Voranzovin
Explorer
As to d’Artagnan, he sprang toward Jussac himself.
The heart of the young Gascon beat as if it would burst through his side--not from fear, God be thanked, he had not the shade of it, but with emulation; he fought like a furious tiger, turning ten times round his adversary, and changing his ground and his guard twenty times. Jussac was, as was then said, a fine blade, and had had much practice; nevertheless it required all his skill to defend himself against an adversary who, active and energetic, departed every instant from received rules, attacking him on all sides at once, and yet parrying like a man who had the greatest respect for his own epidermis.
This contest at length exhausted Jussac’s patience. Furious at being held in check by one whom he had considered a boy, he became warm and began to make mistakes. D’Artagnan, who though wanting in practice had a sound theory, redoubled his agility. Jussac, anxious to put an end to this, springing forward, aimed a terrible thrust at his adversary, but the latter parried it; and while Jussac was recovering himself, glided like a serpent beneath his blade, and passed his sword through his body.
Swashbucklers are a common martial archetype in adventure fiction. However, I don’t believe we have a really good way to represent them in 5e (or in any other edition of Dnd, for that matter). Sure, we have Rogue/Swashbuckler, and this does a good job modeling trickster-swashbucklers like Zorro, who use mobility and trickery to confound their opponents. But what about the swashbuckling archetype embodied by characters like d’Artagnan, Scaramouche, Inigo Montoya, Alan Breck Stuart, or the Grey Mouser? These characters are as focused on face-to-face combat as any other martial archetype, just with a different style and emphasis. They feel more like Fighters than Rogues, and Rogue abilities don’t really fit them.
You can model these sorts of characters as a Fighter/Battlemaster, and it works well enough, but it doesn’t feel entirely right to me. Battlemasters have ribbons that emphasize a Knight/Samurai/master-of-war feel, and their abilities are built to allow them to nova and do a large amount of damage in a short period of time, which honestly doesn’t feel very swashbucklery. I’ve also taken a look at Swashbuckling classes available through DMsGuild, but I’m not sure the concept needs its own class. I think there’s room here for a Fighter subclass that fits the archetype better, and is different enough not to step on the Battlemaster’s toes. So I took a stab at it (so to speak).
This draft is more of a thought experiment than anything else: I don’t really have time to playtest and refine it. But I’d be curious what people think of it.
First of all, what is a swashbuckling fighter (in my conception, at least)?
Goals:
Here’s the first draft of the subclass features:
The idea here is to invert the Battlemaster--instead of dice that you get to add to damage (with a rider) here you have dice you get to add to AC (with a rider).
I’m giving them more Swashbuckling dice then a Battlemaster has Superiority Dice both because they can use them for more things, and because they (I think) have less direct impact on the outcome of a fight. The idea is that the Swashbuckler has flexibility and survivability, but not accuracy or depth--none of the Counters improve your attacks or damage the way a Battlemaster’s Maneuvers do. They could be devastating under the right circumstances, but you have to choose those circumstances well, and you don’t just get to pull one out any time you want to--they’re triggered by the actions of your opponents. That’s the idea anyway.
Some questions:
* To forestall quibbles: obviously some swashbucklers actually are supposed to be soldiers or assassins. They just don’t act like it. The musketeers, for instance, seem to regard their actual job as an occasional distraction from intrigues and dueling. The only vocation swashbucklers really seem to take seriously is Pirate.
The heart of the young Gascon beat as if it would burst through his side--not from fear, God be thanked, he had not the shade of it, but with emulation; he fought like a furious tiger, turning ten times round his adversary, and changing his ground and his guard twenty times. Jussac was, as was then said, a fine blade, and had had much practice; nevertheless it required all his skill to defend himself against an adversary who, active and energetic, departed every instant from received rules, attacking him on all sides at once, and yet parrying like a man who had the greatest respect for his own epidermis.
This contest at length exhausted Jussac’s patience. Furious at being held in check by one whom he had considered a boy, he became warm and began to make mistakes. D’Artagnan, who though wanting in practice had a sound theory, redoubled his agility. Jussac, anxious to put an end to this, springing forward, aimed a terrible thrust at his adversary, but the latter parried it; and while Jussac was recovering himself, glided like a serpent beneath his blade, and passed his sword through his body.
