Castle Guards. (I need help determining power of this class) PEACH

[Melcar]

Walden Guard

Alignment: The Walden Guards are always of lawful alignment and never evil.
Religion: Any non-evil.
Background: The members of the Walden Guard are chosen among the followers of the King.


Game Rule Information
Prerequisites: +4 base attack bonus, improved initiative
Alignment: Lawful, non-evil

Hit Die: d8

Class Skill
The Guard’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (Nobility and royalty), Listen (Wis), Search(Int), Sense motive (Wis) and Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The guards are proficiencied with all simple and martial arms and armors.



Guard of Walden
Level-------B. Attack----Fort-------Ref.-----Will Special
1-----------+0-----------+2---------+0-------+2 Sharpened senses +1
2-----------+1-----------+3---------+0-------+3
3-----------+2-----------+3---------+1-------+3 Bonus feat
4-----------+3-----------+4---------+1-------+4 Sharpened senses +2
5-----------+3-----------+4---------+1-------+4 Parade
6-----------+4-----------+5---------+2-------+5 Bonus Feat
7-----------+5-----------+5---------+2-------+5 Sharpened senses +3
8-----------+6/+1-------+6---------+2-------+6
9-----------+6/+1-------+6---------+3-------+6 Bonus feat
10---------+7/+2-------+7---------+3--------+7 Sharpened senses +4, Parade mastery

Sharpened senses at first level the Guard of Walden adds a bonus of +1 competence bonus to listen, spot and search. This bonus increases by one for every third level after first.
Bonus feat at third, sixth and ninth level the Guard of Walden can choose a bonus feat from the fighter’s bonus feat list.
Parade at fifth level the Walden Guard has trained and performed so many parades with his fellow guards, that he receives a +2 Competence bonus to his perform (drill) skill.
Parade mastery at tenth level the Walden Guards perform the changing of the guard or honorary parades so awe inspiring that the on lookers are mesmerized and most importantly the King will receive a +1 circumstance bonus for every 5 point above 10 of the parade commanders drill check roll to any diplomatic skill checks when dealing with the target of the honorary parades.

Please... Any comments would be nice.

[GGambrel]

This class seems better suited to NPCs than PCs to me because of how the Parade Ability seems very specific and situational. Parade and Parade Mastery could be described in better detail; must onlookers make a Will Save or be Fascinated?

It seems like a Prestige Class for fighters, and seems comparable to sticking with the fighter class except for the reduction in BAB. I wouldn't expect many players to choose to choose this class as is, but it seems good for attentive NPC guards.

Ideas (feel free to use as many or as few as you like ):

Detect Chaos (Sp) - similar to the Paladin Ability (may reduce Sharpened Senses to balance)
Increase BAB - if PCs will be using this class
Parade/Parade Mastery - similar to the Bard's Fascinate effect using Bardic Music
Teamwork - Walden Guards get +3 or higher bonuses for Aiding Another and Flanking with other Guards (maybe reduce the number of Bonus Feats if Teamwork grows with level)
Shield Ally - as the Knight Ability

Possible classes to compare to:

Fighter
Paladin
Knight (Player's Handbook II)

Edit: I think Perform (Weapon Drill) should be on the skill list since it is related to the Parade Ability. Also, maybe Sharpened Senses should apply to Sense Motive too, but the bonus should probably be reduced then. Alternatively they can get Skill Focus to one of those four skills every few levels.

[nonsi]

Add Balance, Climb, Gather Information, Intimidate and Swim as class skills.

Btw, "the King will receive a +1 circumstance bonus" . . . bonus to what?