StarDestroyer.Net BBS

yes, I've decided that I wan't to create a swashbuckling character whose personal imposible quest is to find a cure for the fact that he's doomed/destined to become a monster, that this is part of his genes involves a fiend's geas. etc.

any suggestions

Roll a bunch of dice and look shit up on tables, just like every other DnD character ever?

Tell us which sources are legal for your game.

I don't know, All my books are 2nd, and our GM is going with modern rules....

Offhand, without current rules, you're boned.

Now, which set of current rules?

3.X? 4? Which Third party publishers are legal?

If it's 3.X

Off hand, however, I'd go with making him a Human, Swashbuckler Core Class (Complete Warrior), levels of Rogue Core Class (Player's Handbook), then take the Dread Pirate Class (Complete Adventurer)

As for his transformation, i'd discuss that with DM. You might consider modifying the Kou-toa (as a race) as a base line you'd be advancing to, then making a transitional class (prestige class that turns you into another species). Maybe every time he 'levels up', he has to make a save to hold off the transformation. (Offhand, I'd make Fortitude save, DC 10 + half character level + 1 per year over adulthood your character is)

Note I side another species, not creature type. Sean Reynolds did series on the WOTC website discussing classes like that (mostly Werecreature classes, but also for the Half-Fey, Half-Celestial and Half-Fiend, amongst others). It was called Savage Progressions.

You might also want to check out Savage Species.

If it's 4th Edition, sorry, I don't deal with that system.

How about modifiying something like the Origin Of Species: Achaierai spell? Your character was created and will eventually transform into some kind of beast. Instead of of taking 1d4 days and simply growing from medium to large you start out as one species and become another or simply change your alignment and gain some "evil" abilities when the number of days necessary (just pick a timeframe you like) has been reached. You can also be a normal person who had a similar spell cast on them, which would negate the need for the Life seed and you can be a cursed individual.