Author Topic: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting  (Read 2142 times)

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scott73

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Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« on: August 10, 2010, 01:56:00 AM »
Well, it's a very low magic setting so magic items and healing are few and far between. Sort of a late 18th century horror/steampunk.

I want to keep the martial aspect at a premium(BAB), I feel I may need it.
 

Kuroimaken

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2010, 02:02:53 AM »
Levels? Sources allowed?

Also, what flavor of swashbuckler are you going for? Because depending on how you go about it it can't be done.
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RobbyPants

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2010, 09:32:01 AM »
If Complete Scoundrel is allowed, Daring Outlaw seems like a must.  Mixing in 3-4 rogue levels gives you a full Sneak Attack progression at the expense of one point of BAB.

If Tome of Battle is allowed, a straight-up Warblade focusing on Diamond Mind and Iron Heart (with maybe some Tiger Claw reflavored if you use a dagger in your off hand) could also work very well.

As Kuroimaken said, without sources and your starting level, it's hard to give any concrete advice.  Is there anything specifically you want this guy to do?  Are you also using guns?  Are there any weird house-rules we should know about?
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kurashu

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2010, 05:06:08 PM »
Honestly, if Tome of Battle is allowed, I'd go Swordsage. Maybe Swordsage/Swashbuckler with Shadow Blade to get WIS/DEX/STR/INT on attacks). This is one iteration I found. It goes with TWF buuuut...keep in mind that spiked chain has reach, is a shadow hand weapon, it is finessable, and you can two hand power attack with it -- it will kick your ass from a distance. Just something I thought to throw out there.

Gavinfoxx

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2010, 05:34:37 PM »
Hmmm, some 18th century swords would probably be smallsword (stat as a short sword maybe?), cutlass (see stormwrack), scimitar, saber (this is in D&D somewhere, I think in forgotten realms), rapier, and cut-and-thrust sword (maybe use an elven thinblade stats for this?).
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Kuroimaken

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2010, 06:08:58 PM »
Honestly, if Tome of Battle is allowed, I'd go Swordsage. Maybe Swordsage/Swashbuckler with Shadow Blade to get WIS/DEX/STR/INT on attacks). This is one iteration I found. It goes with TWF buuuut...keep in mind that spiked chain has reach, is a shadow hand weapon, it is finessable, and you can two hand power attack with it -- it will kick your ass from a distance. Just something I thought to throw out there.

Sadly, it is neither swashbucklery nor 18th century standard issue. Best to go rapier/short sword.
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Gavinfoxx

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2010, 06:11:49 PM »
For ToB, if we were putting 18th century european swords into the 9 schools, where would sabers be? cutlasses? smallswords?
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McPoyo

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2010, 06:22:28 PM »
For ToB, if we were putting 18th century european swords into the 9 schools, where would sabers be? cutlasses? smallswords?
The same place as longswords, scimitar, and shortswords would be.
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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2010, 06:52:21 PM »
I prefer sabers for my characters, and I've always just used the stats of a scimitar. A friend re-statted them to be longswords that gained a bonus on charges, and he used it as a cavalry saber. I'd still just use the scimitar.

carnivore

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2010, 06:55:18 PM »
what is the starting level?

what classes are allowed?

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2010, 07:05:09 PM »
Ah! Sabers are in FRCS. :)
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scott73

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2010, 06:52:15 AM »
10th level.
Core books.
No Tome of Battle.

JohnnyMayHymn

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2010, 07:24:19 AM »
harpoons do double damage when they are pulled out

hulking hurler allowed? throwing oversized harpoons?


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RobbyPants

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Re: Need help with Swashbuckler concept for Horror setting
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2010, 09:52:34 AM »
10th level.
Core books.
No Tome of Battle.
Core swashbuckler?  Ow.

Play a rogue.  Mayyybe put in one or two levels of fighter.  There is a Duelist PrC in the DMG, but I suggest you stay away from it.  If you want a core-only swashbuckler, your best option is to play a straight-classed rogue.

You could easily qualify for TWF and Improved TWF by level 10, which works well.  If you're not going to be spending feats to improve your weapon (like Weapon Focus), then you don't need to follow the use-the-same-type-of-weapon-in-each-hand rule, so you could use a rapier in your main hand and a dagger in your off-hand which fits quite nicely flavor wise.  You can dish out some serious damage this way to guys vulnerable to crits.

Now, UMD is a powerful skill for rogues, but I'm not sure how useful it will be in a low magic game.  You may want to ask your DM ahead of time of the chances of you coming across a wand or two.  Hopefully your DM knows what he's doing and doesn't throw you up against all sorts of undead all the time without toning down the encounter a bit. ;)
« Last Edit: August 12, 2010, 09:54:21 AM by RobbyPants »
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]