[3.5e NPC PrC] The Guard (PEACH)

[Welknair]

The Guard
http://th00.deviantart.net/fs33/PRE/i/2008/299/a/5/Chelemby_City_Guard_by_Marc_the_Upstart.jpg
Just the job, ma'am.

-Reginald, town Guard

Guards are everywhere. They guard all sorts of things. They guard castles, towns, people, treasure, cities, the common welfare, and most anything you can think of. Most are just ordinary people doing the job. Some are a smidge better than others. These are those, moderately more effective Guards.

Becoming a Guard
Well, you see... first you go to the recruiting office...

Guards usually start out as Warriors who find that they wish to guard for a living. After a bit of time, they start getting the hang of things and learn the tricks to effective guarding. It takes time and determination, but most anyone can become a Guard.

Entry Requirements:
Alignment: Any Lawful
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: Profession (Guard) 6

Skill Points at each level: 2 + Intelligence Modifier
Class Skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (Local), Listen, Profession, Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Jump

Hit Dice: d10



Level
BAB
Fort
Ref
Will
Special


1st

+1

+2

+0

+0
Keen Eyes


2nd

+2

+3

+0

+0
Where'd They Go?


3rd

+3

+3

+1

+1
Lie Detector


4th

+4

+4

+1

+1
Teamwork


5th

+5

+4

+1

+1
Voice of Authority



Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Guard is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all types of armor, and shields except tower shields.

Keen Senses: As a Guard, it's important to notice things. Add your Guard level to all Search, Spot, and Listen checks.

Where'd They Go?: Guards benefit from the Track feat, with one slight alteration. They use Knowledge (Local) instead of Survival for the check and the ability only works within the confines of a town, city, castle, or similar area.

Lie Detector: What's the point of having a guard if they can simply be lied to or otherwise fooled? A good Guard finds that the ability to separate the truth from the falsehoods is central to their job. They enjoy a bonus to all Sense Motive checks equal to their Guard level.

Teamwork: Teamwork is key to tracking down criminals and trespassers, especially when they're a good five HD above you. Guards may be a member of a squad containing up to four other Guards. A Guard may only be a member of one group at a time. Each time a 4th level Guard attacks a target, he may grant either a +2 bonus to hit to one of his squad-mates against the target he attacked, or else inflict a -2 penalty to hit on his target when making attacks on his squad-mates. The attack does not have to hit to have this effect though the total roll must be above 10.

Voice of Authority: When a high-ranking Guard bellows, people have a tendency to obey. Guards can make an Authoritative Shout as a move action which acts as an Intimidate Check against all wrong-doers (People disobeying the law or trespassing) within 60ft of the Guard. Surprisingly, this even works against PCs. They must make a Will Save at DC 15+Charisma Modifier or immediately comply with the orders of the Guard. So if the targets are NPCs, an Intimidate check is used and if the targets are PCs they PCs make the will save. An order given by Voice of Authority may be no more than five words. If the ordered person is under the effect of a Compulsion, they receive and immediate save. They may only receive an extra save once per day in this manner.



...

Yeah, I made another.

[Seerow]

No listen? Either on the skill list or as a bonus? That seems off.

Also, Voice of Authority seems pretty high. Let's look at just an unoptimized example: Guard with +0 charisma, just hit level 8 (guard 5). He has 11 ranks in intimidate, so a save DC of 21 vs Will. Give that guard just a bit of charisma, or skill focus, and it gets pumped up quickly.

I'd say make it a more standard DC 10+1/2 level (character level, otherwise full class level) + charisma mod, unless you intend for it to be the i-win button of the guard when your PCs start acting up.

[Wyntonian]

Just a question, but do fighter feats count as class features? If not, this could be a decent class for a very urban-based campaign, at least for dips.

[Welknair]

No listen? Either on the skill list or as a bonus? That seems off.

Also, Voice of Authority seems pretty high. Let's look at just an unoptimized example: Guard with +0 charisma, just hit level 8 (guard 5). He has 11 ranks in intimidate, so a save DC of 21 vs Will. Give that guard just a bit of charisma, or skill focus, and it gets pumped up quickly.

I'd say make it a more standard DC 10+1/2 level (character level, otherwise full class level) + charisma mod, unless you intend for it to be the i-win button of the guard when your PCs start acting up.

Fixed 'em both. Thank you!


Just a question, but do fighter feats count as class features? If not, this could be a decent class for a very urban-based campaign, at least for dips.

Well over in the Bartender class I stated that those did count, but it's a simple matter to say they don't. It makes it no longer an "NPC" class, but I see what you're getting at and it would be reasonable to do so if such a campaign was desired.

[Thugorp]

So, ... ya this class is better than all of your others(other than the assistant) but here is my question... what exactly is profession guard?... I actually have the same question about profession mage's assistent... what do these skills do?

also, as usually you need to add weapon and armor proficiency. :-)

[Welknair]

So, ... ya this class is better than all of your others(other than the assistant) but here is my question... what exactly is profession guard?... I actually have the same question about profession mage's assistent... what do these skills do?

They are pretty generic Profession skills. They, like all Profession skills, allow the character to earn an amount of money simply by performing their duties. A couple of Professions have additional uses (Such as Profession: Siege Engineer) but like most, these do not. An increase in these skills represents a raise of some kind.

[Thugorp]

Oh well there you are then. :-)

[Mulletmanalive]

Teamwork grants very little as it is; frankly, it isn't going to help against the enemies it's supposed to help against. I'd suggest that their bandmate's attempts on a given thing count as aid another checks if they roll 10 plus, so if i attack a dude, as long as i roll 10 or more on the attack roll, the next dude in the initiative chain gets either a +2 bonus to Attack rolls or the target simply suffers a -2 on attack rolls against your bandmates.

Voice of Authority, while i have no problem with the idea, doesn't actually tell you how it's supposed to work. You apparently have to make both an Intimidate check and a save, but it doesn't actually state explicitly what either do.

Do i get the effects of an Intimidate check, followed by the Command effect? Does the Command replace the Shaken effect? Is this a variation on Coercion?

The command should be limited to a short command at most, maybe three words and should be limited to things that are in the legal authority of the guard to make; people aren't going to be compelled into handing over their stuff, though they can be coerced using successive Intimidate checks...

[Welknair]

Hopefully cleared stuff up a bit. Changed Teamwork as suggested and agree that that's a deal more fitting. Voice of Authority has been clarified. Thanks for the feedback.

[Mulletmanalive]

That's actually just how Aid Another works anyway...

What i was suggesting was more like:

Teamwork: Teamwork is key to tracking down criminals and trespassers, especially when they're a good five HD above you. Guards may be a member of a squad containing up to four other Guards. A Guard may only be a member of one group at a time. Each time a 4th level Guard attacks a target, he may grant either a +2 bonus to hit to one of his squad-mates against the target he attacked, or else inflict a -2 penalty to hit on his target when making attacks on his squad-mates. The attack does not have to hit to have this effect though the total roll must be above 10.

[Welknair]

That's actually just how Aid Another works anyway...

What i was suggesting was more like:

Teamwork: Teamwork is key to tracking down criminals and trespassers, especially when they're a good five HD above you. Guards may be a member of a squad containing up to four other Guards. A Guard may only be a member of one group at a time. Each time a 4th level Guard attacks a target, he may grant either a +2 bonus to hit to one of his squad-mates against the target he attacked, or else inflict a -2 penalty to hit on his target when making attacks on his squad-mates. The attack does not have to hit to have this effect though the total roll must be above 10.

Woops, why do I keep thinking that they need 15? *Facepalm*

One second.