This is a basic class design combining elements of the ranger and rogue, making a non-thief, non-nature martial striker with the secondary role of some minor defender traits. It will focus on two primary builds, either a One handed “fencer” which can include weapon and buckler, and a two-weapon style fencer. The one-handed style would focus more on defense and precision, while the two-weapon style would focus more on brute dual wielding tactics.
This came to me inspired by all the complaints in the Weapon Excerpt thread (and other threads) about the lack of a two-weapon fighting class other than the ranger which seems to be more heavily ranged then dual wielding. It is also is a mental exercise in how to “modify” current existing powers to give them a new flavor and use while not changing the mechanics, or mixing very basic concepts from existing powers. After putting it all together I figured I'd share it just for posterity and to see if it elicits any comments.
SWASHBUCKLER
Primary Role: Striker. You concentrate on either precise single weapon attacks or two-weapon melee fighting to deal a lot damage to one enemy
at a time. Your attacks rely on speed and mobility, since you prefer to use hit and run tactics whenever possible.
Secondary Role: Defender
Power Source: Martial. Your talents depend on extensive training and practice, inner confidence, and natural proficiency.
Key Abilities: Strength, Dexterity, Charisma
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Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Light Shield
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, Military melee, Rapier
Bonus to Defense: +1 Fortitude, +1 Reflex
-------------------------
Hit Points at 1st level: 12 + CON Score
Hit Points Per Level Gained: 5
Healing Surges Per Day: 6 + CON Modifier
-------------------------
Trained Skills: Bluff or intimidate (your choice) and Streetwise.
…..From the class skill list below, choose four more trained skills at 1st level.
…..Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Perception (Wis)
-------------------------
Build Options: Precision swashbuckler (one hand or one hand and buckler), Two-blade swashbuckler
SWASHBUCKLER CLASS FEATURES
SWASHBUCKLER TACTICS
Swashbucklers operate in a variety of ways. Some use their natural charm and cunning trickery to deceive foes. Others rely on speed and pure skill to overcome their enemies. Choose a bonus feat (from a restricted list based on the build).
SWASHBUCKLER WEAPON TALENT
When you wield a light blade, you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
DUELIST’S CHALLENGE
You boldly confront a nearby enemy, using taunts and jibes to disrupt its effectiveness if it ignores your challenge.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Minor Action - Close Burst 5
Target: One creature in burst
Effect: Once per turn , you mark a target. The target remains marked until you use this power against another target. If you mark other creatures using other powers, the target is still marked. A creature can be subject to only one mark at a time. A new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place. You do an additional +1d6 damage to a challenged enemy on a successful attack. This ability is a challenge and thus relies on the intelligence and language ability of the target.
SWASHBUCKLER EXPLOITS
Your powers are called exploits, since they are from the martial power source. Some of your powers require you to use a weapon. If a power does not state “weapon”, then you don’t need to have your weapon in your hand.
Level 1 At-Will Exploits
PRECISE ATTACK – Swashbuckler Attack 1
You study the enemy, looking for a gap in their defenses. Only when you find it do you strike.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: DEX +4 vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] damage (no added DEX damage).
FEINTING STRIKE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
You feint past your enemy’s guard to make your attack, or you make a feinting attack and then withdraw to a more advantageous position.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Special: Shift 1 square before or after your attack.
Attack: DEX vs. AC
LUNGING STRIKE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
A final lunge unbalances your foe and forces them to retreat.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Special: You can move up to 1 squares before the attack.
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + STR damage, and you push the target 1 square if it is your size, smaller than you or one size category larger. You can shift into the space that the target occupied.
Level 1 Encounter Exploits
DODGING RIPOSTE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
Using the momentum from your enemy’s blow and a quick sidestep, you make a sudden retaliatory attack as they stumble to regain their composure.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Immediate Reaction - Melee weapon
Trigger: An enemy makes a melee attack against you
Attack: You can shift 1 square, then make a basic attack against the enemy.
Special: Gain +2 power bonus to your basic attack roll.
SWASHBUCKLER’S FAVOR – Swashbuckler Attack 1
With a calculated strike, you leave your foe exposed to an imminent attack from one of your allies.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W] + STR damage. One ally within 5 squares of you gains a +2 power bonus to attack rolls against the target until the end of your next turn.
VICIOUS VERBOSITY – Swashbuckler Attack 1
Using your charismatic way with words to vilify the villain, you take them aback and off balance.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1[W] + CHA damage, and you slide the target a number of squares equal to your Charisma modifier.
Level 1 Daily Exploits
DOUBLE STRIKE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
You strike two foes at once.
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Close burst 1
Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons.
Target: Two creatures in burst you can see
Attack: Strength vs. AC. Make two attack rolls, take the better result, and apply it to both targets.
Hit: 2[W]+ STR damage.
PINNING ONSLAUGHT – Swashbuckler Attack 1
No matter where your foe turns, your blades await.
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Special: You can move up to 1 squares before the attack.
