jiriku
2010-01-13, 10:37 PM
Please review and critique this class, which is a 5-level defender PrC intended to blend the flavor of the Roman lictor and the Thayan Knight. The target balance point is a +0 PrC for a Tier 3 or strong Tier 4 base class. The class provides flavorful bodyguards for important NPC squishies, offers an interesting choice for a PC shopping for a cohort, highlights the unique flavor of the Calloran empire, and would be available as a PC option as well. Expected entry point would be crusader 5, knight 5, or fighter 6.
Relevant house rules and setting-specific information:
Tier 4 and Tier 5 melee classes receive additional class skills, skill points, and extra class features intended help them approach the non-combat versatility of Tier 3 classes.
Humans gain a bonus class skill based on their region of origin. With that and the extra class skills and extra skill points most melee types start with, meeting the skill requirements of the lictor is pretty easy.
Melee-oriented feat chains are compressed to a single feat, greatly improving the combat versatility of melee classes (especially the fighter). Shield Specialization adds shield bonus to Reflex saves, in addition to the usual benefit.
Psionics and magic are fully transparent.
Players have access to an inexpensive home-brewed incantation that will transfer enchantments from one piece of gear to another.
The Calloran empire is a predominantly human, pseudo-Roman nation. Denapoli is a city much like Rome.
Flavor-wise, red wizards lack the racism and evilness normally associated with the class. Instead they are merely badass Romanesque battlemages.
LICTOR PRESTIGE CLASS
Flavor Text:
The lictor is a member of a special class of Calloran civil servant, with special tasks of attending and guarding magistrates of the Calloran Empire who hold imperium; essentially, he is a bodyguard. The traditions of the lictors go back to the time when the Calloran empire was but a small kingdom, and lictors are highly esteemed among the Calloran soldiery.
Lictors are exempted from service in the Calloran legions, paid a salary by the state when not given leave to go adventuring, and organized into a guild of their fellows. Typically, a magistrate will personally select his lictors, but sometimes they are assigned by lots.
Lictors are intimidating in appearance, marked with prominent magical tattoos inscribed by the red wizards of the collegium arcanum, geared in spiked adamantine full plate and extreme shield, and often wielding a distinctive, serrated gladius and jagged pilum.
The lictors' primary task is to attend as a bodyguard to magistrates who hold imperium, escorting him in all places at all times, and opening th way when he must make his way through crowds. They carry rods formed of white birch branches tied with a red ribbon, called fasces lictoriae, as a symbol of their magistrate's power and authority. The rod is a symbol of strength through unity, bounded by restraint. Outside the limits of Denapoli, the fasces are tipped with one or two axe blades, symbolic of the fact that the magistrate holds the power of execution.
The degree of a magistrate's imperium is symbolized by the number of lictors escorting him or her:
The Empress has an escort of 24 lictors outside the city of Denapoli, 12 inside.
Consuls are escorted by 12 lictors.
Praetors have an escort of 6 lictors, 2 within Denapoli.
Curators have 2 lictors
A special branch of lictors, the lictores curiati, are assigned to escorting red wizards of the collegium arcanum, important religious figures, or even private citizens on special occasions. The lictores curiati are thirty in number and typically receive individual assignments.
Mechanics:
REQUIREMENTS
Alignment: Any Lawful
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feat: Shield Specialization (heavy shield, extreme shield, or tower shield) (PH2 82)
Skills: Intimidate 8 ranks, Spellcraft 2 ranks, Spot 2 ranks.
Special: Must be a citizen of the Calloran Empire. Must be inducted into the order of the lictors or the lictores curiati.
Hit Die: d12
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+2|Imperial Battle Garb, Iron Warrior, Martial Initiate, Mark of the Chosen I, Watchful Guardian
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+3|Run, You Dogs!, Uncanny Dodge
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|Mettle, Vengeful Guardian
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+4|Frightful Presence, Imperial Training
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+4|Blood-Spiked Charger, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Mark of the Chosen II[/table]
CLASS SKILLS
The lictor's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier
CLASS FEATURES
All of the following are class features of the lictor prestige class.
Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Lictors gain proficiency with tower shields and extreme shields (RoS 157).
