Any class that can be built around a rapier or similar dexterous weapon could be roleplayed as a "swashbuckler". Fighter, Hexblade, Ranger, Swords or Valor Bard, heck even Paladin. That doesn't mean you've made a character that can accomplish what the Swashbuckler Rogue can. Expertise in a bunch of skills, Cunning Action, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Reliable Talent, Fancy Footwork, Rakish Audacity, Panache...a fighter certainly cannot put together this skill set.
np Urzo. I think there are a number of subclasses that have a name that is also indicative of a macro-archetype people often look to roleplay. Rogue actually has a number of them. Swashbuckler, Assassin, Thief; these are all ideas that can be used to describe all kinds of builds. Swashbuckler happens to be pretty good at mechanically portraying the macro-archetype it represents, but sometimes they kind of suck at being their namesake compared to other approaches. Assassin is a great example.
Zot is absolutely right and it's weird how many players we get on here who seem to get hung up on a class or subclass's name. You should fix a character concept in your head and then browse through the options to try to build it - don't get hung up on the written descriptions of things, because you can rewrite them any way you like for your character anyway. The Rogue Swashbuckler has some specific features - if they fit your mental image of a swashbuckler, great. If not, just find something else!
Just going to add to the choir regarding the name bit. Remember, in the game world there is no such thing as a "character class" or "subclass". Your class only represents an archetype that could best describe the training and experience you have. What you actually *do* with that training and experience is up to the person. For example, there is nothing that says that the stoic swordmaster who seems to be able of inhuman feats of physical prowess has to be a Kensei Monk, rules-wise it could just as easily be a Barbarian shose focus makes them impervious to pain.
Also, it's a pretty crappy assassin who goes around announcing that they are an assassin. :P
If you're looking to maybe multiclass, Swashbuckler meshes really well with a Hexblade/Bladelock.
Your Cha will be high for your Warlock, so you'll get a nice boost to Initiative.
You really only need to focus Dex and Cha, which is a benefit to both classes/subclasses.
You get sneak attack any time you 1v1 which may be often as a Bladelock
If you couple Panache with Friends it could be insane!
every time. hexblade, in every build thread. ever. not trying to argue, just amazed at its impossibility to escape
You're exaggerating a bit (I don't think I've seen anyone recommend multiclassing into Hexblade for any Artificer, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Monk, or Ranger builds), but you are correct when it comes to CHA-based builds, which is a lot of them.
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The swashbuckler is pretty good but it does run into the issue that you need to dual wield in combat. The math of the rogue basically requires you either have advantage on an attack (attacking while hidden, steady aim, etc), use two weapon fighting, or be very suboptimal. A little suboptimal is fine with me, I don't play this game to power game. That said, the average damage output is severely decreased if you're only rolling 1 d20 on your attack. If you use steady aim with your rapier, then you can't move which basically invalidates an important subclass feature. This is a major issue in my opinion and is problematic for all rogues. It's fixed by simply using two weapon fighting but that does remove some of the fantasy of the rapier wielding swashbuckler.
In my opinion, the best swashbuckler build takes 5 or 6 levels in battle master fighter. Take Riposte and attack on your reaction, dealing sneak attack damage. It's not super power gamey but it does fulfill the fantasy of the rapier wielding swashbuckler very well. Having extra attack decreases the reliance on advantage as well.
I really like the asthetic of swashbucklers and i love rogues but i could do the same thing with like, a fighter. Any thoughts?
Swashbucklers, like all/most rogues, are built around sneak attack damage, and being a skill monkey. They're pretty cool if you like rogues.
See also https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/rogue/54808-am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-swashbuckler-sucks
Any class that can be built around a rapier or similar dexterous weapon could be roleplayed as a "swashbuckler". Fighter, Hexblade, Ranger, Swords or Valor Bard, heck even Paladin. That doesn't mean you've made a character that can accomplish what the Swashbuckler Rogue can. Expertise in a bunch of skills, Cunning Action, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Reliable Talent, Fancy Footwork, Rakish Audacity, Panache...a fighter certainly cannot put together this skill set.
Thank you so much! Great responses!
np Urzo. I think there are a number of subclasses that have a name that is also indicative of a macro-archetype people often look to roleplay. Rogue actually has a number of them. Swashbuckler, Assassin, Thief; these are all ideas that can be used to describe all kinds of builds. Swashbuckler happens to be pretty good at mechanically portraying the macro-archetype it represents, but sometimes they kind of suck at being their namesake compared to other approaches. Assassin is a great example.
Zot is absolutely right and it's weird how many players we get on here who seem to get hung up on a class or subclass's name. You should fix a character concept in your head and then browse through the options to try to build it - don't get hung up on the written descriptions of things, because you can rewrite them any way you like for your character anyway. The Rogue Swashbuckler has some specific features - if they fit your mental image of a swashbuckler, great. If not, just find something else!
Just going to add to the choir regarding the name bit. Remember, in the game world there is no such thing as a "character class" or "subclass". Your class only represents an archetype that could best describe the training and experience you have. What you actually *do* with that training and experience is up to the person. For example, there is nothing that says that the stoic swordmaster who seems to be able of inhuman feats of physical prowess has to be a Kensei Monk, rules-wise it could just as easily be a Barbarian shose focus makes them impervious to pain.
Also, it's a pretty crappy assassin who goes around announcing that they are an assassin. :P
every time. hexblade, in every build thread. ever. not trying to argue, just amazed at its impossibility to escape
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It's one of the reasons why I rarely allow multiclassing in my games. I can't stand the dipping for optimization.
You're exaggerating a bit (I don't think I've seen anyone recommend multiclassing into Hexblade for any Artificer, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Monk, or Ranger builds), but you are correct when it comes to CHA-based builds, which is a lot of them.
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The swashbuckler is pretty good but it does run into the issue that you need to dual wield in combat. The math of the rogue basically requires you either have advantage on an attack (attacking while hidden, steady aim, etc), use two weapon fighting, or be very suboptimal. A little suboptimal is fine with me, I don't play this game to power game. That said, the average damage output is severely decreased if you're only rolling 1 d20 on your attack. If you use steady aim with your rapier, then you can't move which basically invalidates an important subclass feature. This is a major issue in my opinion and is problematic for all rogues. It's fixed by simply using two weapon fighting but that does remove some of the fantasy of the rapier wielding swashbuckler.
In my opinion, the best swashbuckler build takes 5 or 6 levels in battle master fighter. Take Riposte and attack on your reaction, dealing sneak attack damage. It's not super power gamey but it does fulfill the fantasy of the rapier wielding swashbuckler very well. Having extra attack decreases the reliance on advantage as well.