I have some veteran players who want a swashbuckler in the pathfinder game we are about to play. I've looked over the original class and the conversions on here, and while there are many good conversions, they all feel lacking. I could make a fighter/rogue, barbarian/rogue, fighter/bard or just straight dex fighter and accomplish the same general thing. I'd like to create a Swashbuckler (and perhaps a new name) that feels like it's own class, and offers something that you can't get by combining other classes.
I'll post the 1st version as soon as it's done, and look forward to feedback.
My inital thoughts are:
HD: d10
BAB: FUll
Good Save: Ref
Poor save: fort
(not sure about will)
Drop grace entirely, thats what a full ref is for.
Stunts: Similar to talents, playing off acrobatics, stealth, and charm to accomplish the otherwise improbable/impossible.
Light armor, no shields, simple weapons, and all light , martial weapons.
Skills: 4(+int mod)x4
Stat priority will be
Dex, Cha, Int, Con, Str, Wis
Weapon finesse will be a class feature, and will have an ac bonus similar to monk or ninja.
Class Skills: Acrobatics, Diplomacy, bluff, sense motive, perception, intimidate, escape artist, stealth, perform, knowledge local, knowledge nobility, climb, swim.
I realize this is far from complete but, it's a work in progress.
I'm doing one as a fighter variant in a game, using the Academy Fighter from the Pathfinder Campaign Setting for the extra skills, and sacrificing the medium and heavy armour proficiencies. I then multi-classed as rogue and will be going Duelist, and it's working OK.
If we look at a regular fighter, and begin to convert that class to a swashbuckler.
1st: Change good fort to good Ref save (equals out)
2nd: Keep full BAB and D10 HD (equal)
3rd: Drop medium and heavy armor, and shields (-3)
4th: Increase skills from 2+int to 4+int (+1)
5th: Ac bonus = monk of same level (+1)
6th: Drop bravery and add weapon finesse (put Weapon finesse at 1st level)
7th: Proficient in all simple weapons and light melee weapons
and rapier. (-1)
At this point is see the swashbuckler at a -1 compared to a fighter. Add in no armor or weapon training and we'll call it a -2.
A)I'd like a boost that ties in to will saves. they are fearless and often lack the common sense to run away when a sane man would. bravery just doesn't sound right to me.
B)Stunts of daring do: This is where you can customize your swashbuckler to your liking. These will be focused on extraordinary movement in combat, spectacular social ability, and surprisingly painful special attacks.
Make their good saves fort and reflex, and add a class feature to increase precision damage and give a dodge bonus to AC. You have all those bonus feats to replace as well, remember!
Stunts or tricks or whatever i call them will replace bonus feats and the idea will be to allow the swashbuckler to do things a fighter or rogue could not accomplish easily. Also was thinking of evasion at a certain level, improved evasion, and increasing immunities or resistance to charm related spells. ( Swashbucklers are agile, and charismatic, free spirits who hate to be controlled)
I'm hesitant to give a dodge bonus to ac if they will get a bonus based on level. as a dex based fighter already at high levels i'd assume at least a +5 dex bonus and max +5 level bonus bringin their ac to 20. Add in armor say +5 and ring of protection +2 and you get ac 27. I could easily see a +6 to +8 dex bonus and light magic armor with a +8 bonus which would make their ac 38. Now add amulet nat armor +2 and dodge feat and thats a 41 AC. seems to me that's enough AC for anyone. perhaps an AC boost based on Int modifier if it's felt one was needed.
Will definitely add a precision based damage bonus, else they would feel too underpowered in the damage department. Adding int bonus to damage seems to be the way to go.
Capstone might include immunities to charm spells, adding dex to damage and stunt mastery.
I may not have been completely happy with the rest of the book, but the Tome of Secrets has a really good Swashbuckler in it.
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I may not have been completely happy with the rest of the book, but the Tome of Secrets has a really good Swashbuckler in it.
Yeah, I'd second the book's Swashbuckler class as well, as well as the lack of total satisfaction with the book as a whole. But the Swashbuckler really is pretty good.
You can get the PDF from Paizo's store here.
I suggest a Fighter Core class using the feats in the Art of the Duel.