Chapter 1 - Class - Character Kits - Warrior Kits
Swashbuckler
Chapter 1 - Class - Character Kits - Thief Kits
Swashbuckler
Note: This kit is taken from the Complete Fighter's Handbook.
The Swashbuckler is the sophisticated, witty, lightly armed and armored
hero in a sophisticated city-based campaign—a la The Three Musketeers. He's fully
capable of putting on heavy armor, picking up a bastard sword, and soldiering alongside
other tank warriors—but he shines in comparison when the heroes are adventuring in the
city, in light armor and with light weapons.
To be a Swashbuckler, a character must have an Intelligence and Dexterity of 13 or
better.
Role: - In a campaign, the Swashbuckler is the happy-go-lucky hero with the ready wit
and the flashing rapier. He's happiest when he's in the big city, but can be an imposing
warrior anywhere—enemies often underestimate him because of his charming manners
and don't realize that he can plate on armor and wield heavy weapons as well as anyone
else. The Swashbuckler, because he's bright and well-spoken, often becomes party leader
. . . or at least the leader's spokesman.
Secondary Skills: - The Swashbuckler can choose his own Secondary Skill. Good
choices include: Navigator (if he's in with a band of pirates, especially), Gambler,
Jeweler, Scribe, and Weaponsmith.
Weapon Proficiencies: - The Swashbuckler receives two extra weapon proficiency
slots which must be devoted to weapon proficiency with one of the following weapons:
stiletto*, main-gauche*, rapier*, and sabre*. (The "*" symbol denotes new weapons to be
found in the Equipment chapter.) Throughout his career, he must devote half of his
weapon proficiency slots to those four weapons. Once he has achieved proficiency in all
four of those weapons, he may freely choose where the rest of his weapon proficiency
slots go.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Bonus Proficiencies: (General) Etiquette, (Rogue)
Tumbling. Recommended: (General) Artistic Ability, Dancing, Heraldry, Languages
(Modern), Riding (Land-Based), Seamanship, (Warrior) Blind-Fighting, Gaming, (Priest,
double slots unless Paladin) Musical Instrument, Reading/Writing, (Rogue) Appraising,
Disguise, Forgery, Juggling, Musical Instrument, Tightrope Walking, (Wizard, double
slots unless Ranger) Reading/Writing.
Equipment: - The Swashbuckler must buy the weapon in which he has specialized,
but except for that limitation may spend his gold precisely as he pleases.
Special Benefits: - The Swashbuckler has three special benefits.
- First, when using up his Nonweapon Proficiency slots, he doesn't have to devote double the normal number of slots when choosing Rogue proficiencies.
- Second, when he's wearing light or no armor (i.e., no armor, leather armor, or padded armor), he receives a –2 bonus to his AC (that is,
an AC of 7 would become a 5); he's so nimble that he's very hard to hit.
- Third, the Swashbuckler is such a romantic figure that he always receives a +2 adjustment on his reaction roll from NPC members of the opposite sex.
Special Hindrances: - Trouble seeks out the Swashbuckler. This is something that the
DM will have to play very carefully if the Swashbuckler is to be as hindered as all the
other Warrior Kits. When there's another Swashbuckler around, intent on proving that
he's the best swordsman in the world, it's the PC Swashbuckler he settles upon and
challenges. When a certain young lady is being pursued by the king's guards, who are
intent on stopping her from revealing secrets in her possession, it is the Swashbuckler she
stumbles across when fleeing. When a prince is too drunk to attend his own coronation,
miraculously he looks just like the Swashbuckler. Life conspires to make things difficult
for the Swashbuckler, and the DM should always throw just a little more good-natured
bad luck at that Warrior Kit than at any other.
Wealth Options: - The Swashbuckler receives the standard 5d4x10 gp starting money
allotment.
Races: - Any demihuman who'd look elegant in foppish dress, wielding a narrow
blade, will work fine as a Swashbuckler, especially elves, half-elves and halflings.
Dwarves and gnomes are not entirely inappropriate, but are likely to have to defend
themselves from plenty of jokes at the expense of their curious looks
