New NPC Class, the Squire! (3.5 Base Class, PEACH)

[NeoSeraphi]

The Squire

"One day, I'll ride into battle, right next to Sir Princeton. And we'll charge the enemy and I'll beat them all and be a hero!" "James, are you done polishing my lance yet?" "Y-Yes Sir Princeton! I'll bring it right to you!" - A squire, working hard to reach his goals

A knight is not born. He is made. Every man who wishes to become a knight must train under another, and that knight then teaches his squire what the knight he trained under taught him. It is an endless cycle of knowledge and tradition, but it changes too, as the world changes, so do the experiences of one knight, who passes on his new experiences to his squire, in addition to what his master taught him. And in the end, well...there is no end. That is the way of the knight.

A squire is a paladin-in-training. It is simple enough to make this class for a warrior instead. Simply remove the Holy Sword ability, and replace the Smite Evil progression with fighter bonus feats. (A squire who is training to be a warrior does not have an alignment restriction)

Alignment: Lawful Good - A squire's code is not as strict as a paladin's code, but he must still obey the law and be of a good heart, or his lord will abandon him.

HD: d8

Class Skills: The squire's class skills are Craft, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty), Knowledge (Religion), Profession, and Ride.

Skill Points: 2+Int per level, x4 at 1st level

{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special

1st|+0|+2|+0|+0|Smite Evil 1/day

2nd|+1|+3|+0|+0|

3rd|+2|+3|+1|+1|

4th|+3|+4|+1|+1|Knight's Training

5th|+3|+4|+1|+1|Smite Evil 2/day, Paladin's Oath

6th|+4|+5|+2|+2|Holy Power +1

7th|+5|+5|+2|+2|

8th|+6/+1|+6|+2|+2|Improved Knight's Training

9th|+6/+1|+6|+3|+3|

10th|+7/+2|+7|+3|+3|Smite Evil 3/day

11th|+8/+3|+7|+3|+3|

12th|+9/+4|+8|+4|+4|Greater Knight's Training, Holy Power +2

13th|+9/+4|+8|+4|+4|

14th|+10/+5|+9|+4|+4|

15th|+11/+6/+1|+9|+5|+5|Smite Evil 4/day

16th|+12/+7/+2|+10|+5|+5|Superior Knight's Training

17th|+12/+7/+2|+10|+5|+5|

18th|+13/+8/+3|+11|+6|+6|Holy Power +3

19th|+14/+9/+4|+11|+6|+6|

20th|+15/+10/+5|+12|+6|+6|Smite Evil 5/day, Master Knight's Training

[/table]

Class Features: The following are the class features of the squire:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Squires are proficient with simple weapons and with light armor, but not with shields.

Smite Evil (Su): As part of his dream to become a paladin, a squire is taught a very simple technique, the ability to Smite Evil. However, as the squire is young and eager to prove himself, this ability often is misused unless the squire's teacher is keeping a close watch on him. When the squire makes a melee attack roll, he may declare he is using this ability. He adds his Charisma bonus (minimum +1) to his attack roll, and adds his squire level to his damage roll. This effect only works if the creature he is attacking is evil. If the creature he attacks is not evil, the smite has no effect, and the use is wasted. At 5th level, and every 5 levels afterwards, the squire may Smite Evil one more time per day.

Knight's Training (Ex): Some day, the squire will be a fierce and noble warrior, just like the paladin he trains under. As part of his training, the squire receives proficiency with a single martial weapon at 4th level. This weapon must be the preferred weapon of choice of the paladin he trains under. (If the paladin the squire trains under uses a simple or exotic weapon, the squire gains proficiency with the longsword instead).

At 8th level, and every four levels after, the squire's training improves and his proficiencies expand.

At 8th level, the squire gains proficiency with medium armor.

At 12th level, the squire gains proficiency with bucklers, light, and heavy shields.

At 16th level, the squire gains proficiency with all martial weapons.

At 20th level, the squire gains proficiency with heavy armor.

Paladin's Oath (Ex): Starting at 5th level, the squire is ready to become a true paladin. He has trained hard and adventured with his lord for quite some time. As soon as his lord deems him ready (which may be immediately, or it may require more levels as a squire), the squire may graduate to the paladin class, instantly trading all his levels in squire for levels in paladin (a 5th level squire would become a 5th level paladin, with all the abilities and hit dice and BAB associated with it)

Holy Power (Su): The squire is not training to be a warrior or a knight. He will be a proud paladin like his lord, and even though he is not the strong fighter his lord is, his deity still takes notice of his prowess and devotion, and rewards him. Starting at level 6, the squire receives a +1 sacred bonus to all his attack and damage rolls. At 12th level, this improves to +2. At 18th level, it improves to +3.