The Charismatic General

[Rahkan]

This is an attempt to make a pretty fair game translation of an awesome stereotype used many a time in many a game (mainly because its such an awesome stereotype). Its the Charismatic General, who inspires undying loyalty in his legion of followers. Please visit the link and tell me what you think

The Charismatic General

 

[CCamfield]

I like the idea, but your prestige class goes a bit over the top (to me) with the Undying Devotion ability. Even Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great had to make sure their troops' morale was good.

Other than that... Power Attack and Cleave? What about some actual skill related to strategy and tactics?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Maybe the PrC could grant an immunity or bonus save vs. fear to all friendlies within 60' or something like that?

 

[Rahkan]

Smiting

The power attack, cleave, and great cleave abilities were just so that he could get in there and kill a few dozen enemy soldiers before he has the climactic one-on-one duel with the enemy commander in which he (hopefully) cuts off the commander's arms and beats him to death with them.

The undying devotion ability only works on followers and cohorts, who only number 1000 or so (even with this PrC), it does not encompass all of his troops and thus he probably could not make an entire army out of them, a pretty fair mercenary troop, but not an army.

I didn't include any save vs. fear or any specific bonuses to strategy or tactics, save very general ones to attacks and all saves, since I'm not sure what system of mass combat will be used by those that take the class.

 

[clark411]

This is a really nifty idea! The only things I'm questioning is "Cannon Fodder" and "Slavish Obedience," and I question these more for the flavor of the class than anything else. It seems like this class slowly circumvents the consequences of leadership while bolstering all of the benefits. I can see a charismatic leader getting lots of support, but I don't see one considering them Fodder. I see a charismatic general getting bonuses to keeping men in times of failure, but I don't see him gaining the ability to willy-nilly-ly toss away they're lives, act like a ponce about it, and be cruel while keeping they're undying devotion. Even if it's only a thousand cohorts and followers you have, it still seems off to assume they'd stick around through thick and thin no matter what.