Imperial Battle Garb: As patricians, lictors are expected to supply their own gear, but imperial warsmiths will manufacture a newly inducted lictor's battle gear from adamantine for him at cost (1/3 of standard price), simply for the prestige of having such prominent citizen wear his work. A lictor's battle gear includes spiked full plate armor, a spiked extreme shield or spiked tower shield, a melee weapon, and a thrown weapon (often a gladius and a pilum). If these items are lost, destroyed, or stolen, he can obtain replacements at the same discount as long as he remains in good standing with his organization.
Iron Warrior (Ex): A lictor knows how to get the most out of his armor and shield. He gains the benefit of his shield specialization feat when using any heavy shield, extreme shield, or tower shield, and can make shield bash attacks with an extreme shield or tower shield (damage as for a heavy shield). He adds his class level to his shield bonus to AC, and his existing DR/adamantine improves by his class level. He must be wielding a shield to gain the shield benefit and he must already have DR/adamantine to gain the improved damage reduction.
Mark of the Chosen (Su): A lictor undergoes a long and painful tattooing ritual under the hands of one of the masters of the collegium arcanum. Magic tattoos placed on the back, forehead and face protect his mind from attack. The lictor gains immunity to fear, charms, and compulsions. At 5th level the protective magic grows stronger, and he cannot be affected by any mind-affecting effect unless he wishes. These immunities are not effective against the red wizards of the collegium arcanum. The tattoo also marks the lictor as a permanent servant of the Imperium. He is the property of the Empress until death. The lictor automatically fails any saving throw against a mind-affecting spell cast by a red wizard.
Martial Initiate: Choose a class that grants martial maneuvers. Add the lictor's class level (instead of half his class level) to his levels in that class to determine his initiator level.
Watchful Guardian (Ex): A lictor is watchful and vigilant in defending his charge against both mundane and magical threats. He adds his class level as a competence bonus to all Spot checks and Initiative checks, and to Spellcraft checks to identify a spell being cast, identify an in-place spell effect, or identify a spell after saving against it.
Run, You Dogs! (Ex): The fearsome demeanor and thousand-yard stare of the lictor makes him an implacable foe on the battlefield. Upon reaching 2nd level, he gains a competence bonus equal to his class level on Intimidate checks, and can demoralize an opponent as a swift action.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a lictor gains the ability to react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. If he has five or more levels in classes that grant uncanny dodge, he gains improved uncanny dodge instead (see below).
Mettle (Ex): A lictor's training hardens his mind and body against even magical and unusual assaults. At 3rd level, he gains Mettle. If he makes a successfull Will or Fortitude save against an effect that would normally have a lesser effect on a successful save, he instead completely negates the effect.
Vengeful Guardian (Ex): A lictor of 3rd level or higher gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls against any creature that attacks him or that he has previously seen attack his charge. Once per encounter as an immediate action, if he sees any creature attack his charge, he may throw a ranged weapon or initiate a charge action against the creature if it is within range. He can use this ability even while flat-footed, although if he charges during a surprise round he is only permitted a partial charge.
Frightful Presence (Ex): At 4th level, the lictor's onslaught strikes terror into the hearts of those who oppose him. Whenever he attacks or charges, all foes within 30 feet must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 character level + Charisma modifier) or become shaken. A creature that saves is immune to that lictor's frightful presence for 24 hours. Creatures with the frightful presence ability are immune to this effect.
Imperial Training (Ex): A lictor trains with the Calloran legionnaires and learns how to work well as part of a team. Beginning at 4th level, he no longer causes allies to take a -4 penalty with ranged attacks when he is in melee with a foe, and foes cannot use him for cover against ranged attacks. If he flanks a foe with an ally and that foe takes an opportunity attack against the ally, the lictor may take an immediate opportunity attack on the foe. Foes the lictor flanks are aware of this ability.
Blood-Spiked Charger: At 5th level, the lictor gains Blood-Spiked Charger (PH2 92) as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites for it.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level and higher, a lictor can only be flanked by a rogue four or more levels higher than his total levels in classes that grant uncanny dodge.
Edit: fixed table, removed some spoilers
Edit 2: incorporated recommended changes and added a number of new abilities intended to stress the class's role as a bodyguard. Also modified the entry requirements to speak more directly to the intended role.
Edit 3: added additional class skills and features intended to allow ToB classes to continue progressing key functions while progressing as a lictor.
