My Paladin 2/Kata Master Monk 1 got hit hard by the ACG errata, losing the ability to Parry and Riposte, which is main reason I took the level of monk in the first place. He would have continued in Paladin after the level dip.
The character is focused primary on being a melee tank, and the good monk saves, free Snake Style (to use Sense Motive in place of my abysmal touch AC), and Parry/Riposte were all important to that concept. Now that the Opportune Parry and Riposte were taken away, it looks like I have 3 options:
1) Change the Monk level to Swashbuckler, so he can still Parry/Riposte.
This keeps the swashbuckling feel I was going for, but means an effective -2 hit on Fort and Will saves compared to the monk, plus losing Snake Style. Also, my weapon will have to be downgraded from a temple sword to either a rapier or a Morningstar. On the other hand, the Inspired Blade archetype would get me more panache and free Weapon Focus.
2) Keep the Monk level, but take a level of Swashbuckler next.
This would keep all the other goodies from the monk level, and still let me Parry/Riposte, although I'd still be downgrading the weapon as before. Also, it would slow down the progression of my Paladin features even more.
3) Retrain the level into Mesmerist, and continue in Mesmerist.
This would give me a chance to explore one of the new Occult classes, but it would be a completely different play-style than I originally intended. However the Painful Stare ability seems like it would fill the place of Smite Evil, and the magical support would be interesting to play with. The Vexing Daredevil archetype is especially intriguing. However a 2-level delay into a 6-level casting class makes me wary.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
If I did keep the monk level, I could replace the Kata Master archetype with Sohei, and get to always act in the surprise round, so there's another little boost to squeeze out of it.
Assuming you had or could get Dodge, there's Kata Master of Many Styles to grab Crane Style/Riposte for big defense and then complete the chain reasonably early:
1.Dodge
3(KMoMS). Crane Style/ +Crane Riposte
4(KMoMS). +Crane Wing *or*
7.Crane Wing
Dodge/Style/Riposte are worth +5AC for -1AB and don't require a free hand, and then Wing by 4 or 7 means that you can grip-switch between two-handed attacks during your turn and one-handed bonus AC and riposte defense.
Otherwise, Inspired Blade is great for your purposes. Rapier only loses a couple extra strength points when two-handing it for Power Attack, and it gets more panache-fueling crits. You could also use a shield with it, or even pick up a quickdraw light shield and Quick Draw to two-hand the rapier and then use a shield to defend.
I guess I should have been clearer. Here's the build I had, pre-errata:
Human Paladin 2/Kata Master of Many Styles 1
17/13/12/7/12/16
Traits: Observant, Deft Dodger
Paladin1: Dodge, Toughness
P2: Divine Grace, Lay on Hands
Monk1: IUS, Snake Style, Panache (Parry/Riposte, Derring-do), Additional Traits (Fate's Favored, Magical Knack)
He fought with a temple sword and heavy shield, and already has +1 full plate.
But with the errata, he loses the Parry/Riposte, so I'll be retraining that third level somehow. I want to keep the sword-and-board tank aspect, but I wanted Parry/Riposte so I could have a little more fun with it.
Yes, I know. That's what I'm talking about doing.
Since you relied on Master of Many Styles to get Snake Style, I just want to remind you that you'd lose it if you decided to go with Sohei, because the two archetypes are incompatible, as discussed here.
Ah, I didn't look close enough at Sohei. Good catch.
Try for UCMonk and drop the shield? You lose some AC and the style feat, but you get a better flurry of blows.
He'd have to drop his armor too...
I want to keep the sword-and-board tank aspect, but I wanted Parry/Riposte so I could have a little more fun with it.
If you're using a Heavy Shield anyhow, rapier is a straight upgrade for you. -1 average damage in exchange for better critical, which also fuels more panache.
If you really want to keep the Monk feel while using sword-and-board, the previous Snake Fang suggestion is actually quite powerful. As a Paladin/Monk your unarmed strikes can be spell-enhanced, and even if they aren't they're still breaking DR when you smite. It can be flavored as repeatedly 'shield-punching' enemies who bounce off of your high AC, and against a Smite Evil target those punches are going to hurt.
I want to keep the sword-and-board tank aspect, but I wanted Parry/Riposte so I could have a little more fun with it.If you're using a Heavy Shield anyhow, rapier is a straight upgrade for you. -1 average damage in exchange for better critical, which also fuels more panache.
If you really want to keep the Monk feel while using sword-and-board, the previous Snake Fang suggestion is actually quite powerful. As a Paladin/Monk your unarmed strikes can be spell-enhanced, and even if they aren't they're still breaking DR when you smite. It can be flavored as repeatedly 'shield-punching' enemies who bounce off of your high AC, and against a Smite Evil target those punches are going to hurt.
There is the aesthetic consideration: Heavy shield + rapier is a weird-looking combo. If I do go Swashbuckler, it's a close call between going Inspired Blade and only getting panache from crits vs. using a morningstar and getting panache mostly from killing blows. Parrying with a morningstar is suboptimal, but it would catch people off guard...
There is the aesthetic consideration: Heavy shield + rapier is a weird-looking combo.
I kind of like it myself. Rapiers aren't all fancy-looking or needle thin; it's sword-and-shield with a long, nasty-looking sword blade that contrasts with the wide shield. Free focus with Inspired Blade is nice, but even with a rapier it's a significant trade-off.
As far as Swashbuckler and Panache goes, you also gain access to Swordmaster's Flair items like the awesome Blue Scarf, which you could hold in the same hand as a light shield.
You also get access to the Pommel Strike feat and Combat Expertise through charisma, so you could make a pseudo-trip build that eventually used Pommel Strike and Swordmaster's Flair: Red Sash with Greater Trip for fierce, free AoO's with a Fortuitous weapon (PFS legal?). Smite Evil's attack bonus applies to maneuvers as well...
I just think a rapier is weird to use with a Strength build. It invites too many questions, whereas a morningstar lets me surprise people.
How about an estoc? You would need to spend a feat, but has better aesthetics than a rapier and would be a upgrade to the temple sword.
For a paladin? I don't think I can spare the feat.
I think I'm settling into a build I like, and it's got quite a few tricks up its sleeves...
Human Paladin 2/Brawler 1/Swashbuckler 1/Medium 4
17/13/12/7/12/16
Traits: Observant, Deft Dodger
Paladin1: Dodge, Toughness
P2: divine grace, lay on hands
Brawler1: IUS, Snake Style, martial flexibility (3/day)
Swash1: panache (derring-do, parry/riposte)
Medium1: Spirit Focus (champion), knacks, spirit surge
Med2: taboo, shared séance
Med3: ???
Med4: spirit bonus +2, 1st-level spells
From there, I'm kind of split. I'd like more smiting, so I kind of want a 3rd level of paladin, plus silver smite bracelet to get me to an effective smiting level of 7 for 3/day. On the other hand, getting to Medium 6 at level 10 means a free attack per turn from the intermediate champion spirit power.
Any suggestions?