Two truly major additions to Arelith, as we add a new base class, and vastly increase the number of head models available to characters.

NEW CLASS - SWASHBUCKLER

We are adding our first new base class since the commoner. This one is much more adventuring focused, and will fill a niche in between bard, rogue, and fighter that wasn’t properly covered by any of those classes. This class will be initially available only on PGCC to allow for testing and feedback prior to official release on the main server. All class features are subject to change as we fine tune balance.

"The swashbuckler is the paragon of panache. Equally formidable in both dueling and discourse, they exude daring and bravado. Unlike the unruly barbarian or uncultured druid, the swashbuckler wins fights using their brain and their finesse rather than brute strength or magical prowess. Foregoing heavy armor and bulky weapons in favor of acrobatics and precision, the swashbuckler is a force to be reckoned with."

Hit Die: d10

BAB: High

Proficiencies: Simple and martial weapons and light armor

Saving Throws: High: Fortitude and Reflex; Low: Will

Skill Points: 4 + Int

Class Skills: Bluff, Craft Mastery, Craft Trap, Discipline, Heal, Intimidate, Lore, Parry, Persuade, Spot, Taunt, Tumble, Ride

Primary Abilities: Dexterity and Intelligence

Level 1: Weapon Finesse

Level 2: Grace

A swashbuckler gains a +1 bonus on Reflex saves at 2nd level. This bonus increases to +2 at 11th level, +3 at 20th level, and +4 at 29th level. A swashbuckler loses this bonus when wearing medium or heavy armor or when using a large shield or tower shield."

Level 3: Insightful Strike

At 3rd level, while using a finessable weapon, a swashbuckler is able to use their knowledge of anatomy to deal extra damage and gains bonus damage equal to their intelligence modifier. This damage cannot exceed their swashbuckler level. A swashbuckler loses this bonus when wearing medium or heavy armor or when using a large or tower shield."

Level 5: Swashbuckler Dodge

A swashbuckler is light on their feet and gains +1 dodge AC at level 5. This bonus increases by 1 every 5 levels, to a maximum of +6 at level 30. A swashbuckler loses this bonus when wearing medium or heavy armor or when using a large or tower shield."

Level 7: Mobility

Level 8: Panache!

At 8th level, the effects of the swashbuckler's outrageous panache become more apparent. Their bonus to social skills from charisma is doubled.

Level 10: Elegant Strike

At 10th level, while using a finessable weapon, a swashbuckler is able to aim for weak points such as the gaps in armor or the soft spots on a creature's body. They gain +1 damage, +1 per additional 10 levels not to exceed their dexterity modifier. A swashbuckler loses this bonus when wearing medium or heavy armor or when using a large or tower shield."

Level 11: Luck of Heroes

Level 12: Uncanny Dodge

Level 13: Acrobatics Skill Mastery

At 13th level, a swashbuckler becomes so confident in their acrobatic skills, that they can make a daring dash across the battlefield. For one round, the swashbuckler gains a 50% boost to their movement speed. Due to the physical strain of this maneuver, it can only be performed once every 3 minutes. Additionally, swashbucklers will automatically succeed on climb, jump, and use rope checks.

Level 14: Feint

At 14th level, when using a finessable weapon, a swashbuckler can use feints to deceive their opponent. The intention is to trick an opponent by launching one or more fake attacks, forcing them to mount an unnecessary defensive move, thus straining themselves. A successful feint will force your opponent to fight more defensively, dropping their strength by the swashbuckler’s hard intelligence modifier. Once per round, on a successful hit, a DC of their intelligence modifier + 1/2 swashbuckler level + the highest of persuade, bluff, or intimidate / 5 will be rolled against your opponent’s reflex save. A swashbuckler loses this ability when wearing medium or heavy armor or when using a large or tower shield.

Level 16: Evasion

Level 17: Slippery Mind

Level 19: Second Intention

At 19th level, when using a finessable weapon, a swashbuckler can perform an advanced feint, where you design your entire move with a second strike firmly in mind. Their first attack is a feint that their opponent will parry. After the parry, their opponent will launch a riposte which the swashbuckler then parries before launching a premeditated counterattack into a weak point, which, if successful, will lower their constitution by the swashbuckler’s hard intelligence modifier. Once per round, on a successful hit, a DC of their intelligence modifier + 1/2 swashbuckler level + the highest of persuade, bluff, or intimidate / 5 will be rolled against your opponent’s fortitude save. A swashbuckler loses this ability when wearing medium or heavy armor or when using a large or tower shield.

Level 21: Third Intention

An epic swashbuckler is the paragon of intuition and fighting with their brain over their brawn. Rather than simply feint or perform a second intention to deceive their opponent before performing a deadly attack, an epic swashbuckler is fighting three steps ahead of their opponent. Aware of their opponents plans, the swashbuckler can avoid all damage and crowd control effects for three seconds. A maneuver this complicated is no simple task to perform, and therefore can only be done once every 5 minutes. At 25th level, further training reduces this to 3 minutes, and at level 28, a master swashbuckler only waits 1 minute between third intentions.

Level 24: Improved Acrobatics Skill Master

At 24th level, a swashbuckler is an expert outshined by none in acrobatics. When they use their acrobatic skill mastery to dash across the battlefield, not even magical binds can stop their intrepid traverse. For one round, the swashbuckler gains a 50% boost to their movement speed and freedom of movement. Due to the physical strain of this maneuver, it can only be performed once every 3 minutes. Additionally, swashbucklers will automatically succeed on climb, jump, and use rope checks.

Swashbucklers gain bonus feats at levels 23, 26, and 29. Their bonus feat list includes: all of the fighter bonus feats with the exception of weapon specialization and epic weapon specialization, blinding speed, improved evasion, defensive roll, and epic dodge. Additionally, blinding speed’s cooldown will be reduced by one turn for every twelve swashbuckler levels.

NEW CUSTOM HEADS

In a huge expansion to the range of heads available to character on Arelith, we have added no less than 268 options spread across all races and genders, in addition to optimising some of the existing choices.

A few of the new heads now available to our players.

These heads taken from various community packages available on the NWNVault.

The breakdown by race and gender is as follows:

Halfling male - 2 optimized, 3 new

Halfling female - 1 optimized, 9 new

Dwarf male - 17 new

Dwarf female - 3 new

Elf male - 12 new

Elf female - 1 optimized, 26 new

Gnome male - 13 new

Gnome female - 1 new

Human male - 62 new

Human female - 64 new

Half-Orc male - 5 new

Half-Orc female - 5 new

Note: Please be aware that not all custom heads will be properly resized for the larger 'phenotype' - this is an unavoidable consequence of using certain content of this kind.

Details of this update can also be found on our forums.