Best Way to Play a Swashbuckler with 3.5 Rules?

[Aluvial]

I have recently started a Swashbuckler PC (from Warriors) and am wondering what to do to get the most out of the character.

I don't necessarily mean min/maxing, but some of that is ok too. What I mean is, what skills and feats would you take, and MOST IMPORTANT, how would you play this character.

I should add that my DM has made up a human varient with webbed feat and hands... I have a swim speed of 30' and can hold my breath for 3 minutes.

Also, he is setting his campaign in a world of generic fantasy, but I know that there will be pirates and a lot of sea stuff... obviously I'm at an advantage here!

I would appreciate the help, especially with picking feats, I've got little skill with them.

We are using a 28 point buy if that is something important to HOW I should play this guy.

I suppose I'm really looking for some brief character development points and then how to use the 3.5 rules to my advantage to make a swashbuckling hero.

My alignment is LN.

Thanks for the ideas,

Aluvial

 

[Umbran]

I don't necessarily mean min/maxing, but some of that is ok too. What I mean is, what skills and feats would you take, and MOST IMPORTANT, how would you play this character.

Well, at the moment the character is a class. "Swashbuckler" is a very vague description of a profession. Rather like asking us, "How would you play a fighter?" There are a great many different ways to play a character of a given class.

We'd need more information - what are his attributes, for example? Do you have any background story elements that might impact his psychology? Why is he a swashbuckler in the first place? What made him choose his profession? What sort of stuff do you want him to be able to do, and so on...

 

[Darmanicus]

First and foremost, go buy yourself a silly hat/headscarf with the intent of wearing it to every session!

 

[fett527]

You can check this thread (http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75295 ) I started awhile back on converting a 2nd ed Swashbuckler. I still haven't finished the character but there's some good suggestions.

 

[Vrecknidj]

First, it seems troubling that you've picked LN as the alignment, given the general chaos of the swashbuckler. I'd make that LN mean that he has some incredible loyalty to something (friends, the captain, his country, whatever). Second, the stats you pick depend upon the campaign style, but you can't go wrong with Dex and Cha for a pirate type (a low Wis might be good, depending on the personality you're after).

As far as asking how I'd play the character, it depends entirely upon context. What are the other PCs like? What kind of adventures is he going on?

Skills and feats follow from the same questions.

Dave

 

[mmu1]

Well... I don't think we can tell you what your character's personality should be.

That said, I think LN is a rather strange alignment for a swashbuckler - not really the first one I think of when I imagine someone swinging from a chandelier with a knife in his teeth in the middle of a tavern brawl he caused with a few well-placed insults.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Int is also somewhat important for a swashbuckler, who has nice skills and an important (combat) ability related to Int.

 

[am181d]

If your race is aquatic and you're a swashbuckler, you pretty much have to be a pirate (which probably means points in profession (sailor), swim, and use rope in addition to move obvious feats like balance, bluff, climb, and tumble). If you're LN, it probably means you dutifully follow "The Pirate's Code." (Which means things like "parley" from PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN.) I'd focus on the two weapon feats, the spring attack chain, and of course weapon finesse, for maximum flash.

 

[takyris]

To me, a Lawful Neutral swashbuckler is either a professional duelist or a dedicated representative (and fighter) for a house, like one of the more dour musketeers (say, Athos?) -- somebody who has a strict code, follows the rules, and isn't going to engage in any shenannigans -- but who will use everything at his disposal to take out his enemies once honor demands it.

Spring Attack is a must for your guy -- he should be swinging by opponents on ship-ropes or chandeliers and whacking them as he goes by. Depending on what books your DM lets you use, see if you can find anything for "improved AC when fighting with a weapon in one hand". If not, then I'd go with Expertise, or... well, frankly, go with the Duelist class. It's perfect for you. It pretty much has everything I just went on about.

So, Duelist with Spring Attack, and since Dodge and Mobility are Duelist pre-reqs, Spring Attack is really easy to get.

 

[CrazyDrake]

for weapon choices, you cant go wrong with the rapier, especially given that you're a swimmer (and thus need to use a piercing weapon). the spiked chain is also a good choice, though it doesn't work underwater.
for skills, try things like climb, jump, profession(sailor), swim(maybe, you already have a swim speed), tumble, balence.

feats: weapon finesse*, weapon focus, dodge, mobility, spring attack, combat reflexes, hold the line, expert tactican(if you get rogue levels), expertise, improved disarm (or improved trip if chain)