My group is currently playing the Savage Tide AP. We are interested in migrating to the Pathfinder RPG playtest. However, one of my players if very attached to her swashbuckler. I know that the idea of the playtest is to try out the rules as written. On the other hand, I do not want to disappoint my players. I have therefore tried to create a Swashbuckler class, inspired by the PRPG-Rogue, the PRPG-Fighter and the Swashbuckler class from the Complete Warrior.
I know turn to the knowledgeable masses of ENWorld to review my work and try to detect galring errors, potential balance problems (especially compared to the Pathfinder base classes), etc.
Your comments are most definitely welcome.
SWASHBUCKLER 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 swashbuckler. 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 Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Deception (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Knowledge (dungoneering) (Int), Profession (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Dex).
1st level Skill Choice: 4 + Int Modifier.
Table : The Swashbuckler Code:
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1st +1 +2 +0 +0 Weapon finesse
2nd +2 +3 +0 +0 Bonus feat
3rd +3 +3 +1 +1 Swashbuckler talent
4th +4 +4 +1 +1 Bonus feat
5th +5 +4 +1 +1 Swashbuckler talent
6th +6/+1 +5 +2 +2 Bonus feat
7th +7/+2 +5 +2 +2 Swashbuckler talent
8th +8/+3 +6 +2 +2 Bonus feat
9th +9/+4 +6 +3 +3 Swashbuckler talent
10th +10/+5 +7 +3 +3 Bonus feat
11th +11/+6/+1 +7 +3 +3 Advanced talents, swashbuckler talent
12th +12/+7/+2 +8 +4 +4 Bonus feat
13th +13/+8/+3 +8 +4 +4 Swashbuckler talent
14th +14/+9/+4 +9 +4 +4 Bonus feat
15th +15/+10/+5 +9 +5 +5 Swashbuckler talent
16th +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +5 +5 Bonus feat
17th +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Swashbuckler talent
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +6 Bonus feat
19th +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +6 Swashbuckler talent
20th +20/+15/+10/+1 +12 +6 +6 Blink of an Eye, bonus feat
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the swashbuckler.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Swashbucklers are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with light armor. Some of the swashbuckler features, as noted below, rely on her being no more than lightly armored and unencumbered.
Weapon Finesse (Ex): A swashbuckler gains Weapon Finesse at 1st level even if she does not qualify for the feat.
Bonus Feats: At every even level, a swashbuckler gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement (meaning that the fighter gains a feat at every level). These bonus feats must be selected from the following list: Acrobatics (PRPG), Agile Maneuvers (PRPG), Alertness (PRPG), Athletics (PRPG), Blind-Fight (
SRD), Caught Off-Guard (Combat; PRPG), Combat Expertise (PRPG), Dazzling Display (Combat; PRPG), Deadly Stroke (Combat; PRPG), Defensive Combat Training (PRPG), Die Hard (
SRD), Dodge (Combat; PRPG), Double-Slice (Combat; PRPG), Endurance (
SRD), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (
SRD), Greater Two Weapon Fighting (
SRD), Greater Weapon Focus (
SRD), Greater Weapon Specialization (
SRD), Improved Critical (
SRD), Improved Disarm (PRPG), Improved Feint (
SRD), Improved Trip (PRPG), Improved Two Weapon Fighting (
SRD), Iron Will (
SRD), Leadership (
SRD), Lightning Reflexes (
SRD), Lightning Stance (Combat; PRPG), Mobility (Combat; PRPG), Persuasive (PRPG), Quick Draw (
SRD), Razor Sharp Chair Leg (Combat; PRPG), Run (
SRD), Spring Attack (Combat; PRPG), Stunned Defense (Combat; PRPG), Throw Anything (Combat; PRPG), Toughness (PRPG), Two Weapon Defense (
SRD), Two Weapon Fighting (
SRD), Two-Weapon Rend (Combat; PRPG), Weapon Focus (
SRD), Weapon Specialization (
SRD), Weapon Swap (Combat; PRPG), Wind Stance (Combat; PRPG). A swashbuckler must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, including ability score and base attack bonus minimums.
Swashbuckler Talents: As a swashbuckler gains experience she learns a number of talents that aid her when confronting her foes. Starting at 2nd level, a swashbuckler gains one swashbuckler talent. She gains an additional swashbuckler talent for every 2 levels of swashbuckler. Unless specified, a swashbuckler cannot select an individual talent more than once.
Acrobatic Assault (Ex): A swashbuckler with this ability may charge in situations where others cannot. She may charge over difficult terrain that normally slows movement or allies blocking her path. This enables her to run down stairs, leap down from balconies, or jump over tables to reach her opponent. She may still need to make an Acrobatic check to successfully move over the difficult terrain, however.
Acrobatic Mobility (Ex): A swashbuckler with this ability is better at using her agility to move across the battle field. When using her Acrobatics skills to move past or through opponents without provoking an attack of opportunity, she gains a competence bonus of +5 to her skill check.
Combat Trick: A swashbuckler may gain a combat maneuver feat in place of a swashbuckler talent. This talent may be taken more than once.
