I had built a High elf Swashbuckler with the following stats (currently based on L4 but the character will be raised to L10 or higher): Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, and Cha 14 (Point-Buy with free racial feat at L1 (Elven Accuracy). L4 Dex ASI to 20. Restrictions: No multiclass, no Tasha's but a free distribution of the racial stat bonuses as in Tasha's. Cantrip takes from the elven subclass is the Booming Blade. This works so well with Fancy Footworks.
Now the question is, which feats (L 8 and L10 ASI slot) to pick.
Depending on party comp there is a really good feat that can work with teamwork. War Caster can be worthwhile for you if you have someone willing to cast Dissonant Whispers or Puppet as a low slot spell, since they can actually trigger opportunity attacks on a fail. This means that you can double up on Booming Blade's movement damage and sneak attack twice a round (since reactions let you use it again as it's a once per TURN ability). Other options could include things like Revenant Blade (Assuming your DM would be willing to use content from Eberron). Half feat (though only a str or dex bonus) that acts as a better Dual Wielder for you. Main hand does 2d4 and off hand does 1d4, but the big benefit is you get to add your dex to the second hit which by RAW you wouldn't even with the dual wielder feat. Moderately Armoured gives you two main things, medium armor and a shield proficiency. Medium armor isn't really helpful because studded leather does better for you with 20 dex, but shield means that you can have +2 ac and be up to 19 by sacrificing your off hand. Alert to stack with your bonus to initiative to be up to +12. Mage Slayer helps you with making reaction sneak attacks, stand next to a spellcaster and get a free super hit on them any time they try to cast a spell. Also helps keep you from magical death if you can stick on them well. Mobile is a classic for a reason, since mobility bullying can be very effective. Can combine well with party casters who use spells to make difficult terrain since you can ignore the movement penalty. Even with the free disengage feature already gotten it can be a decent contender if you have party synergy (Look mostly to Druids or Wizards for those spells).
I had built a High elf Swashbuckler with the following stats (currently based on L4 but the character will be raised to L10 or higher): Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, and Cha 14 (Point-Buy with free racial feat at L1 (Elven Accuracy). L4 Dex ASI to 20. Restrictions: No multiclass, no Tasha's but a free distribution of the racial stat bonuses as in Tasha's. Cantrip takes from the elven subclass is the Booming Blade. This works so well with Fancy Footworks.
Now the question is, which feats (L 8 and L10 ASI slot) to pick.
You need more Charisma to fuel Panache starting at level 9. Is it too late to rebuild your statline? If that's possible, a starting statline of Dex 17/Con 16/Cha 15 would be better - right now you have STR10 doing nothing for you at all and WIS12 doing a bit but not a huge amount.
Regardless of resetting your statline for more CON and CHA, I'd recommend investing your ASIs in more CHA. It'll help your initiative and Panache.
What I hate about Panache is, that it uses action instead of bonus action. With bonus action, it would be a such nice power to use.
I can still rebuild the character. Assume I use that mentioned statline then he will end up with Str 8, Dex 18*, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 8, and Cha 15. *+1 from EA included. And I like to have some WIS because in our campaign (Rappan Athuk) we have to do a lot with enemy priests. For WIS 14 there are not enough points around and a CHA 15 is not better than CHA 14. If going CHA 15 there should be a half feat picked which brings CHA to 16. And for the CON thing, we play with reduced HP for PCs and enemies to shorten the fights. Therefore less HP gains from CON.
Luck looks nice too. War Caster is good if the group has really the possibility to enforce AoO.
Moderately Armored makes sense if picking Master of Moderate Armors too. Primary for losing the disadvantage in medium armor for sneaking and hiding around. That could even fit the character role.
One question: If I use my reaction in my turn, can I still use my reaction in an enemy turn?
What I hate about Panache is, that it uses action instead of bonus action. With bonus action, it would be a such nice power to use.
Panache is like being able to cast Charm Person and/or Compelled Duel for free up to 14,400 times per day, I think it's fine as an action 😝
Unlike Charm Person, the target doesn't automatically realise it was charmed when the effect ends; while Compelled Duel is somewhat better (at a cost in spell slots) it's still a very powerful ability if an enemy is wrecking someone else in your party and you'd rather they stopped, or you want to make sure an enemy won't go after anyone but yourself. Best time to use it is in an opening round where you're not quite in range to attack directly, it can also be solid if you've a party where someone else can trigger you to attack out of sequence (e.g- if you have a Battle Master with Commander's Strike or an Order Domain Cleric etc.) as you can still get a sneak attack in that way.