Swashbucklers are a common martial archetype in adventure fiction. However, I don’t believe we have a really good way to represent them in 5e (or in any other edition of Dnd, for that matter). Sure, we have Rogue/Swashbuckler, and this does a good job modeling trickster-swashbucklers like Zorro, who use mobility and trickery to confound their opponents. But what about the swashbuckling archetype embodied by characters like d’Artagnan, Scaramouche, Inigo Montoya, Alan Breck Stuart, or the Grey Mouser? These characters are as focused on face-to-face combat as any other martial archetype, just with a different style and emphasis. They feel more like Fighters than Rogues, and Rogue abilities don’t really fit them.
You can model these sorts of characters as a Fighter/Battlemaster, and it works well enough, but it doesn’t feel entirely right to me. Battlemasters have ribbons that emphasize a Knight/Samurai/master-of-war feel, and their abilities are built to allow them to nova and do a large amount of damage in a short period of time, which honestly doesn’t feel very swashbucklery. I’ve also taken a look at Swashbuckling classes available through DMsGuild, but I’m not sure the concept needs its own class. I think there’s room here for a Fighter subclass that fits the archetype better, and is different enough not to step on the Battlemaster’s toes. So I took a stab at it (so to speak).
This draft is more of a thought experiment than anything else: I don’t really have time to playtest and refine it. But I’d be curious what people think of it.
First of all, what is a swashbuckling fighter (in my conception, at least)?
- A clever fighter who uses unconventional and creative swordplay to outwit opponents.
- An underdog. A swashbuckler is always facing opponents that are stronger and better equipped, often with official backing from a corrupt lord/government/organization. In the context of combat, this often means being unarmored and unprotected against better armed and armored foes.
- Reactive. Swashbucklers aren’t soldiers or assassins*, and they don’t generally go for the kill right away. Sometimes this reticence to attack has a moral dimension--the swashbuckler only considers it honorable to give you a fair fight, maybe even tossing your sword back to you after you stumble--but just as often they’re just waiting for you to make a mistake they can take advantage of.
- Brave, sometimes to the point of recklessness. Many swashbucklers hold their own lives pretty cheaply, quite willing to die over a minor point of honor--it’s how you live that matters, not if you do. Of course, somehow they usually end up surviving anyway.
- Infuriating. Since Swashbucklers are always punching up, if you’re fighting one you probably think you should be able to beat them easily with your superior capabilities. Why won’t they just stand still so you can kill them already?!?
Goals:
- The subclass should offer a fighter with lots of tactical options that expresses the swashbuckler concept, but without stealing the Battlemaster’s thunder.
- It should allow the creation of a viable unarmored front-line combatant.
- It should offer versatility in combat over power.
- It should allow frequent use of it’s capabilities--swashbucklers don’t just swashbuckle occasionally--without being unbalanced relative to other Fighter subclasses.
- It should not be too narrowly defined, ie. the image of the swashbuckler is often a nimble fighter with a rapier, but not all swashbucklers necessarily need to fit that mold perfectly--Porthos, for instance, would be a Strength-based swashbuckler. Some swashbucklers might wear light or medium armor, or use a longsword, or dual wield.
Here’s the first draft of the subclass features:
Unarmored defense
When you are not wearing armor and are not carrying a shield, you add your Intelligence modifier to your AC. If wearing light or medium armor that allows you to add some portion of your Dexterity modifier to your AC, you may choose to substitute your Intelligence modifier instead. In addition, the Defense fighting style applies even when you are not wearing armor.
Swashbuckling dice
At third level, you gain six Swashbuckling dice. These dice represent your ability to draw on inner reserves of wit and daring to perform extraordinary feats. You cannot use a Swashbuckling die if you are wielding a weapon with the Heavy or Two-handed property, or if you are carrying a shield or wearing heavy armor.
Your swashbuckling dice are d8s. They become d10s at level 10 and d12s at level 18. You gain an additional Swashbuckling die at levels 7, 10, and 18.
