New HLA's for Swashbucklers Options

[Sikret]

Swashbucklers will no longer have access to "Use Any Item" HLA. Instead, I decided to add other HLA's for them. So far, four HLA's are added:

They already had access to one warrior HLA; so, I decided to add three more (though the total numbers of these new HLA's they can pick are fewer than the numbers a warrior can pick):

- Hardiness
- Critical Strike
- Resist Magic

I also added one new HLA:

- Acrobatic Combat

Description:

By using this ability, a high level swashbuckler can improve his agility and fighting expertise (in both defense and attack) to an extraordinary level. Acrobatic Combat grants +6 bonus to AC and +3 bonus to THAC0 for 5 rounds.

Suggestions for more new HLA's are welcome.*

Thanks.

* Ideas for new HLA's should be original (not copied or taken from other mods).

This post has been edited by Sikret: Oct 21 2008, 10:06 AM

Reason for edit: Fixing typos

[Kerkes]

@ Matti

Woooohoooooooo....

I agree that giving them an extra attack will certainly lead to trouble such as attacking with 2 attacks per round while in WW attack. But from the description here, I get a feeling they're now much more in line with fighter classes.
From my previous IA experiences, having an AC of -25 will do little good vs. a lot of enemies.
"hardiness" is a welcome choice, as always.
What I think (note "I") is that they'll still come out short of a f/t multiclass, just as they did in IA5.
The best defence is not the AC or "Hardiness", it's the ability to hurt enemies fast enough so they can't hurt you faster.
It works for me at least, in so many fights (say Planar Warden, Yaga Sura etc)
Having 7 attacks with imp.haste beats having 4 attacks with imp.haste and -25 AC in both of these fights, even more so for Yaga.
If you use WW attack, you cannot drink potions in that round nor do anything else but attack. You'll also want quite a few "hardiness" HLA's anyway.
Not to mention that a f/t can backstabb, which a swash cannot. Sure, swash will do bigger damage. But only if whirlwinding, since a f/t will have higher number of attacks.


This post has been edited by Kerkes: Oct 22 2008, 12:29 PM

[matti]

@ Matti

Woooohoooooooo....

I agree that giving them an extra attack will certainly lead to trouble such as attacking with 2 attacks per round while in WW attack. But from the description here, I get a feeling they're now much more in line with fighter classes.
From my previous IA experiences, having an AC of -25 will do little good vs. a lot of enemies.
"hardiness" is a welcome choice, as always.
What I think (note "I") is that they'll still come out short of a f/t multiclass, just as they did in IA5.
The best defence is not the AC or "Hardiness", it's the ability to hurt enemies fast enough so they can't hurt you faster.
It works for me at least, in so many fights (say Planar Warden, Yaga Sura etc)
Having 7 attacks with imp.haste beats having 4 attacks with imp.haste and -25 AC in both of these fights, even more so for Yaga.
If you use WW attack, you cannot drink potions in that round nor do anything else but attack. You'll also want quite a few "hardiness" HLA's anyway.
Not to mention that a f/t can backstabb, which a swash cannot. Sure, swash will do bigger damage. But only if whirlwinding, since a f/t will have higher number of attacks.

What?

Without UAI swashbuckler is pretty useless imo. He's like a crippled fighter with only better saves, but with all this rings +3, +4 etc. it doesn't matter. He needs a serious compensation for this (lack of UAI). And if you multiple his attacks - here comes a bug, so I choose this ...eerr.. original option: insta-kill.

25% chance, 2 rounds will be better?

I couldn't yet find an appropriate name but how about this;

-Every attack is a critical hit, and does maximum damage (as Kai ability)
-Damage is applied everyone around the swashbuckler
-6 point AC penalty
-Duration: 1 or 2 rounds (thieves already get less attacks so 2 may be better)

It's like swashbuckler drops his/her defences and hits everyone around while rotating around himself/herself. Damage may include or exclude allies but if it excludes allies more penalties can be considered (-x to saves etc.) or vice cersa.

Excellent idea, imo.