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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 382384" data-attributes="member: 3051">I like Celebrim's points.  Anyhoo, one thing I wanted to point out is that as written, the Aristocrat does NOT automatically imply "nobility"; "Aristocrats are not only the well-born, but also the wealthy or politically influential people of the world."  I have an Aristocrat/Psion who came from a merchant family.  He's not a leader, so the Leadership feat wouldn't be appropriate; he's just wealthy, with good connections.Right now I think it works as a PC class, although it's underpowered.  But, if you really wanted it to be balanced as a PC class, I'd say base it on the Bard, trading spells for combat ability.  Or, make it a Fighter-type that trades Feats for mental and social skills.  Sort of like a spellless Bard/Fighter hybrid; they have the Bard's great skill list and points, the Fighter's combat ability, but not the spells or Feats that make those classes so good for PCs.So, what I'd do:> Leave the HD at d8 (they're not soldiers) but bump the BAB to +1/level.  If you include all of the stuff below, that might not even be necessary.> Alignment: Aristocrats can't be Chaotic.  The rich and powerful ARE the law, after all.  It mirrors Bards this way.> Contacts: Give them an ability bestowing contacts/connections; treat it like Bardic Knowledge, except instead of gaining knowledge they locate a person offering goods and services they need (same DCs will work, but make the bonus equal to class level + CHA modifier instead of INT).> Natural Leader: When using the Leadership Feat, add a +1 bonus to your character level for the purpose of determining cohorts and followers.  This increases by +1 per 5 class levels (at 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th).  Since this increases character level, it lets them have more followers, and cohorts above their level (the king's Champion sort of thing)> Morale: They should have one other ability.  I was thinking something motivational along the lines of the Bardic Music ability (and hey, they already have Perform) but it's too strong and not really appropriate.  But, if you tone it down a bit and use Diplomacy as the skill, it could work.  Something line:Once per day per level, an Aristocrat can motivate his allies to do exceptional feats.An Aristocrat with 5 ranks of Diplomacy can Inspire Courage.  An Aristocrat with 10 ranks of Diplomacy can Inspire Competence.  An Aristocrat with 15 ranks of Diplomacy can Inspire Greatness (in one target; unlike the Bard ability it doesn't scale).These abilities act as the Bard abilities except are Extraordinary, not Supernatural (and no Countersong, Fascinate, or Suggestion).How's that sound?  I don't think it'd stop people from playing Bards, since they have all those spells (never make fun of Mass Haste).  They get something every level or two, and it's not a one-level wonder.</blockquote>

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