D&D 3.x Help with my Drow Swashbuckler (3.5)

[parinho7]

since i am a duelist i think i am good in one on one combat. i don't know what i'll contribute to the group, i think i just move to surround one monster and flank it and then share the loot my dm didn't left me many options, i just hope my attacks to be successful. i'll try to stay alive and contribute to the roleplaying aspect. i just want ways to avoid being hit at my current level. i already bought the healing belt, i changed my studded leather to a mithril shirt and i get a ring of protection (2000gp according to the dm guide). other ideas? i also planning on getting a brilliant weapon increase my chance to hit.

 

[parinho7]

If you disagree, then that's your right. You've got what you came for. Have fun.

don't take me wrong i don't disagree i know this character sucks but i can't change him. i had big arguements with my dm for this matter and you are completely right but i think i was clear at the first post that i just wanted ideas to max my AC not advise on character progression.

 

[Dandu]

I have edited my post because I thought what I said was too harsh on you. Let's address other issues.

 

[Dandu]

since i am a duelist i think i am good in one on one combat.

Hate to break it to you, but you're not. Mechanically, you're likely to die against most CR appropriate melee monsters if you go it alone.
You are a ECL 6 level creature, which means you will be going up against CR 4-7 monsters. You can search for them here and judge for yourself how well you'd do in a duel.

i don't know what i'll contribute to the group, i think i just move to surround one monster and flank it and then share the loot

Problem is... a trained war dog could do that. As could a summoned monster.

my dm didn't left me many options,

Your DM is an intersting person. If I may ask - and this is just to gauge his knowledge of DnD, has he made changes/restrictions to playing classes that cast spells?

i just hope my attacks to be successful.

-4 is a pretty big penalty to eat, and it looks like most of your money will be going to boosting AC.

i'll try to stay alive and contribute to the roleplaying aspect.

If that's what you want.

i also planning on getting a brilliant weapon increase my chance to hit.

Don't waste your money on a Brilliant Weapon, since it does nothing to at least one group of commonly encountered enemy (read: undead).

 

[parinho7]

@Dandu: i really appreciate it man for getting to all this efford for me

you are probably right to everything you say so if its not much trouble help me make my character better. here are my stats: 17 15 15 14 12 9, the equipment i can get is what a npc rogue gets at dmg page 123. i can only use ph, ph2, dmg and the complete series for feats and only ONE prc and get the dm permission for it. items i am allowed to get from every 3.5 book/magazine.

i must be a drow
i can only advance as a swashbuckler until the prc.

here is the list of feats that i intended to get until level 18:
[FONT=&quot]Dodge
Deadly Defense
Mobility
Einhander
Combat Expertise
Improved Disarm
Improved Feint[/FONT]

you can change it completely. the first session is tommorow at 2 o'clock so i have to be ready until then.

i understand if you don't want to do this because it takes time and i know i ask much. anyway i really appreciate what you posted up until now and all the efoord you did for replying my posts, that build was the best i could get with my dnd knowledge

also it would be nice to recomment me some battle tactics.

about my dm now he always put many restrictions and we always argue about them. at this campaign he is creating the other players characters and he allowed me to create my own because moad him a lot the other players will be 2 half dragons custom-fighters (he created a new class i don't know many details). and one warmage (i don't know the race but i know he will have level adjustment +2 at least)

again if you can't do it it's ok thanks anyway for getting to all this trouble for me

and one more thing, i don't remmember a single campaign with that dm that i had a 5 digit number of gp in my inventory so i can't plan on getting all this equipment you posted on a previous post

 

[Dandu]

This will take 15 minutes.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Wow, those restrictions are tough. I'll try to help out... (God I hope you didn't have to pay the LA on Drow, or can at least buy it off later.)

First off, if you have access to Complete Mage, it has the best of the (very few) printed Swashbuckler alternate class features on p. 32, Arcane Stunt. You need a rank in Knowledge Arcana (which costs 2 skill points as it's cross class), but you can swap Grace for the ability to use spell-like abilities. First you pick one, then when Grace would raise to +2 and +3 (at levels 11 and 20) you get to pick additional spells from the list. The casting time is a swift action (except for feather fall, which is an immediate action) and the duration reduced to 1 round. The duration icreases by a round each at levels 11 and 20 as well. The spell-like abilities you can pick up are: blur, expeditious retreat, feather fall, jump, or spider climb. You can use any of the SLAs you choose in any combination up to 1+int mod times/day. Blur, I think, would be the most generally useful buff to grab, though all are handy.

For your one prestige class, if you can hold out in Swashbuckler that long, I think Dervish (Complete Warrior) is your best bet. Go with two weapon fighting and buy up ranks in perform (dance). It's worth it later on. Really, the only no-brainer class skill Swash even gives you is Tumble anyway.

If Tome of Battle is an option, you can get maneuvers from there as feats or in item form that may be useful. Let me know, and I'll suggest some.

EDIT: Two things on items. An amulet of natural armor +1 is 2000 gp, someone said it was 1000 gp. There's no reason to ever get one before a ring of protection +1, which costs the same and adds to touch AC.

Also, if your DM is that harsh on gold, that really hurts non-casters. Will he allow Vow of Poverty from Book of Exalted Deeds?

 

[Dandu]

Firstly, as you may have noticed from my signature, I am a sorcerer specialist. I can optimize melee, but not nearly as well as others.

As a result, I do not know of a good prestige class for the Swashbuckler. Hopefully, someone will come up with a good suggestion. Furthermore, I am going to proceed under the assumption that you do not have to become a Duelist.

You've got decent equipment advice. We'll skip that part.

Feat wise, I'd go for this lineup:

Combat Expertise
Combat Reflexes
Vexing Flanker (More AB when flanking is useful if you plan on flanking a lot. This cancels out the penalty for fighting defensively all the time)

These feats are more for flavor.
Deadly Defense (an extra 1d6 damage isn't much, but you seem to like the feat)
Einhander (Again, as long as you're doing this...)
Goad (It's a fun feat. You'd like it)

In addition, if you can TWF, I'd grab the feat.

 

[Dandu]

Note the timestamp. It took 14 minutes.

Edit:

If Tome of Battle is an option, you can get maneuvers from there as feats or in item form that may be useful. Let me know, and I'll suggest some.

I have a sneaking suspicion the DM will go "TOB is teh borkzorz!"

Also, if you can indeed dual wield as a Swashbuckler, then that's great. There are lots of TWF feats you might want to have a look at. Dual Strike, for example.

 

[parinho7]

thanks everyone for helping
i'll reconsider my build

@http://www.enworld.org/forum/members/streamofthesky.htmlStreamOfTheSky: i can't buy off the level adjustment and i can't use tome of battle
only
Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook 2
Dungeon Master Guide
all Complete x books

and what about basic stats? should i invest more on constitution? any suggestions on the basic abilities stat allocation?