The Swordsman PrC

[Thels]

It actually has nothing to do with AoO's, so I wouldn't actually use it that way. Instead, increment the uses per round for higher levels (level 3-1/round, level 6-2/round, level 9-3/round). How about adding another ability that WOULD use AoO's:

Retaliation: If a Swordsman is able to block a melee attack using his block attack ability, he is entitled to make an AoO against the creature attacking him, if he is still allowed to make an AoO this round. If the Swordsman has multiple AoO's thanks to Combat Reflexes, he can still make only 1 AoO against a single creature, but he could make multiple retaliations if attacked by multiple creatures.

Should require Swordsman level 10, defenitely.

Got MSN/ICQ/AIM/Yahoo by any chance?

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

It seems like it would be a good idea to adapt the Weapons Master class from sword & fist. Since their focus is on one weapon to the exlusion of the all others, it fits well, and the prerequisites fit well for a character with light or no armor (Mobility, Spring Attack), while others help with low-AC characters (Dodge, Expertise). Although you could, of course, Change or mix and match with the ones you suggested. Ranks in Intimidate seem to fit the description of enforcing the law through your abilities as a swordsman, plus ranks in Knowledge: Local (note you must specify which locality).

Eliminate references to Ki and trade some of the abilities (I'm thinking Ki Whirlwind and Superior Combat Reflexes, and maybe some uses of the damage or critical abilities) for AC boosters (Another attribute to AC, maybe half again Dex to AC , monk-like bonuses, or Block Attack). Some abilities would disappear if they used armor or shield, plus enforcement from other Swordsmen.

 

[Mithreander]

Unfortunately not... the firewall at work prevent them from getting through. In fact this is one of the few message boards that I have access to (and the reason I stopped posting at others). I just hope that they don't block this one as well (or I hope that this wessage board does not raise it's security level).

That's a great ability as well. Those two abilities with evesion make a pretty meaty PrC. I'm not trying to power game, by any means, so I think that those could be enough.

Now the restrictions. As they stand with the 4 feats I was thinking about, a second level fighter could qualify. That's a little low for a prestige class. I was thinking of taking off combat reflexes (with those special abilities they would WANT to pick that anyway) and replacing it with Greater Weapon focus.

WHat do you think?

 

[Mithreander]

Intimidate I like, and at least it's not a cross-class function like knowledge(local) is.

True, the idea behind a Weapon's Master would work... I'll have to look at my Sword and Fist book when I get home, though I see no part of Ki in this region that they come from. Humm.

 

[Thels]

I'd rather require a certain BaB and perhaps Cleave and Dodge. That makes it still available to other classes as well. Greater Weapon Focus seems to limit it to greatsword only. How about BaB +5? Humans or anyone with at least one level in Fighter can take it at level 6 and anyone else at level 7.

 

[Lichtenhart]

I was going to suggest something, but I like so much Thels' ideas that I can only second them.

 

[Thels]

Hmm, just Block Attack and Retaliate? In comparison to most other PrC's that's pretty empty.

Not so sure if intimidate would be a good choice for a requirement, as only the Fighter and none of the similar classes has it.

Spoken about skills, what would make sense as class skills? How about Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Cha), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex).

Reasoning: Climb, Jump and Swim copied from the fighter. Swordsmen are tough AND don't receive ACP. Balance and Tumble because a Swordsman without his armor is more agile than a regular armorclad Fighter, Gather Information, Intimidate and Knowledge (Local) as they might come in use as Law enforcers, Craft because everyone and their brother has it.

 

[Mithreander]

I like the BAB limit. Cleave is only used for muliple people, and most criminals in a VERY lawful place like what I'm planning would work in small groups, or alone to stay hidden (kind of like today), so that does not work as well. Dodge... well, it can work for the exact reason that Cleave would not.

Don't forget evasion and perhaps improved evation, though I'm not sure about that.

4 skill points and keep the HD at d10? Is that fair? I like those skills, and they follow about what I had in mind.

I do still like intimidate, though I think it should be a low requirement, such as 5 ranks.

I just noticed that Greater weapon focus is only available as a fighter, and that is NOT what I was after, so I agree. That's out.

 

[Lichtenhart]

Don't forget evasion and perhaps improved evation, though I'm not sure about that.

Rather than evasion, I'd go for some levels of uncanny dodge, which seem to fit the concept.

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

though I see no part of Ki in this region that they come from. Humm.

Personally, I think "ki" is mostly flavor text- for non-monks, replace it with "Great Skill".

Dig the skill list, Thels, although I'd throw in search under the "investigative" catagory. So for prereq's we've got Quickdraw, Weapon Focus (On what? Greatswords? Two-handed bladed weapons? This should be defined...), Improved Initiative and Dodge? Those seem fine to me. 3-5 ranks in Intimidate, 2-4 ranks in Knowledge: (Whatever local they're from, or maybe any local. You do have to specify, right?)

Just tossing out an ability progression, and as I wrote it new abilities occured. Take or drop what you will.

1-Block 1/round, Code of Honor (combat abilities don't work with armor, will be expelled/killed)
2-Evasion
3-
4-Block 2/round
5-
6-Improved Evasion
7-Block 3/round
8-
9-
10-Retaliate, Block 4/round

Some other abilities to fill in the blanks:

Respect: A bonus to Cha-based skills amongst populations that know of the reputation of the Swordmen. (Wouldn't work in armor- otherwise, how do they know you're a swordsman?)

Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse: A bonus to all Knowledge: Local checks to know what the local law codes are. Scales with level- total at +4 or +6.

I think these, or something similar, would add a lot of flavor to the PrC. Fighter BAB, d12 hit die (I really think no armor is a big hit for a fighting class with no class bonuses to AC).