The build starts as a Marshal with a focus on charisma based abilities to support allies. Equipped with basic gear like a chainshirt, rapier, and dagger, the character is ready for versatile combat.
Stat Block Level 1:
Pirate Captain[1]: male, human Marshal 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d8+2; hp 10; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Atk rapier +3 melee (1d6+0/18-20) or dagger +3 ranged (1d4+0/19-20); Full Atk rapier +3 melee (1d6+0/18-20) or dagger +3 ranged (1d4+0/19-20); SA none; SQ Minor Aura (Master of Tactics +2); AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Minor Aura (Master of Tactics, +2 to allies’ flanking attack rolls). Possessions: Chainshirt, rapier, dagger.
Level 5 Brief:
At level 5, the Pirate Captain[1] is a skirmishing buffer who utilizes Marshal’s auras to enhance allies. With high Charisma, they can motivate their crew and lead them into battle, proving both strategic and vibrant in role play.
Stat Block Level 5:
“Pirate Captain[1]”: “male, human Marshal 5; CR 5; Medium humanoid; HD 5d8+10; hp 32; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +3; Grp +3; Atk Rapier +6 (1d6+0/18-20) or Dagger +6 (1d4+0/19-20); Full Atk Rapier +6 (1d6+0/18-20) or Dagger +6 (1d4+0/19-20); SA Grant Move Action 1/Day; SQ Minor Aura (Master of Tactics), Major Aura +1 (Motivate Attack), Art of War, Force of Will, Motivate Ardor; AL NG; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +1; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats:
Appraise 8, Profession (Sailor) 8, Swim 4, Use Rope 4; Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Cosmopolitan (Appraise), Nymph’s Kiss, Weapon Finesse. Special Attacks and Qualities: Minor Aura enhances allies’ attack rolls, Major Aura boosts allies’ damage. Possessions: Chainshirt, Rapier, Dagger.”
Level 10 Brief:
A pirate themed marshal who excels at buffing allies and skirmishing with quick, agile attacks.
Stat Block Level 10:
Corsair: male, human Marshal 10/Dread Pirate 10; CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 10d8+2; hp 62; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +10; Grp +10; Atk rapier +10 (1d6/18-20) or dagger +10 (1d4/19-20); Full Atk rapier +10 (1d6/18-20) and dagger +8 (1d4/19-20); SA none; SQ Major Aura +1, Motivate Attack, Art of War, Grant Move Action 1/Day, Two-Weapon Fighting, Fearsome Reputation +2, Acrobatic Charge; AL CG; SV Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +8; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats:
Appraise 8, Profession (Sailor) 8, Swim 4, Use Rope 4; Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Cosmopolitan (Appraise), Nymph’s Kiss, Weapon Finesse, Quick Draw, Dodge. Special Attacks and Qualities: Major Aura +1 (Motivate Attack), Grant Move Action 1/day, Two-Weapon Fighting, Fearsome Reputation +2, Acrobatic Charge. Possessions: Chainshirt, Rapier, Dagger.
Level 15 Brief:
This character is a human Marshal/Dread Pirate focusing on buffing allies while engaging in skirmishes. Their mobility and ability to add Charisma to AC and charge damage make them a versatile and effective leader in combat.
Stat Block Level 15:
[Unspecified Pirate Captain[1]]: male, human Marshal 10/Dread Pirate 5; CR 15; Medium humanoid; HD 15d8+30; hp 97; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +13; Grp +12; Atk rapier +17 melee (1d6+1/18-20) or dagger +16 melee (1d4+1/19-20); Full Atk rapier +17/+12/+7 melee (1d6+1/18-20) and dagger +16 melee (1d4+1/19-20); SA none; SQ Minor Aura, Master of Tactics, Major Aura +1, Motivate Attack, Art of War, Grant Move Action 1/day, Force of Will, Motivate Ardor, Seamanship, Fearsome Reputation +4, Rally the Crew +1 1/day, Acrobatic Charge, Steady Stance, Luck of the Wind, Fight to the Death; AL any non-lawful; SV Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +12; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats:
Appraise +8, Profession (Sailor) +8, Swim +4, Use Rope +4; Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Cosmopolitan (Appraise), Nymph’s Kiss, Weapon Finesse, Two-Weapon Fighting, Dodge, Quick Draw, Mobility, Elusive Target. Special Attacks and Qualities: Fearsome Reputation instills fear in enemies, Acrobatic Charge allows for charging over difficult terrain. Possessions: Chainshirt, rapier, dagger.
