Ideas for a swashbuckler

[Korvax]

Hey, I'm looking for suggestions for my swashbuckler character.

Here's what he looks like at the moment : Tristan (note: options taken at 3rd level are probably still reversable, as we leveled at the end of the last session)

The theme I was going for was to be a front-liner who supports his allies (through using special combat abilities such as disarming). I also wanted to be a good flanking partner for a fighter-rogue in the group and I'm looking for ways to make him somewhat of a stronger melee fighter as well (since at the moment he isn't very threatning).

His rapier is his main melee weapon, with the cutlass being used only when a piercing weapon isn't doing the trick.

The campaign has been ship and port based so far, with island visits. The other characters in the party are a rogue/ftr, a barbarian (looking to become a frenzied berserker), a sorcerer and a warmage.

More or less anything from WotC sources is permitted in the campaing.

All suggestions are welcome.

 

[mikebr99]

Hey, I'm looking for suggestions for my swashbuckler character.

The other characters in the party are a rogue/ftr, a barbarian (looking to become a frenzied berserker), a sorcerer and a warmage.

More or less anything from WotC sources is permitted in the campaing.

All suggestions are welcome.

Heh... something fast... you'll need to be getting away from him soon enough.

Mike

 

[VonRichthofen]

Not necessarily, Mike.

You should definitely get that 3rd level of Swashbuckler to get that crunchy Int bonus to damage.

Afterwards, grab a few levels of rogue (4?) an proceed with swashbuckler & the Daring Outlaw feat (adds rogue and swashbuckler levels for Sneak Attack and Grace/Dodge)

Combine this with the Disruptive Attack alternative class feature (PHB II) and you have a nice flanking partner for your fighter. You'll do Sneak Attack like a full-blown rogue but keep nigh-undiluted fighter BAB. Even against creatures immune to Sneak Attack, your distracting attack will be very valuable a -5 to the opponent's AC will just sream "Power Attack me" to your fighter buddy.

Otherwise, you could grab three more fighter levels for Weapon Specialization & Melee Weapon Mastery - or some nice & fitting PrC, like the duelist. Duelists are good flanking partners because of their ability to get some really good AC - they don't do that much damage, but they are hard to hit at higher levels.

Thus, either fighter 4/swashbuckler 3/duelist 10/whatever 3 or fighter 2/rogue 4/swashbuckler 14 - though this will incur XP penalties- but I am sure you could have a word with your DM since it fits the concept & doesn't exactly lead into powergaming either.

 

[szilard]

Thoughts:

The third level of Swashbuckler should help a lot.

After that, you have some possibilities:

The obvious option is to take three more levels of fighter. Weapon specialization and two more feats would be nice.

A less obvious option would be to take two levels of Ranger for a favored enemy and two weapon fighting (and extra skill points). If your campaign doesn't feature an appropriate favored enemy, this is less impressive.

A still less obvious option would be Scout or Rogue. Rogue will hurt you in the hit points, but evasion is nice and the sneak attack would synergize well with the flanking. Scout is good if you find your tactics include a lot of mobility. Both options have the skill point bonus. Three levels of scout will give you an AC boost. Unfortunately, both of these options will also reduce your BAB.

An unobvious option? Warblade. I don't know how well it would synergize, but d12 HD, full BAB, and a few stances/maneuvers (even basic ones) are nothing to sneeze at. I know Warblade gets some bonuses from high Int. Taking a few levels in this (perhaps alternating with Fighter to avoid xp penalties) might be worthwhile.

-Stuart

 

[szilard]

Another weird option:

Take a level or two of Battle Sorcerer. Focus on spells you can cast as swift/immediate actions on yourself (Stand, Swift Expeditious Retreat) or on those with long duration (Mage Armor, Jump). Cantrips are fun too: Arcane Mark for some Zorro action, Mage Hand, and Prestidigitation. Lots of fun if you like to improvise.

-Stuart

 

[Korvax]

Ooh, I like that rogue/swashbuckler combo you've got there... where might I find this Daring Outlaw feat you mentionned? This sounds very interesting (and very fitting for what I'd like to play)

 

[Corsair]

Probably complete scoundrel. I r need teh booK!

 

[Goldmoon]

Theres also a feat in Complete Scoundrel that lets you gain an extra d6 damage when you fight defensively, also you can get the extra d6 if you have combat expertise and take at least a -2 to hit. -2 to hit and +2 to ac for an extra d6 damage is pretty good.

 

[Enforcer]

You absolutely need to replace your level in Fighter with Swashbuckler 3. THEN ditch the class and go for Fighter (or Rogue, or whatever). We're talking about +3 to damage here!

 

[Korvax]

I'll have to get my hands on complete scoundrel then, but I do think I'll be trying to go for swashbuckler 16/rogue 4 (if the DM will let me replace that fighter level with a swash level that is) - sounds exactly like the type of character I wanted to play (I also like that fighting defensively bonus... I could use that too)