[PF] Arcane Duelist - TWF or 2H weapon?

[Chained_Icarus]

I'm building a Human Arcane Duelist (I really wanted him to be a Kitsune, but my group ruled that out because it was "too weird"). I've got most of it under control, but I'm having a hard time with the weapon choice.

I'm looking to either use a Greatsword, Scimtar, or a Doublebladed-Sword or Quarterstaff with TWF. I just can't really decide which to use.

Right now, here are my stats.

Human Arcane Dueliest 1/Lore Warden 1

STR 20
DEX 17
CON 15
INT 15
WIS 11
CHA 16

Haven't spent my feats yet, but...

Taking the level in Loremaster gives me access to all Martial weapons, and I can spend the fighter Bonus Feat on the Exotic Weapon of my choice.

That still gives me my Level 1 Feat and Human Bonus feat for whatever. One can easily be burned on TWF, leaving me with another to still do as I please.

The Double-sword is really more for flaver (plus, it reminds me of my old Jedi Shadow on SWToR), and it has the advantage of essentially dual-wielding Longswords while making the off-hand light.

The Quarterstaff is also for the feel, but also because we as a group have decided the Quarterstaff can be used to help with jump checks (vaulting), as well as the Tripping Staff/Trippling Twirl feats (I love tripping fools). Helps with my very agile and strong character already.

Greatsword is more for the raw power of it all. No real other reason.

Scimtar (possibly dual-wield) is mostly for the crits (with Improved Critical, it's a 16-20 range. Yikes). I'm sort of against dual-wielding the Scimtar simply because it's not a light off-hand, but honestly, with all those damn bardic bonuses, it might not really matter much.

I plan to primarily stick with Arcane Duelist (the dip into Loremaster was for the bonus feat/martial weapon profs), and thus I'll armor up more as the game goes on.

Advice, folk?

(Also, I'll take advice on what to burn my other feats on, and future feat suggestions).

Pathfinder, btw. And only core books (since they cut my Kitsune), such as PG, APG, BESTIARY, etc.

Ultimate Magic/Combat is fine for feats, though.

[grarrrg]

...Taking the level in Loremaster gives me access to all Martial weapons, and I can spend the fighter Bonus Feat on the Exotic Weapon of my choice.
...
Pathfinder, btw. And only core books (since they cut my Kitsune), such as PG, APG, BESTIARY, etc.

Ultimate Magic/Combat is fine for feats, though.

Hmmm...
Any chance of getting a level of Magus allowed instead of Lore Warden?
A Kensai (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/kensai) Magus gains Prof. with any 1 Martial or Exotic Weapon. Gets Weapon Focus for that weapon as a Bonus Feat, and gets a +1 AC bonus (Canny Defense, based on INT, restricted by level).
Spire Defender (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/spire-defender) gets Combat Expertise and Dodge as bonus feats.
And Staff Magus (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/archetypes/paizo---magus-archetypes/staff-magus) gets you the Quarterstaff Master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/quarterstaff-master-combat) feat at level 1.



As far as Weapon Choice...all are solid choices.
You've got the STR to Two-Hand a weapon, you've got the DEX to for Two-Weapon (and the STR so you don't have to worry about damage).

Arcane Strike would help your Two-Weapon damage some, and with your STR you'd want Double Slice (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/double-slice-combat---final) asap.

Two-Handed is pretty straight forward. Take Power Attack and SMASH!

And you've got plenty of INT for Combat Expertise for Tripping feats and such...
Hmm...

Have you considered the Falcata?
1-hand Exotic weapon. 1d8 damage, 19-20/x3
It is the _only_ weapon with both a higher Crit Range AND higher Crit Multiplier.
You can still 2-hand a 1-hand weapon to get extra STR to damage.

[Chained_Icarus]

Is Magus in the same book as the Archetypes? I can't remember.

[grarrrg]

Is Magus in the same book as the Archetypes? I can't remember.

Magus was introduced in Ultimate Magic, the archetypes I listed are spread out between Ult. Magic, Ult. Combat, and Inner Sea Magic.
Plain Magus won't do all that much for you, so you'd have to see if you can get one of those books/archetypes allowed.

[Chained_Icarus]

Which archetype then, would you most reccomend?

Falcata is exactly what I was looking for, btw.

Would you reccomend getting Keen on that thing?

[grarrrg]

Which archetype then, would you most reccomend?

Falcata is exactly what I was looking for, btw.

Would you reccomend getting Keen on that thing?

Well, as far as Magus+Falcata goes, Kensai is the only one that would work.


And yes, Keen comes highly recommended.

[Chained_Icarus]

Magus might be hard to swing just because of the situations.

Fighter looks like my best bet to get the feats I need in a single level, too. Lore Keeper was the one I saw that actually seemed useful, but would you reccomend any others? Trying not to dip for more than a level, maybe two.

[grarrrg]

Magus might be hard to swing just because of the situations.

Fighter looks like my best bet to get the feats I need in a single level, too. Lore Keeper was the one I saw that actually seemed useful, but would you reccomend any others? Trying not to dip for more than a level, maybe two.

Class Dipping Guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230500)
Take a look.

1st post is Base classes.
2nd post is PrC's.
3rd post is an ability quick ref, notably a "bonus feats" section.

Go nuts.

[Chained_Icarus]

You're a good man grarrrg, I dun care what they say about ya.