Dex or Str based Whip Character?

[dkeller]

So i'm trying to figure out which type of character to play.

To give some background; I'm looking to play a Hobgoblin whip master for flavor so I know I'll have some bonuses to dex and con to start off with.

I am considering using intimidate as an important skill as well to fit the flavor of the hobgoblin.

Any thoughts?

[Dafydd]

I vote Dex, you get a bonus from race and it is doubly good if your class has low armor or bad ref (or both)

That said, you really need bonus feats to pull it off. Whip Mastery Chain, Weapon Finesse, Slashing Grace[if doing damage with the whip] and weapon focus, not to mention the Improved trip/disarm assuming you are gonna use either maneuver. Good dex for combat reflexes too, once you have improved Whip Mastery.

[Doomed Hero]

Whips are really feat intensive. Play a fighter or brawler.

Try to include Cornugon Smash and Hurtful for Intimidate synergy.

Toss in one level of Thug Rogue if you want to be able to really scare people with Intimidate.

[Arachnofiend]

A Frostbite based whip magus would be good. The Kensai Magus can get dex-to-damage rather quickly, and since you're using Enforcer you don't want to deal lethal damage anyways so you can skip the whip mastery feats.

[cnetarian]

Although the concept might seem a little strange, the mysterious avenger archetype swashbuckler wouldn't be a bad fit - the menacing swordplay deed combined with avenger's target can help with the intimidate as does the CHR you have as a swashbuckler. I just have no idea how to work a secret identity in with the hobgoblin.

[kestral287]

What class are we talking?

Warpriest, Magus, Fighter, Slayer, some other class with lots and lots of bonus feats? Go Dex.

Class with few-to-no bonus feats? Str, full stop.

[FireberdGNOME]

I have a whip wielding Ifrit Swashbuckler that is performing well in a Table Top Mummy's Mask :)

[galahad2112]

I'm currently playing a 1/2 Orc Tripmaster build. Str-based, took a level of Druid for the Plant(Growth) domain, and a bit of flavor. Inquisitor or cleric would have been just as good or better, but whatevs.

Anyway, Lore Warden Fighter has been his bread and butter. Feats are
1) Weapon Focus (whip) and Dodge
2) Combat Expertise and Whip Mastery
3) Mobility
4) -
5) Spring Attack and Whirlwind Attack
6) -
7) Improved and Greater Trip
8) -
9) Improved and Greater Whip Mastery

By level 5 he's tripping everything in the room, more if he's Enlarged. Not provoking is the biggest issue, but with 15 ft. reach, you're rarely getting threatened.

[Eigengrau]

Go Kensai-magus with 1 level of admixture-evoker wizard. Stat Int as highest stat, then dex, con etc... Take Knowledge Is Power feat/wizard-discovery ability. It gives Int bonus on all your CMB&CMD stuff plus on strength checks to break things.

With spell combat true striking you'll never really fail on tripping/disarming.