Classes of Artheria (Complete Warrior Edition)

Welcome back to Artheria,

Today we discuss more playable classes in Artheria, and the alterations made to them, we will be covering the core classes listed in the Complete Warrior. We will be following the same format as the PHB post, some rambling of thoughts on the class, then a simplified version of the changes, picture with source underneath.

Starting with the complete warrior, we have 3 classes to cover, the hexblade, the samurai, and the swashbuckler.

Starting with the hexblade, the most powerful class in the complete warrior in my opinion, and made only better by being gestalt. This class is sort of a dark mix of duskblade and warlock. They get spells like a ranger or paladin, they have an innate decently powerful curse, they gain familiars and bonus feats. If I didn't change around the other classes, I wouldn't need to do anything to hexblades. (A hexblade/sorceror gestalt character is very powerful)

However, as I have altered the other classes, I do need to enhance hexblades a little. I'm only making a few subtle changes. First, hexblades get a bonus feat at level 1, and then another at levels 5,10, 15 etc. like normal on the hexblade chart. I'm also giving them the improved familiar feat for free at level 14. The only other difference I'm making is when choosing bonus feats, you can select off of both the hexblade list (found in the complete warrior, it is exclusively things like spell focus and combat casting.) or the fighter bonus feat list.

Simplified: Bonus feat at level 1, improved familiar at level 14, fighter bonus feats as well as the hexblade list.

(Hexblades are masters of dark magic and martial might.)

Samurai:* I'll be honest that I have a samurai obsession. The way that that they are set up currently is really... just awful. The three main abilities of the samurai are dual wielding, which isn't bad just isn't really appropriate, stare down, which is ok but clerics, mages, and paladins can do some very similar effects with spells, and Kiai smite, which is essentially a weaker smite evil. The samurai is known for Iaijutsu, or the quick draw strike. The class has this feature, but it means you get the quick draw feat and improved initiative. Want to see how badass the katana is as a weapon, and how awesome the samurai were? There. (I was actually looking for the deadliest warrior katana test... but I couldn't find it. Here is some more katana love here.) Now, I have given the samurai proper Iaijutsu, which translates into a to hit and damage bonus on the first strike of battle, and may only be done with a katana with two hands. It starts at +2, and increases by +2 every 4 levels. The other change I have is to the two swords as one skill, I realize that a lot of people want to dual wield, so I'm not removing the ability, I'm making it an option. (You can still use the Iaijutsu technique with two swords, just only with one weapon or the other, and that weapon is the first attack.) You may either keep the two swords as one ability, or you may opt out of it, and instead gain a bonus feat each time that you would gain another rank of two swords as one, this feat may be any fighter bonus feat. Once this choice is made, it can not be undone. Samurai, in practice and in past games, I found to be really under powered compared to my fighters and barbarians. (The groups level 2 ranger/4 fighter was way more effective then the groups level 6 samurai.) To enhance this, I'm enhancing samurai with the Iaijutsu ability, the choice of feats or dual wielding, and enhancing skill point base to 4 per level.

Simplified: Iaijutsu attack, first katana strike of battle, starts at +2, increases by +2 every 4 levels, this attack is considered to have the great cleave feat applied, even if the samurai doesn't have the feat. Choice of dual wielding or bonus feats, and 4 skill points per level.

(Orc samurai are exceptionally skilled.)

Swashbuckler: The final core class is one that I really do like in theory, I just view it as another under powered new class. The idea of the finesse fighter taunting and tumbling around the battlefield with dazzling flare is a great one, just the execution of the class in the complete warrior needs major work. They are now much more like rangers or rogues. I am reducing their HD to a d8 from a d10, skill point base increases to 6 from 4, and they gain the bluff skill, knowledge (local history), spot and listen to the class skill list. The other ability I grant them is precise shot, which is exactly like sneak attack, just gained every 4 levels, starting at level 1. (Leveling up at half the speed of rogue sneak attack.) This attack may only be done with weapons that may be used with the weapon finesse feat. Unlike multiclass rogues gaining to ability to sneak attack with any weapon, precise shot only works with weapon finesse weapons. Swashbuckler/rogues using a weapon like a rapier, can stack the bonuses on sneak attacks, dealing great damage.

Simplified: D8 from D10, 6 skill points per level from 4, and precise shot, +1d6 every 4 levels, only with weapon finesse weapons.

(Flashy, graceful fighters, the swashbuckler is often underestimated)

That concludes the complete warrior, we will pick up with either the complete arcane or complete divine next. I don't know where to put this, but the swashbuckler is reminding me, weapon finesse applies to more weapons than it does normally in 3.5, while I will compile a complete list in the future, in short any monk weapon, (quarterstaff, kama, etc.) any sword, (Longsword, katana, falchion) any spear, (halfspear, naginata, longspear) and most polearms. (Halberd, bec de corbin, mancatcher, etc.) I'll make the full list later, but it greatly enhances the utility, and makes more sense that way, I can describe almost any weapon in a finesse way, it doesn't have to be always brute force.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War.