All Swashbuckling dice are regained on a long or short rest.
Daring Do
Your irrepressible spirit allows you to perform incredible stunts. You may roll a Swashbuckling die and add the results to any of the following:
Creative Swordsmanship
You have learned to bait your opponent into making mistakes, and take advantage of those mistakes with unconventional swordplay. When you are hit by an opponent with a melee attack, you can spend a Swashbuckling die as a Reaction and add the result to your AC. If this causes the opponent to miss, you can follow up with a Swashbuckling Counter as part of the same Reaction. Most counters call for a save, and the save DC is 8 + your Strength or Dexterity + your Proficiency bonus. The following counters are available to all Swashbucklers:
Laugh in the Face of Danger
At 7th level, you are so used to throwing yourself into danger that you have become inured to fear. You may add the result of a Swashbuckling die to any save made to resist being Frightened.
Ingenious Swordsmanship
At 10th level, your swordplay is supremely creative and unpredictable. Once per short rest, you can use a more powerful version of one of your Counters when using your Creative Swordsmanship ability. You can choose to use this ability to improve the effect of your counter after you know whether or not your opponent has succeeded on their save against your counter.
Relentless Swordsmanship
At 18th level, if you do not have a Swashbuckling die at the beginning of combat, you gain one.
When you are not wearing armor and are not carrying a shield, you add your Intelligence modifier to your AC. If wearing light or medium armor that allows you to add some portion of your Dexterity modifier to your AC, you may choose to substitute your Intelligence modifier instead. In addition, the Defense fighting style applies even when you are not wearing armor.
Swashbuckling dice
At third level, you gain six Swashbuckling dice. These dice represent your ability to draw on inner reserves of wit and daring to perform extraordinary feats. You cannot use a Swashbuckling die if you are wielding a weapon with the Heavy or Two-handed property, or if you are carrying a shield or wearing heavy armor.
Your swashbuckling dice are d8s. They become d10s at level 10 and d12s at level 18. You gain an additional Swashbuckling die at levels 7, 10, and 18.
All Swashbuckling dice are regained on a long or short rest.
Daring Do
Your irrepressible spirit allows you to perform incredible stunts. You may roll a Swashbuckling die and add the results to any of the following:
- A Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
- A Dexterity save.
- Your jump distance for one round.
- Your climb speed for one round.
Creative Swordsmanship
You have learned to bait your opponent into making mistakes, and take advantage of those mistakes with unconventional swordplay. When you are hit by an opponent with a melee attack, you can spend a Swashbuckling die as a Reaction and add the result to your AC. If this causes the opponent to miss, you can follow up with a Swashbuckling Counter as part of the same Reaction. Most counters call for a save, and the save DC is 8 + your Strength or Dexterity + your Proficiency bonus. The following counters are available to all Swashbucklers:
Riposte
You take advantage of the momentary gap in your opponent’s defense for a quick counter attack. Make a normal attack against this opponent as part of your Reaction, but do not add an ability modifier to the attack’s damage.
Throw
Your opponent is off-balance, so it’s a great time to pull them off their feet, leg sweep them, or kick them over. Your opponent must make either a Dexterity or Strength saving throw. On a failed save, your opponent falls prone. You may make the opponent fall into any space within five feet of their previous position.
You cannot use this Counter if your opponent is more than one size category larger than you, or if they are a quadruped.
Disarm
You flip your opponent's weapon out of their grasp. Your opponent must make a Strength or Dexterity save--on a failed save, the weapon they just attempted to attack you with flies from their hand. It lands in a square of your choice ten feet away from your opponent.
You cannot use this ability against opponents wielding weapons with the Heavy property.
Note that both Disarm and Throw works differently then the Battlemaster’s disarm and trip, because you are not performing it on your turn--if it merely made the opponent drop their weapon or fall prone, they could simply pick it back up/get back up on the beginning of their own turn and you would have gained very little.
Distract
Your opponent’s failed attack gives you an opening to throw sand in their face, pull their hood down over their eyes, slap them, or in some other way discombobulate their attacks. Your opponent must make a Dexterity save. On a failed save, your opponent suffers disadvantage on attacks for the remainder of their turn, and cannot take reactions until their next turn.
