Rogue Feat Choice

[Parlan]

I’m creating a sixth level rogue 3 swashbuckler 3 for my campaign. I have the character planned out as a TWF monkey, but I’m really having trouble deciding what feats to take.

I am looking for feats that cover my weaknesses of low AC and crappy saves as best as possible, and enable me to be effective even against foes immune to SA.

Should I get Improved Init to increase the chances of having foes flat footed for the first round? I got it for a Imp Init for a Rogue before and did not think much of it. Am I missing something?

Iron Will?
Wpn Expertise and Imp Disarm?


Any suggestions?

The DM plays a pretty standard game.

Here are my stats
Str 10
Dex 20
Con 14
Int 16
Wis 12
Cha 8

 

[maddman75]

Do you know what weapons you want to use? Swashbuckler screams Rapier, but there's something to be said for using two of the same weapon - your feats do double duty. I'll assume you're playing 3.5 and a human, so that will leave you with three feats after TWF. I'll assume Rapier wielder as well. Here's what I'd suggest

- Combat Expertise. This will help with the crappy AC problem. If you get hurt you can always trade your BAB for extra AC.
- Weapon Finesse. This is a MUST. With those stats, if you want to hit anybody at all you'll need to use that massive Dex.
- Dodge. Just a +1, but that +1 can make a difference. It'll help with AC, and can move you up toward Mobility and Spring Attack.

For using two light weapons rather than Rapier and Dagger, such as a shortsword, you can go with Weapon Focus (Shortsword) that gets you a bonus on both weapons. Improved Initative is a good idea for a SA dealer as well, but you said you weren't that impressed with it.

 

[Jdvn1]

I’m creating a sixth level rogue 3 swashbuckler 3 for my campaign. I have the character planned out as a TWF monkey, but I’m really having trouble deciding what feats to take.

I personally like the Weapon Focus + Combat Expertise to get Sense Weakness (Draconomicon), but that's for melee fighters in general. For a Rogue, we were discussing something similar on another thread here:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=121458

They have some good ideas.

I am looking for feats that cover my weaknesses of low AC and crappy saves as best as possible, and enable me to be effective even against foes immune to SA.

Low AC? Dude, your Dex is so high. Get a mithril chain shirt or something, your AC will be fine. Rogues aren't meant to be awesome melee fighters, anyway. Get in there, deal damage, get out. And for things immune to SA? Well, there are a couple things to mention, but none that you qualify for with that build.[/quote]
From Complete Adventurer:
1 level in Cleric for ... what is it called... Undead Strike, or something. The spell lets you SA undead.
1 level in Wiz/Sor for Grave Strike to SA constructs.
1 level in Druid for ... Plant Strike? to SA plants.

All level 1 spells, all range Self, so you can't have a Wizard cast it on you or anything.

Other than that, if they're immune, they're immune. As far as I know, at least. There are other spells to let you crit/SA undead, but that's for the caster in your party and are higher level.

Should I get Improved Init to increase the chances of having foes flat footed for the first round? I got it for a Imp Init for a Rogue before and did not think much of it. Am I missing something?

Iron Will?
Wpn Expertise and Imp Disarm?

All of those ideas come in handy, at the very least.

 

[Jdvn1]

Here's what I'd suggest

- Combat Expertise. This will help with the crappy AC problem. If you get hurt you can always trade your BAB for extra AC.
- Weapon Finesse. This is a MUST. With those stats, if you want to hit anybody at all you'll need to use that massive Dex.
- Dodge. Just a +1, but that +1 can make a difference. It'll help with AC, and can move you up toward Mobility and Spring Attack.

For using two light weapons rather than Rapier and Dagger, such as a shortsword, you can go with Weapon Focus (Shortsword) that gets you a bonus on both weapons. Improved Initative is a good idea for a SA dealer as well, but you said you weren't that impressed with it.

I gave a more general idea, I think. This is a good list you give, but I'd replace Dodge with either Weapon Focus (to get Sense Weakness at level 9). Mobility and Spring Attack are useful, but I don't think they're must-haves.

 

[sfedi]

Don't bother with cretures inmune vs SA.
I've found that maximizings your strengths is more efficient than minimizing your weaknesses (when operating within a party).

Try to do OTHER things in combat:
-Improved Trip (needs Combat Exp)
-Improved Disarm
-Throw Tanglefoot Bags
-Get 1 Wiz level, and use wands
-Or better yet, be 1st level Cleric of a Deity with the Magic Domain

To boost your AC:
-Two Weap. Defense

You can't have finesse at lvl 1, beware (you need +1 BAB)

And of course, all of the good advice above

 

[Arc]

You can't have finesse at lvl 1, beware (you need +1 BAB)

And of course, all of the good advice above

Swashbuckler actually gives it for free at 1st level (and has full BAB).

Right now, I'm actually playing a rogue 2 / swashbuckler 3 / invisible blade 1 (with quasi-errata'd prereqs), and it's going quite well. I actually place more importance on Int than Dex, since Swashbuckler 3 gives Insightful Strike (Int bonus to damage), and with a decent Dex and Weapon Focus, my attack bonus is good enough. Your call on which is more important, but remember, skill points are one of the few things in the game that aren't retroactive, so start getting them early.

 

[Piratecat]

Scooted into Rules, which is where character tweaking takes place.

 

[Parlan]

Improved Initative is a good idea for a SA dealer as well, but you said you weren't that impressed with it.

I wasn't but maybe I underestimated it. Getting a full round of attacks against someone would be worth a LOT! It might take a wiz/sorc down before they can act, ending the fight before it begins. It would also give me time to get the heck out of the way if my opponents are immune to SA.

Am I crazy for not getting Iron Will? I hate failing Will saves, but OTOH, I don't want to use a feat if I don't have to.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Am I crazy for not getting Iron Will? I hate failing Will saves, but OTOH, I don't want to use a feat if I don't have to.

Depends on the party you are in. If you were an Evil cleric casting Hold Person against your party, who would be your first and second choice to target?

 

[Parlan]

Depends on the party you are in. If you were an Evil cleric casting Hold Person against your party, who would be your first and second choice to target?

Well, we've got a Druid, a Wizzie, a Missile Wpn Focused Rogue, and a Ftr/PsyWar...

Hmm... seems to me I've got a 1 in 3 chance if the Cleric is choosing his targets well.

I guess that means it's not worth it.