Is a swashbuckling wizard a viable build?

[redwood]

Hello again. First of thanks for a wonderful server and forum. The people here really know how to build a strong character. If it is not too much of a bother I was wondering if I could get some guidance for a swashbuckler/wizard build. What I have in mind mind is a human dual short swords wielded. I'm not too skilled in builds and know very little of theory crafting.

I think insightful strike might be a good synergy with a wizard's intelligence score. Anyone care to share any builds or tips? I would highly appreciate it. I've read some of the input toward other builds and I have to say many impressive builds here. I've borrowed one or two. And I've been enjoying playing as well as RPng them. Have a good day!

[Rudolph]

Check this one out. A gish that actually needs to know how to fight with spells.
http://nwn2db.com/build/?260521

[Dagesh]

I'm not the best at this sort of thing but there are a couple things I keep in mind regarding building.

1) What will the damage be at the end?
Ways damage enters the picture is like Swashbuckler's (SB) Insightful Strike (IS). For a melee build, other things include power attack (PA) and improved power attack (IPA). Bear in mind that using PA and IPA provides far more damage when wielding a weapon with both hands. I'm not sure if it works for rapier but I'm pretty sure it does not work with short sword.
You'll want to aim for 30 damage per hit by level 30 (at least, from what I understand).

2) What will Attack Bonus (AB) be?
If you're a sneak/Hide in Plain Sight (HiPS) build, AB can be lower since you'll catch a lot of people flat-footed. If not, you'll need a better AB. A lot of people add this with fighter feats (e.g. greater weapon focus [at least fighter 8], weapon mastery).

3) What is your AC?
Since you'd have wizard levels, you'll have nice wizardy spells (also for AB). On top of that you'll have damage reduction and concealment.

4) What will your caster level be?
This is important as dispels can be deadly and without high level gear, your PC will be gutted quickly. Caster Level (CL), from what I understand, needs to be 25 or better. At that level only Mordenkainen's Disjunction will work on you but that works on any CL. The idea is to get above Greater Dispel.

That doesn't give specifics but it provides some theory I have learned. Hopefully people more learned in those areas can speak more.

[aaron22]

for sure. swash gives some really nice perks to a wiz-gish build. one thing that really hurts gish builds is there complete lack of damage dealing. swash5 helps with that as well as as swashy5/EK10 is 15BAB right there. good start if you ask me. you need 5 wiz to qual 3rd level. that is another +2 BAB. after that you have 10 levels to play with. could go PM for awesome defenses. or BM to get those 3 CL's back. whatever.

[vexedart]

A swiftblade bladesinger might work well with a wizard/swashbuckler.
Replacing eldritch knight and a few other qualifiction feats and pick up more bonus feats and AC with bladesinger.
Something like this to base it off of, maybe play with it a bit in jegs first.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?4123

Just a thought. You'd be fast, have 12 attacks a turn, double intelligence to damage and a CL of 26 with practiced spell caster, and would get more feats with bladesingers bonus feats, instead of going eldritch knight, 12 con though, most likely.

It's a shame it's elf only *shakes fist*

Maybe half elf?

[redwood]

for sure. swash gives some really nice perks to a wiz-gish build. one thing that really hurts gish builds is there complete lack of damage dealing. swash5 helps with that as well as as swashy5/EK10 is 15BAB right there. good start if you ask me. you need 5 wiz to qual 3rd level. that is another +2 BAB. after that you have 10 levels to play with. could go PM for awesome defenses. or BM to get those 3 CL's back. whatever.

Sorry for my ignorance, what exactly is PM and BM? PM is palemaster? Also thanks for all the replies so far. I'm getting some ideas. I would prefer it to be a human, I'm afraid I don't know the bladesinger lore well enough to RP it properly yet. Good ideas though! I'm not 100% sure, but I believe swashbucklers get insightful strike at level 5 on this server?

[aaron22]

yea. PM=Palemaster and BM is bloodmagus. both are easy quals. palemaster 10 gets you all its goodies, while BM kinda drops off at 6 so would get 4 more levels of wiz there to not help anything. wiz bonus feats are at 5 and 10, but i think BM loses a CL at 9 or 10.. so its better to keep the CL there and go with the wiz to 9

[vexedart]

My apologies about the previous post, but I'm not certain if swiftblade is a playable PRC after trying to get a build going in Jegs, and reading some 4 year old posts on the PRC.

[Groburn]

A swiftblade bladesinger might work well with a wizard/swashbuckler.
Replacing eldritch knight and a few other qualifiction feats and pick up more bonus feats and AC with bladesinger.
Something like this to base it off of, maybe play with it a bit in jegs first.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?4123

Just a thought. You'd be fast, have 12 attacks a turn, double intelligence to damage and a CL of 26 with practiced spell caster, and would get more feats with bladesingers bonus feats, instead of going eldritch knight, 12 con though, most likely.

It's a shame it's elf only *shakes fist*

Maybe half elf?

On BGTSCC Swash gets insightful strike at lvl 5... that'll cost some extra CL...