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W]+ STR damage.
Effect Until the end of the encounter, the target cannot shift if you are adjacent to it.
This came to me inspired by all the complaints in the Weapon Excerpt thread (and other threads) about the lack of a two-weapon fighting class other than the ranger which seems to be more heavily ranged then dual wielding. It is also is a mental exercise in how to “modify” current existing powers to give them a new flavor and use while not changing the mechanics, or mixing very basic concepts from existing powers. After putting it all together I figured I'd share it just for posterity and to see if it elicits any comments.
SWASHBUCKLER
Primary Role: Striker. You concentrate on either precise single weapon attacks or two-weapon melee fighting to deal a lot damage to one enemy
at a time. Your attacks rely on speed and mobility, since you prefer to use hit and run tactics whenever possible.
Secondary Role: Defender
Power Source: Martial. Your talents depend on extensive training and practice, inner confidence, and natural proficiency.
Key Abilities: Strength, Dexterity, Charisma
-------------------------
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Light Shield
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, Military melee, Rapier
Bonus to Defense: +1 Fortitude, +1 Reflex
-------------------------
Hit Points at 1st level: 12 + CON Score
Hit Points Per Level Gained: 5
Healing Surges Per Day: 6 + CON Modifier
-------------------------
Trained Skills: Bluff or intimidate (your choice) and Streetwise.
…..From the class skill list below, choose four more trained skills at 1st level.
…..Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Perception (Wis)
-------------------------
Build Options: Precision swashbuckler (one hand or one hand and buckler), Two-blade swashbuckler
SWASHBUCKLER CLASS FEATURES
SWASHBUCKLER TACTICS
Swashbucklers operate in a variety of ways. Some use their natural charm and cunning trickery to deceive foes. Others rely on speed and pure skill to overcome their enemies. Choose a bonus feat (from a restricted list based on the build).
SWASHBUCKLER WEAPON TALENT
When you wield a light blade, you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
DUELIST’S CHALLENGE
You boldly confront a nearby enemy, using taunts and jibes to disrupt its effectiveness if it ignores your challenge.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Minor Action - Close Burst 5
Target: One creature in burst
Effect: Once per turn , you mark a target. The target remains marked until you use this power against another target. If you mark other creatures using other powers, the target is still marked. A creature can be subject to only one mark at a time. A new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place. You do an additional +1d6 damage to a challenged enemy on a successful attack. This ability is a challenge and thus relies on the intelligence and language ability of the target.
SWASHBUCKLER EXPLOITS
Your powers are called exploits, since they are from the martial power source. Some of your powers require you to use a weapon. If a power does not state “weapon”, then you don’t need to have your weapon in your hand.
Level 1 At-Will Exploits
PRECISE ATTACK – Swashbuckler Attack 1
You study the enemy, looking for a gap in their defenses. Only when you find it do you strike.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: DEX +4 vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] damage (no added DEX damage).
FEINTING STRIKE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
You feint past your enemy’s guard to make your attack, or you make a feinting attack and then withdraw to a more advantageous position.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Special: Shift 1 square before or after your attack.
Attack: DEX vs. AC
LUNGING STRIKE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
A final lunge unbalances your foe and forces them to retreat.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Special: You can move up to 1 squares before the attack.
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + STR damage, and you push the target 1 square if it is your size, smaller than you or one size category larger. You can shift into the space that the target occupied.
Level 1 Encounter Exploits
DODGING RIPOSTE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
Using the momentum from your enemy’s blow and a quick sidestep, you make a sudden retaliatory attack as they stumble to regain their composure.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Immediate Reaction - Melee weapon
Trigger: An enemy makes a melee attack against you
Attack: You can shift 1 square, then make a basic attack against the enemy.
Special: Gain +2 power bonus to your basic attack roll.
SWASHBUCKLER’S FAVOR – Swashbuckler Attack 1
With a calculated strike, you leave your foe exposed to an imminent attack from one of your allies.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W] + STR damage. One ally within 5 squares of you gains a +2 power bonus to attack rolls against the target until the end of your next turn.
VICIOUS VERBOSITY – Swashbuckler Attack 1
Using your charismatic way with words to vilify the villain, you take them aback and off balance.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1[W] + CHA damage, and you slide the target a number of squares equal to your Charisma modifier.
Level 1 Daily Exploits
DOUBLE STRIKE – Swashbuckler Attack 1
You strike two foes at once.
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Close burst 1
Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons.
Target: Two creatures in burst you can see
Attack: Strength vs. AC. Make two attack rolls, take the better result, and apply it to both targets.
Hit: 2[W]+ STR damage.
PINNING ONSLAUGHT – Swashbuckler Attack 1
No matter where your foe turns, your blades await.
Daily * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action - Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Special: You can move up to 1 squares before the attack.
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 2[W]+ STR damage.
Effect Until the end of the encounter, the target cannot shift if you are adjacent to it.
And yes, when you get time to flesh it out more, by all means do so.
