Paladin/Swashbuckler - most satisfying blend?

[Arutema]

So I'm trying to build a dextrous holy warrior for Society play. I will likely be a halfling and worship Clahdira, the halfling goddess of luck, battle and mischief.

With the racial bonus to Cha, a Paladin/Swashbuckler multiclass seems the way to go. Unfortunately, botht hese classes have a lot of abilities that oly scale with class level.

I will probably start at level 3 with GM credit. Swashbuckler 1/ Paladin 2 seems a good start, netting me free finesse, parry, panache, divine grace, lay on hands, and ability to use wands on the paladin list. However, I'm not sure where to go from there.

Weapon-wise, I'll probably be using a rapier with Fencing Grace.

Looking for suggestions on the best class blend for a build that will likely end at 12th level, as well as feat suggestions once I've picked up Weapon Focus and Fencing Grace.

Thanks in advance.

[Jigawatts]

As an alternative you could take the Daring Champion (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier/archetypes/paizo---cavalier-archetypes/daring-champion) Cavalier archetype. It has the flavor combination you are looking for built in, and you would only have to take a single class.

[Arutema]

As an alternative you could take the Daring Champion (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier/archetypes/paizo---cavalier-archetypes/daring-champion) Cavalier archetype. It has the flavor combination you are looking for built in, and you would only have to take a single class.

Hmm, the Order of the Star does have the fluff I'm looking for. One of the order abilities advanced, but doesn't give Lay on Hands. Is it worth the 2-level dip in Paladin to get LoH and Cha to saves before going Daring Champion?

[Theomniadept]

Gotta say I always loved Cha to saves. Lay on Hands is....marginally useful and is completely outdone by cheap 750 gp Healing Belts from the MIC which can be gotten fairly early on. I've never considered it a hugely useful ability (especially since Dragon Shaman has an ability exactly like LoH except it has double the points and it's not even a class based around healing/support/divine at all).

[georgie_leech]

Gotta say I always loved Cha to saves. Lay on Hands is....marginally useful and is completely outdone by cheap 750 gp Healing Belts from the MIC which can be gotten fairly early on. I've never considered it a hugely useful ability (especially since Dragon Shaman has an ability exactly like LoH except it has double the points and it's not even a class based around healing/support/divine at all).

It's extremely unlikely Pathfinder Society is going to allow 3.5 content. The Dragon Shaman (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo---druid-archetypes/dragon-shaman) in Pathfinder is a Druid Archetype.

[grarrrg]

Gotta say I always loved Cha to saves. Lay on Hands is....marginally useful and is completely outdone by cheap 750 gp Healing Belts from the MIC which can be gotten fairly early on. I've never considered it a hugely useful ability (especially since Dragon Shaman has an ability exactly like LoH except it has double the points and it's not even a class based around healing/support/divine at all).

Thank you obligatory "didn't catch the PF tag" post...


Hmm, the Order of the Star does have the fluff I'm looking for. One of the order abilities advanced, but doesn't give Lay on Hands. Is it worth the 2-level dip in Paladin to get LoH and Cha to saves before going Daring Champion?

2 levels for CHA to all Saves and Lay on Hands to stack with Order of Stars?
YES!
People have dipped for less than that.

There isn't much for Paladin archetypes worth taking for just 2 levels, the only one that may be worth it is the Iroran Paladin (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/ArchetypeDisplay.aspx?FixedName=Paladin%20Iroran%2 0Paladin). Still has Divine Grace, still has Lay on Hands, trades Smite Evil for a weaker 'Smite Anything'. And you can add some of your CHA bonus to your AC (limited by Class level or CHA mod, whichever is lower).

I'd also recommend getting some Bracers of the Merciful Knight (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/bracers-of-the-merciful-knight) at some point, if you can. +4 effective levels for Lay on Hands usage is pretty sweet, and you can use Lesser Restoration 1/day as well.