Edit 4: added blood-spiked charger at level 5 to give the lictor additional tactical options. Added the ability to shield bash with extreme shields and tower shields! MOAR SHIELD SPIKES!
Edit 5: Improved Imperial Defender to make it more proactive.
Relevant house rules and setting-specific information:
Tier 4 and Tier 5 melee classes receive additional class skills, skill points, and extra class features intended help them approach the non-combat versatility of Tier 3 classes.
Humans gain a bonus class skill based on their region of origin. With that and the extra class skills and extra skill points most melee types start with, meeting the skill requirements of the lictor is pretty easy.
Melee-oriented feat chains are compressed to a single feat, greatly improving the combat versatility of melee classes (especially the fighter). Shield Specialization adds shield bonus to Reflex saves, in addition to the usual benefit.
Psionics and magic are fully transparent.
Players have access to an inexpensive home-brewed incantation that will transfer enchantments from one piece of gear to another.
The Calloran empire is a predominantly human, pseudo-Roman nation. Denapoli is a city much like Rome.
Flavor-wise, red wizards lack the racism and evilness normally associated with the class. Instead they are merely badass Romanesque battlemages.
LICTOR PRESTIGE CLASS
Flavor Text:
The lictor is a member of a special class of Calloran civil servant, with special tasks of attending and guarding magistrates of the Calloran Empire who hold imperium; essentially, he is a bodyguard. The traditions of the lictors go back to the time when the Calloran empire was but a small kingdom, and lictors are highly esteemed among the Calloran soldiery.
Lictors are exempted from service in the Calloran legions, paid a salary by the state when not given leave to go adventuring, and organized into a guild of their fellows. Typically, a magistrate will personally select his lictors, but sometimes they are assigned by lots.
Lictors are intimidating in appearance, marked with prominent magical tattoos inscribed by the red wizards of the collegium arcanum, geared in spiked adamantine full plate and extreme shield, and often wielding a distinctive, serrated gladius and jagged pilum.
The lictors' primary task is to attend as a bodyguard to magistrates who hold imperium, escorting him in all places at all times, and opening th way when he must make his way through crowds. They carry rods formed of white birch branches tied with a red ribbon, called fasces lictoriae, as a symbol of their magistrate's power and authority. The rod is a symbol of strength through unity, bounded by restraint. Outside the limits of Denapoli, the fasces are tipped with one or two axe blades, symbolic of the fact that the magistrate holds the power of execution.
The degree of a magistrate's imperium is symbolized by the number of lictors escorting him or her:
The Empress has an escort of 24 lictors outside the city of Denapoli, 12 inside.
Consuls are escorted by 12 lictors.
Praetors have an escort of 6 lictors, 2 within Denapoli.
Curators have 2 lictors
A special branch of lictors, the lictores curiati, are assigned to escorting red wizards of the collegium arcanum, important religious figures, or even private citizens on special occasions. The lictores curiati are thirty in number and typically receive individual assignments.
Mechanics:
REQUIREMENTS
Alignment: Any Lawful
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feat: Shield Specialization (heavy shield, extreme shield, or tower shield) (PH2 82)
Skills: Intimidate 8 ranks, Spellcraft 2 ranks, Spot 2 ranks.
Special: Must be a citizen of the Calloran Empire. Must be inducted into the order of the lictors or the lictores curiati.
Hit Die: d12
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+0|
+2|Imperial Battle Garb, Iron Warrior, Martial Initiate, Mark of the Chosen I, Watchful Guardian
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+0|
+3|Run, You Dogs!, Uncanny Dodge
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+1|
+3|Mettle, Vengeful Guardian
4th|
+4|
+4|
+1|
+4|Frightful Presence, Imperial Training
5th|
+5|
+4|
+1|
+4|Blood-Spiked Charger, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Mark of the Chosen II[/table]
CLASS SKILLS
The lictor's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier
CLASS FEATURES
All of the following are class features of the lictor prestige class.
Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Lictors gain proficiency with tower shields and extreme shields (RoS 157).
Imperial Battle Garb: As patricians, lictors are expected to supply their own gear, but imperial warsmiths will manufacture a newly inducted lictor's battle gear from adamantine for him at cost (1/3 of standard price), simply for the prestige of having such prominent citizen wear his work. A lictor's battle gear includes spiked full plate armor, a spiked extreme shield or spiked tower shield, a melee weapon, and a thrown weapon (often a gladius and a pilum). If these items are lost, destroyed, or stolen, he can obtain replacements at the same discount as long as he remains in good standing with his organization.
