We finally succeed: Swiftblade officially rewritten [Archive] - Wizards Community

We finally succeed: Swiftblade officially rewritten [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lotus Crane
04-20-07, 02:24 AM Well, it looks like the Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327), formerly one of the worst gish PrC's, is now actually one of the best. If you're not familiar with how the Swiftblade worked before, it only had medium BAB, one good save, 2 + Int skill points, and it didn't allow free quickened hastes (it had a really clunky way of reducing the adjustments instead).

Yes, the rewrite is blatant all-around upgrade; a tacit admission that it was horribly underpowered before. Now, if only they would release an official (and of course, free online) rewrite of the Arcane Archer?

Three cheers for WotC (and/or associated authors) finally listening to us and helplessly capitulating to our relentless and psychotic demands - err, I mean, kindly considering our "helpful suggestions." ^_~ So, anybody else planning to make a Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327) character now?
Osedox
04-20-07, 03:25 AM Yea Wizard6/Swiftblade2/Abjurant Champion5/Swiftblade+7 looks pretty snazzy.
Engilbrand
04-20-07, 07:29 AM While I recognized that it was weak before, I still wanted to play it. Now I REALLY want to play it. That just seems like it would be a lot of fun. I also like the images in my head. Also, imagine some of the crazy spells you can cast as a Sorceror with the spells that allow you to cast lower level spells at the same time. Wow!
CaoSlayer
04-20-07, 07:53 AM This prc is almost an no brainer for a combat bard, they can get a huge power power boost.
nighttree
04-20-07, 11:07 AM I'm going Beguiler/Swiftblade.....sounds like a fun path to me.
Tempest Stormwind
04-20-07, 11:40 AM Strictly speaking, it was NineInchNall and the CO board who worked with Sonofapreacherman (the board alias of the author) to develop the new version, but your point holds.

For the record, the author himself brought it up here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=831281), which includes some new work on optimizing the altered swiftblade.
Kresalak
04-20-07, 12:12 PM The new Swiftblade is still really bad, but not so insultingly bad that it's unplayable. Its existence no longer makes me cry, but it's still not something I'd play, like, ever.
Spikes01k
04-20-07, 12:52 PM Cool now we just need to fix the Hexblade core class and all will be good. J/K Its alright now with the dark companion, and some more liberal look at feat selection. That aside.

This looks pretty good. Glad their finally doing something about it.
Karzach
04-20-07, 05:35 PM Ehh, I have 1 problem with it. If you don't have a haste effect on you, you lose a significant chunk of your class features.

Other than that, a swiftblade plays MUCH differently than any other class/prc, adds a nice touch of martial ability to arcane classes, and since Kresalak says it doesn't make him cry any more, but its still underpowered, that probably means its close to where it needs to be.
aelryinth
04-20-07, 06:36 PM I can see the enemy spellcaster casing Spell Immunity: Haste on you and shutting down almost your entire class of abilities.

===Aelryinth
saidin0111
04-20-07, 06:42 PM of course that would require metagaming as the spellcaster probably doensn't realize that all of your abilities rely on being hasted, unless they're the BBEG or other long term, plotting enemy, x random underling caster shouldn't know to do that, though I suppose it could happen from time to time if they are haste-phobic
Leress
04-20-07, 06:50 PM of course that would require metagaming as the spellcaster probably doensn't realize that all of your abilities rely on being hasted, unless they're the BBEG or other long term, plotting enemy, x random underling caster shouldn't know to do that, though I suppose it could happen from time to time if they are haste-phobic

Remember there are lore checks to find out those things.
saidin0111
04-20-07, 06:57 PM true, though I suppose I was referring to a caster that doesn't "see you coming" and is instead confronted by you in the middle of a scheme, whereas the BBEG will be quite prepared for you, ususally, and will have certainly observed you/had others do so, and have made appropriate lore/gather info checks on you
Drachasor
04-20-07, 08:06 PM I can see the enemy spellcaster casing Spell Immunity: Haste on you and shutting down almost your entire class of abilities.

===Aelryinth

The Swiftblade will likely have TWO classes with good will saves (at least). He's also a melee class with a pretty good touch AC. So good luck with spell immunity.

A friendly cast could cast Spell Immunity: Spell Immunity to prevent this however. (That would stop future castings of spell immunity, not past ones).

Still, Spell Immunity is not very likely to work.

