dspeyer
2012-11-19, 06:19 PM
It's been said on these forums that D&D doesn't have a good way to represent the wisecracking, leaping over scenery swashbuckler archetype. The swashbuckler class fails on many angles, the factotum needs iajutsu cheese to be viable in melee, and the crusader just doesn't have the skills. So here's my attempt...
The Panachier
A tongue swift as a rapier, and a rapier as swift as his tongue.
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|{colsp=3}Maneuvers
||||||Known|Readied|Stances
1st|1|0|2|0|Quasi-Adept, Sublime Skill +1, Florid Insult -1, Weapon Finesse|3|2|1
2nd|2|0|3|0|Insult Versatility|4|2|2
3rd|3|1|3|1|Dextrous Strike|4|3|2
4th|4|1|4|1|Acrobatic Charge|5|3|2
5th|5|1|4|1|No Thank You|5|3|2
6th|6|2|5|2|Seduction|5|3|2
7th|7|2|5|2|Sublime Skill +2|6|3|3
8th|8|2|6|2|Florid Insult -2|6|4|3
9th|9|3|6|3|Bleeding Strike|6|4|3
10th|10|3|7|3|Acrobatic Skill Mastery|7|4|3
11th|11|3|7|3|Social Skill Mastery|7|4|3
12th|12|4|8|4|Mass Insult|7|4|4
13rd|13|4|8|4|Sublime Skill +3|8|5|4
14th|14|4|9|4|Florid Insult -3|8|5|4
15th|15|5|9|5|Weakening Strike|8|5|4
16th|16|5|10|5|Demand Courage|9|5|4
17th|17|5|10|5|Vital Strike|9|5|5
18th|18|6|11|6|Mass Seduction|9|6|5
19th|19|6|11|6|Sublime Skill +4|10|6|5
20th|20|6|12|6|Florid Insult -4|10|6|6[/table]
Hit dice: d10
Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Craft (anything artistic), Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Gather Information, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (history), Listen, Martial Lore, Move Silently, Perform (any), Ride, Sense Motive, Sleight Of Hand, Speak Language, Spot, Swim, Tumble, Use Rope
Skills: 6 + int
Weapons and Armor: A Panachier is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with whips, and with light armor.
Quasi-Adept(ex): A Panachier has some familiarity with the sublime way, but is not a true martial adept. In particular, his class levels only count as half toward his initiator level (but see the Sublime Skill class feature). Nevertheless, a Panachier does learn maneuvers from the Iron Heart, Shadow Hand and Setting Sun disciplines, can replace a maneuver every even level starting at fourth, and can refresh expended maneuvers by performing an elaborate flourish with his weapon (a standard action).
Sublime Skill(ex): A Panachier is a bit better at learning martial maneuvers than a mere fighter. At first level and every six levels thereafter, he gains a +1 bonus to initiator level (for example, at first level his initiator level is 1.5).
Florid Insult(su): A Panachier traditionally opens a fight with a long, lyrical explanation of why his foe is unworthy to face him. This takes the form of a perform(insult) check and requires a standard action. The foe can then attempt to either disbelieve or retort. If he chooses to disbelieve, he makes a will save. If the will save is less than the perform check, the foe takes a morale penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws and armor class until he has broken contact with the Panachier. If the save succeeds, however, the foe takes no penalty and is immune to that Panachier's florid insult ability for 24 hours. If the foe chooses to retort, he makes a perform(insult) check of his own, If the foe's check is less, he takes the same penalties as before. If the checks are equal, the insult is completed and nothing happens. If the foe's check is greater, the insult is reversed, and the Panachier must now choose to disbelieve or retort with the same consequences. If a Panachier ultimately suffers from his own insult, he can not attempt another one for 24 hours. If a Panachier has the bardic music ability, he can use the same action and perform check for both purposes. The Panachier and foe must have a common language.
Weapon Finesse(ex): A Panachier gains Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat. If he already has that feat, he gains any fighter feat for which he qualifies.
Insult Versatility(ex): A Panachier knows that abuse is inherent in all linguistic endeavors. For every 5 ranks he has in perform(insult), he gains a +2 synergy bonus on all perform and craft checks involving words, and all bluff, diplomacy and intimidate checks.
Dextrous Strike(ex): A Panachier knows how to make his strikes effective. When attacking using the Weapon Finesse feat, he adds his dexterity modifier (if positive) to all damage rolls.
