Building the Swashbuckler

[chad878262]

SB18/D7/WM5 misses out on SB 19 ability to cause 2 CON damage on a Crit, which is unfortunate. I would say SB16/D9/WM5 or SB16/D7/WM7 is superior to SB18. D9 gives you up to 2 AC from INT while WM 7 improves your threat range, so with Improved Crit or Keen on a Rapier your threat range goes from 18-20 down to 13-20. When you consider as a SB 14 you reduce STR by 2 on a crit that is really nice (even if it won't work against most bosses...)

[aaron22]

SB18/D7/WM5 misses out on SB 19 ability to cause 2 CON damage on a Crit, which is unfortunate. I would say SB16/D9/WM5 or SB16/D7/WM7 is superior to SB18. D9 gives you up to 2 AC from INT while WM 7 improves your threat range, so with Improved Crit or Keen on a Rapier your threat range goes from 18-20 down to 13-20. When you consider as a SB 14 you reduce STR by 2 on a crit that is really nice (even if it won't work against most bosses...)

agree all the way. the SB's sweet spot is 16 and WM is good at 5 and 7. the only caveat on your D9 giving 2 AC is only if you want to take int up to 28. that is a bit steep knowing you get ab and ac from dex and to get max from that, a final dex score of 30 is optimal in my opinion.

[chad878262]

SB18/D7/WM5 misses out on SB 19 ability to cause 2 CON damage on a Crit, which is unfortunate. I would say SB16/D9/WM5 or SB16/D7/WM7 is superior to SB18. D9 gives you up to 2 AC from INT while WM 7 improves your threat range, so with Improved Crit or Keen on a Rapier your threat range goes from 18-20 down to 13-20. When you consider as a SB 14 you reduce STR by 2 on a crit that is really nice (even if it won't work against most bosses...)

agree all the way. the SB's sweet spot is 16 and WM is good at 5 and 7. the only caveat on your D9 giving 2 AC is only if you want to take int up to 28. that is a bit steep knowing you get ab and ac from dex and to get max from that, a final dex score of 30 is optimal in my opinion.

Not exactly... You already have a high BAB so stopping DEX at somewhere around 22 is fine, while INT gives more damage which is a bit harder to come by. For example:

BAB 30 + 6 (DEX) +4 (EB) +1 (Weapon Focus) +1 (Epic Prowess) = 42 AB w/ a 22 DEX, without any use of potions/wands/scrolls. This is more than enough in most cases with Expose Weakness it is always enough. Higher INT means more damage which is a better gain in my opinion... Think of it as -1 AB for +2 Damage for every 2 points of INT vs. DEX. I would try to get 18 or 19 DEX and use an item to reach 22 and 26 INT to use an item to reach 30 for +20 damage.

Edit: This said, to optimize AC if stopping Duelist at 7 and going WM 7 I might opt for INT 24 and DEX 28, if going Duelist 9 I would probably reverse it, but strictly speaking of AB vs. Damage I will take 2 damage over 1 AB all day long when I have 40 or higher AB and EW.

[aaron22]

thats true chad. and with a WM build we are looking for those crits anyway. i just like having my AB at >45 with a WM so i can confirm on my attacks and i think WM5 gets you sup weapon focus for another +1 to your 41 AB.

[chad878262]

plus when you do need a little extra AB you can swig 3 potions for +6 and 2 of them are super cheap (greater heroism, bless, and aid).

[Jaffool]

SB18/D7/WM5 misses out on SB 19 ability to cause 2 CON damage on a Crit, which is unfortunate. I would say SB16/D9/WM5 or SB16/D7/WM7 is superior to SB18. D9 gives you up to 2 AC from INT while WM 7 improves your threat range, so with Improved Crit or Keen on a Rapier your threat range goes from 18-20 down to 13-20. When you consider as a SB 14 you reduce STR by 2 on a crit that is really nice (even if it won't work against most bosses...)

Damn, those are both very tempting choices.

made this real quick to show you what i mean.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?265177

This was very helpful, even though I'm not like to go the Assassin anymore! I didn't know those feats existed. Combat Insight is especially important, it seems. Question; I noticed in JEGS that I can pick up the Epic version of deflect arrows because I get that from Duelist. Can I use that with my rapier? Not sure I'll grab it, just curious.

I'm definitely leaning towards SW16/D9/WM5 but it's a hard choice.

[Jaffool]

Sorry for the double post, but I'd also like to ask about opinions of Sembian Fencing. I think it would be counter to the parrying plan unless I can deactivate it, but neat as an idea. Does it only add 2 points of damage total, or per lost attack?

[chad878262]

All things Sembian Fencing:

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=56114

It is a mode so can be deactivated. The extra damage is nice if your AB is too low to land later hits. However, with EW I would think SF wouldn't be that great for you since more hits is more damage. One Weapon would be a better feat IMO.

[Hrafnar]

Similar talks to another thread - thought I'd post my end result of that one. Not sure how it will stand up, some of the better builders may be able to weigh in on it:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?265222

[Jaffool]

Similar talks to another thread - thought I'd post my end result of that one. Not sure how it will stand up, some of the better builders may be able to weigh in on it:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?265222

I even checked out that thread and didn't realize how similar the builds were. I do think it's very cool actually, and I really hope our character can meet and spar. A lot of cool interactions we can have.

All things Sembian Fencing:

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=56114

It is a mode so can be deactivated. The extra damage is nice if your AB is too low to land later hits. However, with EW I would think SF wouldn't be that great for you since more hits is more damage. One Weapon would be a better feat IMO.

I actually found that thread after asking! I don't think I'll be going that route, though it does seem pretty cool.

I guess my only other question is if Epic Deflection works with my rapier. Deflect Arrows from Duelist I assume does, but I don't know if I could (or should) upgrade it.

[Valefort]

Yes this should work well, a minor point don't use Feint and expose weakness on the same target. Feint denies all dodge AC and Expose Weakness debuff AC is dodge type, using feint after expose weakness would negate the AC debuff so use one or the other.

[chad878262]

My opinion is that epic deflection is a wasted feat. All it does is deflect the first two arrows instead of just one. You have about a dozen or more other feats that would be better for your PC and since you don't get a dozen epic feats.... (and even if you did, Great INT or DEX is almost always a better choice.)

[Jaffool]

My opinion is that epic deflection is a wasted feat. All it does is deflect the first two arrows instead of just one. You have about a dozen or more other feats that would be better for your PC and since you don't get a dozen epic feats.... (and even if you did, Great INT or DEX is almost always a better choice.)

Seems about right to me. Now I just have to decide if I want two more points to AC and Parry from D9 or improved crit from WM... I like that I can further Max Int with D9 but those crits are always tempting.

Thank you all so much for the help! I hope some day we get the Archivist class added to the server so experiments can be run...

[aaron22]

My opinion is that epic deflection is a wasted feat. All it does is deflect the first two arrows instead of just one. You have about a dozen or more other feats that would be better for your PC and since you don't get a dozen epic feats.... (and even if you did, Great INT or DEX is almost always a better choice.)

Seems about right to me. Now I just have to decide if I want two more points to AC and Parry from D9 or improved crit from WM... I like that I can further Max Int with D9 but those crits are always tempting.

Thank you all so much for the help! I hope some day we get the Archivist class added to the server so experiments can be run...

yea. at this point its about what you want to do here. what will be the RP you want to run. what will be the gameplay you want. they will both be really good but a bit different.

[Hrafnar]

really hope our character can meet and spar. A lot of cool interactions we can have.

But I know something you don't know! I'm not left-handed...

...using feint after expose weakness would negate the AC debuff so use one or the other.

That's good to know!