With the release of PHBII......

[Stalker0]

There are quite a few flaws in the classes in AU/AE (I think). This particular one of them doesn't so much contain flaws as a lack of anything interesting or - as it applies to the matter at hand - appropriate to swashbuckling at all. It looks to me like a cobbled-together bunch of very standard D&D abilities, repackaged neatly but hardly uniquely.

I always thought the concept of a swashbuckler came mainly from his skills. He swings on chandelers, he climbs and jumps around the room. He holds off opponents with his swordsmanship etc.

The AE unfettered allows a character to:

1) Have a good AC with light or no armor.
2) Can do good damage even with light, one handed weapons.
3) Use his swordsmanship to have a great AC.

To me, these are the only mechanics you need for a swashbuckler. The rest comes from the skills you select, and the flavor each player gives to a character.

 

[The Shaman]

...since sinking to the bottom of the ocean in armor makes for frustrating experience for players.

It can be, on the other hand, a very entertaining spectacle for the game master.

 

[Nightfall]

At least in the sense of you enjoy drowning your players.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The Swashbuckler class would probably do good with a bit of an overhaul, usually I've done things like drop HD down to d8, put in a good reflex save, 2 extra skill points per level, threw in a bonus feat every level divisible by 5 (or 4), and replaced the grace bonus with a sneak attack progression when using weapon finesse...

Also the dodge bonus does become irrelevant if every class has a class bonus to AC, Swashbucklers just get the good progression of the classes.

I remember Dragon Magazine had a Single Blade Style Feat which gave a +2 dodge bonus to AC, nothing too big really. I think it was also the same issue that adopted the Agile Riposte feat from D20 Modern, also bringing over D20M's Unbalance Opponent feat would be a good idea for such a character.

 

[Jdvn1]

Im left wondering this......

Why hasnt there been a fighter class focusing on fighting with a one handed weapon but no shield? We have a feat in PHBII for this fighting style but no class?

How about Fighter?

The point of all those feats is versatility, y'know.

We don't need a fighter-type class for every concept. There's no archer class, but there are archer feats.

 

[beepeearr]

You know what I like best about the Unfettered, the name, the rest of the class is pretty uninspiring, same with the swashbuckler from both WotC and Swashbuckling adventures. I basically used the Algai'd'siswai from Wheel of time as a starting point and built my Unfettered from thier. In the end I wound up with a lightly armored fighting class, high on skills (really the most important part), low on hit points, that can do the daring maneuvers more easily as they advance, and can handle more roles than any of the above classes.

Completely forgot what my point was?

 

[Nightfall]

Dunno but I can say I liked Unfettered more than I did D&D Swashbuckler.

 

[Drowbane]

Dunno but I can say I liked Unfettered more than I did D&D Swashbuckler.

I have trouble even mentioning those two classes in the same sentence. Unfettered is so superior its ridiculous. Its the only Monte-class I use atm... (not all that familiar with the rest... but... "meh")

 

[Nightfall]

Agreed DB. It's way superior.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Catching I'm unsure of, but throwing invokes the TWF penalties of -6/-10, and the TWF Feats don't help, as they apply ONLY TO MELEE, as per the RAW!



Provokes an AoO?



That's his action, for that round. Forget the sword.



As above, hold it, but NOT use it!



Move action; make one attack, that round.



At -10, and attack with the sword at -10.



Also his action for the round...

D&D models an awful LOT of these, poorly! They don't seem to think that our "Heroes" are capable of much!

If you don't have a free hand though, you are forced to loosen your shield or lose your weapon, and later retake them, which costs most people at least another move action (shield is especially expensive).