I, along with many other players, eagerly await an updated version of the Swashbuckler to be brought to the 2024 rule set. I have been molding over mechanics and ideas from other rogue subclasses--along with the other official 2024 releases--which could be utilized and modified in creating a version on the Swashbuckler that would keep players excited!
Below are my opinions on what I think could be a rework for the Swashbuckler:
3RD LEVEL: FANCY FOOTWORK - You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Charisma modifier. - You learn how to land a strike and then slip away without reprisal. During your turn, if you make a melee attack against a creature, that creature can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
3RD LEVEL: RAKISH AUDACITY - You also gain an additional way to use your Sneak Attack; you don’t need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you. - You learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip. You can cast this cantrip as a Bonus Action a number of times (minimum once) up to your Charisma modifier per Long Rest.
9TH LEVEL: DEFENSIVE STANCE You gain the following Cunning Strike options: - Flourish (Cost: 1d6). Add the roll of your sneak attack die as a bonus to your AC until the end of your next turn. - Goad (Cost: 1d6). The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 plus your Charisma modifier and Proficiency Bonus), or until the end of its next turn, the target has Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you and can’t make Opportunity Attacks against targets other than you.
13TH LEVEL: PANACHE - Your charm becomes extraordinarily beguiling. As an Action, a creature of your choice within 30 feet of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 plus your Charisma modifier and Proficiency Bonus) or have the Charmed condition. This effect lasts for 1 minute, until you or one of your companions attacks the target or affects it with a spell, or until you and the target are more than 60 feet apart.
17TH LEVEL: COUNTER STRIKE - When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the creature.
These options create a very Charisma focused subclass as a powerful front line combatant.
I would love to know what others think of this design for an updated Swashbuckler!
I, along with many other players, eagerly await an updated version of the Swashbuckler to be brought to the 2024 rule set. I have been molding over mechanics and ideas from other rogue subclasses--along with the other official 2024 releases--which could be utilized and modified in creating a version on the Swashbuckler that would keep players excited!
Below are my opinions on what I think could be a rework for the Swashbuckler:
3RD LEVEL: FANCY FOOTWORK
- You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Charisma modifier.
- You learn how to land a strike and then slip away without reprisal. During your turn, if you make a melee attack against a creature, that creature can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
3RD LEVEL: RAKISH AUDACITY
- You also gain an additional way to use your Sneak Attack; you don’t need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you.
- You learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip. You can cast this cantrip as a Bonus Action a number of times (minimum once) up to your Charisma modifier per Long Rest.
9TH LEVEL: DEFENSIVE STANCE
You gain the following Cunning Strike options:
- Flourish (Cost: 1d6). Add the roll of your sneak attack die as a bonus to your AC until the end of your next turn.
- Goad (Cost: 1d6). The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 plus your Charisma modifier and Proficiency Bonus), or until the end of its next turn, the target has Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you and can’t make Opportunity Attacks against targets other than you.
13TH LEVEL: PANACHE
- Your charm becomes extraordinarily beguiling. As an Action, a creature of your choice within 30 feet of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 plus your Charisma modifier and Proficiency Bonus) or have the Charmed condition. This effect lasts for 1 minute, until you or one of your companions attacks the target or affects it with a spell, or until you and the target are more than 60 feet apart.
17TH LEVEL: COUNTER STRIKE
- When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the creature.
These options create a very Charisma focused subclass as a powerful front line combatant.
I would love to know what others think of this design for an updated Swashbuckler!