Best Aristocrat/Noble base class?

[Mercule]

I'd really like to include a PC option for the Aristocrat class. The one in the DMG isn't of the right calibre, though.

I've got WoT, but don't really like the expendible nature of the Favors class ability of the Noble. I know Star Wars has a Noble class, too, but I know nothing about it really. Are there any other Noble-type classes out there? Which one is the best for a D&D type setting?

 

[Taelorn76]

Green Ronin has a nobles book, The Nobles Handbook. Hope this help you out

 

[Arani Korden]

The Wheel of Time Noble class was lifted almost directly from the Star Wars rules. (Except Wheel of Time Nobles get Bluff as a class skill, while SW Nobles have to blow their free class skill if they want it. Grrr.) When the Star Wars rules were revised, the "spend a favor and it goes away forever" thing was done away with - you can see the revised Star wars Noble here.

 

[Morpheus]

The new Conan RPG has a Noble class in it also.

 

[Mercule]

The Wheel of Time Noble class was lifted almost directly from the Star Wars rules. (Except Wheel of Time Nobles get Bluff as a class skill, while SW Nobles have to blow their free class skill if they want it. Grrr.) When the Star Wars rules were revised, the "spend a favor and it goes away forever" thing was done away with - you can see the revised Star wars Noble here.

I like the modifications, here. I noticed the Starting Credits for the Noble were 1d4 x 1000 credits. How does this relate to gold in D&D? If this class were converted, would 1d4 x 1000 gold be appropriate to start with?

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Take a look at Fading Suns d20 - it has a very well done "Noble" class.

Basically, at every class level that isn't divisible by three, a Noble gets a so-called "Social Feat". These include things like Noble Title, Ally, Reputation, Familiy Ties, Gossip Network, Withering Insult, Diplomatic Immunity, and many, many more. All in all, the book has 52 social feats, which allows you to customize your noble's social abilities.

It's great for multiclassing, too - just take a few classes in Noble to gain some social abilities. You don't have to worry that you are "missing out" if you don't take the noble class to high levels - all you get is more social feats (which are useful, but you don't have to take more than required for your character concept). The same system is also useful for other influental people who aren't aristocrats - such as non-spellcasting church leaders or wealthy merchants (and indeed, there are "guilder" and "priest" classes in FS d20 that work according to the same scheme).

Really, check it out - the system is a real gem.

 

[Dark Jezter]

The Rokugan setting has a Courtier class that seems fairly interesting.

 

[MadBlue]

Dragonlance has a Noble class. It's very similar to the SWRPG (revised) Noble, but it's given a D&D treatment (and it has Bluff as a class skill).

 

[Gez]

You can also look at this houserule thread and maybe this one too.

 

[Arani Korden]

I like the modifications, here. I noticed the Starting Credits for the Noble were 1d4 x 1000 credits. How does this relate to gold in D&D? If this class were converted, would 1d4 x 1000 gold be appropriate to start with?

I don't know what the exchange would be, and to be honest I don't have a PHB to compare. But my gut says 1d4 x 1000 gold would be a bit much. The Fringer class gets 1d4 x 500, and they are by no means supposed to be wealthy.