Bladeforged Swashbuckler , why yes, yes we can

[Chimeran1]

So you have worked a bit of overtime, got some money to burn...
Want something different but EE viable, try the Bladeforged Swashbuckler.

* Updated to strength build ~ level 20 crits for 800, LD crits 2-3k using greensteel light pick .
* @lvl 23 with Balizarde you will have 7600+ damage sneak attack crits while Blitzed.

Scaling threat range as low as -1 to 20 :)
Huge amount of critical hit rate, attack speed and double strikes
12 fighter, 6 bard, 2 rogue.

18 strength all level ups in strength
16 con
14 charisma
12-14 intel if doing rogue skills
Wisdom can be dump stat because you will be using Charisma for will saves
Spread the load as you see fit for your play style.

Play style is more fighter than a buff bard, you can play without using any bard skills.
Can do EE traps

Excellent self healing,
good damage mitigation
very good dps,
nice saves,
great racial clickies.
EE disarm trap
Charisma for your will saves.
High charisma/perform for your insta kill and fascinate CC

Requires 2x LR + ? Depending on what you have available/affordable
Requires an alignment change ( to get rid of the lawful good )

Start at level 15. ( 1 paladin, 14 fighter )
LR out of paladin to rogue ( 1 rogue, 14 fighter )
Change alignment to Neutral
LR into bard build levels. ( 1 rogue, 12 fighter, 2 bard )
Levels 16-19 Bard
Level 20 Rogue

Rogue level for balance, disarm, search
Fighter levels for repair, extra points in disarm or search
Bard levels for perform, balance extra in disarm, search
* Try to max out disarm, search and perform first *

* You do not need UMD so can dump this to max out rogue skills and balance
Open locks can be done with items or less in balance skill to up your search skill.

Feats will include:
power attack, SWF, ISWF, GSWF, shield mastery, imp shield mastery, imp shield bash, cleave, greater cleave, force of personality, dodge, weapon focus piercing , power critical , IC pierce,

Power of the forge ( 20% damage bonus, +4 saves )
Weapon attachment
Self repair from 600-1000 with your items ( epic artificer ring etc )- also boosts attack speed.
Racial improved power attack 3/3
Rogue skills if you pump up Intel
Fighter haste boost
Sneak attack
Stalwart defender for + 6 strength when using shields
Stalwart defender for + 3 to all saves and PRR

Kensai for bonus to picks ( at level 23 change to light blades and go with CiTW rapier )
@ level 28 change back to picks for tier 3 Thunder Forged light pick
Stun lock when you get to use your Epic cove buckler at level 24 :) ~ I love this !

Blah blah blah, big dps, fast, survivability

The only bard spell I use is invisibility.
Bard songs for buff
Clickies for GH
Gear for blur/ghostly
Skullduggery kit belt with +13 perform, bonus to Intel and dex skills, slotted Intel augment

[CThruTheEgo]

There's really only two reasons to go 12 fighter – power surge and centered weapons – neither of which you are using. Since you're using cha to damage, power surge is useless. And since you already mentioned coup de grace (and exploit weakness is better than keen edge anyway) you're not taking tier 5s from kensai. You don't have a full feat list, so if you're going heavy on the fighter levels for feats, it's not clear why.

So what exactly is 12 fighter doing for you?

Or is this build intended to use stalwart defender once the changes hit live? If that's the case, you're missing a lot of important info.

[Nayus]

Thank you for supporting Turbine

[dunklezhan]

That is the cheesiest thing I've ever seen. Well played on the store-fu! /applauds

[Chimeran1]

There's really only two reasons to go 12 fighter – power surge and centered weapons – neither of which you are using. Since you're using cha to damage, power surge is useless. And since you already mentioned coup de grace (and exploit weakness is better than keen edge anyway) you're not taking tier 5s from kensai. You don't have a full feat list, so if you're going heavy on the fighter levels for feats, it's not clear why.

So what exactly is 12 fighter doing for you?

Or is this build intended to use stalwart defender once the changes hit live? If that's the case, you're missing a lot of important info.

Fighter weapon feats
Currently testing Charisma base version, next will be a strength version.
AP is very tight on this build
I am currently running in Stalwart defence with Precision. ( had to take power attack as well for cleave and greater cleave )
Power of the forge is enough to bypass Kensai ( obviously strength build would require more points into Kensai )

You actually only need 8 levels of fighter to do kensai but extra feats gain some easy dps advantages without stat investment.

When the updates come out who knows? I don't tend to play any build much after they get capped.

[Chimeran1]

That is the cheesiest thing I've ever seen. Well played on the store-fu! /applauds

Money ain't a thing.
Swash with power of the forge, weapon attachment and 1000hp repairs cheesy?
Keep playing your Drow Barbarian dagger thrower sir.......

[dunklezhan]

Money ain't a thing.
Swash with power of the forge, weapon attachment and 1000hp repairs cheesy?
Keep playing your Drow Barbarian dagger thrower sir.......

I wasn't being sarcastic ;)

[MadCookieQueen]

Wait a second:

you aren't using Bard skills. you have no interest in Bard spells outside of invis, you have 12 levels of Fighter and only 6 Bard...


why is this in the Bard forum?

[Chimeran1]

Wait a second:

you aren't using Bard skills. you have no interest in Bard spells outside of invis, you have 12 levels of Fighter and only 6 Bard...


why is this in the Bard forum?

