Swashbuckler

The swashbuckler embodies the concept of daring and panache. Favoring agility and wit over brute force, the swashbuckler excels both in combat situations and social interactions, making her a versatile character indeed.

Adventures: Swashbucklers adventure for a variety of motivations, based on their alignment and background. Some seek to right injustices, while others seek only fame and fortune. All swashbucklers, however share a tenancy to leap into action when the call comes, regardless of their personal views.

Characteristics: The swashbuckler combines skill and finesse with sheer combat prowess. Though the swashbuckler can't dish out quite as much damage as a typical fighter or barbarian, they do tend to be more agile and mobile that most melee combatants. When she can pick her battles carefully, the swashbuckler becomes a very deadly opponent (not to mention hard to pin down). Swashbucklers also hold their own in social situations, unlike most fighters.

Alignment: Like rogues, swashbucklers tend to be diverse in their outlooks, and thus their alignments. Those who chafe under social restrictions tend to be chaotic, while those who uphold honorable traditions may well be lawful.

Religion: Most swashbucklers pay at least some small homage to the cult of chance, since unrah is renowned for being lucky. Lawful or chivalrous swashbucklers may revere Olindo. Many have no particular devotion however.

Background: Many swashbucklers come from affluent backgrounds (specifically the merchant lords of Longwalk), but anyone valuing finesse over force can become a swashbuckler, provided the correct training. A common shared element among swashbuckler's backgrounds is life in an urban environment, whether the back alleys of a slum or the cultured halls of royalty.

Swashbucklers tend to see other swashbucklers as rivals rather than allies, even when sharing similar goals. The swashbuckler's need for attention often outweighs her better judgment, leading either to friendly competition or even outright distrust and antipathy.

Races: Swashbucklers are most often human, elves, half-elves, gnome or halflling. These races are often more concerned with style and appearance than brute force. Dwarves and Half-orks tend to prefer fighting in heavy armor with big weapons, and thus rarely become swashbucklers.

Other Classes: Swashbucklers prefer to work with other quick, lightly armored characters. They get along best with rogues and bards, and appreciate the agility and combat talents of rangers, though not necessarily their woodland disposition. Lawful good swashbucklers often share a paladin's honorable nature, but otherwise the classes tend to clash in their approach to life. Swashbucklers have no particular dislike for spellcasters, and they appreciate the utility of cleverly chosen, well timed spells. They don't interact with barbarians or druids very often, since these characters tend to prefer natural settings to the typical urban environment of the swashbuckler.

Role: The swashbuckler is an able melee combatant, particularly when paired with a fighter or a rogue. She can also make a fine party leader or spokesperson, thanks to her access to Charisma based skills.

Game Rule Information:

Swashbucklers have the following game statistics.

Abilities: The lightly armored swashbuckler depends on a high dexterity for her Armor Class, as well as for many class skills. High intelligence and charisma scores are also hallmarks of a successful swashbucklers. Strength is not as important for a swashbuckler as it is for other melee combatants.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d10

Class skills: The swashbuckler’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb(str),Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the swashbuckler.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Swashbucklers are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with light armor. Some of the swashbuckler's class features, as noted below, rely on her being no more than lightly armored or encumbered.

Weapon Finesse (Ex): A swashbuckler gains the weapon finesse feat as bonus feat at 1st level even if she does not qualify for the feat.

Grace (Ex): A swashbuckler gains a +1 competence bonus to his reflex saves at 2nd level. This bonus increase to +2 at 11th and +3 at 20th. A swashbuckler loses this when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.

Insightful Strike (Ex): At 3rd level, a swashbuckler becomes able to place her finesse attacks where they deal greater damage. She applies her Intelligence bonus (if any) as a bonus on damage rolls (in addition to any strength bonus she may have) with any light weapon, as well as any other weapon that can be used with the weapon finesse feat, such as the rapier or whip. Targets immune to sneak attacks or critical hits are immune to the swashbuckler's insightful strike. A swashbuckler cannot use this ability when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.

Dodge bonus (Ex): A swashbuckler is trained at focusing her defenses on a single opponent in melee. During her action, she may designate an opponent and receive a +1 dodge bonus to her AC against melee attacks from that opponent. She can select a new opponent on any action. This bonus increase by +1 at every five levels after 5th (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th). A swashbuckler loses this bonus when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.

Acrobatic Charge (Ex): A swashbuckler of 7th level or higher can charge in situations where others cannot. She may charge over difficult terrain that normally slows movement or allies blocking her path. This ability enables her to run down steep stairs, leap down from a balcony, or tumble over tables to get to her target. Depending of the circumstance, she may still need to make appropriate checks (Jump or Tumble checks, in particular) to successfully move over the terrain.

Improved Flanking (Ex): A swashbuckler of 8th level or higher who's is flanking an opponent gains a +4 bonus on attacks instead of a +2 bonus on attacks. (Other characters flanking with the swashbuckler don't gain the increased bonus).

Lucky (Ex): Many swashbucklers live by the credo "Better lucky than good." Once per day, a swashbuckler of 11th level or higher may reroll any failed attack roll, skill check, ability check or saving throw. The character must take the result of the reroll, even if it is worse than the original roll.

Acrobatic Skill Mastery (Ex): At 13th level, a swashbuckler becomes so certain in the use of her acrobatic skills that she can use them reliably even when under adverse conditions. When making jump or tumble checks, a swashbuckler may take 10 even in stress and distractions would normally prevent her from doing so.

Weakening critical (Ex): A swashbuckler of 14th level or higher who scores a critical hit against a creature also does 2 points of strength damage to the creature. Creatures immune to critical hits are immune to this effect.

Slippery Mind (Ex): When a swashbuckler reaches 17th level, her mind becomes more difficult to control. If the swashbuckler fails her save against an enchantment spell or effect, she can attempt the save again 1 round later at the same DC (assuming she is still alive). She gets only this one extra chance to succeed at a certain saving throw.

Wounding Critical (Ex): A swashbuckler of 19th level or higher who scores a critical hit against a creatures also does 2 points of constitution damage to the creature. (This damage is in addition to the Strength damage dealt by the swashbucklers weakening critical class feature). Creatures immune to critical hits are immune to this effect.