You could always discuss with your DM the possibility of doing it as a bonus action a limited number of times per long rest (e.g- proficiency) if you feel like you're not getting the chance to use it enough?
If you can sneak in 3 levels of Battle Master Fighter, a Swashbuckler becomes god tier. Riposte and Brace to trigger more Sneak Attacks and Action Surge to Panache after you attack them. You also get shield proficiency and a fighting style as the cherry on top.
What I hate about Panache is, that it uses action instead of bonus action. With bonus action, it would be a such nice power to use.
I can still rebuild the character. Assume I use that mentioned statline then he will end up with Str 8, Dex 18*, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 8, and Cha 15. *+1 from EA included. And I like to have some WIS because in our campaign (Rappan Athuk) we have to do a lot with enemy priests. For WIS 14 there are not enough points around and a CHA 15 is not better than CHA 14. If going CHA 15 there should be a half feat picked which brings CHA to 16. And for the CON thing, we play with reduced HP for PCs and enemies to shorten the fights. Therefore less HP gains from CON.
Luck looks nice too. War Caster is good if the group has really the possibility to enforce AoO.
Moderately Armored makes sense if picking Master of Moderate Armors too. Primary for losing the disadvantage in medium armor for sneaking and hiding around. That could even fit the character role.
One question: If I use my reaction in my turn, can I still use my reaction in an enemy turn?
Moderately armored isn't for you to use things like half plate (Not all medium armours give disadvantage on stealth), but for you to just get shield access to trade a hand for +2 ac. If you aren't planning to dual wield then you have a free hand you can be using. If you want to spend/waste the ASI on getting the +1 to ac with medium armour mastery go ahead but I think it's a bit of a waste. Reaction resets at the start of your turn, not the end of it, so using it ON your turn doesn't give you another one.
Personally I think 14 charisma is fine, as long as you assign one of your expertises as Persuasion, but I agree the use of an Action is a pretty high cost and won’t get a lot of uses in every fight. There’s no loss in dropping strength and or wisdom except for role playing, but that extra plus 1 to persuasion won’t be huge.
agreed about moderately armored… shield is what you are looking for not not medium armor itself. You should have a good Dex regardless so light armor should be sufficient. Dual wielding versus rapier is the question that you should think about.
I don’t think War Caster is worth the cantrip use on OA’s, but flavor texting it’s pretty cool.
Piercer is the most ideal feat for all rogues IMO. for pure character flavor, actor and being able to mimic people when using Panache is pretty fun too. And fey or shadow touched if you like specific spells, but you’ll only get them once a day. All four of these are half-ASI’s so they can be used to round out stats
Mobile feat would give a somewhat similar effect as Fancy Footwork. That would allow playing as an Arcane Trickster too but then INT and CHA need to be swapped. With Fey and Shadow touched the character would gain some additional castings per day of very useful spells.
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I had built a High elf Swashbuckler with the following stats (currently based on L4 but the character will be raised to L10 or higher):
Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, and Cha 14 (Point-Buy with free racial feat at L1 (Elven Accuracy). L4 Dex ASI to 20.
Restrictions: No multiclass, no Tasha's but a free distribution of the racial stat bonuses as in Tasha's.
Cantrip takes from the elven subclass is the Booming Blade. This works so well with Fancy Footworks.
Now the question is, which feats (L 8 and L10 ASI slot) to pick.
Depending on party comp there is a really good feat that can work with teamwork. War Caster can be worthwhile for you if you have someone willing to cast Dissonant Whispers or Puppet as a low slot spell, since they can actually trigger opportunity attacks on a fail. This means that you can double up on Booming Blade's movement damage and sneak attack twice a round (since reactions let you use it again as it's a once per TURN ability).
Other options could include things like Revenant Blade (Assuming your DM would be willing to use content from Eberron). Half feat (though only a str or dex bonus) that acts as a better Dual Wielder for you. Main hand does 2d4 and off hand does 1d4, but the big benefit is you get to add your dex to the second hit which by RAW you wouldn't even with the dual wielder feat.
Moderately Armoured gives you two main things, medium armor and a shield proficiency. Medium armor isn't really helpful because studded leather does better for you with 20 dex, but shield means that you can have +2 ac and be up to 19 by sacrificing your off hand.
Alert to stack with your bonus to initiative to be up to +12.
