A challenge: Optimizing a one-armed character?

[skydragonknight]

9: No Retreat: Enemies that take the withdraw action provoke an AoO from you.

VERY nice! Now if only they hadn't nerfed Trip, this could be a very good way to lockdown your opponent.

Stand Still would work well enough. And the flat +9 damage at that level will help the DC.

[Kuroimaken]

9: No Retreat: Enemies that take the withdraw action provoke an AoO from you.

VERY nice! Now if only they hadn't nerfed Trip, this could be a very good way to lockdown your opponent.

Stand Still would work well enough. And the flat +9 damage at that level will help the DC.

Definitely. I'm not entirely sure if that's enough to keep up with a power attacking character, but it's quite nice regardless. I've always found it a shame that a Dex-based Fighter couldn't really dish it out as well as a Str-based one...

[PhaedrusXY]

Definitely. I'm not entirely sure if that's enough to keep up with a power attacking character, but it's quite nice regardless. I've always found it a shame that a Dex-based Fighter couldn't really dish it out as well as a Str-based one...

Mr. Backstabbity Rogue disagrees with you.

[Sommunist]

What does "giving up one of your attacks" mean, exactly?

Whenever you take the full attack action, you can voluntarily choose to not make an attack.  The attack you gave up can then be used to parry (with the same bonus).

Definitely cool for a crit-based class. Shame it doesn't work on undead, unless PF has significantly changed that... I recall something along those lines.

In Pathfinder, most things are vulnerable to critical hits and precision damage, including undead and constructs.  The idea is that even though they don't have kidneys to stab, they still have structural weak points (like joints).  The only creatures still immune are those with a uniform anatomy (oozes, elementals, plants, incorporeal undead, and so on).

[Akalsaris]

Alright then - I'd say PF's Duelist is almost definitely a better combatant than the Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 17 (Though rogue/SB might still be good as a skills monkey option).  I should look through the PF PrC's...I'm starting a PF barbarian, and there might be something worth taking for me.  Only books open are PF and Paizo supplements though.

[Sommunist]

Alright then - I'd say PF's Duelist is almost definitely a better combatant than the Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 17 (Though rogue/SB might still be good as a skills monkey option).  I should look through the PF PrC's...I'm starting a PF barbarian, and there might be something worth taking for me.  Only books open are PF and Paizo supplements though.

Unfortunately, your options are quite slim in that case, as none of the PRCs in the new book advance barbarian abilities.  You MIGHT find something in one of Paizo's adventures, but I'm not sure.

[Kuroimaken]

Definitely. I'm not entirely sure if that's enough to keep up with a power attacking character, but it's quite nice regardless. I've always found it a shame that a Dex-based Fighter couldn't really dish it out as well as a Str-based one...

Mr. Backstabbity Rogue disagrees with you.

Yeah, but he's a Rogue, not a Fighter. Which was kinda my point. 

[Akalsaris]

Alright then - I'd say PF's Duelist is almost definitely a better combatant than the Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 17 (Though rogue/SB might still be good as a skills monkey option).  I should look through the PF PrC's...I'm starting a PF barbarian, and there might be something worth taking for me.  Only books open are PF and Paizo supplements though.

Unfortunately, your options are quite slim in that case, as none of the PRCs in the new book advance barbarian abilities.  You MIGHT find something in one of Paizo's adventures, but I'm not sure.

Yeah...I figured as much.  At least there's some new feats though - what do you think of this as a feat line? (and then I'll stop before the thread gets derailed)
Feats

1st hmn: Power Attack
1st char: Extra Rage
3rd: Cleave
6th: That double-damage one
9th: Improved Critical (Falchion or whatever magic weapon I've found by then)
12th: Improved Initiative
15th: Staggering Critical
18th: Stunning Critical

[PhaedrusXY]

Hey, I have an idea. How about making him a yellow catfolk bard with black spots, that can't hear and specializes in the drums?  Then people who see him will say "That deaf leopard drummer has only got one arm!"

[Sommunist]

Yeah...I figured as much.  At least there's some new feats though - what do you think of this as a feat line? (and then I'll stop before the thread gets derailed)
Feats

1st hmn: Power Attack
1st char: Extra Rage
3rd: Cleave
6th: That double-damage one
9th: Improved Critical (Falchion or whatever magic weapon I've found by then)
12th: Improved Initiative
15th: Staggering Critical
18th: Stunning Critical

Overhand Chop, which I believe was the double damage feat you were talking about, has been removed in the new book.

Hey, I have an idea. How about making him a yellow catfolk bard with black spots, that can't hear and specializes in the drums?  Then people who see him will say "That deaf leopard drummer has only got one arm!"

At first I was like 
But then, I 

[Glutton]

I had previously looked at pathfinder Duelist and came up with:

Half elf Duelist

1: Swashbuckler: Weapon Finesse (Bonus) Dodge
2: Swashbuckler:
3: Swashbuckler: Weapon Focus (Rapier)
4: Duskblade:
5: Duskblade: Combat Casting (bonus) Combat Expertise
6: Bladesinger:
7: Bladesinger: Mobility
8: Duelist: (duelist until 17 here)

Get a couple handy (excuse the pun) spells and some more int-synergy.
Combat Panache (PH2) could be a good feat selection if you have high scores.