Light Fighter - Swashbuckler

[Seeten]

Hey Folks:

I know I just helped out someone else with a similar request, so here is me, checking in for help of my own.

I am making a Dread Pirate, or Legendary Captain for a Sailing style adventure. I will not be wearing any armor heavier than light, and have feats coming out my ears, so no levels of fighter are necessary to qualify for anything. (Although that isnt to say you cant have fighter levels in your idea). We are using heroic array for stats, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, and as the Captain, and Face, I'll be putting the 15 on my cha. Also, our first +1 LA is not counted, so race can be anything up to LA +1 and is still perfectly kosher. Human is actually gimpy in this context.

My initial Idea:

Race: Aasimar

Rogue 1 Dodge, Combat Expertise
Rogue 2 Quick Draw
Swashbuckler 1 Weapon Finesse, Mobility
Rogue 3
Rogue 4 Spring Attack

Dread Pirate requires bab +4, appraise 8, use rope 4, etc, and quick draw, all of which are in there nice and easy. The 4th level of rogue seems wasteful, but second level of swashbuckler is also not too hot.

Anyone else got any bright ideas?

Oh, also on races: As the Captain, I need to look good, so no weird wacky ugly races. Good looking races only.(By human standards. Thus Drow are in, Tieflings are in, Aasimar are in, and Bariaur/githyanki/thrikreen are out)

 

[Seeten]

Some of the things I have taken a look at:

Unfettered
Battle Dancer
Monk
Bard
Hexblade
Ranger

Just not sure any of them fit...
Rogue + Battle Dancer seems ok, but...I dunno.
I could just do rogue 6 then dread pirate, also

 

[Enforcer]

I think Tiefling is better for a lightly armored fighter than Aasimar, especially if you look at the Swashbuckler base class from Complete Warrior (just don't take more than three levels in it. It does hurt your Face abilities though.

Also, an Aasimar Rog 1 only gets one feat.

I'd go Tiefling Rogue 1/Swashbuckler 3/Rogue 2. You'll have to use your Rogue skill points on Appraise though.

 

[Seeten]

Well, the DM is using a different feat system, you get feats at: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, or, every level you dont get an attribute bump.

So the Aasimar Rogue is level 1, ECL 1, and has 2 feats.

I know its abnormal, but thats how he wants it.

With the stat array, Tiefling sticks me with some pretty ugly choices. Best I can get would be a 15 cha...which might be enough, it isnt like I have spellcasting. It'd boost my int, which would sure help my skill points...

ok, lets check Tiefling: 18 dex(instead of 16) 16 int(instead of 13) 14 cha(instead of 18) 13 str(instead of 14) same con, wis is dump so who cares. It seems ok there, although really, I am more into the cha than I am into the dex. Tiefling works as a race though, I really like their flavor.

Aasimar suffers from getting +2 to my dump stat. Tiefling suffers from -2 to my favored stat.

Aren't there any good LA +1 races, that look attractive, and have +2 dex +2 cha? Yes, Catfolk, +4 dex and +2 cha, but goddamn, what cat person would willingly hang out on a boat?

 

[FalcWP]

Not really. Out of the MM races, a number of the +1 LA races have a charisma penalty. Aasimar get the bonus, Hobgoblins don't take a penalty, and that's about it.

Aasimar are obviously handy for that Charisma boost. But, beyond that, are their abilities going to help you? You get Daylight, resistance to acid, cold, and electricity, and darkvision, not to mention the wisdom boost and a bonus to listen and spot skills. All handy. Tiefling have a charisma that's 4 worse, but they're a bit smarter and a bit quicker (so, more skill points, bonus on knowledge skills, and their AC improves, to help you in light armor). They resist fire, rather than acid, and use darkness rather than daylight. Also, their favored class is rogue, which will be much more handy than paladin (aasimar's favored class).

Hobgoblins might not be terribly attractive, but they don't have a charisma penalty. They give you +2 Dex, +2 Con, and Darkvision, but that's honestly about it. +4 to Move Silently might not help you that much, and having Fighter as a favored class doesn't matter as much for you. Duergar are way too ugly, Gnolls and Bugbears have racial hit dice, and that's about it from the Monster Manual.

 

[Seeten]

As I'll be Captain of a Pirate Ship, I don't imagine a whole lot of sneaking is liable to happen, and such.

I really like the Dex and Int boost, but I hate the cha penalty. Some sort of Sun Elf from 2e Forgotten Realms would work wonders, with +2 Dex +2 int -2 wis, but I haven't seen any of that type of statty goodness.

Most of the races have big str con and cha penalties, or nothing.

I did take a long, long look at Githzerai, at +2 la(that'd be a 1 la hit for me) for +6 dex, but then its a -2 int to go with the chumpy +2 wis. So again, another pass.

Drow do get +2 Dex, +2 Int, +2 cha and -2 con, which is perfect and awesome, but its a 1 la hit, which ... I can weather, but do I want to. Also, Drow Light Fighters are very Stereotypical, especially if I wield 2 weapons(3rd level of Dread Pirate is twf.)

Heh.

 

[FalcWP]

Drow do get +2 Dex, +2 Int, +2 cha and -2 con, which is perfect and awesome, but its a 1 la hit, which ... I can weather, but do I want to. Also, Drow Light Fighters are very Stereotypical, especially if I wield 2 weapons(3rd level of Dread Pirate is twf.)

Heh.

Yeah. Take a level of Dervish, and dual-wield scimitars, as a Drow... it'd be real unique!

 

[Seeten]

Yeah, I'll be the first CG drow too...um, anyway =P

Half-Fey gives me Wings(Useful as a sailor? I think not...) Spell like abilities, 2 dex, 4 cha 2 wis -2 con for a +1 la

Feytouched gives me +2 dex and +2 cha and -2 con for no la...

I feel like a powergamer, but all I want is a good looking race that makes sense. lol.

Oh, and I guess I am a powergamer.

 

[szilard]

I like the idea of a Hexblade Pirate - you get a pirate curse and a parrot familiar! Charisma is useful, too.

You might also want to seriously consider the Spellthief (perhaps mixed with Swashbuckler) - again, you have limited Charisma based casting, plus a ton of skills and rougeystuffs.

-Stuart

 

[Seeten]

Present Iteration, and still subject to change:

Draconic Changeling

Rogue 1
Rogue 2
Swashbuckler 1
Swashbuckler 2
Rogue 3

I like Hexblade also but it has bad skill points and non-good. I get the DM inspired idea I ought to be good