. I think your build is intended for 1 wep, that is the duelist benefits from weilding 1 wep.

A level or two of Monk would be a great (mechanical) dip class for you.
unarmed strike
deflect arrow (better than wrestling for your build)
combat ref
wis to AC
not to mention the good saves all around!

I also suggest quick draw & close quarter combat, so any would be grapplers get attacked 1st!

 

[Empirate]

The idea of a Dex based fighter is surprisingly hard to pull off in D&D 3.5. First of all, let me recommend getting some sort of bonus damage. Insightful Strike is a start, but doesn't really make up for losing the tons of Power Attack damage a Str-focused build would provide. Look into getting Sneak Attack, Sudden Strike or Skirmish damage dice. The best would probably be a few Rogue levels, and the Daring Outlaw feat. This lets your Swashbuckler levels count as Rogue levels for continuing Sneak Attack progression. Rogue 4/Swashbuckler 16 is a simple and useful build. Use the TWF feat chain for the full benefit from sneak attack damage.

Second, Duelist is often commented on as being very weak (even weaker than straight Swashbuckler, IMO). It forces you into a horrible fighting style: one-handed light weapons. That way, you forgo almost all the damage you can do - Precise Strike is much too little to compensate. Also, while Int to AC is nice, you have to be unarmored to use this feature. A simple Chain Shirt will do more for you here. Elaborate Parry is the only worthwhile class feature, and this comes really late.

Since Tome of Battle is obviously allowed, how about going stright Warblade or Swordsage? Maneuvers will allow you to deal good damage even while using light weapons. The Shadow Blade feat allows you to add Dex to damage with certain weapons, as long as you have Swordsage levels.