Fighter Build - trip & stomp [PF]

[Strormer]

Right, so here's a feat chain for a fighter build. I'm looking for ways to improve the build from here.

Human Fighter (Free Hand Fighter)

H - Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Katana)
1 - Power Attack
F1 - Improved Unarmed Strike
F2 - Combat Expertise
3 - Improved Trip
F4 - Combat Reflexes
6 - Felling Smash
F6 - Vicious Stomp
F8 - Vital Strike
9 - Dodge
F10 - Mobility
12 - Spring Attack
F12 - Improved Vital Strike
F14 - Greater Trip
15 - Critical Focus
F16 - Greater Vital Strike
18 - Bleeding Critical
F18 - Stunning Fist
F20 - Wind Stance

The build centers around charging in, power attacking (hopefully with crit), tripping, stomping, and springing out again. This works best with a keen katana, a monk's belt, and boots of expeditious retreat. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

[Drelua]

I'm not sure about this, but the Duelist PrC looks a lot better in PF. I'd recommend dropping katana prof and using a rapier instead, then going into that; it matches your character concept perfectly from what you've said, and you're already taking most of the pre-reqs. All you'll have to do to get in is switch weapon prof for finesse and sink a couple ranks into a perform skill. Oh, and maybe move Dodge and Mobility up depending on when you want to go Duelist.

Oh, and if you can find a feat you don't need, Dervish Dance (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/dervish-dance-combat) might be a good idea to remove any need for Strength, since you'll already be taking all the requirements for it. I'd recommend dropping Vital Strike, since it's only d8 damage with a katana; better than weapon spec certainly, but, well, that's not saying much. :smallamused:

[Strormer]

I should've mentioned that. This build is for pure fighter, no PrC's. Thanks though. I didn't think about dervish dance since I was going Power Attack, but that might be a good alternative. Thanks.

[Drelua]

You could actually combine Dervish Dance and Power Attack if you get 13 Strength. I know you said pure Fighter, so this likely isn't an option but you could get it without meeting the pre-reqs by taking 2 levels of Ranger if you take the TH style, and it wouldn't even cost you any feats. You could even two-hand the scimitar I believe (apart from the whole Free Hand Fighter bit), depending on whether or not your DM thinks that counts as 'carrying a weapon in your off-hand'.

Also, have you looked at the Mobile Fighter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/fighter/archetypes/paizo---fighter-archetypes/mobile-fighter)? I know Elusive's nice, but you can wear heavier armour with Mobile to make up for the AC. Leaping Attack also scales better than Singleton and can be triggered with a simple 5-foot step. Rapid Attack is where it really gets good though, and makes TWF look like a decent option. All you lose is your first attack, and you can make the rest while you move. That works perfectly for a character that wants to move and attack, and you'll get it one level earlier than spring attack. Free Hand Fighter has some good stuff too, but it drops off a lot after level 5.

If I was making a character like this, I'd probably be a Mobile Fighter TWFing a scimitar (or an agile kukri) and unarmed, using the unarmed mostly for maneuvers. If you went with the kukri, Piranha Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/piranha-strike-combat) would work a lot better than Power Attack. Maybe take Agile Maneuvers and Fury's Fall for 2x DEX to trip instead of Mobility and Spring Attack. Oh, and Tripping Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/tripping-strike-combat) might be better than Felling Smash, although you'd have to wait an extra three levels for it. I'm not sure why they made your confirmation roll function as your CMB roll, though.