Acrobatic Charge(ex): A Panachier is a master of getting to his foes in a dramatic fashion. He can climb, jump and tumble as part of a charge.
No Thank You(ex): A Panachier's confidence serves as a buffer against all who would subvert his will. As such, he can substitute a perform(insult) check for a will save. Normally he speaks the insult aloud, but he can simply recite it in his head at a -4 penalty.
Seduction(ex): Inspiring offense and inspiring love are opposite sides of the same coin. A minute of soft words from a Panachier have the same effect as a charm person spell (dc 10 + class level / 2 + cha mod). If a seduction attempt fails, it cannot be retried (on that target) for 24 hours.
Bleeding Strike(ex): A Panachier knows how to leave wounds that don't close easily. When using the dextrous strike ability, a Panachier may omit some part of the bonus damage. The foe then takes this damage on its turn every round until it receives magical healing or a dc 15 heal check.
Acrobatic Skill Mastery(ex): A Panachier can take 10 on climb, jump and tumble checks even when rushed or threatened.
Social Skill Mastery(ex): A Panachier can take 10 on bluff, intimidate and perform checks even when rushed or threatened.
Mass Insult(ex): A Panachier can insult an entire crowd. When insulting in this style, there is no possibility of a retort: each crowd member must attempt to disbelieve. Insulting in this manner causes a -2 circumstance penalty to the perform(insult) check, and another -2 for every doubling of the crowd (so -4 for 2 or 3 targets).
Weakening Strike(ex): A Panachier can select targets tactically. When using Weapon Finesse, he can give up his dextrous strike bonus to instead deal 2 points of strength damage.
Demand Courage(su): Sometimes insults are best turned against one's allies, as a way to inspire them to greater heights. A Panachier can rail against his allies cowardice in just such a way. If his perform(insult) check exceeds 20, they gain a +1 morale bonus on all attacks, damages and saves. If 30, a +2 bonus. The bonus lasts for 1 round per Panacier level. This ability cannot be attempted on any given ally more than once a day.
Vital Strike(ex): Like weakening strike, but constitution damage.
Mass Seduction(ex): A Panachier can make an entire crowd love him. Again, this requires a minute and acts like a Charm Person, Mass spell. The save dc is only 5 + class level / 2 + cha mod.
The Panachier
A tongue swift as a rapier, and a rapier as swift as his tongue.
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|{colsp=3}Maneuvers
||||||Known|Readied|Stances
1st|1|0|2|0|Quasi-Adept, Sublime Skill +1, Florid Insult -1, Weapon Finesse|3|2|1
2nd|2|0|3|0|Insult Versatility|4|2|2
3rd|3|1|3|1|Dextrous Strike|4|3|2
4th|4|1|4|1|Acrobatic Charge|5|3|2
5th|5|1|4|1|No Thank You|5|3|2
6th|6|2|5|2|Seduction|5|3|2
7th|7|2|5|2|Sublime Skill +2|6|3|3
8th|8|2|6|2|Florid Insult -2|6|4|3
9th|9|3|6|3|Bleeding Strike|6|4|3
10th|10|3|7|3|Acrobatic Skill Mastery|7|4|3
11th|11|3|7|3|Social Skill Mastery|7|4|3
12th|12|4|8|4|Mass Insult|7|4|4
13rd|13|4|8|4|Sublime Skill +3|8|5|4
14th|14|4|9|4|Florid Insult -3|8|5|4
15th|15|5|9|5|Weakening Strike|8|5|4
16th|16|5|10|5|Demand Courage|9|5|4
17th|17|5|10|5|Vital Strike|9|5|5
18th|18|6|11|6|Mass Seduction|9|6|5
19th|19|6|11|6|Sublime Skill +4|10|6|5
20th|20|6|12|6|Florid Insult -4|10|6|6[/table]
Hit dice: d10
Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Craft (anything artistic), Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Gather Information, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (history), Listen, Martial Lore, Move Silently, Perform (any), Ride, Sense Motive, Sleight Of Hand, Speak Language, Spot, Swim, Tumble, Use Rope
Skills: 6 + int
Weapons and Armor: A Panachier is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with whips, and with light armor.
