jasin
Explorer
I'm looking at the swashbuckler's Precise Strike deed: +level to damage against most opponents, most of the time.
I'm not sure it's too much in itself, but it sure seems a lot compared to similar (full BAB, full warrior) classes that came before:
Paladin: +level to damage against up to 7 opponents per day, with bonuses to attack and AC.
Cavalier/samurai: +level to damage against up to 7 opponents per day, with somewhat conditional bonuses.
Ranger: up to +1/2 level to damage and attack, against some opponents.
Fighter: up to +1/4 level to damage and attack, all the time.
Slayer also looks pretty attractive, with up to +1/4 level to damage and attack, most of the time, with sneak attack on top.
Obviously, all those classes have all sorts of other abilities that make direct comparison difficult, but for all of them the ability to hit and deal damage is their bread and butter, and it seems difficult to get a new player enthusiastic at a glance about something like a samurai ("challenge key foes to get bonuses!") when they could be playing a swashbuckler or a slayer ("all bonuses, all the time").
I'm not sure it's too much in itself, but it sure seems a lot compared to similar (full BAB, full warrior) classes that came before:
Paladin: +level to damage against up to 7 opponents per day, with bonuses to attack and AC.
Cavalier/samurai: +level to damage against up to 7 opponents per day, with somewhat conditional bonuses.
Ranger: up to +1/2 level to damage and attack, against some opponents.
Fighter: up to +1/4 level to damage and attack, all the time.
Slayer also looks pretty attractive, with up to +1/4 level to damage and attack, most of the time, with sneak attack on top.
Obviously, all those classes have all sorts of other abilities that make direct comparison difficult, but for all of them the ability to hit and deal damage is their bread and butter, and it seems difficult to get a new player enthusiastic at a glance about something like a samurai ("challenge key foes to get bonuses!") when they could be playing a swashbuckler or a slayer ("all bonuses, all the time").