Level 20 Brief:
This build, a Human Marshal 10/Dread Pirate 10, excels in buffing allies and dominating skirmishes. Using mobility and support skills, it enhances the team’s effectiveness while maintaining strong personal combat ability.
Stat Block Level 20:
Pirate Captain[1]: male, human Marshal 10/Dread Pirate 10; CR 20; Medium humanoid (human); HD 20d8+40; hp 130; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +15; Grp +16; Atk +19 melee (1d6+1/18-20, rapier) or +18 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); Full Atk +19/+14/+9 melee (1d6+1/18-20, rapier) and +18/+13 melee (1d4+1/19-20, dagger); SA Grant Move Action, Rally the Crew; SQ Major Aura +2, Master of Tactics, Seamanship, Fearsome Reputation +6, Acrobatic Charge, Skill Mastery, Pirate King; AL CG; SV Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +10; Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats:
Appraise +8, Profession (Sailor) +8, Swim +4, Use Rope +4; Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Cosmopolitan (Appraise), Nymph’s Kiss, Weapon Finesse, Quick Draw, Two-Weapon Fighting, Dodge, Mobility, Elusive Target, Spring Attack. Special Attacks and Qualities: Grant Move Action (2/day), Rally the Crew (+2, 2/day), Fearsome Reputation +6 (intimidation bonus), Pirate King (leadership bonus). Possessions: Chainshirt, a Rapier, and a Dagger.
Critical Milestones of Level Distribution
As you advance in levels, your character will reach critical milestones that enhance your capabilities:
Level 1: Begin as a Marshal for the Major Aura and Minor Aura abilities, which boost your allies’ prowess.
Level 7: Your first level in Dread Pirate grants you Seamanship, improving your balance and climbing abilities.
Level 10: Acquire Acrobatic Charge, allowing you to navigate the battlefield with ease, even in rough conditions.
Level 13: Rally the Crew becomes more potent, giving you the ability to inspire your allies twice per day.
Level 16: Attain the title of Pirate King, significantly enhancing your leadership and intimidation capabilities.
Equipment Progression of the Pirate Captain
Level Range
Equipment
Details
1-5
Rapier
+1 Rapier: 1d6 damage, 18-20/x2 critical, light weapon, enhanced with +1 attack and damage bonus.
Dagger
+1 Dagger: 1d4 damage, 19-20/x2 critical, thrown weapon, enhanced with +1 attack and damage bonus.
Chainshirt
+1 Chainshirt: +5 AC, light armor, reduced arcane spell failure and weight, enhanced with +1 AC bonus.
Cloak of Charisma +2
Grants a +2 enhancement bonus to Charisma, improving leadership and aura effects.
6-10
Rapier of Puncturing
+2 Rapier of Puncturing: 1d6 damage, 18-20/x2 critical, allows for a special puncture attack once per day.
Returning Dagger
+1 Returning Dagger: 1d4 damage, 19-20/x2 critical, returns to the thrower’s hand immediately after being thrown.
Mithral Shirt
+2 Mithral Shirt: +6 AC, light armor, no arcane spell failure, reduced weight, enhanced with +2 AC bonus.
Cloak of Charisma +4
Grants a +4 enhancement bonus to Charisma, further improving leadership and aura effects.
11-15
Rapier of Wounding
+3 Rapier of Wounding: 1d6 damage, 18-20/x2 critical, causes wounds that bleed for additional damage over time.
Daggers of Throwing
+2 Daggers of Throwing: 1d4 damage, 19-20/x2 critical, +2 attack and damage, enhanced range for throwing.
Glamered Mithral Breastplate
+3 Glamered Mithral Breastplate: +8 AC, medium armor treated as light, no arcane spell failure, +3 AC bonus, can appear as normal clothing.
16-20
Pirate King’s Rapier
+4 Rapier of Speed: 1d6 damage, 18-20/x2 critical, grants an extra attack per round, +4 attack and damage.