-Drachasor
Dead_Weasel
04-20-07, 09:18 PM Drachasor's right; the enemy spellcaster has to get his hands on you and then beat one of your better saves, if not your best save.
Spell Immunity:Spell Immunity might remove that option, but the Swiftblade wasn't very threatened by it in the first place.
Looks like a strong option to me, but I won't be convinced until I've tried it out.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lotus Crane 04-20-07, 02:24 AM	Well, it looks like the Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327), formerly one of the worst gish PrC's, is now actually one of the best. If you're not familiar with how the Swiftblade worked before, it only had medium BAB, one good save, 2 + Int skill points, and it didn't allow free quickened hastes (it had a really clunky way of reducing the adjustments instead). Yes, the rewrite is blatant all-around upgrade; a tacit admission that it was horribly underpowered before. Now, if only they would release an official (and of course, free online) rewrite of the Arcane Archer? Three cheers for WotC (and/or associated authors) finally listening to us and helplessly capitulating to our relentless and psychotic demands - err, I mean, kindly considering our "helpful suggestions." ^_~ So, anybody else planning to make a Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327) character now?
Osedox 04-20-07, 03:25 AM	Yea Wizard6/Swiftblade2/Abjurant Champion5/Swiftblade+7 looks pretty snazzy.
Engilbrand 04-20-07, 07:29 AM	While I recognized that it was weak before, I still wanted to play it. Now I REALLY want to play it. That just seems like it would be a lot of fun. I also like the images in my head. Also, imagine some of the crazy spells you can cast as a Sorceror with the spells that allow you to cast lower level spells at the same time. Wow!
CaoSlayer 04-20-07, 07:53 AM	This prc is almost an no brainer for a combat bard, they can get a huge power power boost.
nighttree 04-20-07, 11:07 AM	I'm going Beguiler/Swiftblade.....sounds like a fun path to me.
Tempest Stormwind 04-20-07, 11:40 AM	Strictly speaking, it was NineInchNall and the CO board who worked with Sonofapreacherman (the board alias of the author) to develop the new version, but your point holds. For the record, the author himself brought it up here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=831281), which includes some new work on optimizing the altered swiftblade.
Kresalak 04-20-07, 12:12 PM	The new Swiftblade is still really bad, but not so insultingly bad that it's unplayable. Its existence no longer makes me cry, but it's still not something I'd play, like, ever.
Spikes01k 04-20-07, 12:52 PM	Cool now we just need to fix the Hexblade core class and all will be good. J/K Its alright now with the dark companion, and some more liberal look at feat selection. That aside. This looks pretty good. Glad their finally doing something about it.
Karzach 04-20-07, 05:35 PM	Ehh, I have 1 problem with it. If you don't have a haste effect on you, you lose a significant chunk of your class features. Other than that, a swiftblade plays MUCH differently than any other class/prc, adds a nice touch of martial ability to arcane classes, and since Kresalak says it doesn't make him cry any more, but its still underpowered, that probably means its close to where it needs to be.
aelryinth 04-20-07, 06:36 PM	I can see the enemy spellcaster casing Spell Immunity: Haste on you and shutting down almost your entire class of abilities. ===Aelryinth
saidin0111 04-20-07, 06:42 PM	of course that would require metagaming as the spellcaster probably doensn't realize that all of your abilities rely on being hasted, unless they're the BBEG or other long term, plotting enemy, x random underling caster shouldn't know to do that, though I suppose it could happen from time to time if they are haste-phobic
Leress 04-20-07, 06:50 PM	of course that would require metagaming as the spellcaster probably doensn't realize that all of your abilities rely on being hasted, unless they're the BBEG or other long term, plotting enemy, x random underling caster shouldn't know to do that, though I suppose it could happen from time to time if they are haste-phobic Remember there are lore checks to find out those things.
saidin0111 04-20-07, 06:57 PM	true, though I suppose I was referring to a caster that doesn't "see you coming" and is instead confronted by you in the middle of a scheme, whereas the BBEG will be quite prepared for you, ususally, and will have certainly observed you/had others do so, and have made appropriate lore/gather info checks on you
Drachasor 04-20-07, 08:06 PM	I can see the enemy spellcaster casing Spell Immunity: Haste on you and shutting down almost your entire class of abilities. ===Aelryinth The Swiftblade will likely have TWO classes with good will saves (at least). He's also a melee class with a pretty good touch AC. So good luck with spell immunity. A friendly cast could cast Spell Immunity: Spell Immunity to prevent this however. (That would stop future castings of spell immunity, not past ones). Still, Spell Immunity is not very likely to work. -Drachasor
Dead_Weasel 04-20-07, 09:18 PM	Drachasor's right; the enemy spellcaster has to get his hands on you and then beat one of your better saves, if not your best save. Spell Immunity:Spell Immunity might remove that option, but the Swiftblade wasn't very threatened by it in the first place. Looks like a strong option to me, but I won't be convinced until I've tried it out.