Enforcer prestige class

[Primitive Screwhead]

Cool class

Standover Man: the Enforcer may substitute his Strength modifier instead of Charisma modifier when making Intimidate checks.

I was under the impression that this was an option for the DM to allow even without a feat.. but couldn't find it rapidly in my skim of the PHB..

aha.. its a variant in the DMG..buried in Chapter 2


I would make the Frightful Presence one coupled with a Move action. This would limit him from drawing his weapon then full-attacking the now panicked target and gaining lots of extra dice.... of course, you may have intended this
You also don't list how long an affected target stays panicked/etc... THe Dragon version states 4D6 rounds.

 

[Thurbane]

Hmm, you are right about the duration - the SRD lists the standard for the ability as 5d6 rounds with a range of 30 feet, so I think I'll go with that. Thanks for pointing it out.

I think I'll stick with the activation as is, though.

 

[Nifft]

I'd add some more skill requirements (Gather Information 4, Kn(Local) 4, Sense Motive 4) and give him 4 skill points/level, and drop the BAB to +5. Basically, make it easier for a Ftr/Rogue to enter, and slightly harder (but possible) for a straight Ftr or Ftr/Bbn. (Leave the Intimidate rank at 9, or possibly drop it to 8 -- whichever.)

I agree that it's nice as a 5-level PrC. It does seem a big weak for PCs, since many things are immune to Fear. Wait, never mind. Undead that have been turned will 'cower' if they can't get away, so he will do extra damage to them. That's pretty sweet.

Still, I'd boost his skill points up to 4/level. Also, I'd drop the weapon proficencies -- with that BAB requirement, he's likely to be proficient with all martial weapons already.

Cool class! -- N

 

[ValhallaGH]

I'd add some more skill requirements (Gather Information 4, Kn(Local) 4, Sense Motive 4) and give him 4 skill points/level, and drop the BAB to +5. Basically, make it easier for a Ftr/Rogue to enter, and slightly harder (but possible) for a straight Ftr or Ftr/Bbn. (Leave the Intimidate rank at 9, or possibly drop it to 8 -- whichever.)

I agree that it's nice as a 5-level PrC. It does seem a big weak for PCs,

That's odd.
"Make it harder to get into. It's weak but let's make it more restrictive to get into."

Since the archetypal Enforcers are Warriors, Barbarians and Fighters, I don't see anything wrong with making it easy for them to get into. As is, Clerics, Rogues, Paladins, Rangers, Bards and anyone else that wants to be physical and scary can get into it, they're simply slowed by having Intimidate as cross-class (which is a fault of the skill system, not this class).

4+ skill points would be great but the class skill list just isn't long enough to justify it in a D20 Fantasy game.

 

[Notmousse]

While not stated, I'm suspecting that Bullying attack is akin to Sneak attack in the sense that it doesn't work on things immune to crits.

 

[Nifft]

That's odd.
"Make it harder to get into. It's weak but let's make it more restrictive to get into."

I said:
- reduce the BAB requirement and Intimidate requirement
+ add other skill requirements, at half

I said:
It's weak for PCs.

It's a bit weak as an antagonist. Many PCs will become immune to Fear, and the rest will become harder to melee. He's got to be 8th level to get +1d6 damage, rigth?

Since the archetypal Enforcers are Warriors, Barbarians and Fighters, I don't see anything wrong with making it easy for them to get into.

I always thought of them as Warrior / Rogue types, but that might just be me.

Cheers, -- N

 

[ValhallaGH]

While not stated, I'm suspecting that Bullying attack is akin to Sneak attack in the sense that it doesn't work on things immune to crits.

I hope not. That would make it an even weaker feature and a weaker, and less appealing, class. I'm having enough personal issues on the limitation on Frightful Presence; make it a move action to activate, limit it to once per encounter and it would be dandy. Usable 100 times a day, as long as you have 100 different fights, and no full attacks during activation.

But that's me and how I like to roll.

I said:
- reduce the BAB requirement and Intimidate requirement
+ add other skill requirements, at half

For a Fighter this would require an investment of four skill points per level, every level for the five proposed levels. Or, he can wait until 9th level and buy up the needed ranks at alternating levels, assuming an Int of +0 or better. For a Barbarian, he could fulfill the proposed requirements but it would require all of his skills for five levels and an Int of +0.

Either way, it seems far too "Multiclass into Rogue or don't bother" for a generic strongarm man. Then again, you were aiming it at exactly that idea so in that light it makes perfect sense. I suppose what it comes down to is a difference of archetype; you see something / Rogue and I see Thog.

 

[Nifft]

Either way, it seems far too "Multiclass into Rogue or don't bother" for a generic strongarm man. Then again, you were aiming it at exactly that idea so in that light it makes perfect sense. I suppose what it comes down to is a difference of archetype; you see something / Rogue and I see Thog.

That's exactly what I was thinking. But Thog is a most excellent concept, and I hereby retract the whole skill thing. (I do think that the ability to qualify at level 5 would be better, but that's personal preference.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Thurbane]

Hmm, not familiar with Thog...my main inspiration for the class was from Vinnie Jones' character in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels...

I don't really want to make the class too hard to get into...it's a fairly basic class that strongarm types like fighters and barbarians can get into at 6th level, or rogues at 8th level.

It's not meant to be an uber powerful monster slaying class - it a bully who collects collection money from merchants (i.e. low level experts and commoners), and I think his abilities make him well suited to that role.

Interestingly, on other places I've posted this class there have been accusations that the class is too strong.

If I were to "beef up" the class at all, I might make bullying attack 1d6 at 1st, 2d6 at 3rd and 3d6 at 5th.

And yes, I should have specified that bullying attack is "precision damage" and works the same way as sneak attack and skirmish attack damage...I'll make revisions soon.

 

[Thurbane]

OK, this is really the final revision, complete with updated PDF.

Thanks to everyone who critiqued, commented and suggested for my class. I am actually very happy with it as my first prestige class, and has inspired me to try my hand at more.

If you use it in your games, please feel free to let me know how it works out. My suggestion is that it would be a good "sub boss" for mid-level adventurers to encounter when confronting a guild or criminal organisation, perhaps backed up by some lower level warriors and/or rogues.

I'll whip up a quick "sample encounter" and post it here later on...