Pathfinder 1E If you want High Dex melee -and- a choice in weapons, you're asking for WAY to much

[SkidAce]

As long as organized play is not a problem, I let my players spend a feat to make weapons finessable(sp?). It's like learning a fighting style.

And I let them do it with scimitar for free. Just feels right.

 

[N'raac]

Others have covered the available choices in some detail above.

Oh sure; everyone else gets to have hammers, axes, swords, even a bloody scyth.

Light hammer, handaxe or throwing axe, short sword, light mace, sickle. Elven curve blade if you're an elf (or prepared to shell out an Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat), and spiked chain (again if you're prepared to use another feat).

Lots of Simple or Martial options that do the same 1d6 as the rapier. The rapier has that extra Critical range, but the handaxe has a better multiplier and there are some options that can be thrown, so there are some tradeoff choices. If you're prepared to invest an Exotic feat and go two handed, you can Trip or Disarm with a spiked chain (with a damage enhancement over that 1d6) or go Curve Blade to get bastard sword damage with Rapier critical range (especially if you're an elf - and they make pretty good DEX-based warriors).

Less options than a STR fighter, who can use all of the above and more, but you get all the advantages of DEX as well. Hardly "rapier or useless character", as I see it.

Damage is more the issue, as I'm not aware of anything that lets DEX sub in for damage, and you likely don't even have the 13 STR to qualify for Power Attack. But the quick, agile warrior is probably not the damage machine as well - that's the niche of the STR based power attacker. If we make everything Finessable, then toss in a feat to use DEX for adding damage, what's the benefit of a STR based heavy hitter?

 

[Scott DeWar]

Here on EN world, in Living Pathfinder, We have a limited source availability. The dueling sword would be out, but I wish it wearn't. not sure if an exotic weapon feat is worth another 2 points of damage. I am playing a Fighter, free hand style (APG). With so much to be invested in dex and feats such as trip, improved and such, I find the resorces of feats to be quite valuable.

on the other hand, a power attacking fighter spend his feats in that feat chain to get the DPS effect.

The problem is that the dm of most games throw monsters that require the DPS and a dex fighter gets blasted away.

 

[triqui]

on the other hand, a power attacking fighter spend his feats in that feat chain to get the DPS effect.

The problem is that the dm of most games throw monsters that require the DPS and a dex fighter gets blasted away.

This has always been a problem of specialist fighters (and other classes). If you make a disarm specialist, you are going to lose half your feats against an Owl Bear. Few combats can't be won by damage. But a lot of monsters can't be overcome by damage-substitutions. Lot's of them arent disarmable, or trip-able, or stun-able. Quite a few can't be sneak-attacked, or crit (although pathfinder reduced those, there are many). But almost every one can be power attacked.
And you can't have characters who aren't focused in damage to deal the same damage than those who do. It wouldn't be fair for those who choose a two handed maul and STR 20, because they don't get high Ref Save, high Initiative, high acrobatics, high stealth, high AC... and a ton of very useful circumstantial maneuvers

D&D next had a good idea around this with his Combat Superiority stuff. If you have a lot of "disarm" feats, and the enemy can't be disarmed, you can just trade that for raw damage. At the very least, you aren't hosed.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

OTOH, enchantments can help out in that regard...Vorpal, for instance is nice for a finesse warrior using a throwing axe, handaxe or shortsword.

 

[N'raac]

Freeport included a weapon enchantment called "Adroit" which allowed the user to sub DEX for STR modifiers to hit. I don't have it in front of me, but I believe it was a +2 equivalent and did not require the user have Weapon Finesse, and was limited to slashing and piercing weapons. Perhaps a +1 enhancement which makes the weapon Finessable would be a reasonable alternative. Of course, this means sacrificing alternate enchantments which would enhance damage.

Ultimately, though, DEX fighters have a different skill set. If you're trying for massive damage, that's the domain of the Brute, not the Swashbuckler.

 

[Traveon Wyvernspur]

Freeport included a weapon enchantment called "Adroit" which allowed the user to sub DEX for STR modifiers to hit. I don't have it in front of me, but I believe it was a +2 equivalent and did not require the user have Weapon Finesse, and was limited to slashing and piercing weapons. Perhaps a +1 enhancement which makes the weapon Finessable would be a reasonable alternative. Of course, this means sacrificing alternate enchantments which would enhance damage.

Ultimately, though, DEX fighters have a different skill set. If you're trying for massive damage, that's the domain of the Brute, not the Swashbuckler.

Freeport is 3PP stuff from Green Ronin Publishing and didn't the OP say they couldn't use that?

To the OP: I was skimming through the posts and maybe someone mentioned it and maybe not, but there is also the Agile enhancement.

 

[Scott DeWar]

I am not the op, but i did say i can't use it.

 

[RigaMortus2]

As long as organized play is not a problem, I let my players spend a feat to make weapons finessable(sp?). It's like learning a fighting style.

And I let them do it with scimitar for free. Just feels right.

Scimitar finessable? Watch what I am about to do...

Damage is more the issue, as I'm not aware of anything that lets DEX sub in for damage

Get at least Dex 13, Weapon Finesse, take 2 ranks in Perform (dance), and make sure you are proficient with the Scimitar.

Then pick up Dervish Dance

 

[N'raac]

Doesn't exactly enhance the choices available, but a definite option for a DEX-based warrior. Can be available as soon as L3, as well, L2 for a fighter.