Reposition
You avoid your opponent's attack by sliding under them, leaping over them, or ducking under their weapon. You move directly through your opponent’s space, ending up in a square of your choice within five feet of your opponent. Your opponent must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, they lose their Reaction this round and therefore cannot take an attack of opportunity against you.
Laugh in the Face of Danger
At 7th level, you are so used to throwing yourself into danger that you have become inured to fear. You may add the result of a Swashbuckling die to any save made to resist being Frightened.
Ingenious Swordsmanship
At 10th level, your swordplay is supremely creative and unpredictable. Once per short rest, you can use a more powerful version of one of your Counters when using your Creative Swordsmanship ability. You can choose to use this ability to improve the effect of your counter after you know whether or not your opponent has succeeded on their save against your counter.
Redirect
As Riposte, but you can use the damage die of your opponent's weapon instead of your own, and you can make the attack against any opponent within five feet of both you and your opponent.
Thow Into
As throw, but you may direct your opponent into the space of any other opponent within five feet of your opponent. The second opponent must also make a Strength or Dexterity save. If they fail the save, they are also knocked prone.
Snatching Disarm
As Disarm, but if your opponent’s weapon is a light or finesse weapon you may snatch it in your off-hand as part of your disarm. You may now use the weapon as an off-hand weapon if you would otherwise be able to do so.
Humiliating Distraction
As Distract, but your opponent is also humiliated. You cut the buttons from their coat, steal the feather off their helmet, tweak their nose, or in some other way make them look foolish and incompetant.
Your opponent takes disadvantage on any of their remaining attacks this round, and loses their reaction, as normal for the Distract counter. At the beginning of their next turn, the opponent must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they fly into a rage and attack you without concern for their own safety.
The opponent gains the Reckless Attack ability as a Barbarian for one round, and must recklessly attack you this round. Of course, the opponent may well not have the durability of a raging Barbarian to go along with the reckless behavior…
Under most circumstances, this ability can only be used against humanoids. At the DM’s discretion, it may also be applied to non-humanoids who have a human-like sense of self that would allow them to experience embarrassment.
Slashing Reposition
As the Reposition counter, except that if your opponent fails their Dexterity save you can also use the Riposte Counter as part of the same reaction, slashing your opponent as you go by.
Relentless Swordsmanship
At 18th level, if you do not have a Swashbuckling die at the beginning of combat, you gain one.
The idea here is to invert the Battlemaster--instead of dice that you get to add to damage (with a rider) here you have dice you get to add to AC (with a rider).
I’m giving them more Swashbuckling dice then a Battlemaster has Superiority Dice both because they can use them for more things, and because they (I think) have less direct impact on the outcome of a fight. The idea is that the Swashbuckler has flexibility and survivability, but not accuracy or depth--none of the Counters improve your attacks or damage the way a Battlemaster’s Maneuvers do. They could be devastating under the right circumstances, but you have to choose those circumstances well, and you don’t just get to pull one out any time you want to--they’re triggered by the actions of your opponents. That’s the idea anyway.
Some questions:
- The Swashbuckler uses Int for defense, but not for anything else. This might make the class too MAD for not enough benefit, and emphasizes enhancing Int at the expense of Cha, which is also thematic for Swashbucklers. On the other hand, while Swashbucklers are often pretty charismatic in fiction, this doesn’t seem to be where their fighting abilities stem from--Andre Moreau, say, is a pretty charismatic guy, but he’s good with a sword because he practiced a lot.
- Is the Swashbuckler actually survivable enough to be a viable unarmored frontline fighter? AC won’t be as high as someone in plate armor, and indeed shouldn’t be, since the Swashbuckler’s main ability keys off of being “hit.” But does being able to negate one attack a round (assuming you have the Swashbuckling dice for it) actually provide enough survivability?
* To forestall quibbles: obviously some swashbucklers actually are supposed to be soldiers or assassins. They just don’t act like it. The musketeers, for instance, seem to regard their actual job as an occasional distraction from intrigues and dueling. The only vocation swashbucklers really seem to take seriously is Pirate.