Quasi-Adept(ex): A Panachier has some familiarity with the sublime way, but is not a true martial adept. In particular, his class levels only count as half toward his initiator level (but see the Sublime Skill class feature). Nevertheless, a Panachier does learn maneuvers from the Iron Heart, Shadow Hand and Setting Sun disciplines, can replace a maneuver every even level starting at fourth, and can refresh expended maneuvers by performing an elaborate flourish with his weapon (a standard action).
Sublime Skill(ex): A Panachier is a bit better at learning martial maneuvers than a mere fighter. At first level and every six levels thereafter, he gains a +1 bonus to initiator level (for example, at first level his initiator level is 1.5).
Florid Insult(su): A Panachier traditionally opens a fight with a long, lyrical explanation of why his foe is unworthy to face him. This takes the form of a perform(insult) check and requires a standard action. The foe can then attempt to either disbelieve or retort. If he chooses to disbelieve, he makes a will save. If the will save is less than the perform check, the foe takes a morale penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws and armor class until he has broken contact with the Panachier. If the save succeeds, however, the foe takes no penalty and is immune to that Panachier's florid insult ability for 24 hours. If the foe chooses to retort, he makes a perform(insult) check of his own, If the foe's check is less, he takes the same penalties as before. If the checks are equal, the insult is completed and nothing happens. If the foe's check is greater, the insult is reversed, and the Panachier must now choose to disbelieve or retort with the same consequences. If a Panachier ultimately suffers from his own insult, he can not attempt another one for 24 hours. If a Panachier has the bardic music ability, he can use the same action and perform check for both purposes. The Panachier and foe must have a common language.
Weapon Finesse(ex): A Panachier gains Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat. If he already has that feat, he gains any fighter feat for which he qualifies.
Insult Versatility(ex): A Panachier knows that abuse is inherent in all linguistic endeavors. For every 5 ranks he has in perform(insult), he gains a +2 synergy bonus on all perform and craft checks involving words, and all bluff, diplomacy and intimidate checks.
Dextrous Strike(ex): A Panachier knows how to make his strikes effective. When attacking using the Weapon Finesse feat, he adds his dexterity modifier (if positive) to all damage rolls.
Acrobatic Charge(ex): A Panachier is a master of getting to his foes in a dramatic fashion. He can climb, jump and tumble as part of a charge.
No Thank You(ex): A Panachier's confidence serves as a buffer against all who would subvert his will. As such, he can substitute a perform(insult) check for a will save. Normally he speaks the insult aloud, but he can simply recite it in his head at a -4 penalty.
Seduction(ex): Inspiring offense and inspiring love are opposite sides of the same coin. A minute of soft words from a Panachier have the same effect as a charm person spell (dc 10 + class level / 2 + cha mod). If a seduction attempt fails, it cannot be retried (on that target) for 24 hours.
Bleeding Strike(ex): A Panachier knows how to leave wounds that don't close easily. When using the dextrous strike ability, a Panachier may omit some part of the bonus damage. The foe then takes this damage on its turn every round until it receives magical healing or a dc 15 heal check.
Acrobatic Skill Mastery(ex): A Panachier can take 10 on climb, jump and tumble checks even when rushed or threatened.
Social Skill Mastery(ex): A Panachier can take 10 on bluff, intimidate and perform checks even when rushed or threatened.
Mass Insult(ex): A Panachier can insult an entire crowd. When insulting in this style, there is no possibility of a retort: each crowd member must attempt to disbelieve. Insulting in this manner causes a -2 circumstance penalty to the perform(insult) check, and another -2 for every doubling of the crowd (so -4 for 2 or 3 targets).
Weakening Strike(ex): A Panachier can select targets tactically. When using Weapon Finesse, he can give up his dextrous strike bonus to instead deal 2 points of strength damage.
Demand Courage(su): Sometimes insults are best turned against one's allies, as a way to inspire them to greater heights. A Panachier can rail against his allies cowardice in just such a way. If his perform(insult) check exceeds 20, they gain a +1 morale bonus on all attacks, damages and saves. If 30, a +2 bonus. The bonus lasts for 1 round per Panacier level. This ability cannot be attempted on any given ally more than once a day.
Vital Strike(ex): Like weakening strike, but constitution damage.
Mass Seduction(ex): A Panachier can make an entire crowd love him. Again, this requires a minute and acts like a Charm Person, Mass spell. The save dc is only 5 + class level / 2 + cha mod.