Fast Movement (Ex): A swashbuckler may gain an enhancement bonus to her speed. She cannot use this ability when wearing medium or heavy armor or when encumbered with medium or heavy loads. She may take this ability multiple times, increasing her speed by 10 ft. each time.
Feint of the Blade (Ex): A swashbuckler is a master of the blade. With this talent you are able to make a feint as a free action instead of a move action. A swashbuckler must have Improved Feint before choosing feint of the blade.
Gracefulness (Ex): A swashbuckler gains a +2 competence bonus on Reflex saves.
Knowledgeable Hit (Ex): A swashbuckler with this ability becomes able to finely place her attacks to maximize damage. She applies her Intelligence bonus (if any), in addition to any Strength bonus she may have, to her damage rolls with any light weapon or a weapon that can be used with Weapon Finesse. A swashbuckler cannot use this ability when wearing medium or heavy armor or when encumbered with medium or heavy loads. Creatures that do not have a weak spot at all, due to their homogenous nature or near indestructible build are immune to this attack (ex. Elementals, oozes and some but not all undead).
Ledge Walker (Ex): This ability enables the swashbuckler to move along a narrow surface at full speed using Acrobatics without penalty.
Lucky (Ex): Once per day, a swashbuckler with this ability may reroll a failed attack roll, skill check, ability check, or saving throw. The second roll always overrides the original roll even if the result is worse.
Masterful Dodge (Ex): A swashbuckler is trained in defense. She gains a +2 dodge bonus to her AC until her next turn.
Reputation (Ex): A swashbuckler develops a reputation over time. This reputation enables her to intimidate or negociate more effectively. This ability may be chosen multiple times, each time granting a circumstance bonus of +2 to Intimidate and Diplomacy skill checks. This ability may be taken up to three times.
Resiliency (Ex): Once per day, a swashbuckler with this ability can gain a number of temporary hit points equal to her swashbuckler level. Activating this ability is an immediate action that can only be performed when she is brought below 0 hit points. This ability can be used to prevent her from dying. These temporary hit points last for 1 minute. If the swashbuckler’s hit points drop below 0 due to the loss of these temporary hit points, she falls unconscious and is dying as normal.
Stand Up (Ex): A swashbuckler with this ability can stand up from a prone position as a free action. This still provokes attacks of opportunity for standing up while threatened by a foe.
Tactical Threat (Ex): A swashbuckler is an expert at profiting from tense tactical situations. With this ability, she gains a +4 bonus to attack when flanking instead of the normal +2. Her allies do not gain this increased bonus.
Advanced Talents: On attaining 11th level and every odd level thereafter, a swashbuckler can chose one of the following advanced talents in place of a normal rogue talent.
Counterstrike (Ex): Always on the lookout for an opening, the swashbuckler holds back her full offensive power to be able to exploit a weakening in her opponents defenses. As a full-round action, she may make one melee attack at her highest base attack bonus. At any time before her next turn, she may take an immediate action to make a melee attack using her highest base attack bonus against an opponent that attacks here in melee.
Crippling Feint (Ex): Following a successful feint, a swashbuckler with this ability can attack opponent with such precision that her blows weaken and hamper them. The opponent damaged by this attack also takes 2 points of Strength damage. Ability points lost to damage return on their own at the rate of 1 point per day for each damaged abilities.
Defensive Blades (Ex): By choosing this ability, a swashbuckler using two weapons gain an extra +4 to her Armor Class. She must have the Two Weapon Fighting feat before choosing this defensive blades.
Feat: A swashbuckler may gain any bonus feat in place of a swashbuckler talent.
Greater Gracefulness (Ex): A swashbuckler gains a +4 competence bonus to Reflex saves.
Greater Masterful Dodge (Ex): A swashbuckler gains a +4 dodge bonus to her AC until her next turn.
King of the Blade (Ex): Your exploits have become legendary, so much so that a number of able men and women are ready to follow you into danger. They will demand no other compensation than a fair share of the booty. Treat this ability as the equivalent of the Leadership feat except that only followers and no cohorts are gained.
Opportunist (Ex): Once per round, the swashbuckler can make an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just been struck for damage in melee by another character. This attack counts as the swashbuckler’s attack of opportunity for that round. Even with the Combat Reflexes feat, she cannot use the opportunist ability more than once per round.
Skill Master (Ex): The swashbuckler becomes so experienced in the use of certain skills that she can use them reliably even under adverse conditions.
Upon gaining this ability, she selects a number of skills equal to 3 + her Intelligence modifier. When making a skill check with one of these skills, she may take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent her from doing so. A swashbuckler may gain this special ability multiple times, selecting additional skills for it to apply each time.
Strong Mind (Ex): A swashbuckler with this ability has a mind more difficult to control. If she 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 one extra chance to succeed at a certain saving throw.
Blink of an Eye (Ex): Upon reaching 20th level, the swashbuckler may once per day double the number of melee attacks she makes while performing a full attack action. When fighting with two weapons, the swashbuckler also gains the benefit of the Great Cleave feat even if she does not meet the prerequisites. She may use this ability in conjunction with the haste spell granting her one extra attack.
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