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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Trickstergod" data-source="post: 1251648" data-attributes="member: 10825">I actually addressed the immortal ruler in my first post. That's the exception, not the rule. As for the rulers with NPC class levels, it's simply a matter of upbringing and relative comfort. Why train as hard as you possibly can to be a Fighter when you're the son of the king and can get away with enough lessons in combat to only classify as a Warrior? Why spend all that time reading boring books of impossibly mind-bending natures to become a Wizard when you're the pampered child of a merchant lord and would rather be drinking and being merry and would qualify as only an Aristocrat or Expert perhaps for all that? Think how frustrating it would be to have all your advisors and barons talking and thinking circles around you because those class levels in Paladin just don't offer up enough skill points to equal both the education and verbal skills of those Aristocrats and Experts. For the most part, it's a simple matter of training and convenience. Most ruler types will be studying things that help them rule a kingdom, or will be politicking, or will be doing any number of other things that preclude them from learning spells, receiving an attack bonus equal to their level, rolling with a blow via better hitpoints, or honing their reflexes to dodge fire and ice. The environment itself inspires Aristocrats and Experts to crop up amongst the rulers. They train other people to chop up their enemies. Which is how they deal with most threats. By having other people take care of the problem. Very few leaders are the most personally powerful; they tend to be the most charismatic. Even in a D&D setting, this is going to hold true. For every power-mad sorcerer with a fireball, there's going to be a loyal elite guard with multiple attacks. The question why someone would have an NPC class is almost entirely a metagamed question, not the sort most characters or individuals realize within the game. They don't have charts and tables laid out before them to choose from. Instead, NPC's should level up in what's appropriate to their position, upbringing, and what just makes sense. I would question just how any nation could reasonably continue existing when those who rule lack any ranks in skills such as Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (Geography), Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) and Sense Motive. If they're ruling a nation, those are the sorts of skills they're training, that they're making use of. If they're being raised to a place of power, that's also what they're being trained in or experiencing. Even if it's side by side with specializing in a weapon.</blockquote>

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