tsadkiel> Hm. That's something I'd never tried. It's worth looking into.
Yet, there is a part of me that likes to make stuff up, and when I exercised that part this afternoon, I came up with the following modifications for the NPC classes to give them a bit more flavor.
ARISTOCRAT
as DMG except:
Wealth: Aristocrats start out with twice the starting wealth as characters of the same level.
Skill focus: At 2nd, 10th, 11th, 14th, and 20th levels, Aristocrats gain the Skill Focus feat for free. Instead of the +2 bonus listed in the PHB, the bonus is +3. The bonus Skill Focus feat may only be used with one of the following skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidation, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Knowledge (local), or Sense Motive. As in the PHB, each time you get this feat, it applies to a different skill.
Network: Upon reaching 7th level, when you are in a populated area (village, town, or city), you may check to see if you have any contacts or connections in the city that may help you. To do so, make a Charisma check and add your Aristocrat levels plus your ranks in Knowledge (local) or Gather Information (depending on whether your contacts are legal or illicit). The more distant you are from your home, the higher the DC to find helpful contacts. You may use this ability only once per location.
Leadership: At 5th level, Aristocrats gain the Leadership feat for free.
EXPERT
as DMG, except:
Area of expertise: Experts are frequently centered around a theme or area where their skills excel. When you create an expert, the ten skills you create as your class skills must be related in some way to your concept, be it a scholar, a burglar, a merchant, or scout.
Skill focus: At 2nd, 11th, 14th, and 19th level, Experts get the Skill Focus feat for free with any skill in which they have ranks. The bonus given for this feat is +3 instead of the +2 listed in the PHB. In lieu of this feat, Experts may take one non-exclusive cross-class skill as a class skill.
Cross-class skill: At 5th, 10th, 13th, and 17th level, Experts may choose one non-exclusive cross-class skill as a class skill. In lieu of this ability, an Expert may take the Skill focus feat instead.
Expert knowledge: Experts pick up a lot of stray knowledge related to their areas of expertise. At 7th level, Experts may call upon this knowledge. They may make a special Knowledge check to see if they know of any relevant information pertaining to notable people, legendary items, creatures, noteworthy places, or events related to their area of expertise. To do so, they make a Knowledge check and add their Expert levels and any relevant Knowledge ranks. The DC for this check follows the bardic knowledge check on PHB p. 29. This ability can be used only once per person, item, creature, place, or event.
Skill mastery: as PHB Rogue special ability. In lieu of Skill Mastery, the Expert may take Skill Focus or a Cross-class skill.
WARRIOR
as DMG except:
Skills: As Fighter, but add Intimidation, Listen, and Spot.
Weapon Focus: At 2nd level, the Warrior gets the Weapon Focus feat for free, provided she meets the prerequisites. In lieu of Weapon focus, she may choose Dodge, Quick Draw, or Improved Initiative.
Weapon Specialization: At 5th level, the Warrior gets the Weapon Specialization feat for free, provided she meets the BAB and Weapon Focus prerequisites.
Judge opponent: Years of experience in duels and battles give Warriors the ability to gauge the skill of their opponents. At 7th level, Warriors may make a special Sense Motive check to determine how powerful a combatant she faces. To do this, she makes a Sense Motive check and adds her Warrior levels plus her Intelligence or Wisdom bonus. Using this ability is considered a partial action. A result of 15 gives the BAB; 20 gives the opponent's most powerful combat ability; 25 reveals the opponent's hit points. The effects of the result are cumulative. So, if Wanda Warrior rolls a 23, she knows her opponent's BAB as well as his most powerful combat ability. Judge opponent can only be used once per opponent.
Bonus feat: At 10th, 14th, and 20th levels, Warriors get a bonus feat from the Fighter's list of bonus feats.
