I've been waiting for this for a long time - I first saw a preview a while back, I can't recall offhand what I was being asked it check it for. I threw in some commentary. In the usual way, I saw something that was a 9, said, "Here is how it can go to 10!" and Sean responded with a change that showed, no, it can go to 11.
The book is filled with great quotes, too - several from Dumas (The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After both show up), one from Swords Against Death about Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (both swashbucklers by attitude if not by template), one from The Duelists, Shakespeare has one in there too.
Much like Barbarians, this book expands on the Swashbuckler template to give more focused variations (such as the Duelist), ones that slide into new professions (the Rogue), or have a very particular bent (the Aristocrat). It also has lower-point variations that fit into the DF15 mold, too, which is a fantastic idea I wish Sean had come up with while I was writing Barbarians. It's packed with Power-Ups, too, and gets in a box of options from GURPS Martial Arts to expand your swashbuckler's combat options.
It does for swashbucklers what the previous book did for barbarians, only better. If you have any pretentions toward sneering while waving a sword around in a dungeon, get this book.
AND THERE ARE HATS! AND WIGS! AND BIG FLOPPY HATS!
ReplyDeleteWith combat effects if you choose correctly!
DeleteIf you choose a wig and a big floppy hat, you've chosen correctly.
DeletePretension AND sneering? I'm in!
ReplyDeleteCould you release a free add-on PDF that purchases of DFD1 could just get with the lower point variations?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't, not by myself.
DeleteI'd have to write it first, and then SJG would have to pay for it, and then they could choose to release it for free.
Couldn't or wouldn't? :)
DeleteNow it's time for an all-swashbuckler party.
ReplyDeleteEmphasis on party!
DeleteOne Swashbuckler should have the Portly lens and another one should be saving up to buy a Cleric lens.
DeleteHaving ONLY looked at the preview, I really like this already. The fact that the "portly" and "staff swinging" lenses are on the same page is cool...I like the idea of combining those for a swashbuckler.
ReplyDeleteSo I purchased it. So far, so good. But one thing I have to note that is amazing: Ultimate Slayer Training (p. 28-29). OMG. That is worth every character point spent on it and more.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good one, if you really like hitting a particular point.
DeleteIn DF, though, since so many enemies entirely lack hit locations . . . it's good, but not abusive.
I should say, entirely lack certain hit locations. "No Vitals" is almost depressingly common, and it's amusing to watch you guys skull shot guys with "No Brain." ;)
DeleteTrue, but thematically--there should be plenty of necks! :)
DeleteIf you only ran a Swashbuckler . . .
Delete"But it's a formless Thing, Don Ricardo! It has no heart!"
Delete"Exactly why it needs to be stabbed there, old friend."
"I don't think it will make a difference . . ."
"Hah! I'll be able to tell the wenches, 'I slew it by sticking it through the heart, tho' in had none.' And Louis the Bard will back me up on that. That right there will make a difference on our first few nights back to town."
"That's just like you, Ricardo. Always thinking with your sword."
That Don Ricardo, he's as handsome as he is sword-focused.
DeleteYeah, bummmer it's not available to Knights.
ReplyDeleteNo, it really isn't a bummer, if you think about it. If Knights get it, then Swashbucklers get bumped down the chain by the fact that almost every Knight will out-damage the Swashbuckler, and with this could also out-effective-skill the Swashbuckler, too.
DeleteVery nice! Will try to pick this up sometime.
ReplyDelete