D&D General A D&D Swashbuckler Class

[Corinnguard]

There was a Dragon magazine article during the 3e era where you could make a Swashbuckler from any of the classes in D&D. The article offered suggestions on which feats and prestige classes you would need to give a particular class that swashbuckler feel.

Dragon Magazine #301.

The article was Campaign Components: Swashbucklers.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Just going to point out that Buckler is litterally in their name. Because the original ones used Bucklers.
They removed them for the movies because it was harder to see the actors face (part of shields making it harder to stab their face).

But a buckler is literally a large belt buckle. You wrap your belt around your off hand to parry blows you can’t with your main (or punch your opponent in the face).

But a lot of what we call swashbuckling is really stage fighting. The attacks are aimed at the opponent’s weapon rather than their body. You see it in the old Robin Hood TV series - his weapon looks like a typical D&D longsword, but its waved around one handed as if it weighed nothing.

 

[Kurotowa]

The French use muskets, the pirates use pistols, and Robin Hood uses a longbow.

Classically Robin uses a longbow. But the Errol Flynn movies created an entire sub-genre of swashbuckling swordfighting Robin Hood depictions that continues to trickle out occasional entries to this day.

Really, what we think of as "swashbuckling" is just stage combat. A light sword for actors, no armor or shield to conceal the action, lots of big impractical flourishes and attacking the opponent's weapon instead of their body, and frequent pauses for banter or dialog. Players want to replicate it the same way they want to fight with a shield like Captain America, but it's a combat style that's optimized for a different medium. It's all about the visual presentation, and TTRPGs land closer to a prose context because so much of it is narrated via words.

 

[mellored]

But a buckler is literally a large belt buckle. You wrap your belt around your off hand to parry blows you can’t with your main (or punch your opponent in the face).

That was 1300's.

Swashbuckler came from later 1500's, when buckler was a proper shield. Still small and used to punch though, but no longer part of a belt.

Specifically
It was someone who made a lot of noise by hitting (swash) their sword and shield together, for Intimidation and distractions.

Take in the more modern movies using light weapon with flourish, not to mention all the one liners, and you get Dex + Charisma.

Just need to have a high level move called "I'm not left handed" that you can activate when your Bloodied.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If people are arguing that the swashbuckler doesn't work for D&D because it's largely an invention of fiction and stage combat, I have some very bad news about wizards.

In any case, I'm frustrated that 2024 D&D not only didn't include the swashbuckler in the PHB, but overcorrected on how good of a weapon the rapier is and, as a result, made it harder to play bards and rogues as swashbuckling fighters at all. (If you go the more combat-oriented bard route, you're better off just going full skald with a long sword and chainmail.)

Swashbuckling types are a popular archetype, even if people like to argue about the details, and taking the Dragon #301 approach, and making it as widely available as possible for those who want it seems like the right thing to do, barring a single swashbuckler class with its own more specific subclasses.

 

[Corinnguard]

Pathfinder 1st edition has a Swashbuckler class. It's a hybrid of the Fighter and Gunslinger classes

Swashbuckler – d20PFSRD

www.d20pfsrd.com

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Some might, but a lot wouldn't. You're completely leaving out the pirate swashbucklers, and they're actually the dominant ones these days. I bet you the top two picks right now would be Jack Sparrow and Inigo Montoya.

Which is exactly my point. It's such a broad genre, and the difference between French swashbucklers and pirate swashbucklers and Robin Hood swashbucklers is vast.

Is it?

Dex and charisma, athletic skirmishing combatants with light (primarily melee) weaponry, using their charm as a weapon in combat alongside their skill at arms…

I mean…the only real difference between Will from Pirates and D’Artagnan is place and morality. The primary cast could all be translated into a Musketeer or Zorro ripoff without any trouble at all.

 

[mellored]

If people are arguing that the swashbuckler doesn't work for D&D

I don't see anyone arguing that.

In fact, everyone seems to be in unusual agreement.
Dex +Cha, mostly melee, acrobatics, charm, kind of monk-ish thing.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Things I’d want from a swashbuckler class;

Speed comparable to the rogue and monk

Very good with rapiers, scimitars, short swords, and daggers, as well as with bows and crossbows.

A taunting feature like a 4e Mark or like Compelled Duel.

Expertise

Mid to high level ability to add Cha Mod as a bonus to acrobatics and athletics.

Unarmored Defense Charisma, allowing shields. But maybe with a feature that gives +1 AC if using a dagger, and some sort of benefit when keeping a hand free. Actually incentivize having a hand free or using a main gauche.

A penchant for trickery and unexpected tactics

A riposte mechanic

Non-magical charm and fear effects

 

[bedir than]

Which is exactly my point. It's such a broad genre, and the difference between French swashbucklers and pirate swashbucklers and Robin Hood swashbucklers is vast.

To me these differences, if a whole class was made, would be merely subclasses.