Protection Racket

[quiet1mi]

To Fix my Beguiling problem (That is Enchanters and Diplomancers shaking down NPC by RAW or starting their own power bases) I decided that an international thieves guild is needed to run a protection racket.

The only problem, other than Diviners, what could a party of varying levels expect to fight from a thieves guild.

I imagine the entire gamut of Classes as they are international (maybe a smaller selection for smaller guilds) But nothing too powerful as they would not care to be in a guild to begin with.

My thoughts are Diviner related prestige classes, Scoundrels, and maybe some type of enforcers...

any thoughts?

[Myou]

High level wizards. Seriously, a high level wizard is the perfect person to keep on retainer when your guild needs something dead.

[quiet1mi]

I want to keep things that they keep on retainer about Tier 2 max, Tier one and things get silly...

Any prestige class that are about Tier 3-4? I only found base classes supported by the tier system.

I want to keep the Tier 2 stuff as a final resort, Tier 1 would never put up with being in a guild as they could just dismantle the guild singlehandedly...

[Johel]

...I feel that you started this conversation on another thread, didn't you ?

Anyway, that depends of a lot of things related to your campaign.
Are powerful spellcasters common or rare ?
Are spellcasters as a whole common or rare ?
Are high level NPC common or rare ?
What's the highest level one can expect to find in your average city ?

In a high-fantasy setting, thieves are basically the underdogs, right before fighters and barbarians. With spellcasters everywhere and powerful wizards running things, nobody but the spellcasters will dare to try to steal or rob anything.

In a low-fantasy setting, you can imagine a International Thieves Guild, something of a mafia with various small factions acting as local branches, each with a fair degree of autonomy.

Hierarchy, from bottom to top :

1. Experts with various skills (Sleight on Hand, Lock Pick, Forgery, Bluff, Balance,...). Those are the small-timers, the rank-and-fill, the guys who aren't gifted (like adventurers...) but are still good at something.
2. Warriors. Not thieves themselves, they are the hired muscles for basic protection racket. They also keep an eye on some of the Guild's properties.
3. Low-level rogues. They are the guys with talent, guts and ambition. Probably a good number of freelances among them, the youngs use the Guild when they need informations, equipement, shelter, protection or simply a well-paid job. They are the specialists for missions that need more skill.
4. Low-level spellcasters. Mainly Wizards, they make the magical items, run the divinations, they rarely do actual combat, though. The Guild provides them with a laboratory, a library and funds their researches.
5. High-level rogues, assassins, arcane tricksters, shadow dancers, ect... These guys survived long enough, have lived amazing adventures and are now pulling the strings. Normally, they are retired and enjoy their position.

[TheThan]

Hierarchy, from bottom to top :

1. Experts with various skills (Sleight on Hand, Lock Pick, Forgery, Bluff, Balance,...). Those are the small-timers, the rank-and-fill, the guys who aren't gifted (like adventurers...) but are still good at something.
2. Warriors. Not thieves themselves, they are the hired muscles for basic protection racket. They also keep an eye on some of the Guild's properties.
3. Low-level rogues. They are the guys with talent, guts and ambition. Probably a good number of freelances among them, the youngs use the Guild when they need informations, equipement, shelter, protection or simply a well-paid job. They are the specialists for missions that need more skill.
4. Low-level spellcasters. Mainly Wizards, they make the magical items, run the divinations, they rarely do actual combat, though. The Guild provides them with a laboratory, a library and funds their researches.
5. High-level rogues, assassins, arcane tricksters, shadow dancers, ect... These guys survived long enough, have lived amazing adventures and are now pulling the strings. Normally, they are retired and enjoy their position.

well I was going to type out a long post detailing the ins and outs of a thieves guild. but I was beat to it so I'm gust just going to second it.

[quiet1mi]

I love it, I will use this in one of my campaigns.

The campaign is starting at 10th level, and I am playing a 10th level beguiler on the caveat that I can provide a way to counteract all the nonsense of "I say it Happens" without using GM-Fiat.