for what its worth here are the changes that I propose to the AV PrC
Arcane Valet
"How may I be of service, sir?"
A good servant can improve the station of his employer. A truly exceptional person requires a level of service far beyond what any normal person could provide. It is these type of people who seek the service of an Arcane Valet. Most of the time it is an adventuring gentleman or lady who seeks such service. Since much of their time is spent in travel and dangerous pursuits, most servants would not be willing to serve such a master. The Arcane Valet learns to adapt to their master's needs, and anticipating them with uncanny accuracy.
Hit Die: d4
Requirements:
To qualify to become an Arcane Valet, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria:
Skills:
8 ranks Profession: Valet
5 ranks in two Craft, Profession, or Knowledge skills
Employed as a valet for at least one year
Class Skills:
Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Innuendo, Knowledge(all), Listen, Profession, Read Lips, Sense Motive, Speak Languages, Spellcraft
In addition, the Arcane Valet can choose two additional skills to be class skills based on the needs of his employer. These skills are chosen when a person enters the prestige class and can not be changed after that. Examples could include:
Ship's Officer: Swim, Use Rope
Cavalry Officer: Handle Animals, Ride
Merchant Trader: Handle Animals, Intimidate
Criminal Mastermind: Alchemy, Escape Artist
Explorer: Wilderness Lore, Handle Animal
Skill points at each level: 4 + Int modifier
Starting at level 1 the Arcane Valet gains the ability to cast the following cantrips. Mage Hand, Mending, Prestidigitation, Unseen ServantLight,
At 3rd level this spell list is inhanced to include Quick Sobor and Detect Thoughts
The Arcane Valet is assumed to be a spellcaster of a level equal to his Arcane Valet level for the purposes of determining all spell effects.
Level..BAB..Fort..Refl..Will..Spells per Day....Special
........1....+0.....+0....+0...+2...............+1 level.Aways Properly Dressed
..................................................................Spellcasting
........2....+1.....+0....+0...+3.................+1 level....Kitchen Gossip
.....................................................................Supernatural Skill
........3....+1.....+1....+1...+3.................+1 level.... 1st Innate cantrip
.........................................................................Bardic Knowledge
........4....+2.....+1....+1...+4.........+1 level....Anticipate Master's Needs,
........5....+2.....+1....+1...+4.................+1 level.... 2nd Innate Cantrip
........6....+3.....+2....+2...+5.................+1 level....
........7....+3.....+2....+2...+5.................+1 level...Let Me Adjust That for You, 3rd Innate Cantrip
........8....+4.....+2....+2...+6.................+1 level....
........9....+4.....+3....+3...+6.................+1 level....4th Innate Cantrip
.......10...+5.....+3....+3...+7.................+1 level....Social Invisibility
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency:
An Arcane Valet gains no additional proficiency in any weapons or armor.
Spells:
Starting at 1st level the Arcane Valet gains a limited ability to cast spells. These 0 level mage spell list cantrips help to make the Arcane Valet’s master a little more comfortable and the Arcane Valet’s job a little bit easier. At level 1 the valet picks 4 cantrips and gains a new one at the rate of 1 per 2 levels. The Arcane Valet can cast these spells once per day. At 3rd level, and every odd level thereafter one of these cantrips becomes an at will ability.
Always Properly Dressed (Su):
Regardless of weather, an Arcane Servant is always properly dressed if they are in their master's livery. They will not suffer any adverse effects from normal weather provided that they were the livery. It does not matter if it is woolen livery in the middle of the desert, or light Khakis in a blizzard, the Arcane Servant is able to ignore the environmental effects of normal weather.
Innate Cantrips (Sp):
You have cast some cantrips so many times to help you in your duties, it has become a natural part of you. This allows you to use certain cantrips (mainly Prestidigitation, Mending, maybe Mage Hand, Light, Detect Magic or others) as spell-like abilities at will.
Kitchen Gossip (Ex):
The Arcane Valet gains a +4 bonus to Gather Information checks from other servants. The valet is now part of the vast conspiracy of servants and can draw knowledge from it.
Supernatural Skill (Su):
You've learned how to integrate your arcane knowledge with your skill as a valet. You are now capable of using your skills as a valet to achieve extraordinary results. Any use of valet skill can achieve results just slightly beyond what would normally be allowed through mundane means. Examples:
1] Having your master's social calendar memorized, including the functions that you haven't been told about yet.
2] You have an eye and memory for detail, being able to rattle off the food preferences of your master and the people he associates or wants to associate with.
3] You can make any place feel a bit more comfortable for your master.
4] You are an expert at organizing parties and social events, taking care of the little details such as seating arrangements, food preferences, and making sure all the invitations get delivered properly.
Bardic Knowledge:
You never know when your employer may need to know that strange bit of trivia, so it is best to gather as much as possible. You never know when they may ask about such diverse topics as the proper form of address for the second cousin of the Pasha's sister, how long it takes a yellow-bellied sap sucker to fly across town, or what types of materials are favored by necromancers for their wands and staves. The Arcane Valet can make a Bardic Knowledge check (PHB 29) using his class level and Int Modifier. Levels in Arcane Valet stack with levels in any other class with the Bardic Knowledge class ability.
Anticipate Master's Needs (Su):
The supernatural ability to know when you will be needed, and sometimes know what items will be needed by your employer. "I thought you may be needing me/this..."
Let Me Adjust that for You (Ex):
Bonus to another's skill rolls, like Aid Another only the valet doesn't need to have the skill the person is using.
Social Invisibility (Ex):
No one pays any attention to a servant, especially in the company of their master.
The Arcane Valet can use their Profession: Valet skill to attempt to not be noticed by others. They make an opposed roll between their Profession: Valet skill and the opponents Spot skill. If they succeed, the other person ignored them.
Unless in the company of their master, attempting to go somewhere that servants are not normally allowed would incur a penalty to the Profession: Valet skill. Attempting to get into someplace where no one of their race is allowed would incur an additional penalty.
Acting in a manner unbecoming a servant (attacking someone with a sword, casting a Lighting Bolt at someone) will negate this ability.
The requirements have been lightened and the spellcasting abilities reduced. also the bonus feat has been removed. I still feel that the class is a bit front loaded but to change it further I feel would do more harm then it would good. I tried to maintain the flavor of the class while making it more accessable to NPC's. use it or don't thats my 2 cents worth.