Swiftblade

[Coyoteoldman]

I love the special entry requirement! Finally, a prerequisite with teeth!

As for the glass jaw effect of a martial spellcasting class with a D6 Hit Die, I think the real potential of this class if being missed. If all a swiftblade does is cast haste on themselves and run into combat hither come dither, then they should suffer the consequences. A swiftblade who realizes their potential on the other hand will be softening up their targets from a distance first, casting two and eventually three (at 7th level with quickened haste) spells per round, and then running into combat.

Hmmm. I'm liking this prestige class more and more...

 

[Beckett]

Looks pretty cool to me. I'll have to look over the bard spell list, see how well it would work to progress one into this. Gestalted with the swashbuckler would be pretty sweet too.

 

[Stalker0]

I think class is either broken or completely weak depending on how you go about it.

I like the flavor prereq, its very cool. But the other prereqs are actually pretty harsh. Lightning reflexes is not a standard wizard feat, and quicken spell is worthless for a wizard until he has 5th level spells (and usually not even then). You would have to be pretty high level before I'd consider most people taking this. By that time, casting haste as your higher level slots is PAINFUL!

But if you assume you make a high level character and just get this class, the 1st level benefit is huge. But I would never take more than 3 levels in this class, the loss of spellcaster levels is not worth it. Sure I can eventually cast 3 spells per round, but my caster level and spell DCs will be a lot lower than normal. Who cares if I can quicken spells at a +3 instead of a +4 if I don't even recieve those higher level slots in the first place?

So no sir, I don't like it.

 

[Mistwell]

Interesting class. I think a bard might find it quite useful, particularly if they take the spring attack chain of feats.

Human Bard
1 Dodge, Lightning Reflexes
2
3 Quicken Spell
4
5 Buy the new item in MIC that gives you Mobility
6 Spring Attack
7
8 Swiftblade 1 (though I might delay to 9th to get the +1 inspire courage and the extra bard level to use with a crystal echoblade)

I think that would work pretty well. With the bonus to speed you eventually get, and bonus to strike when you move, you can move in, strike, and move out. And with swift spells available, you can buff or cast a melee touch attack spell along the way. Get one of those Harmonizing weapons from MIC (a +1 ability) and your weapon can continue your inspire courage song while you are doing this, and you can cast that swift spell while still maintaining the inspire courage. Get a Crystal Echoblade of Harmonizing, and you are really set, zipping in and out of combat doing massive damage, and with a great chance to hit, while ending movement far enough away from opponents that they cannot effectively hit back.

 

[Henry]

I have to admit, the Special prereq made me hearken back to the days of Dual Classes and making Bards for 1E -- it's one that it seems a player would feel like he earned if he made it through a whole level of tying one hand behind his back just to qualify for the Prereq, just like the Blood Magus has to DIE to make his prereq. To me, that's more fun than, "has to get sponsorship of Sir so-and-so to take this class."

 

[Coyoteoldman]

I like the flavor prereq, its very cool. But the other prereqs are actually pretty harsh. Lightning reflexes is not a standard wizard feat, and quicken spell is worthless for a wizard until he has 5th level spells (and usually not even then).

I'll grant you this, a 5th level sorcerer and wizard have to take Quicken Spell before it is useful to them, but only for 1 level. If they both take the Quicken Spell at 6th level, and then their first swiftblade level at 7th level, Quickened Knack kicks in right away and lets them cast quickened 0-level spells. Not a huge boon, but it's there. And this is only if you are "desperate" to become a swiftblade at the earliest possible time.

But if you assume you make a high level character and just get this class, the 1st level benefit is huge. But I would never take more than 3 levels in this class, the loss of spellcaster levels is not worth it.

That's where I disagree. The swiftblade is not about high level casting. If high level casting is your only priority, then there are far better options available to you. The swiftblade is about softening up your opponents first and getting your hands dirty in combat second. Three spells per round, one of which can be 5th level, and two of which are up to 2nd level (assuming minimum entry levels requirements) for a 13th level character is not something I can disregard lightly.

 

[Stalker0]

That's where I disagree. The swiftblade is not about high level casting. If high level casting is your only priority, then there are far better options available to you. The swiftblade is about softening up your opponents first and getting your hands dirty in combat second. Three spells per round, one of which can be 5th level, and two of which are up to 2nd level (assuming minimum entry levels requirements) for a 13th level character is not something I can disregard lightly.

But on the same token, is that worth giving up 7th level spells? Is it worth the loss of all those lower level slots?

Further, it would be one thing if this class recieves a full BAB, but its medium. That means a class that is medium or poor (the most likely to take this) get even weaker on their attacks.

 

[Coyoteoldman]

Further, it would be one thing if this class recieves a full BAB, but its medium. That means a class that is medium or poor (the most likely to take this) get even weaker on their attacks.

But with haste and swift surge active swiftblades eventually gain a +3 bonus to their attack, +3 bonus to Dodge, and +3 bonus to Reflex saving throws, giving them a full base attack modifier (minus one iterative attack). The thing is, using their extra movement to gain those bonuses means only making one melee attack per round, quite possibly with Spring Attack. Combine this with a quickened spell and the swiftblade becomes an extremely mobile fighting/spellcasting dynamo! A typical medium creature is moving at 30 feet + 30 feet (for haste) + 20 feet (for swift surge). That's a speed of 80 feet!

 

[Engilbrand]

10 Sorceror/ 10 Swiftblade
BAB+12
Caster Level 16
8th level spells
By 20th level, Greater Arcane Fusion (Complete Mage) will allow a Sorceror to cast 3 4th level spells and 3 7th level spells in one turn. If you've chosen well, SOMETHING is bound to happen.
Will saves be as high? No, they'll probably be 1 or 2 lower. Darn. With all of the other things that you get, I wouldn't have any problems with that. How good are 7th level spells again? That's right, they're pretty good. Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to use Lesser Arcane Fusion to fullfil the "7th level or below" spell slot? If so, that makes it even more interesting. That would be a lot of 4th level spells. Depending on what your choose, that's some pretty serious battlefield control. The sheer number of options is phenomal. I would take a hit to Caster Level to be able to do this sort of stuff. Plus the Speed.

 

[Sejs]

Huh, fancy that.

An arcane juicer.