PrC - Crime Lord - Comments Please

[Phlebas]

The campaign is set mainly within the walls of a large city ("Thousand Candles") so it wouldn't be a retirement option for the character and would allow him to use his cohorts and followers on a regular basis. Admittedly thats a campaign specific scenario, but this is a PrC not a base class.

ArconBlue has already said he's not sure about the crime lord, and may go down an Arcane Sneak path (Currently he's a rogue / spell caster) but likes the role-playing opportunities in the crime lord set up. All i'd like to do is offer just enough to tempt a PC into this PrC

 

[Phlebas]

Revision 2

OK, I need to detail this out fully later when i'm at home and have access to books and time (and a cold beer ), but going back to first principles the Crime Lord's main characteristics should be Leadership (inspiration, loyalty etc) and Reputation (intimidation)

so if we reduce the PrC to a class without spells then he should gain one ability every even level that improves his Leadership feat in some way (more people, more cohorts, more loyalty, followers gain bonuses to skills,. no penalty for deaths of followers etc.)

and every odd level should then improve his reputation and aura. (the ability to intimidate increases, the effect of intimidate increases, inspire fear / courage in others (as per Bard ???))

since these are all (mainly) soft skills we'll throw in some roguish combat abilities to the mix : sneak attack (but less than a rogue), uncanny dodge, improved reactions) and allow bonus feats as per the list above as well. we'll also improve the bonus feat list to include some tactical feats so the PrC can effect combat without necessarily becoming involved in a sluggin' match. how many feats will depend on the other abilities i suppose

connected will just automatically improve with level in PrC since its mainly a flavour thing

capstone ability for final level I'm struggling on though - maybe a fear aura that effects anything of less HD then the crimelord - but only provided they can recognise the crime lord..

that seems a lot of abilites, but it remains poor HD and BAB progression and even with more skill points its only the abilities that make the PrC

any more suggestions appreciated - but version 2 on its way...

 

[szilard]

Some suggestions:

More skill points. 6/level would be about right.

Sneak attack progression, probably +1d6/3 levels.

Spells seem unneeded.

Get rid of Improved Uncanny Dodge. Most people will have Uncanny Dodge going into the class.

What about an ability to gain +1 to an Intimidate roll for every follower within 30'? Actually, making this an Aura based class (like the Marshall) might not be bad. You could have:
- Aura of Fear: bonus to Intimidation
- Aura of Stealth: bonus to Hide/Move Silently
- Aura of Silent Death: bonus to Sneak Attacks
- Aura of Quick Fingers: bonus to Sleight of Hand
- Aura of Nimble Tongues: bonus to Bluff
...and things like that.

-Stuart

 

[Phlebas]

Just posted revison 2 as an edit above - but now thinking about Aura's thanks to Slizard -