Swashbuckler Weapons

Swashbuckler weapons are light, fast weapons used by lightly-armored opponents, usually in an environment (a culture, nation or even just a city) where heavier arms and armor are illegal or outdated. They're also appropriate for shipboard campaigns and situations; the light armor is easier to get out of so you don't drown if you fall overboard. So, usually, swashbucklers emerge in an area where the days of the plate-armored, broadsword-wielding knight are past . . . or at least numbered. Swashbuckler characters might bolt on the plate mail and pick up the lance for genuine warfare, but in their cosmopolitan big-city adventures they stick to the lighter stuff . . . and can be sure that most of the opponents they face will be likewise armed and armored.

Weapons from the Player's Handbook which can be considered swashbuckler weapons include: Bows (all types), Crossbows (all available types), Dagger/Dirk, Knife, Polearms (all types), and Short Swords. The only sorts of shields they use regularly are bucklers and small shields, and they tend to wear only leather, padded, and hide armor.

The new weapons listed on the chart above include:

Stiletto

The stiletto is a type of narrow-bladed knife, sharp only at the point. Its most unusual trait is that it confers a +2 (non-magical) bonus to attack rolls against certain armor types: Plate mail (bronze and normal), ring mail, and chain mail. (This is because its narrow point and blade slip in more readily through any sort of armor that is not solid metal or overlapping plates of metal.)

It otherwise behaves like any other knife, and Knife weapon proficiency is exactly the same as Stiletto weapon proficiency: If you know one, you know the other equally well, at no additional cost in proficiency slots.

Main-gauche

The main-gauche is a large-bladed dagger with a basket hilt (see the description of Cutlass, above) and large quillions. Though it is a stabbing weapon, it's primarily a defensive weapon wielded in the left-hand in two-weapon technique (or two-weapon style specialization).

When used by someone with Main-gauche weapon proficiency, the weapon confers a +1 bonus to attack rolls with the Disarm and Parry maneuvers. Because of its cutlass-like basket hilt, the main-gauche, too, works like an iron gauntlet if the wielder wishes to punch someone with the hilt rather than slash with the blade.

Main-gauche proficiency is related to, but not identical to, dagger proficiency. Specialization confers the usual benefits.

Rapier

The rapier is a long-bladed, one-handed sword, normally sharp only at the point. It's a thrusting weapon, wielded with lightning-like thrusts and lunges. Swashbucklers often learn Two-Weapon Style Specialization and use rapier with rapier, with main-gauche, with short sword, or with dagger, stiletto, or knife. It's also occasionally used with buckler.

Rapier requires its own proficiency, which is related to sabre proficiency—not long sword and its related weapons. Weapon specialization confers the usual benefits.

You can have a rapier made with a basket hilt. This adds 2 gp to the cost, +1 lb. to the weight, and confers the normal basket-hilt benefits: +1 to attack rolls with Parry maneuver, and the iron-gauntlet benefit for Punching.

Sabre

The sabre is a light slashing weapon. Its practitioners commonly use only sabre, and often take Single-Weapon Style Specialization and Sabre Weapon Specialization. They are very deadly with their blades and may be inordinately proud of the facial scars they accumulate (and deal out).

Sabre requires its own proficiency, which is related to rapier proficiency.

Sabres, like cutlasses and main-gauches, are made with a basket hilt. This confers the normal basket-hilt benefits: +1 to attack rolls with Parry maneuver, and the iron-gauntlet benefit for Punching.

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