Ranger/Swashbuckler Character Story - HELP! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ranger/Swashbuckler Character Story - HELP! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
KikUSquaNtheNuts
02-05-05, 05:22 AM I want to play a finesse fighter with decent skills and I'm not too thrilled about playing a fighter/rogue (which is my usual combo), so I came upon the ranger/swashbuckler combination. However, I"m having a hard time justifying this multiclass option because the backgrounds seem so inherently different.

Has anyone on these boards ever played a similar character?

Any ideas on a story-based reason for a character to advance both of these classes?
ksu_bond
02-06-05, 03:12 PM A swashbuckler/ranger would be rather easy to explain, so long as you have the ranger more or less be a coastal/water ranger. A protector of the waves, both above and below, as well as the coastal regions. Give him a animal companion that one would find along the coast (probably some sort of bird of prey), dress him in clothes that would be appropriate for for the coastal environment, out fit him with weapons appropriate to a swashbuckler, focus his spell selection on water environment (ie. he probably wouldn't memorize entangle all too often). Personality would be a rather dashing rogue-like character, probably CN or CG. Religion....depends on setting in the Forgotten Realms there would be several good choices, some depending on characters race.
Rathis Darkwielder
02-06-05, 03:22 PM It's really rather easy. If you think that your character's style of fighting and acting is represented by the abilities of the swashbuckler and ranger, there is no need at all to explain the multiclassing. Your character problably doesn't even know anything at all about 'classes' or 'levels', so why should he have an explaination for a particular combination of 'classes' and 'levels' he knows nothing about?

I wouldn't worry too much about classes, prestige classes, etc when writing your character's backstory (although for clerics and paladins the backstory is almost irrevocably intwined with the class). Justify his combat/magic style instead and take whatever multiclass combo you need to achieve mastery in that style.
TheMightyMcClaw
02-06-05, 06:05 PM Aye, don't look at each class as having it's own set of social requirements - a swashbuckler be charming and urbane and fresh from the 17th century, a ranger must be short-spoken aloof and have the word "wolf" in his name, whathaveyou.

For example, this seems like a great combination for a Man of the Sea (as mentioned above). He is a light and agile fighter (From class abilities), tough as nails (high hit die), and can do everything from spin lies to acrobatics to simply keeping watch (diverse skill selections). You're animal companion could be a shark that follows your ship, or the classic Captain's Monkey.
Also, this seems like an ideal sort of class for a bounty hunter. A tracker, at home in the wild and the city, and a fierce fighter. Again, you basically have an agile fighter with a highly diverse skill selection and a few natty abilities. Be creative.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KikUSquaNtheNuts 02-05-05, 05:22 AM	I want to play a finesse fighter with decent skills and I'm not too thrilled about playing a fighter/rogue (which is my usual combo), so I came upon the ranger/swashbuckler combination. However, I"m having a hard time justifying this multiclass option because the backgrounds seem so inherently different. Has anyone on these boards ever played a similar character? Any ideas on a story-based reason for a character to advance both of these classes?
ksu_bond 02-06-05, 03:12 PM	A swashbuckler/ranger would be rather easy to explain, so long as you have the ranger more or less be a coastal/water ranger. A protector of the waves, both above and below, as well as the coastal regions. Give him a animal companion that one would find along the coast (probably some sort of bird of prey), dress him in clothes that would be appropriate for for the coastal environment, out fit him with weapons appropriate to a swashbuckler, focus his spell selection on water environment (ie. he probably wouldn't memorize entangle all too often). Personality would be a rather dashing rogue-like character, probably CN or CG. Religion....depends on setting in the Forgotten Realms there would be several good choices, some depending on characters race.
Rathis Darkwielder 02-06-05, 03:22 PM	It's really rather easy. If you think that your character's style of fighting and acting is represented by the abilities of the swashbuckler and ranger, there is no need at all to explain the multiclassing. Your character problably doesn't even know anything at all about 'classes' or 'levels', so why should he have an explaination for a particular combination of 'classes' and 'levels' he knows nothing about? I wouldn't worry too much about classes, prestige classes, etc when writing your character's backstory (although for clerics and paladins the backstory is almost irrevocably intwined with the class). Justify his combat/magic style instead and take whatever multiclass combo you need to achieve mastery in that style.
TheMightyMcClaw 02-06-05, 06:05 PM	Aye, don't look at each class as having it's own set of social requirements - a swashbuckler be charming and urbane and fresh from the 17th century, a ranger must be short-spoken aloof and have the word "wolf" in his name, whathaveyou. For example, this seems like a great combination for a Man of the Sea (as mentioned above). He is a light and agile fighter (From class abilities), tough as nails (high hit die), and can do everything from spin lies to acrobatics to simply keeping watch (diverse skill selections). You're animal companion could be a shark that follows your ship, or the classic Captain's Monkey. Also, this seems like an ideal sort of class for a bounty hunter. A tracker, at home in the wild and the city, and a fierce fighter. Again, you basically have an agile fighter with a highly diverse skill selection and a few natty abilities. Be creative.