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This article contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.
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Satisfied to let the Scourge, the Burning Legion and the mortals fight for supremacy of the land, the buccaneer is the unrivaled lord of the seas. A buccaneer dominates the seas and becomes rich off the helpless ships that fall into his traps. Nursing hatred in his heart, the buccaneer shows no mercy or consideration for any. He tyrannizes Alliance and Horde ships alike, gold being the same color to him no matter the race of the victim. The buccaneer is highly skilled in sea combat, including, but not limited to, firearms and sailing. The appearance of a buccaneer ship on the horizon can make the most seasoned captain's heart grow cold with panic.
Although any race can become a buccaneer, most are human or goblin, the Bloodsail Buccaneers and the Blackwater Raiders of the South Seas being the most notorious. The most successful buccaneers are part of larger organizations; a lone ship of buccaneers is going to do little damage before being set upon by authorities - or larger pirate groups. Some buccaneers are in the employ of more respectable members of society, acting as privateers or doing dirty work against a lord's enemy's fleet; but most work for themselves.
Pirates are feared and hated by the populace, and privateers have a reputation for being almost as bad as those they hunt. The seas are already a treacherous place to be, with the Maelstrom and the naga among other dangers, and the fear of pirate fleets slows sea travel considerably. The buccaneer is proud of this notoriety, and does much to encourage it.
In an adventuring party, the buccaneer is concerned with exploration and plunder, and is useful to have along for any trips across the seas or any dealings with unsavory characters. An evil buccaneer is likely to attempt to take the party's portion of the treasure once the adventure is at an end, or leave them stranded on an island. The typical buccaneer is a soul who believes the world is his oyster, and everyone else is there to either give him things, or be in the way of him having things. Treasure, the freedom of the sea, and more treasure are his only concerns in life.
Although an unsavory lot, buccaneers do revere and respect two things (other than themselves): the sea and her lover, the wind. A buccaneer can control weather. However, doing so requires a quick ceremony and a sacrifice. The ceremony requires a action that provokes attacks of opportunity, and the sacrifice can be either a living creature (hopefully a sentient enemy) or the buccaneer’s own blood. Sacrificing another creature involves a coup de grace as part of the ceremony, and the victim must die in the attack. Sacrificing blood means the buccaneer slashes himself.
A veteran of the barroom brawl, as well as the ship’s mess brawl, the buccaneer has mastered the art of using alcohol to fuel his rage. After two drinks (one drink equals one glass of wine, one mug of stout, one shot of whiskey, or the like), the buccaneer gains a morale bonus on attack and damage for every drink beyond those two. Imbibing a drink is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
The buccaneer has likely seen everything that floats or swims. He can identify a ship on the horizon, and once it gets within range, he knows exactly where to hit it to cripple (or sink) it. He gains a bonus on attack when firing a cannon (whether on a ship, land or anywhere else) at a ship. This knowledge extends to other structures as well. The buccaneer’s cannon attacks against structures (including ships).
The buccaneer becomes so obsessed with treasure that his eyes are automatically drawn to any treasure nearby. He can spot a glint of gold in a cave, and he can hear the tinkle of a silver chain around a noblewoman’s neck. Fortunately, the buccaneer hopes to see treasure everywhere, so these abilities represent the increasing acuity of his perceptions in general.
A buccaneer is ultimately untrustworthy, and untrustworthy people trust no one else. A pirate cannot afford to be naive. Buccaneers are skilled at fighting on the pitching and rolling decks of ships. The life of a pirate also means making sure no one sneaks up on you. The buccaneer cannot be flanked in melee combat. When the buccaneer has reached the pinnacle of his swashbuckling skills. He is adept at moving and tumbling around to confuse his opponents and put himself in the best position to strike. Template:Cite
Relations with other Classes
The buccaneer favors firearms over swords (although he does, of course, use swords and knives frequently), and needs the sure-footedness of sea legs. Buccaneers commonly band together with other buccaneers, rogues or warriors. Tinkers are welcome on their ships for their usefulness, but scouts are considered useless, as the buccaneer knows all he needs to about the sea. Priests and shamans are considered useful for healing spells, but buccaneers do not tolerate proselytizing. Arcane spellcasters are regarded with caution, and can be bargained with if throwing them into the sea proves a bad idea.
Although some buccaneers have used the ingenious submarines that tinkers create, the majority of buccaneers love sailing almost as much as they love their treasure. Their ships are commonly in top shape, and they commonly have a crew of slaves on board to keep the ship watertight and seaworthy. A buccaneer pays for nothing he is not forced to.Template:Cite
Notable Buccaneers
Southsea Pirates
Bloodsail Buccaneers
Lords of the Sea
