Swashbucklers!

[ayergo]

I'm very excited to see this added as a base class as i think finesse fighters have gotten the shaft for too long. I hope to tool up a few swashbuckler NPCs as soon as the SoZ patch is in, but having no experience with them i thought i'd ask you guys. What works well for a swashbuckler in game? Besides the "cookie cutter" pirate/swashbuckler, what other options can you think of for the class?

[fluffmonster]

Dashing Swordsman of any sort seems like it would fit. A dual-wield specialist build is particularly uber...I have such a PC in my SoZ party and he's easily the most dangerous party member.

[johnlewismcleod]

Robin Hood?....oops....I meant Hooded Robbers.

[hollyfant]

• A rude motormouth fighter, not necessarily dex-based.
• Zorro.
• Jacky Chan as a mad, Selûnite Sun Soul swashbuckling monk.
• A nobleman.

[Kest]

Was hoping to go for a Scout - better version of a Ranger without watered down spells and crappy companions. Although I may need some Rogue for the skills.

Played a dex Fighter on Exodus because I figured that angle would be more appropriate for a swordswoman, but she was so very weak. Would have done really well as a Swashbuckler.

[ayergo]

Have your swashbucklers successfully used parry? I'd like to think this works great for them, but its always been a mediocre skill.

[hollyfant]

Have your swashbucklers successfully used parry? I'd like to think this works great for them, but its always been a utterly useless skill.

There, fixed it for you.

[Brokenbone]

I fear Faerun will be awash in plumed hats and rapiers... possibly outrageous accents, though I'm not sure any particular country is a France-analogue in FR. Maybe Amn is for fake Spaniards though.

Alternate concepts therefore would seem pretty welcome. I have a problem picturing elves being arrogant ladies' men (though uppity girly-men, I think they've nailed that), but I suppose a variety of racial combos could kind of break the mold on "oh no, another Musketeer dude." Gnomish knife fighter, dual or otherwise? There'll be obvious multiclass combos out there as well, including almost obligatory rogue levels for flankers who want sneak attack, humans can pull that off even with imbalanced mixes under favoured class rules at least. Guess it will be interesting to see what gets come up with (again, other than the obvious guys in plumed hats, the curly hair and mustaches).

[ayergo]

I fear Faerun will be awash in plumed hats and rapiers... possibly outrageous accents, though I'm not sure any particular country is a France-analogue in FR. Maybe Amn is for fake Spaniards though.

Alternate concepts therefore would seem pretty welcome. I have a problem picturing elves being arrogant ladies' men (though uppity girly-men, I think they've nailed that), but I suppose a variety of racial combos could kind of break the mold on "oh no, another Musketeer dude." Gnomish knife fighter, dual or otherwise? There'll be obvious multiclass combos out there as well, including almost obligatory rogue levels for flankers who want sneak attack, humans can pull that off even with imbalanced mixes under favoured class rules at least. Guess it will be interesting to see what gets come up with (again, other than the obvious guys in plumed hats, the curly hair and mustaches).

I've been thinking about this as well. I think i've got a little something off the beaten path in mind. For any Red Dwarf fans out there: Brett Riverboat.

[hollyfant]

not sure any particular country is a France-analogue in FR.

Tethyr, complete with French revolution.

[AcadiusLost]

Did I mention we have new Rapier models going into the haks just in time for this?

[Kest]

I fear Faerun will be awash in plumed hats and rapiers...

more like aswash right

[fluffmonster]

I tend to think of musketeers more as duelists, personally. Still, a base class is a base class...there's lots of room to interpret it. An elven warrior specializing in the long-knives would be a great elven interpretation of the swashbuckler. Belkar should have been a swashbuckler instead of a ranger. A light infrantryman would be a good mold for a Helmite Swashbuckler (even better if we had throwable spears). I'm sure there's tons of interesting ideas.

[dob85y]

Did I mention we have new Rapier models going into the haks just in time for this?

*slight hijack* will the new armour models you posted be in too?

[Brokenbone]

No idea if articles like this provide any inspiration to the playerbase, but I'll link it anyhow:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/cwc/20050714a

Also belatedly realized that unarmed strike counts as being subject to Weapon Finesse. So, reasonably, if someone were to take the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, they could be a half decent brawler/boxer. Handaxes I had forgotten count as well, so while the stereotypical dwarf carries as big an axe as possible, I suppose you could have one who focusses in smaller hatchets to mince up opponents, he or she just might be shy on effective, enjoyable wisecracking due to CHA problems.