Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Looking for the best way to build a swashbuckling duelist..



Not an expert builder, and don't care if every last drop is juiced from the build-fruits, but anyone care to take a "stab" at a musketeer type concept build? How do you think those pictured would be classed, which feats?

I like the idea of fighter/swashbuckler/duelist with max INT. I considered a bard dip as a nice opening of skills and to add a little flair, but that is likely not adding much beyond that.

With the adaptability of combat expertise, fighting defensively, and parry.. and maybe some improved disarm? It seems like a great time to play this sort of concept?

One with Charm and Style..

Especially if you’re going for an int build you want a swash base over fighter. Personally I think wounding critical (swash 19) is the best swash ability. Non crit immune opponents just melt to it. Particularly if you’re using a rapier and take improved critical, or use a wet stone.

So you probably want to get to swash 19. The question is, do you want 4 rogue for skills, evasion and uncanny dodge leaving you at 7 duelist?

Uncanny dodge would be very helpful vs multiple opponents so you don’t lose all that defense. However going to 10 duelist would give you another d6 on precise strike, 3 more AC, and more improved reflex uses.

You also lose 2 grace and 1 dodge AC not going to swash 20.

So swash 20/duelist 10 is legit but you lose evasion, uncanny dodge and skill access. You’ll have more 1 vs 2 AC but also no expose weakness.

Or you could go 16 swash/4 rogue/10 duelist and have weakening critical but not wounding critical.

I’d probably do 19/4/7 but honestly any of those will be just fine in pve and all of them will lose to casters in pvp so play whatever build is the most fun in that regard.

You want a pretty high dex for AB and Int for damage. I’d also dump strength and pick up combat insight in epic levels to double your int bonus to damage. If you go for 10 duelist can get AC up to 30 int. 7 duelist means 24 int will give you max AC. That’s pretty easy if you grab a +4 int helm.

So you’ll be splitting dex and int. Slightly higher dex gives more AB, slightly higher int gives more damage. If you built two similar characters side by side and one had a slightly higher dex while the other has a slightly higher int you probably wouldn’t notice the difference.

The rouge build gives you access to expose weakness and you’ll need epic prowess for combat insight anyway. You’ll have plenty of AB so it’s not necessary but with a decent dex the bleed does add up over time.

I’d definitely pick combat expertise, deadly defense, weapon focus rapier and improved critical rapier, and of course dodge and mobility to qualify for duelist. Some people will argue that you don’t need to spend a feat on improved critical because of wet stones or keen wands but it sucks when you get dispelled.

Lastly this is best dine with a drow because of coolness and racial superiority

My current Swash is based more on a Musketeer ( Military swash Buckler) than the Pirate/Rogue( Zorro) swashbuckler. I had to pick 3 lvls of a Paladin or holy warrior class I went Devine champion my plan is to make him 3 DC 10 Duelist and 16 swash

I found that the Parry mode is really balanced for PVE where you can choose defensive mode for attacking caster and go into
Parry mode for Melee mobs

My current plan for my swashy is swash/rogue/duelist/weapon master

I will lose out on doing ability damage on crits, but I'll get something even better, damage-damage on crits 13-20 x3 with my sword named Sheila. I'm just going to spend my life avoiding crit-immunes.

Will include expose weakness and combat insight.

12fighter/5swashbuckler/10duelist/3monk. Enjoy 45ish AB with ICE and defensive fighting, 80AC, and pretty good saves. Go 26(30) int, and you can use a single rapier and hit for 40-50 damage an attack too.

Drop the 3monk for 3 SD, lose 8ish AC from wisdom, get HiPS and uncanny dodge. Still win the day.

Zkenic wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:59 am 12fighter/5swashbuckler/10duelist/3monk. Enjoy 45ish AB with ICE and defensive fighting, 80AC, and pretty good saves. Go 26(30) int, and you can use a single rapier and hit for 40-50 damage an attack too.

Drop the 3monk for 3 SD, lose 8ish AC from wisdom, get HiPS and uncanny dodge. Still win the day.

Likely best build of bunch.

If you want a bit more chivalry in your Class plan, you can consider Swash 12 / Rogue 4 / Duelist 10 / Anointed Knight 4. Focus on INT and related Feats but still get enough DEX.

Plus…who doesn’t like a bit of flame on their rapier?!? Or you add some dmg of mass crits until you score a bad ass rapier with it.