Fighter Archetype: Swashbuckler
Here's something I've been thinking up. I'm looking for some feed back on it. While I'm well aware that there is a "Swashbuckler" archetype for the rogue, I still haven't seen one done for the fighter. This class is not meant to be a replacement or conversion for the 3.5 Complete Warrior Swashbuckler.
In quotations you will find my reasoning for the changes.
Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Swim (Str).
I updated the skill list to better reflect the skills that a swashbuckler would need
Weapon & Armor Proficiencies: Remove Medium & Heavy Armor Proficiencies. Remove Shield (including Tower Shield) Proficiencies.
I changed the armor proficiencies because I included an additional ability at 1st level that helps the Swashbuckler out with there armor class. Keep reading.
Weapon Finesse (Ex): A Swashbuckler gains Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat at 1st level. This replaces the Fighters standard bonus feat at 1st level.
The Swashbuckler, being a fighter archetype, is suppose to be a dexterity based fighter. Therefore it only made sense that they get Weapon Finesse right off the bat
Insightful Fighter (Ex): At 1st level, when wearing light or no armor and not using a shield, a Swashbuckler adds his Intelligence Modifier (if any) to his dexterity bonus to modify his Armor class while wielding any light weapon or any other weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat. If a swashbuckler is caught flat-footed or otherwise denied his dexterity bonus, then he also losses this bonus.
Also when a swashbuckler is wielding any light weapon or any other weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat, he may apply his intelligence modifier (in addition to his strength modifier) as a bonus on weapon damage rolls. Any creature that is immune to critical hits are immune to the swashbuckler's additional damage from the Canny Fighter class ability. (They still retain their Strength bonus to weapon damage rolls).
The swashbuckler cannot use either part of the Canny Fighter ability when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.
This is part of the reason why the Medium and Heavy Armor Proficiencies were dropped. At first one might say that this now causes the archetype to fall into the MAD category. You first have to remember that Strength will no longer be as big of a concern for the dexterity based fighter. Second, a lot of what makes the Swashbuckler different from a fighter comes from not just a high dexterity but a smarter way of fighting, which assumes they will have a high intelligence score. This is also reflected in the Combat Expertise feat with its Int 13 prerequisite. Well now you have another reason to give yourself a decent intelligence score. Not only will you need it for your Combat Expertise Feat, and all feats that use it a a prerequisite but it also helps you out with your Armor Class and with your weapon damage rolls.
Grace (Ex): Starting a 2nd level, a swashbuckler gains a +1 bonus on Reflex Saves and on Acrobatics skill checks. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd. This ability replaces Bravery.
I would be lying if I said that this archetype didn't draw some of its inspiration for its 3.5 predecessor. This gives the Swashbuckler a little extra push to make those reflex saves and helps out with acrobatic skill checks.
Elusive (Ex): At 3rd level, a swashbuckler gains a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels after 3rd. The swashbuckler loses this bonus if wearing medium or heavy armor, uses a shield, or carries a medium or heavy load. This replaces Armor Training 1,2,3, and 4.
One of the problems that a Swashbuckler class faces in this game is the fact that the system was never really designed for a "lightly armored" fighter. D&D always made the assumption that the fighter will "Tank-up". My hope is that this extra dodge bonus to AC will help to close the gap between sir-tank-alot and the lightly armored fighter.
Expertise (Ex): At 5th level, a swashbuckler gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with any light weapon and any weapon that can be used with the Weapon Finesse feat. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels gained after 5th. This functions like weapon training except that it only applies to light weapons or weapons that can be used with the weapon finesse feat.
At 5th level the swashbuckler selects one light weapon or weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat. The critical threat range with that one weapon increases by 1. This increase stacks with the feat Improved Critical or the Weapon Property "Keen" but it does not allow the Improved Critical feat or the Weapon Property "Keen" to stack. At 9th level, 13th level, and 17th level the Swashbuckler selects another light weapon or weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat and increases its critical threat range by 1.
This ability replaces Weapon Training.
I wanted to keep weapon training but I understood that the group of weapons that a swashbuckler will be able to use in conjunction with his class abilities would be extremely limiting, and fall into one or two groups. That being said, I added on an ability lets them be just a little bit more deadly with these light weapons. I also feel as though it reflects the fact that while the swashbuckler's light weapons may not have the same nasty crunch as the 2D6 great sword, they can still be just as deadly and dish out good damage if they can use those light weapons to consistently hit precisely for critical damage. In simpler terms, you can hit someone anywhere with a hatchet and just cause a bad wound, but a knife can cause a small wound that's just as bad if you know what critical areas to strike with it.
Elusive Target (Ex) At 19th level, a Swashbuckler has become so adept at fighting in light or no armor that can avoid attacks with almost uncanny ease. Whenever an attack roll would hit a swashbuckler there is a 50% chance that the attack with miss completely. This replaces Armor Mastery.
It only made sense to replace the armor mastery ability with something more fitting. 50% miss chance. Yeah its powerful. Guess what, its also gained at level 19!!! It reflects a lifetime of training on how "not to get hit", not how to get hit for the least amount of damage.
Once again this is not meant to be a conversion of the 3.5 Swashbuckler but rather an adaptation of that class into a PF Fighter Archetype. Please tell me what you think. Feed back will be most appreciated.
AK
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This class is not meant to be a replacement or conversion for the 3.5 Complete Warrior Swashbuckler.there are far too many similarities for it to be considered anything else, even if you state that it's not and i'm pretty sure it's not covered under the OGL.
Doesn't actually matter if it is covered by the ogl. It is a HOMEBREW build.
As to the actual build...on the weapon training, will the increased crit range stack with imp. Crit or keen? I would almost rather keep the increased to hit and damage from weapon training and ALSO give them an increased crit range, but only with finesseable weapons.
Doesn't actually matter if it is covered by the ogl. It is a HOMEBREW build.
As to the actual build...on the weapon training, will the increased crit range stack with imp. Crit or keen? I would almost rather keep the increased to hit and damage from weapon training and ALSO give them an increased crit range, but only with finesseable weapons.
At 5th level, a swashbuckler gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with any light weapon and any weapon that can be used with the Weapon Finesse feat. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels gained after 5th. This functions like weapon training except that it only applies to light weapons or weapons that can be used with the weapon finesse feat.
At 5th level the swashbuckler selects one light weapon or weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat. The critical threat range with that one weapon increases by 1. This increase stacks with the feat Improved Critical or the Weapon Property "Keen" but it does not allow the Improved Critical feat or the Weapon Property "Keen" to stack. At 9th level, 13th level, and 17th level the Swashbuckler selects another light weapon or weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat and increases its critical threat range by 1.
This ability replaces Weapon Training.
You get both. You get the increase both to hit and damage that starts at +1 and increases by +1 every four levels thereafter. You also get to select 1 light or finesse-able weapon at levels 5, 9, 13, and 17th that you can increase the critical threat range by 1. This will stack with the improved critical feat or the Keen weapon property.
It still does not allow you to stack both Improved Critical feat and Keen weapon property.
So you could select your rapier and increase the threat range from 18-20/x2 to 17-20/x2. If you took the improved critical feat your threat range would be 14-20/x2. (first you would double the threat range from 18-20 to 15-20/then you would apply the bonus from the class ability increasing it to 14-20/x2).
Ok, missed that part. I like it. I might playtest this next weekend and get back to you.
Ok, missed that part. I like it. I might playtest this next weekend and get back to you.
Let me know how it goes. Play testing usually always reveals design flaws.
Interesting, You know something? I think a monk archetype might work better as a swashbuckler-base, rather than fighter.