Rewritten Swashbuckler

[John Q. Mayhem]

Aside from that ... I seem to have a subconscious aversion to all these prestige classes and "base classes" that can be catered for very easily under the standard class system in the PHB.

For example: take a fighter who makes the decision to limit weapon/armour choices. They want to add a high charisma to their abilities just for flavour.

They select the movement feats such as doge/mobility/spring attack and combat reflexes etc. They're pretty much set up as a good swashbuckler type. The only thing missing would be the skill set and maybe a few weapon style feats perhaps (UA introduced those).

Iron Will gives them a boost to their lagging Will Save and Lightning Reflexes is a no-brainer choice.

There's really only one problem with this build; specifically, it sucks. Bad. I know, I've played it. People talk about fighters being bad all the time (I dunno 'bout that, though), and then giving up AC (light armor) and damage (low Str/high Dex), not to mention getting the Weapon Finesse and save-boost feats, and putting a relatively high score into Cha. I promise, core fighters simply do not work well as swashbucklers. Maybe with a class-based defense bonus, like in d20 Modern or the AU unfettered.

 

[Kelleris]

Mayhem's right about the fighter build being... tricky.

I'd like to plump for bards as swashbucklers.* Just make sure that the bardic music abilities are all tied to oratory or dance (and I'd try to talk my DM into reversing them into penalties too). Take only spells with non-flashy effects (not too hard), and flavorize them as taking a moment to prepare your mind (i.e., cat's grace), or as summoning up your courage before the day's conflicts and wooing (the ever-awesome heroism).



* - I am an incorrigible bard player. I have talked people into thinking that the bard is broken. This makes me happy.