ffone
2011-05-08, 04:25 PM
The Swashbuckler base class (CW) has no epic progression - this thread is a query on how one would make one.
(Note that there may be no char-op need for one...it's considered a weak class on its own, and when used with the 'daring outlaw feat to stack rogue sneak attack, which seems to be the only reason people use the class, you might as well revert to rogue levels after 20th, since swashbuckler's better BAB becomes moot. The main benefit of an epic swashbuckler, presumably, would be to start getting epic bonus feats sooner, but the good 'sneak attacker' epic feats have various rogue special abilties as prereqs.)
Swashbuckler has d10 hit die, 4 + Int Skill points, and mostly 'acrobatic' class skills like balance, climb, jump, and tumble, plus a few feintish/social skills (bluff, sense motive, diplomacy.)
Its only 'repeating/regular' class features are a +1 AC dodge bonus every 5 levels (works just like the Dodge feat) and 'grace', a +1 to Reflex saves at 2nd, 11th, and 20th (aka every 9 levels).
Scanning the SRD epic class and prestige classes, Duelist looks the most comparable crunchwise: also d10, 4 + Int skill points, similar skill list, and one repeating class feature every 5 levels (+1d6 'precise strike' damage). Incidentally the flavor of the two classes is nearly identical (swashbucklerying pirate / Eroll Flynn chandelier swinger type).
So for an epic swashbuckler I would say:
like every other class, keeps the same hit die, skill points and skill list as its nonepic counterpart
Dodge bonus increases every 5 levels from 25th on
Grace bonus increases every 9 levels from 29 on (this is like getting the Epic Reflexes bonus feat every 36 levels)
Bonus epic feat every 3 levels from 23rd on, like the Duelist. Same bonus feat list, minus Exceptional Deflection (the Duelist got Deflect Arrows, and has a special version using a finesse weapon rather than an empty hand) and possibly Improved Whirlwind Attack (prereq ovelap with Duelist), plus Dextrous Fortitute and Dextrous Will (the swashbuckler gets their prereq, slippery mind).
Side note - some of the Duelist class features require using only a single light / one handed weapon, and not using an offhand weapon....yet the Epic Duelist bonus feat list has Superior TWF and TW Rend. Fail? (There may be ways to TWF satisfying the wording of Duelist's restrictions, like unarmed attacks or gnomish quickrazors, but still, fail). However the Swashbuckler has no such restrictions.
(Note that there may be no char-op need for one...it's considered a weak class on its own, and when used with the 'daring outlaw feat to stack rogue sneak attack, which seems to be the only reason people use the class, you might as well revert to rogue levels after 20th, since swashbuckler's better BAB becomes moot. The main benefit of an epic swashbuckler, presumably, would be to start getting epic bonus feats sooner, but the good 'sneak attacker' epic feats have various rogue special abilties as prereqs.)
Swashbuckler has d10 hit die, 4 + Int Skill points, and mostly 'acrobatic' class skills like balance, climb, jump, and tumble, plus a few feintish/social skills (bluff, sense motive, diplomacy.)
Its only 'repeating/regular' class features are a +1 AC dodge bonus every 5 levels (works just like the Dodge feat) and 'grace', a +1 to Reflex saves at 2nd, 11th, and 20th (aka every 9 levels).
Scanning the SRD epic class and prestige classes, Duelist looks the most comparable crunchwise: also d10, 4 + Int skill points, similar skill list, and one repeating class feature every 5 levels (+1d6 'precise strike' damage). Incidentally the flavor of the two classes is nearly identical (swashbucklerying pirate / Eroll Flynn chandelier swinger type).
So for an epic swashbuckler I would say:
like every other class, keeps the same hit die, skill points and skill list as its nonepic counterpart
Dodge bonus increases every 5 levels from 25th on
Grace bonus increases every 9 levels from 29 on (this is like getting the Epic Reflexes bonus feat every 36 levels)
Bonus epic feat every 3 levels from 23rd on, like the Duelist. Same bonus feat list, minus Exceptional Deflection (the Duelist got Deflect Arrows, and has a special version using a finesse weapon rather than an empty hand) and possibly Improved Whirlwind Attack (prereq ovelap with Duelist), plus Dextrous Fortitute and Dextrous Will (the swashbuckler gets their prereq, slippery mind).
Side note - some of the Duelist class features require using only a single light / one handed weapon, and not using an offhand weapon....yet the Epic Duelist bonus feat list has Superior TWF and TW Rend. Fail? (There may be ways to TWF satisfying the wording of Duelist's restrictions, like unarmed attacks or gnomish quickrazors, but still, fail). However the Swashbuckler has no such restrictions.