Mage Slayer helps you with making reaction sneak attacks, stand next to a spellcaster and get a free super hit on them any time they try to cast a spell. Also helps keep you from magical death if you can stick on them well.
Mobile is a classic for a reason, since mobility bullying can be very effective. Can combine well with party casters who use spells to make difficult terrain since you can ignore the movement penalty. Even with the free disengage feature already gotten it can be a decent contender if you have party synergy (Look mostly to Druids or Wizards for those spells).
You need more Charisma to fuel Panache starting at level 9. Is it too late to rebuild your statline? If that's possible, a starting statline of Dex 17/Con 16/Cha 15 would be better - right now you have STR10 doing nothing for you at all and WIS12 doing a bit but not a huge amount.
Regardless of resetting your statline for more CON and CHA, I'd recommend investing your ASIs in more CHA. It'll help your initiative and Panache.
What I hate about Panache is, that it uses action instead of bonus action. With bonus action, it would be a such nice power to use.
I can still rebuild the character. Assume I use that mentioned statline then he will end up with Str 8, Dex 18*, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 8, and Cha 15. *+1 from EA included. And I like to have some WIS because in our campaign (Rappan Athuk) we have to do a lot with enemy priests. For WIS 14 there are not enough points around and a CHA 15 is not better than CHA 14. If going CHA 15 there should be a half feat picked which brings CHA to 16. And for the CON thing, we play with reduced HP for PCs and enemies to shorten the fights. Therefore less HP gains from CON.
Luck looks nice too. War Caster is good if the group has really the possibility to enforce AoO.
Moderately Armored makes sense if picking Master of Moderate Armors too. Primary for losing the disadvantage in medium armor for sneaking and hiding around. That could even fit the character role.
One question: If I use my reaction in my turn, can I still use my reaction in an enemy turn?
Panache is like being able to cast Charm Person and/or Compelled Duel for free up to 14,400 times per day, I think it's fine as an action 😝
Unlike Charm Person, the target doesn't automatically realise it was charmed when the effect ends; while Compelled Duel is somewhat better (at a cost in spell slots) it's still a very powerful ability if an enemy is wrecking someone else in your party and you'd rather they stopped, or you want to make sure an enemy won't go after anyone but yourself. Best time to use it is in an opening round where you're not quite in range to attack directly, it can also be solid if you've a party where someone else can trigger you to attack out of sequence (e.g- if you have a Battle Master with Commander's Strike or an Order Domain Cleric etc.) as you can still get a sneak attack in that way.
You could always discuss with your DM the possibility of doing it as a bonus action a limited number of times per long rest (e.g- proficiency) if you feel like you're not getting the chance to use it enough?
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If you can sneak in 3 levels of Battle Master Fighter, a Swashbuckler becomes god tier. Riposte and Brace to trigger more Sneak Attacks and Action Surge to Panache after you attack them. You also get shield proficiency and a fighting style as the cherry on top.
Sentinel can also be nice for out of turn sneak attack
Moderately armored isn't for you to use things like half plate (Not all medium armours give disadvantage on stealth), but for you to just get shield access to trade a hand for +2 ac. If you aren't planning to dual wield then you have a free hand you can be using. If you want to spend/waste the ASI on getting the +1 to ac with medium armour mastery go ahead but I think it's a bit of a waste. Reaction resets at the start of your turn, not the end of it, so using it ON your turn doesn't give you another one.
Personally I think 14 charisma is fine, as long as you assign one of your expertises as Persuasion, but I agree the use of an Action is a pretty high cost and won’t get a lot of uses in every fight. There’s no loss in dropping strength and or wisdom except for role playing, but that extra plus 1 to persuasion won’t be huge.
agreed about moderately armored… shield is what you are looking for not not medium armor itself. You should have a good Dex regardless so light armor should be sufficient. Dual wielding versus rapier is the question that you should think about.
I don’t think War Caster is worth the cantrip use on OA’s, but flavor texting it’s pretty cool.
Piercer is the most ideal feat for all rogues IMO. for pure character flavor, actor and being able to mimic people when using Panache is pretty fun too. And fey or shadow touched if you like specific spells, but you’ll only get them once a day. All four of these are half-ASI’s so they can be used to round out stats
Mobile feat would give a somewhat similar effect as Fancy Footwork. That would allow playing as an Arcane Trickster too but then INT and CHA need to be swapped. With Fey and Shadow touched the character would gain some additional castings per day of very useful spells.