Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 whatisaman Sep 28, 2014 17:02:49	AGILE BLADE When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you may treat the longsword as a finesse weapon, but only when wielded in one hand. In addition, so long as you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to AC.    BOASTFUL TAUNT Starting at 3rd level, you can use the bonus action granted by your Cunning action to make a mockery of your foe. Your target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier). On a failed save, it becomes enraged. Any attack rolls it makes against you are made at disadvantage until the start of your next turn.   FLOURISH Starting at 9th level, when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon or reduce a creature to 0 hit points, you gain advantage on attack rolls until the end of your next turn.   DASHING STRIKE Starting at 13th level, whenever you deal sneak attack damage, you deal additional damage equal to your Charisma modifier.   REDIRECT ATTACK Starting at 17th level, when a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can spend your reaction to choose another target for the attack. The creature you choose as the new target must be within melee reach of the attacking creature. If the attack hits, you may add your sneak attack damage to the total damage dealt by the attack (unless you have already expended your sneak attack for the round).
#2 Litania84it Sep 28, 2014 21:10:39	Agile blade is a bit confusing... traditionally swash bucklers used rapiers anyway, and you could say that rapiers are already finesse longswords, which makes the trait redundant. Also the ac bonus is broken. According to your wording the character could wield a shield and still gain the +2 bonus, for a total of +4. Numbers like that are not seen in 5e.
#3 whatisaman Sep 29, 2014 8:16:07	Rogues are proficient in longswords, but they can't sneak attack with them (since they're not finesse weapons). Agile Blade fixes this problem by allowing the longsword to be used as a finesse weapon if wielded in one hand; it is mechanically identical to the rapier at this point, but so too is the scimitar mechanically identical to the shortsword, and yet they are both options. A swasbucklet need'nt use a longsword, but it's available as an alternative just in case they'd rather not use a rapier.   Regarding the AC bonus, I used the same wording that is used with the "Dueling" fighting style (fighter class feature). I agree that the wording would seem to allow for the use of a shield, but I'd argue that it goes against the spirit of the ability. My interpretation of the Dueling style, as well as this ability, is that it would cease to function if the fighter (or rogue) used a shield. Effectively, the off-hand must remain free.    If I'm wrong about the fighting style, I'd have to re-write Agile Blade. The ability is intended to emulate the shield's AC bonus without the need for an actual shield. The swashbuckler is thus something of "tanky" rogue build.
#4 Noctaem Sep 29, 2014 8:07:11	whatisaman wrote:
#5 whatisaman Sep 29, 2014 8:16:56	How about this?   AGILE BLADE When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you may treat the longsword as a finesse weapon, but only when wielded in one hand. In addition, so long as you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand, you gain a +2 bonus to AC. You lose this bonus if you wield a weapon or shield in your off-hand.
#6 Noctaem Sep 29, 2014 8:23:08	Excellent.  At least this way if a player (for fluff/personal preference reasons) wants to use a shield they still can, they just won't double tap +2 AC and they still get the longsword benefit.
#7 Noctaem Sep 29, 2014 8:26:13	whatisaman wrote:
#8 whatisaman Sep 29, 2014 8:41:31	Good catch.
#9 Strill Sep 29, 2014 13:36:44	whatisaman wrote:
#10 Nachturnus Sep 29, 2014 14:02:32	whatisaman wrote:
#11 Direach Sep 29, 2014 14:31:56	I'd like to see the archetype include something to do with movement, position, sure-footedness, etc. Perhaps advantage on Dex checks to maintain balance, or ignoring difficult terrain caused by furniture, boxes, etc?
#12 MacEochaid Sep 29, 2014 22:14:04	I'm not certain how much more swashbucklery this gets than a battlemaster with a rapier.
#13 whatisaman Oct 01, 2014 19:42:05	Here's an alternate ability at your suggestion, Direach:   NIMBLE MOVES Starting at 13th level, you gain advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks made to maintain your balance. This advantage extends to any saving throw you make in response to a spell or ability that would, on a failed save, cause you to be knocked prone.
#14 2Chlorobutanal Oct 02, 2014 0:55:52	I think the Swashbuckler idea is better exemplified as one-on-one or one-versus-many.  As such, it poses some inherent problems when realized as a Roguish Archetype, as melee Rogues generally can't perform their Sneak Attack feature, and Rogues don't really get any extra attacks for swashbuckling antics.   Then again, the Battle Master already accomplishes this idea pretty well by dint of Riposte, Feinting Attack, and Disarming Attack (among others), and the Arcane Trickster can manufacture advantage while alone using his or her bonus action + mage hand.   Additionally, while it may be nice to find a niche for Rogues with longswords, I don't feel that "swashbuckling" really fits with longswords.  I see it more suited for rapier- or scimitar-users.   Perhaps this could be a Fighter/Rogue hybrid, the way that Eldritch Knight is a Fighter/Mage and Arcane Trickster is a Rogue/Mage.   At any rate, here are some suggestions off the top of my head:   Level 3: Duelist's Feint Starting at level 3, when you take the Attack action, you may use your Cunning Action to feint, giving you advantage on the next attack roll made against a target within 5' of you.  You may only use this ability if no enemies of the target are within 5' of the target, and you may use this ability only once against a given creature until you rest.   Fancy Footwork When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain the ability to jump over short obstacles (less than 1/4 your height) while moving without an ability check.  You may also choose to jump onto such an object if it is capable of supporting your weight.  Additionally, you may fight normally with one hand while climbing.  You have advantage on any checks or saving throws to avoid losing your grip or footing, including saving throws to avoid falling prone.   Level 9: Advantageous Positioning Beginning at level 9, you have advantage on attack rolls made against any creature of your size or smaller if you are in an advantageous position.  You are in an advantageous position if you are standing on higher ground (or a taller object) than your target, or if you are climbing or otherwise aloft at a height greater than that of upon whatever your target may be standing.  For example: levitating, standing on a barrel, or swinging from a rope would all be considered advantageous positions for a Swashbuckler.   Level 13: Derring-do Upon reaching level 13, whenever you deal sneak attack damage to a target with a melee weapon attack, you may choose to divide some or all of your extra Sneak Attack dice among other creatures if they are within your melee reach and you would otherwise be able to add Sneak Attack damage to the target (there is an non-incapacitated enemy within 5' of the target, and you do not have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target, or you have advantage on attack rolls against the target).  In order to deal the extra damage to another target, compare the result of your attack roll to the seondary target's AC.  If the result would hit the secondary target, you may deal some or all of the dice granted by your Sneak Attack to that target.  You may divide your Sneak Attack damage among any number of secondary targets, up to the amount of Sneak Attack bonus dice on the Rogue class table.   Level 17: Not sure.
#15 Strill Oct 02, 2014 5:14:19	The only advantage a rogue gets from going melee over ranged is the chance of getting an opportunity attack for two sneak attacks per round. Considering this, I feel that a new source of reaction attacks should be an important part of any rogue archetype focused exclusively around melee combat.