Daggers of Speed
+3 Daggers of Speed: 1d4 damage, 19-20/x2 critical, grants an extra attack per round, +3 attack and damage.
Celestial Armor
+4 Celestial Armor: +9 AC, light armor treated as medium, fly spell 1/day, +4 AC bonus, no arcane spell failure.
Belt of Magnificence +6
Grants a +6 enhancement bonus to all ability scores, providing comprehensive boosts to overall performance.
Combat Scenarios
Dungeon Crawls
Tight Quarters Tactics: Utilize your rapier and dagger for swift, precise attacks in narrow spaces. Your Weapon Finesse and high Dexterity allow you to maneuver and strike effectively without the need for brute strength.
Aura Benefits: Use your minor and major auras to boost your allies’ attack rolls and morale. “Master of Tactics” provides a flanking bonus, making it easier to deal with foes in confined spaces.
Open Field
Mobility and Skirmishing: Leverage your Acrobatic Charge ability to move quickly across the battlefield, attacking enemies and then retreating to a safe distance. This keeps you mobile and hard to pin down.
Fearsome Reputation: Demoralize enemies with your Fearsome Reputation, lowering their combat effectiveness. Use your leadership to keep your crew organized and responsive to threats.
Ambushes
Surprise Attacks: Set up ambushes using your high Dexterity and Stealth skills. Strike swiftly with ranged weapons or throwing daggers to catch enemies off guard.
Grant Move Action: Quickly reposition your allies using Grant Move Action to adapt to sudden changes and maintain the element of surprise.
Defensive Stands
Holding the Line: Use your rapier and dagger to defend a position, employing your auras to support allies and boost their defense. Items like the Ring of Protection enhance your resilience.
Rally the Crew: Boost morale with Rally the Crew when facing overwhelming odds, ensuring your team stays focused and determined in prolonged defensive engagements.
Urban Encounters
Utilize Terrain: Fight in alleyways and on rooftops to gain tactical advantages. Use cover and high ground to outmaneuver opponents, taking advantage of your high Dexterity.
Charisma in Negotiation: Leverage your high Charisma for gathering information or diffusing potential conflicts with local authorities or rivals. Use skills like Diplomacy to navigate social challenges effectively.
Party Synergy
As a Marshal Pirate Captain, you’re a natural born leader. Your job is to enhance your party’s strengths and cover their weaknesses. Your auras should be selected based on your party’s composition—boosting the rogue’s stealth, the wizard’s spellcasting, or the fighter’s combat prowess. And remember, your ability to motivate and rally can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Coordinate with spellcasters to maximize the effect of area of effect spells while your crew is protected by your auras.
Work with the rogue in your party to create distractions, allowing them to sneak attack while you engage the enemy head on.
Pair with fighters or barbarians to lead a frontal assault, bolstering their attack and defense with your leadership skills.
Combining Auras for Maximum Effectiveness
As a Marshal, your auras are a game changer. Combining the Motivate Ardor aura with a Paladin’s aura of courage can create a fearless front line. Pairing your Motivate Care with a Cleric’s protective spells turns your party into a bastion of defense. It’s all about finding the right mix to support your crew and confound your enemies.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Weakness
Counter
Low Strength
Use Dexterity based weapons: Focus on finesse in combat, allowing you to leverage your higher Dexterity score. Use weapons like the rapier and dagger, which benefit from Weapon Finesse.
Reliance on Charisma
Magic items to boost Charisma: Invest in items like the Cloak of Charisma to enhance your aura effects and leadership skills. Cloak of Charisma +2 increases Charisma, boosting skills and minor/major auras.
Vulnerability to magic
Counterspells and resistances: Work with your party’s casters to prepare defenses against magical threats. Items like the Ring of Spell Turning or Mantle of Spell Resistance can provide significant protection.
Limited ranged options
Train in ranged combat: Develop proficiency with ranged weapons or throwing daggers to expand your combat versatility. Items like Bracers of Archery can improve your effectiveness with bows.
Leadership targets
Protective tactics and gear: As a leader, you’re a target; use tactics like cover and magic items like the Ring of Protection to stay safe. Employ bodyguards or utilize defensive spells such as Shield or Blur.
