Shattered Kingdoms

I really like the idea of dual weapon defense, a sizable boost to their AC is needed. Perhaps, an enhanced dodge that also increases reflex saves.

I think you guys clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

For survivability:
Bladedance/Swordmasters Agility/Improvised Combat- I'm picturing a three musketeers/Jack Sparrow/Zoro-esque style here, where they hop, jump, roll and use any advantage in the environment to avoid blows and tire their opponents who are forced to chase them about. etc..: Increases swashbucklers chance to parry with finesse weapons (extra bonus against weapons reaching from second row). Grants a bonus to dodge (extra bonus against weapons reaching from second row), bonus to avoid bashes and tripping. Causes enemy melee characters to lose PE faster while fighting a swashbuckler. Passive. -or something along these lines.

For extra damage:
Puncture - A maneuver common to the fencing style of fighting, where a fencer lunges forward and pokes a hole in his enemy. Aim for the head/neck, arms/chest, or legs. Any successful puncture will cause piercing damage and may cause an additional effect depending on what area is it. A hit to the head/neck has a chance to do extra damage and can disrupt concentration. To the arms/chest, can slow/weaken the opponents ability to fight, making them less likely to achieve all their strikes/land them. To the legs, tires the enemy, knocking off a chunk of their PE and making their leg related skills (bash/trip/dirt kick) less likely to succeed for a time. Fighters trained in this art have a higher chance of avoiding this type of attack.

All swashbucklers should also get an additional eyepatch slot.




wtfpwnt
You have died horribly 353 times! Sucker!

Obviously, this would give swashbucklers a much needed edge in the variety of PvP situations that involve tigers mauling you and your groupmates.

That would be very important in reducing the amount of tiger related fatalities in group combat from Zhensh tigers that track down PCs.

Extreme parry(better version of e-parry)
Enhanced dodge
Third attack
Blitzkrieg

Done.

Or just make finesse increase the chance of parrying massive weapons to put them about halfway in between where they used to be and where they are now.

syntax: Emo Taunt

A passive ability working with the taunt skill that has a chance of causing the recipient of a taunt to cut their own wrists and take bleeding damage over time. This will allow the swashbuckler to track them via the blood trail if they manage to flee. They will also be forced to emote crying and saying things about how everyone picks on them. In rare cases (i.e. a critical hit like the cleave ability) the emo taunt will force the opponent to commit suicide on the spot.

syntax: Avenger Strike

The swashbuckler brings his weapons together and their blades glow a crimson red like the mentstral cycle of Dabi. A portal opens to the center of Pyrathia and a cone of magma spray erupts into the lower pressure area spraying a hapless opponent. No magical protection or magical resistance can affect Avenger Strike. Avenger Strike has a chance of sticking to an opponent causing damage over time.

syntax: Dark Blades

By focusing on the spirits that dwell in his weapons, the swasbuckler can send out an angry hoard of "sword spirits" to strike an opponent anywhere in Pyrathia dealing damage and causing various static effects to torment any survivors. Sword spirits will not return to the swashbuckler for ten minutes after being used in this way and the swashbuckler is unable to move for four minutes due to the sheer effort of channeling the spirit of his blades.

Seems as though their defense will always be lacking being the light armor bearer of the warrior class world, but maybe the tradeoff being a large damage ability, or a damaging ability + passive utility ability. There is a class in the game that can retreat an entire party without breaking formation, what about a swash who has some kind of ability to alter enemy formation (uncontrolled relocation)? Like a cha vs. cha ability between them and the party leader, as swashies already have to use cha for their taunt to be useful (assuming?). As for damage ability, I'm sticking with my column blitzkrieg idea as opposed to row. I think giving blitz to a swashy sort of takes away from mercs.