Mistone Alliance Commander - PrC

[PsychicToaster]

This is a 5 level prestige class meant for those leading the battle on behalf of the Mistone Alliance.  It is meant for someone at the front lines in parties.  The commander leads by example and inspires directly, as opposed to the bard who is rarely found on the front lines.  They benefit from higher will saves than a typical front line fighter, inspired by their own sense of purpose.

Hit Dice: d12
AB: Either as melee, or as rogue
Requirements:
BAB +6
Skill Persuade 5
Skill Intimidate 10
Feat Toughness
Feat Iron Will

Class Skills:
Discipline, Healing, Intimidate, Listen, Lore, Persuade, Parry, Spot, Taunt
Gains Heavy Armor proficiency, Shield proficiency
Saves: As Cleric

1 - Battlecry: Members of Commander's party within 15' hear the battlecry and gain +1 to Attack and Damage.  This ability improves to +2 at level 3, and +3 at level 5.  Battlecry lasts 1 turn per level in Mistone Alliance Commander + the Commander's Charisma modifier.  They may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 2 + their Charisma Modifier.  This ability does not affect the Commander.
3 - Rally: Members of Commander's party within 15' hear the rallying call and gain +1 to AC.  This ability improves to +2 at level 3, and +3 at level 5.  Rally lasts 1 turn per level in Mistone Alliance Commander + the Commander's Charisma modifier.  They may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 2 + their Charisma Modifier.  This ability does not affect the Commander.
5 - Retreat: The commander gains +3 to AC and damage reduction -/5 but is placed under the effect of reduced movement speed.  This effect lasts for a number of turns equal to their Charisma modifier. Members of the Commander's party gains the effects of Expeditious Retreat for a number of rounds(not turns) equal to the Commander's Charisma modifier.  This ability cannot be used while alone.

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I am posting this from memory with regard to the saves/bab/feats/skills.  As far as I know it is original.  It doesn't seem too difficult to code.  I might be willing to do it myself once I get my computer back. Clearly this is a defense-stacked character, thought is not necessarily fighter-specific.  I tried to make it generic enough that anyone could redirect themselves after being "recruited" for the war.  Think Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, even rogues can become generals.  I was toying with the idea of damage reduction instead of AC bonuses but people around here tend to get a bit touchy on the topic.  The skill/bab requirements if I calculated correctly, should push this into the level 8+ category for any class (persuade preventing fighters, BAB preventing most others) except Paladins.  I didn't include any Soul Mother Defense or any other mechanism because Retreat implies taking one for the team, and sacrifice isn't sacrifice without the risk of losing something.  The d12 is meant to go with the idea that this character is the wall.  

I thought it would be interesting to add an ability to draw the attention of enemies (the MMO usage of the word 'taunt') too, but I can't at the moment, think of a way to code it.

Thoughts?

[Filatus]

How would you determine the length of the effects from battlecry and such, a number of rounds dependant of the charisma modifier and levels in the Prc class?

[PsychicToaster]

Sorry.  Updated.

[LoganGrimnar]

id say lose the Expeditious Retreat part on the level 5 ablity.

Id also like to not a command postion in the mistone alliance is... not likey an easy position to pbtain. So this would be likly a rarely used prc.

Aslo, times per day, 2+ cha mod, might be a bit much. might just start it with one time a day at level 1, and give them 2 at level 3 and 3 at level 5. if that even.

[PsychicToaster]

Well, when you factor in that a bard can do some of these things better, more often, and in some cases at the same time (and generally around the same level), I don't think its unreasonable to add something to their toolset that is unique.  The speed boost to run away is exactly that difference.  Plus, keep in mind that it is turns, not rounds.  They're heat-of-battle actions, not long term buffs.

[Meizter]

Plus, keep in mind that it is turns, not rounds.  They're heat-of-battle actions, not long term buffs.

Then is should be rounds, as turns are longer than rounds.

[PsychicToaster]

Did I mix them up?  I'll revise it when I get a chance.

[LoganGrimnar]

i see people useing it to get into battkle quicker for some reasion... [commander runs up and gets into compat, hits retreat so his allies can run and get at the archers quicker]

[miltonyorkcastle]

I like this idea.  (not that I'd probably ever play a character that would take such a prestige class, but, hey, who knows) I don't think mechanically it is too powerful, although, there needs to be heavy RP restrictions on it. All of the abilities are directly tied to defending Mistone, so the character shoudln't really use the abilities except under such circumstances (and, naturally, there will be multiple interpretations as to when those circumstances are actually occuring).

Probably, this would make a better NPC PrC than a PC one, since it's more of a DM call as to when such abilities have their place.

[FlameStrike]

I like this idea aswell.

 Would be just like the two latest subraces included, heavily rp based, and kept to a minimum.

[PsychicToaster]

The abilities have a range limit as well as being in party to restrict those gaining the benefits to those who are working as a team.  If the commander runs in and calls retreat to help his allies get into battle quicker, they will likely be out of range to gain that effect.  I was toying with retreat reducing everybody except the Commander's attack by 5 as well.

This really is more of a fighter/skill hybrid if you notice the skillset.  Not going to replace a rogue but the commander has an advantage over some others in noticing danger.  I was considering a "point out enemy" ability that would remove enemies from hiding (but not purge magical invisibility).  

Remember, most people couldn't take this PrC until around level 8, and probably wouldn't until later when they could be recognized for RP reasons as a leader.  Compare that to a bard of equal level (8 to 13).  The tradeoff on the bonuses bard song gives are that the commander has only specific abilities and can take more punishment at the front line.

[Doc-Holiday]

Becareful.. you might attract Weston's intrest and then where will we all be?