Iron Warrior (Ex): A lictor knows how to get the most out of his armor and shield. He gains the benefit of his shield specialization feat when using any heavy shield, extreme shield, or tower shield, and can make shield bash attacks with an extreme shield or tower shield (damage as for a heavy shield). He adds his class level to his shield bonus to AC, and his existing DR/adamantine improves by his class level. He must be wielding a shield to gain the shield benefit and he must already have DR/adamantine to gain the improved damage reduction.
Mark of the Chosen (Su): A lictor undergoes a long and painful tattooing ritual under the hands of one of the masters of the collegium arcanum. Magic tattoos placed on the back, forehead and face protect his mind from attack. The lictor gains immunity to fear, charms, and compulsions. At 5th level the protective magic grows stronger, and he cannot be affected by any mind-affecting effect unless he wishes. These immunities are not effective against the red wizards of the collegium arcanum. The tattoo also marks the lictor as a permanent servant of the Imperium. He is the property of the Empress until death. The lictor automatically fails any saving throw against a mind-affecting spell cast by a red wizard.
Martial Initiate: Choose a class that grants martial maneuvers. Add the lictor's class level (instead of half his class level) to his levels in that class to determine his initiator level.
Watchful Guardian (Ex): A lictor is watchful and vigilant in defending his charge against both mundane and magical threats. He adds his class level as a competence bonus to all Spot checks and Initiative checks, and to Spellcraft checks to identify a spell being cast, identify an in-place spell effect, or identify a spell after saving against it.
Run, You Dogs! (Ex): The fearsome demeanor and thousand-yard stare of the lictor makes him an implacable foe on the battlefield. Upon reaching 2nd level, he gains a competence bonus equal to his class level on Intimidate checks, and can demoralize an opponent as a swift action.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a lictor gains the ability to react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. If he has five or more levels in classes that grant uncanny dodge, he gains improved uncanny dodge instead (see below).
Mettle (Ex): A lictor's training hardens his mind and body against even magical and unusual assaults. At 3rd level, he gains Mettle. If he makes a successfull Will or Fortitude save against an effect that would normally have a lesser effect on a successful save, he instead completely negates the effect.
Vengeful Guardian (Ex): A lictor of 3rd level or higher gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls against any creature that attacks him or that he has previously seen attack his charge. Once per encounter as an immediate action, if he sees any creature attack his charge, he may throw a ranged weapon or initiate a charge action against the creature if it is within range. He can use this ability even while flat-footed, although if he charges during a surprise round he is only permitted a partial charge.
Frightful Presence (Ex): At 4th level, the lictor's onslaught strikes terror into the hearts of those who oppose him. Whenever he attacks or charges, all foes within 30 feet must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 character level + Charisma modifier) or become shaken. A creature that saves is immune to that lictor's frightful presence for 24 hours. Creatures with the frightful presence ability are immune to this effect.
Imperial Training (Ex): A lictor trains with the Calloran legionnaires and learns how to work well as part of a team. Beginning at 4th level, he no longer causes allies to take a -4 penalty with ranged attacks when he is in melee with a foe, and foes cannot use him for cover against ranged attacks. If he flanks a foe with an ally and that foe takes an opportunity attack against the ally, the lictor may take an immediate opportunity attack on the foe. Foes the lictor flanks are aware of this ability.
Blood-Spiked Charger: At 5th level, the lictor gains Blood-Spiked Charger (PH2 92) as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites for it.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level and higher, a lictor can only be flanked by a rogue four or more levels higher than his total levels in classes that grant uncanny dodge.
Edit: fixed table, removed some spoilers
Edit 2: incorporated recommended changes and added a number of new abilities intended to stress the class's role as a bodyguard. Also modified the entry requirements to speak more directly to the intended role.
Edit 3: added additional class skills and features intended to allow ToB classes to continue progressing key functions while progressing as a lictor.
Edit 4: added blood-spiked charger at level 5 to give the lictor additional tactical options. Added the ability to shield bash with extreme shields and tower shields! MOAR SHIELD SPIKES!
Edit 5: Improved Imperial Defender to make it more proactive.