Any point in wasting levels on Swordlord instead of continuing with Aldori Defender?

[aramintai]

It just seems kinda meh compared to the defender - no weapon training, no bonus combat feat. I can invest into just one level of monk to open up even better bonuses to fighting defensively instead of wasting 3 or more on the swordlord.
Intimidation path is also quite specific and problematic - spend valuable ability points on charisma or dexterity? I think I'd better leave that to Valerie - one companion making enemies running around scared witless is more than enough.
Imho, better spend some levels on rogue for extra damage and skills.

[Climhazzard]

Thug/scaled fist/swordlord is probably the best at using dazzling display. Been using one for my tank for my beneath the stolen lands dungeon runs. Get like 50 persuasion on your dazzling display usage, then grab shatter defenses on all your dps.

The only problem is that the animation got nerfed big ttme, and fighting defensively, parry, and combat expertise, only work when you're attacking enemies. So you make yourself vulnerable when you use dazzling display.

One really cheesy way I found to use it was to get a kineticist with bowling deadly earth infusion, then use dazzling display whenever enemies get tripped. After the enemies get up they'll run away instead of towards you, and also get opened up for shattered defenses. They'll get tripped again before the fear wears off, then you just repeat.

One downside I guess is you'll end up with to much AC with endgame equips. But if you're running the roguelike dungeon like me, you have to get lucky to acquire the gear (for example I've never seen the LG monk robe, only LE and LN), so I think it's good for that at least, and having 45+ AC at like level 6 is pretty nice.

Build is something like..

Aldori defender: 1 to 2 levels. Dueling sword proficiency.
Scaled fist: 1 level Charisma AC to armor, starts crane feats.
Thrug: 4 levels Dazzling display causes fear, Uncanny dodge, evasion. Sneak attack dice.
Paladin: 3 levels High saves (you're immune to AoE basicaly with evasion), immune to fear, diseases.
Swordlord: 9 or 10 levels

You won't need armor, so you can dump strength. Gives you a negative AB until you get your rogue levels though, lol....

Personally I think the only point of swordlord is to take advantage of display weapon prowess, so thug/charisma seems a given. Adaptive tactics stacks with crane style, so you take no penalty to fighting defensively, and only -3 for combat expertise. Greater saving slash helps protect you from natural 20s. You need mage armor until you find some good bracers of armor (for this build), but mage armor potions are cheap AF. Level up use magic device and use potions to get stuff like displacement, if you don't get them from party members. Offense is nothing to write home about, but my party has plenty of offense.

The nerf to the dazzling display animation really is a killer for this though, so I can't really recommend it unless you got some cheese like bowling deadly earth. Works perfectly fine as a tank, but dazzling display is awkward.

[aramintai]

Thanks for the tips on this build. It's much more defensive than I like to play, but I suppose it should be good on higher difficulties where you have to really tank it to survive. I usually like to play the before mentioned Aldori Defender 14/Monk 1/Rogue 4 build - well-rounded all around with lots of feats and skills.

Btw, I once got both Valerie and Regongar doing Dreadful Carnage on enemies - it was too annoying to chase them down all the time, lol. One such character is enough I think.

[Climhazzard]

Yeah I can't take Dreadful Carnage, it'd be obnoxious if I'm not controlling exactly when the fear happens, especially since enemies that are feared don't have collision with your party members so can run through your party, causing you to surround yourself.

Of course that's just my personal preference.