Kokopuff

For the Backlash Beldam build you don't need to be a godlike. Every race works just fine. There's a duelist's hat that is enchanted (the only one): The Dandy Hat of the Diseased Yak. It's nice and big and purple and does -1 INT and +2 RES. My dualist monk from Old Vailia used that and it looked awesome with his vailian clothes and his Rapier and dagger. That hat sounds flamboyantly fascinating! I will have to look that build up! Thanks for all the insight everyone!

Well, I can tell you that I wouldn't be down for a godlike, at least for the duelist, dashing pirate. No hats is a deal breaker. :3

Thanks for the replies! And yeah, I don't mind her wearing a shield if I went the rogue route. Preferably a D&D style buckler to a large shield. I actually considered running chanter (A pirate bard!) instead of rogue for this build, since everyone said Riposte isn't worth it anyway. I also don't really mind running it dual wield, but it would be a rapier/sabre in one hand, and a small parry dagger in the other. This aesthetic still fits in my book as well. And yeah, I know game mechanics wise for monks its contradictory, but theme wise it fits better for my idea of a monk character to play. I gave it a shot and so far it is doing okay, I don't generate wounds much, but really, her auto attack has been so high so far (I'm not far!) that it hasn't matter. Couldn't beat this bear I found though, but I have a feeling you aren't supposed to yet.

So, I bought the game when it launched, but I've had zero time to play it until recently. There are 2 character archetypes I am interested in: An agile monk, who forsakes weapons, using dodging, parrying, and skill to win, over broad constitution and soak. A dashing corsair, renown for her fencing ability, and her quick witted tongue. This particular archetype includes the parry/riposte dueling style (one rapier or saber, and no shield). I have read that Rogues have Riposte as a skill, but that it is terrible. Is a chanter perhaps? or another class better suited toward this concept? I played through the intro as a monk, but realized that a lot of the monk guides seemed to toss out all care for RP dialogue options. I don't really like this approach as, well I don't get a lot of time, so the chances of me replaying the game are negligable, at least for quite a long time. So basically I am looking for a build for either a monk, or a rogue. That still satisfies dialogue checks to keep RP interesting. I am looking to do it with characters met in the world (checking the option to build them myself is allowed however, I will not be making adventurers at the tavern.) I had a stat spread of something (i'm out at the moment.) close to 18 str. Something con. 16 dex, 16 perception, something int, and 16 resolve. I seem to remember con and int being rather low. At any rate, I was curious as to whether a build of either of those archetypes would be able to do well in Hard difficulty. I don't particularily like dropping stats that low, but it seems to meet a lot of the dialogue checks I need to for the desired social impact in RP, and/or the deflection stat for parrying. Is a monk with lower con, and higher resolve, awful? Same question in regards to the pirate theme. Also, do resolve dialogue options always make you into a brute? I would much rather a sarcastic/dashing approach, say Dread Pirate Roberts, than an abusive its my way or the high way! type. I doubt it needs to be stated, but I have no interest in playing a ranged rogue. A sword in one hand, and a pistol in the other is a possibility, but it needs to be a rapier, or a saber. I am sorry if this post comes across rather convoluted, I am in a bit of a hurry and wanted to give people time to respond by the time I get to play!