The swashbuckler is a romantic fantasy staple,
a warrior that relies on his agility and wits rather
than heavy armor, shields and crushing weapons.
The swashbuckling style is particularly suited to
environments where heavy armor would be a
liability, such as in deserts, tropical locales, and
the high seas. Swashbucklers are also prevalent
in advanced societies, where gunpowder or magic
has made the wearing of armor less desirable.

Adventures
Swashbucklers have a reputation for seeking
adventure. Some, especially noble swashbucklers,
become duelists. Others take to the high seas as
pirates or privateers. Some seek justice for the
oppressed (or at least give it lip service), while
others use their abilities against jealous lovers
when pursuing adventures of a salacious sort.
Many bandits are swashbucklers, as their training
involves taking down opponents quickly and having
the mobility to flee.

Characteristics
Swashbucklers are warriors, although like rangers
they tend to be more dexterous and light on
their feet than their armored fighter cousins. A
swashbuckler also relies on his wits, as he often
prefers to negotiate his way out of situations
rather than fight. Don’t mistake parley for
weakness, however. When pressed,
the swashbuckler is a formidable
opponent.

Alignment
Swashbucklers come from
all walks of life. Freedomloving
swashbucklers tend
to be chaotic, often traveling
the wilderness or high seas to seek their fortunes.
Lawful swashbucklers are often bodyguards or
duelists, upholding the law and protecting the
weak.

Background
Many swashbucklers come from civilized
backgrounds, where technology has advanced to
the point of making good light weapons and urban
society frowns on carrying heavy weapons and
armor. Such swashbucklers tend to be affluent,