Swordmaster

Drow Swordmaster (by Jason)

Hit Die: d8

Requirements: Base Attack Bonus: +6 Feats: Ambidexterity, Combat Reflexes, Lightning Reflexes, Two-Weapon Fighting, Twin Sword Style (from FRCS), Weapon Focus (one of: longsword, rapier, scimitar, short sword) Skills: balance 4+ ranks, jump 4+ ranks, tumble 4+ ranks Special: Must train with a master of the style, usually a weaponmaster of one of the drow noble houses.

Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 1 +1 +2 +2 +0 Paired Swords 2 +2 +3 +3 +0 Sword Finesse 3 +3 +3 +3 +0 Improved Two-Weapon Fighting 4 +4 +4 +4 +1 5 +5 +4 +4 +1 Superior Two-Weapon Fighting

Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Jump (Str), Sense Motive (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex)

Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: The character gains proficiency in all simple and martial weapons, and light armour. All the special benefits of the class are usable only in light armour.

Paired Swords (Ex): If the character is wielding two longswords, rapiers, scimitars or short swords and has Weapon Focus for that weapon, he treats the off-hand weapon as light, regardless of it's actual size.

Sword Finesse (Ex): The character gains Weapon Finesse for one of the following: longsword, rapier, scimitar, short sword. Note longswords and scimitars cannot be normally used with Weapon Finesse.

Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (Ex): The character gains the Improved Two- Weapon Fighting feat. If he already has the feat, no special benefit is gained.

Superior Two-Weapon Fighting (Ex): The character gains another attack with his off-hand weapon, at a -10 penalty.

A fighter could take the class at 7th level (but only with Int 12+, at least from 4th level on).

He misses out on two fighter bonus feats. He gets them back with Paired Swords, which is in effect pretty similar to EWP (double sword), and Improved TWF, which a TWF guy is bound to take anyway. So let's say this balances out.

He gets Sword Finesse. As his Dex is bound to be higher than his Str, this is a good ability, but not outstanding: of the two usually non- finessable weapons, the scimitar is identical to the rapier, and the longsword is only slightly better, especially at higher level, as frost and holy and other such weapons become available.

Finally, he gets Superior TWF. This seems like a really good ability.

On the down side, he's limited to light armour (which is really no limitation for a TWF ranger, but he'll be taking the class later anyway). He also has d8 for hit points, a significant but not critical drawback for a warrior type.

Oh, also, a slightly larger (comparing it to the fighter's) skill list, and a good Ref save, because it simply seemed appropriate.