The following prestige class originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #275. It is copyright 2000 Dragon Magazine, WotC and Monte Cook.

     The duelist is a nimble and intelligent fighter skilled at using his wits and dexterity to avoid damage as opposed to loading on heavy armor.

BAB: +6
Skills: Perform (any) 3 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks
Feats: Dodge, Weapon proficiency (rapier), Ambidexterity, Mobility

 

Level
Attack+
Fort+
Ref+
Will+
Special
1
+1
+0
+2
+0
 Canny Defense
2
 +2
+0
+3
+0
 Precise Strike +1d6
3
+3
+1
+3
+1
 Enhanced Mobility
4
+4
+1
+4
+1
 Grace
5
+5
+1
+4
+1
 Acrobatic Attack
6
+6
+2
+5
+2
 Precise Strike +2d6
7
+7
+2
+5
+2
 Elaborate Parry
8
+8
+2
+6
+2
 Improved Reflexes
9
+9
+3
+6
+3
 Deflect Arrows
10
+10
+3
+7
+3
 Precise Strike +3d6

Skill points at each level: 4+Int modifier

The Duelists class skills and their key abilities are: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intuit Danger (Wis, exclusive skill), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).

HD: d10

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Duelists are proficient in the use of all simple weapons and martial weapons but no armor or
    shields.

Canny Defense (Ex): When not wearing armor, the duelist adds his Intelligence bonus (if any) to his Armor Class while wielding
    a weapon. As with normal Dexterity modifiers, all bonuses are lost when caught flat-footed.

Precise Strike (Ex): At 2nd level, the duelist is able to strike precisely with any light piercing weapon. This grants a +1d6
    damage bonus to the damage roll. When using this ability, the duelist cannot strike with a weapon in the other hand, although he
    can defend with it. Any creature immune to critical hits is not affected by this ability. Every four levels, the damage increases by
    +1d6. If the duelist has the rogue sneak attack ability, this damage stacks with the bonus from a sneak attack.

Enhanced Mobility (Ex): At level 3, when not wearing armor, the duelist gains an additional +4 dodge bonus to AC against
    attacks of opportunity when moving through or out of a threatened area.

Grace (Ex): When wearing no armor, the duelist gains a +2 competence bonus to Reflex saving throws.

Acrobatic Attack (Ex): The duelist gains a +2 competence bonus to his attack and damage roll when either jumping at least 5
    feet towards an opponent, jumping at least 5 ft. down onto an opponent, or swinging into the opponent from a rope or similar
    object.

Elaborate Parry (Ex): If the duelist chooses to fight defensively or uses the full defense option, he gains a +1 dodge bonus to
    AC for each level of duelist he has attained.

Improved Reflexes (Ex): The duelist gains a +2 competence bonus to initiative rolls.

Deflect Arrows (Ex): The duelist gains the feat Deflect Arrows only when he uses his one-handed piercing weapon.