BF Gaucho

[Dimirag]

I finally finish it.
I know probably has some error (both "in-game" as "in-text") sorry for any misspelling or any narrative error.
The abilities aren't the great thing, but suits him very well in my opinion.

https://www.basicfantasy.org/showcase.cgi?sid=14

[SmootRK]

Biggest thing that sticks out immediately is that Analise should be "analyze".

Considering the affinity to horses, you might want to copy the Mounted Combat rules from "Additional Fighting Sub-Classes" supplement (appendix) into your document as well.

PM me your email address... you need some fonts that are used in BFRPG documents.

[Dimirag]

Thanks for the fonts.
Regarding the Mounted Combat Option: I didn't include any (and I prefer to not do it) so the file contains only Class info and allows to any GM wishing to use the Gaucho to use it with his own or someone else rules for that kind of combat.
Is a soon as I can I'll update the file with the corrected fonts.

[Joe the Rat]

Looking at this from a fantasy perspective, I'm wondering if you should expand the skills beyond horses.

I think the Analyze ability should apply to their herd animals as well as to horses. Would this include determining health, or diagnosing illness?

All of the taming/riding skills could apply to any mount with a similar build, or could use a similar saddle rig - possibly at penalty for something unusual or exotic. A Pegasus should be fairly easy to apply their "horse sense" to, a camel or hippogriff would be a bit more problematic, etc. I don't think you'd want to let them be a complete "Beastmaster" class (Taming owlbears and wyverns and such), so you might want to define some general limits on this. Simply mentioning that they can try to tame other types of mounts would be enough to open the door to the possibility - you don't have to assign specific penalties unless you have something in mind already.

Sixth Sense looks good - it's a fairly impressive passive ability to let them know something is wrong - but they'll still do better actively searching for traps, etc. (1 in 6 chance, just like all non-thieves). You might want to improve their surprise roll based on this as well - Gauchos are only surprised on a 1 in 1d6. If sharp reactions are an element of the character type, they could receive a +1 to initiative.

Is the Facon Macho a dagger or a short sword for damage purposes? Could it be used off-handed in a two-weapon fighting style?

Are their horses allowed armor? If not, then you might want to allow an AC bonus to their mounts (but only when they are riding) - think of it as keeping an eye out and steering their horses out of danger.

All of the above are just ideas and suggestions. Look at what keeps with the spirit and concept, but think about what a Gaucho would need to have, or could learn to do, in a setting where wolves can be the size of your horse, your horse might have wings, and poachers could be coming from any direction - including straight down.

[SmootRK]

Thematically, the Gaucho strikes me as a sort of Mounted Ranger Variant, or maybe a sort of mounted barbarian.

If these are to be somehow inserted into a fantasy world, then I agree with Joe that some generalizing or opening up the class to some other mount options. I also agree that they should be able to judge the quality of their herd animals as well as their horse companions.

In your paragraph about penalties while in and about civilization/urban areas, I would also add something about retention of treasure... something like "A Gaucho can only retain treasure that he can carry upon his person or on his mount. Excessive treasure needs to be either given to local communities (but never to other player characters). The Game Master may allow the Gaucho to bury or hide some quantities of treasure in secret places, but of course the amounts may be unavailable until such a time as when the character can retrieve the funds. There is also risk of loss."

You may want to recap the weapons used by Gaucho (take from Equipment Supplement), perhaps granting the Gaucho some bonuses to techniques of entangling, lassoing, etc.

I would modify the description of the facón, which seems to be the equivalent of a Short Sword. I would simply state that a Gaucho may use the facón defensively when he so chooses, granting an additional +2 bonus to AC while on defense (in addition to that granted by Defending according to Combat Options Supplement, if used). I just don't really see how one can attack with a weapon while enjoying defensive bonus of such weapon at the same time... but I can understand using such a weapon to parry quite effectively in the hands of a specialist.

Defending
The application of Armor Class assumes that the character tries to avoid each incoming attack, while still making attacks himself. However, there will be occasions when the character just wants to avoid being hit. The player must declare that the character is defending. This can be done regardless of Initiative, and is therefore a good choice when fighting unarmored and the Initiative is lost.

The defending character applies a bonus of +4 to AC. If the character is holding/using a specialized weapon, he or she may add the specialization "to hit" bonus to AC to reflect the additional parrying skill. Also, magic weapons usually confer the bonus to the AC of the defending character (as described under Two-Weapon Combat, above).

Anyhow, those are my additional comments after some review. Nice concept really.

[Dimirag]

My original idea was to allow to tame any mount-like animal, so I think I'll put this once again (specially because I allow any class-race mix, which includes ponies for small sized characters).
As for the Analyze: I like your idea, so I'll put it.
They don't use their horses on battle normally, so I'll explain this on the file, but I'll give them some little extra riding-related abilities wile mounting unarmored mounts, but not too much, thats a Cavalier terrain.
As for the Facón Macho: It has a measure of between 10-20 inches. There's a superstition about using the left hand, specially in a fight (they refer to the right and left hand as "diestra" and "siniestra" something like "skillful" and "sinister".
I'll incorporate to new additions to the use of a Facon.
Some wiki info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaucho
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fac%C3%B3n

[Dimirag]

I uploaded the Release 2 of the Gaucho on the first post.
Some changes include:
Analyze and Calm works on mount-like and cattle animals.
3 new riding benefits: One for travel/riding, other for combat, and the final its a mount improvement.
Upgraded combat benefits: Now he know a facón + poncho fighting style: "Escrima Criolla".
Use of entanglement weapons (which was one of my first ideas but get lost in the creation process).
Description of items.
Details on treasure hoarding.

Thanks again for the replies.

Hope you enjoy it.

[Joe the Rat]

Nice work. This definitely helps clarify and draw together the different parts of the write-up. I may borrow some from the Escrima Criollafor cape-and-blade.

One error: You refer to grip control in the text, but have "Hold" in the table.

[Dimirag]

Thanks, error corrected.
Glad that you like it. Feel free to borrow and change/expand as needed.
Just uploaded also the .odt file.

[Dimirag]

Just uploaded also the .odt file and slightly modified the Escrima Gaucho so it can be used with any Facon.