Wait a second:

Tier 5 Swashbuckler is Bard only
To turn a Bladeforged into a Bard is quite extensive, as listed.
Combat skills used are Bard only
To provide information to those who have seen Bladeforged /Bards but may not be aware of how to go about it.

Why would it not be in the Bard forum?

[MadCookieQueen]

Wait a second:

Tier 5 Swashbuckler is Bard only
To turn a Bladeforged into a Bard is quite extensive, as listed.
Combat skills used are Bard only
To provide information to those who have seen Bladeforged /Bards but may not be aware of how to go about it.

Why would it not be in the Bard forum?

A Fighter with a splash of Bard does not make a Bard it makes a Fighter with access to Swashbuckler.

As for providing information to those interested in a Bladeforged Bard...the idea is kind of half baked and there's not real explanation as to the more intricate aspects of the build itself. In fact there isn't really a lot to gleam from this at all. as Cthru pointed out you're not even taking advantage of some of the bigger spiffies that come out of being a 12 Fighter and with lower levels you're missing some of the best stuff out of Bard.

There isn't anything more extensive about making a Bladeforged a Bard that hasnt' been covered by Bladeforged being a Sorc.


So again...why is this in the Bard forums and not in the Fighter Forums or the Custom Character Builds?

[Nayus]

Wait a second:

you aren't using Bard skills. you have no interest in Bard spells outside of invis, you have 12 levels of Fighter and only 6 Bard...


why is this in the Bard forum?Man, if he's spending that much money to take 6 Bard Levels in a Bladeforged I believe that, at the very least, he's entitled to call this a "bard".

[Chimeran1]

Man, if he's spending that much money to take 6 Bard Levels in a Bladeforged I believe that, at the very least, he's entitled to call this a "bard".

:)

[Chimeran1]

A Fighter with a splash of Bard does not make a Bard it makes a Fighter with access to Swashbuckler.

As for providing information to those interested in a Bladeforged Bard...the idea is kind of half baked and there's not real explanation as to the more intricate aspects of the build itself. In fact there isn't really a lot to gleam from this at all. as Cthru pointed out you're not even taking advantage of some of the bigger spiffies that come out of being a 12 Fighter and with lower levels you're missing some of the best stuff out of Bard.

There isn't anything more extensive about making a Bladeforged a Bard that hasnt' been covered by Bladeforged being a Sorc.


So again...why is this in the Bard forums and not in the Fighter Forums or the Custom Character Builds?


Chill out, it's just pixels.

[cru121]

two things:
* Which ED are you running? Probably not LD because Precision locks you out of the LD Cleaves (requires PA).
* Shield bash damage. Is is still interesting enough? You're not getting CHA to shield damage.

I have also two problems with Black Dragon Armor on my swash (in theory, untested):
* Rumors have it that Armor-Piercing (on armor / pick) does not stack (not sure if someone tested this thoroughly though)
* Relentless fury does not stack with Divine Crusader's "Crusade" (both enh.bonus to damage, at least according to the descriptions)

[Chimeran1]

two things:
* Which ED are you running? Probably not LD because Precision locks you out of the LD Cleaves (requires PA).
* Shield bash damage. Is is still interesting enough? You're not getting CHA to shield damage.

I have also two problems with Black Dragon Armor on my swash (in theory, untested):
* Rumors have it that Armor-Piercing (on armor / pick) does not stack (not sure if someone tested this thoroughly though)
* Relentless fury does not stack with Divine Crusader's "Crusade" (both enh.bonus to damage, at least according to the descriptions)

Currently testing max Charisma, and have ended up in Crusader for the extra charisma and bonuses that work well with swashbuckler.
LD cleaves are not worth using IMO, the animations are too slow. ( Druid Bear form copy? )
I use the cleave and greater cleave, trip etc to build up Masters Blitz then just standard attack speed, it is a lot faster than LD cleaves.


LD masters blitz stacks work well with the coup de grace, and worked better for me with just normal attacks.

I am not happy with the end dps in Crusader @ 480-630 standard crits ( I was aiming for 700 damage but think this is only possible with a strength build ), 900 - 1400 on helpless.

LD is much better when switching to improved power attack, no shield for the +6 damage boost I hit the 700's crit range.
* Obviously strength build much more.

Last time I ran a swashbuckler I think was before the perfect SWF changes.
The survivability/tanking is very nice.

Shield bash is an auto attack that procs often adding extra damage, seems to be around 100 damage + the bonuses, states it is using Charisma stat bonus for damage
Kobold Admirals Tiller Buckler
I had already taken the weapon feats and figured it would offer some extra dps.

I also have taken Perfect SWF and Perfect 2WF ( not sure if it works but had +5% double strike and 10% offhand strike )

Strength build would work better as it can achieve a higher stat.
At least then Stalwart can grab strength bonuses with shield.
AP is tight, you either do stalwart or kensai when strength build, can't do both.

Still waiting on U23 final melee power changes.
I can drop shield and save 3 feats, gain an extra +5 damage ( or whatever melee power option adds more )

* Do I go with power attack and Bladeforge power attack enhance, or go precision with open hand for the damage bonuses?
* Do I go power attack and open hand? There are a few options to test.
* In Swashbucklers current state, the defence from buckler is too good to pass up, at 27% dodge and 90PRR

For me it was a flavour choice, it works well but I think I can squeeze more dps out with some changes and I've just ETR'ed into strength version, so see how that goes.