ECL 5-8ish nonmagical bodyguard [3.5]

[hymer]

Some bodyguards are being hired, people specially trained to do the job. I'd expect these bodyguards to have Listen and Spot as class skills, and preferably Intimidate and Sense Motive as well. And yet they should be able to wear decent amounts of armour and withstand enough of a pounding so they can hold their own why their charge is taken to safety.
Any suggestions for classes, feats and combinations I ought to look into? It would seem that plate wearers generally get little in the way of perception.

[angry_bear]

How many bodyguards are you hiring? If you're looking for non magical meat shields, a couple of half orc barbarians would probably do the trick. They've got access to the skills you want, and seeing that many barbarians in one place will make any assassin hesitate in attacking you.

Another option would be characters of a few different classes. 2 Fighters out in the open, and 2 rogues that no one will notice right away.

[Amnestic]

Human Factotum 1+Able Learner Feat/Crusader (or Warblade) X? Either that or straight Factotum or Rogue, but I fear their squishiness may be a problem. That non-magical restriction is a doozy :smalltongue:

[hymer]

@ angry_bear: I was thinking each bodyguard ought to be in the range of ECL 5-8. Should've been clearer on that.
Barbarians, unfortunately, don't have Spot (or sense motive for that matter). But you're right that it might be more effective to get more than one kind of bodyguard. Thanks!

@ Amnestic: Crusader is much too religious and dogmatic (and magical). Warblade is a much better fit. Able learner is an excellent suggestion. Thanks!

[Runestar]

In game terms, maybe expert/warriors with the able learner feats?

Not very exciting, but if they are all that good, why are they working as bodyguards? :smalltongue:

[Fouredged Sword]

Ok, lets make some ECL 7 non-magic bodyguards.

Sam Stoneface

Dwarf
Dwarf Paragon 3 / Fighter 2 / Feat Rogue 2

Sam is a slightly better than elite array dwarf.

Stats
Str - 14
Dex - 10
Con - 21
Int - 10
Wis - 13
Cha - 6

Feats
1st - Toughness
3rd - Roll with it
6th - Roll with it
FTR1 - Improved DR
FTR2 - Improved DR
FR1 - Improved DR
FR1 - Improved DR

Sam breaks things over his face. At level 7 he has DR8/-. He packs a tower shield and plate-mail. Pair that with his dwarven war-ax and he holds the line while his companion makes a break for it.

He has Intimidate and sense motive from level 1-3, and then again at 6 and 7. He uses his last two levels to buy up on skills he is lacking like spot. His keen dwarven eyes also work well at picking up traps in stonework mixing his trapfinding and his dwarven autodetect in stone areas.

[Callin]

Warrior 4/Marshal 2

Lvl 1 feat is Wild Cohort for a wolf (using Art of War to increase his Trip)

You can do a bit with this basic set up and tailor it to how you need him to be built. Can easily enter quite a few martial prestige classes.

You want marshal for the auras. Art of War for the Minor and any Major Aura you feel he needs.