Roleplaying Themes
Your Pirate Captain isn’t just a set of stats; he’s a character with depth, a backstory, and a code. Embracing the roleplaying aspects of this build will make your experience all the more immersive and enjoyable.
Themes & RP Opportunities
Freedom and adventure on the high seas
The conflict between personal honor and the pirate’s life
Your Pirate Captain’s backstory is the compass that guides his moral and ethical direction. Was he pressed into service on a pirate ship as a young lad, or did he turn to piracy after a betrayal? Perhaps he seeks revenge against a tyrannical naval commodore or hunts for a legendary treasure that was once stolen from him.
Incorporating Sea Chanteys and Pirates’ Code into Roleplay
Besides that, the daily life of a pirate is filled with work and camaraderie, often expressed through song. Incorporating sea chanteys into your roleplay can add an authentic touch and help bond the party.
“Hoist the sails and watch the tide, we’ll sail these seas with pride! With a yo ho ho, we’ll take the loot, in search of fortune wide!”
FAQ
Can a Pirate Captain[1] build work in a standard land based campaign?
While the Pirate Captain[1] thrives on the high seas, his leadership and combat abilities are valuable in any setting. His skills in negotiation, strategy, and combat can be just as effective in a city or wilderness campaign.
How does a Pirate Captain[1] interact with aquatic creatures and settings?
The Pirate Captain[1] is at home on the water and can negotiate or intimidate sea creatures as needed. His Seamanship skill ensures he can adeptly handle ship based combat and encounters with creatures like merfolk or sahuagin.
What are some iconic treasures to seek as a Pirate Captain?
Every Pirate Captain[1] dreams of legendary treasures. From the hoard of a dragon turtle to the lost riches of an underwater city, your quests could lead to artifacts like a trident of fish command or a helm of underwater action.
How to balance the Marshal’s leadership with the Dread Pirate’s notoriety?
The key is to lead with a combination of respect and fear. Use your Marshal abilities to inspire loyalty and your Dread Pirate reputation to intimidate enemies. Striking this balance will make you a legendary captain whose name is whispered in awe across the seas.
Of course! Your journey could lead to a royal pardon or a privateer’s commission, allowing you to use your skills for a sovereign nation. This opens up new roleplaying opportunities and alliances, adding depth to your character’s story.
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Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
The corsair was caressing his beard while listening to the pair’s offer. The young nobleman’s pleas proved his relative youthfulness, though of more interest to the Corsair was the woman in plate armor. She had the air of knowing, someone who had seen a few scraps. The young man, not so much.
“So let me get this straight. The King is willing to pay me what amounts to a year’s salary for my entire crew. That is on the condition that I bring you both in and we go destroy the Infernal Drake. Ship of my long time rival, a pesky dishonorable pirate who had a hand in slaughtering the Free City,” he snarled a moment at the thought, “My favorite port. This sounds too good to be true, there must be a catch.” The Corsair eyed the two suspiciously.
The nobleman shrugged.
“Well, we do need to interrogate him, so ideally catching him alive,” the woman intoned.
The sailor smiled, “Ah, there it is. There It is! That man will never let himself be caught alive.“
“So…that’s a no?” Asked the woman, a smirk on her face.
The corsair laughed, “Ma’am, of course I am in. You crazy? This is the best entertainment I will have had since breaking the naval blockade of the Dark Empire ten years ago! You’ve got yourselves a ship.”
Race
Human
Class
Marshal 10/Dread Pirate 10
Ability Scores
Str 10/Dex 16/Con 14/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 16
Skills
Appraise 8, Profession(Sailor) 8, Swim 4, Use Rope 4
Equipment
Chainshirt, a Rapier and a Dagger.
Goal
Because everything is better with Pirates.
Dread Pirate enhances your buffing abilities, while granting you excellent mobility via Acrobatic Charge. This making you a strong skirmisher build that can buff allies by your mere presence. Eventually it’ll allow you to add your Charisma to your team’s AC and charge damage.
Yeah, pirates do make everything better. Huh.
Level
Class
HD
Feat
Special
1
Marshal
10
Skill Focus(Diplomacy), Cosmopolitan (Appraise), Nymph’s Kiss
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