| G.Kaiser |
Point #1: The name.) Much like RonarsCorruption, When I hear "Scallywag" I too naturally think pirate. The difference in my opinion to his is that to me, the name has a wispy and adventurous tone to it which recalls the typical flair that is inherent to the pirates of story and legend. He calls it less serious, I call it very fitting. While we're on the subject of pirates, I think this class depicts them very well.
Pirates famously looted and plundered, but many pirate crews were agreeable to working in the service of merchants, nobles, and even countries for a suitable compensation as well. Whether through payment or plunder, pirates will do what is most profitable. This ties naturally into this class's penchant for operating on both sides of the law. So yes, they weren't really good guys, per se, but they could easily be working in the service of good guys.
Point #2: The class.) I think it's a REALLY cool concept, and in fitting campaigns I'd definitely put it on the top of my "Archetypes of Choice" list. The cavalier itself is a shamefully unoriginal, boring archetype in my opinion, and this revamp has managed to make me interested in it! Limited? Yes, but fitting (and useful!) for the RK campaign, I think.
When I envision the Skiff ship you describe, I think of something roughly Sunfish sailboat-sized. A ship this small could easily make its way up rivers and into inland bodies of water, a la Viking longboats, and groups of them could pose a very real threat to coastal dwellings and riverside towns alike. In a land like that featured in RK, Scallywags could potentially turn up anywhere, and while they would be significantly less powerful off of their boats, they could certainly be developed into a VERY effective raiding archetype with a little tweaking and further development.
What I'm seeing here is a very, very good start, and I would love to see a this idea progress.
You have one of my votes, good sir.