Noble Warrior (3.5e Class)

(Mathias Cronqvist, from Castlevania Lament of Innocence, this is not mine, it is Konami's character, and depiction. It's purely for aesthetics!)

Noble Warrior

A Noble Warrior encompasses a suave, charismatic character who doesn't slack for combat either.

Making a Noble Warrior

Abilities: Charisma, and Strength are the most important abilities to a Noble Warrior, while Dexterity and Intelligence are often second-hand abilities they can rely on.

Races: Any race with an established hierarchy, nobility, or royalty may have a successful group of Noble Warriors. Mostly Humans tend to become Noble Warriors, however.

Alignment: Any Lawful.

Starting Gold: As Bard.

Starting Age: Moderate.

Table: The Noble Warrior

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	Nobility's Mantle, Empathy * / Demoralize **, Suffer Not The Fallen, Noble Aura: Heirloom Sword
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+3	Evasion
4th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Smite Good * / Evil ** 1/Day, Noble Aura: Coat of Arms
5th	+3	+1	+4	+4
6th	+4	+2	+5	+5	Mantle of Royalties Past
7th	+5	+2	+5	+5
8th	+6/+1	+2	+6	+6	Smite 2/day, Royal Aura: Archmage's Gift
9th	+6/+1	+3	+6	+6
10th	+7/+2	+3	+7	+7	Noble Strength * / Tyrannical Power **
11th	+8/+3	+3	+7	+7	Improved Evasion
12th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+8	Smite 3/day, Royal Aura: Cold / Fire
13th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+8
14th	+10/+5	+4	+9	+9	Hope is Not Lost * / Despair of the Many **
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+9	+9
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10	Smite 4/day, Ruler's Aura: King * / Tyrant **"
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+11	+11	Smite 5/day
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+11	+11
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+12	+12	Royal Smite, Ruler's Aura: Magical Barrier
Class Skills (8 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge, All taken seperately (Int), Listen (Wis), Perform (Oratory) (Cha), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).

Class Features

Nobles are typically either charismatic, or feared. As such, they are often gifted, and charismatic individuals who are capable of higher learning due to a more extensive amount of gold or influence. All of the following are class features of the Noble Warrior.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Noble Warriors gain Simple, Martial, and two Exotic Weapons of their choice in proficiencies. Noble Warriors have no proficiency in armor, or shields, and use of either interferes with their abilities and movement.

Nobility's Mantle: The Noble Warrior adds his/her Charisma bonus (if any) to his/her AC. In addition, a Noble Warrior gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five Noble Warrior levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the Noble Warrior is flat-footed. He/She loses these bonuses when he/she is immobilized or helpless, when he/she wears any armor, when he/she carries a shield, or when he/she carries a medium or heavy load.

Noble Aura: Heirloom Sword (Su): Noble Warriors gain an Aura spell at 1st, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th levels. They may activate an aura as a standard action, and it lasts until they are knocked unconscious, or they enter an area where magic is rendered ineffective. Auras do not work in Nullify Magic zones, and only may be function as one at a time, activating another aura cancels your previous one. Auras apply to the Noble Warrior emanating them as well. Noble Aura: Heirloom sword gives a +2 bonus to Attack rolls to all allies within 20 feet of the Noble Warrior. This bonus is raised by +1 at 10th, 15th, and 20th level each.

Empathy / Demoralize (Ex): Noble Warriors gain the Empathy (If Good-aligned), or Demoralize (If Evil-aligned) powers as if a Psion of his/her Noble Warrior level. These abilities can only be used once per day, and require a full-night's rest to be regained. These powers do not give the Noble Warrior the Psion Sub-type, as they are powers recreated through their own intelligence and charisma. You can not augment these spells, the Save DC is 10 + CHA modifier + 1/2 Noble Warrior's level (Minimum of 1, maximum of 15.)

Suffer Not The Fallen (Ex): Allies of the Noble Warrior who die within at least 100 feet (20 squares) of the Noble Warrior gain the effects of a "Gentle Repose" spell of the Noble Warrior's level in Cleric Levels. This spell also applies for the Noble Warrior herself.

Evasion: Noble Warriors gain Evasion at 3rd level, and Improved Evasion at 11th level.

Noble Aura: Coat of Arms (Su): Coat of Arms gives allies within 20 feet a +2 to AC, this bonus to AC does not apply to Touch, or Flat-Footed and functions as a miscellaneous modifier. This bonus increases at 10th, 15th, and 20th levels by +1 each.

Smite Good / Evil (Ex): A Noble Warrior of 4th level and higher may use Smite as a Paladin of their Noble Warrior level, the Smite alignment is based in opposition to his/her own. A Good-aligned Noble Warrior may Smite Evil, while an Evil-aligned Noble Warrior may Smite Good. A neutral Noble Warrior may pick between Smite Good, or Smite Evil, but it affects later choices.

Mantle of Royalties Past (Ex): A Noble Warrior of 6th level gains either the Leadership feat, a Familiar, Animal Companion, or an Undead Companion (Of Skeleton, Zombie, Ghost, or Shadow type). The Noble Warrior treats his/her Noble Warrior levels as equal levels in the case of Familiars, Animal Companions, Cohorts, or Undead companions. This grants the Noble Warrior the companion or cohort as if he/she qualified for any Sorceror, Wizard, Ranger, or Druid level requirements. He/she picks from the Familiar, or Animal Companion lists as if he/she were a Sorceror, Wizard, Ranger, or Druid of his/her level. If the character already has the Leadership feat, a Familiar, Animal Companion, or Undead companion, the Noble Warrior ability raises their effective level by one in regards to the companion. (Example: To have a Ghost as a companion, the companion must be 3 levels below the Noble Warrior's level.)

Royal Aura: Archmage's Gift (Su): Allies within 20 feet of the Noble Warrior gain Spell Penetration, and if allies already have Spell Penetration, they gain an additional +2.

Noble Strength / Tyrannical Power (Ex): Noble Warriors at 10th level gain Holy Strike (If Good-aligned), or Unholy Strike (If Evil-aligned). Neutral Noble Warriors choose the same side they chose for their Smite alignment.

Royal Aura: Fire / Cold (Su): A Noble Warrior makes a choice between Fire, or Cold damage at 12th level. When they choose this, they may only use this aura, not the other. Their choice grants them immunity to either Fire, and fire-based damage, or Cold, and cold-based damage for all allies within 20 feet.

Hope Is Not Lost / Despair of the Enemy (Su): Noble Warriors of 14th Level gain the Ressurection spell as a daily use Ability if they are good-aligned, or the Power Word Kill spell if they are evil aligned. These spells function as they would for an appropriate level spell caster. No material components, or costs are exhumed by the Noble Warrior, but they are exhausted for the next 1d6 hours, a full night's rest is required to recharge this ability. This ability -is- subject to a full day's worth of cool-down before you may use it again, whether you commit to a full night's worth of rest or not.

Ruler's Aura: King * / Tyrant ** (Su): A good-aligned Noble Warrior gains the King aura, while the evil-aligned Noble Warrior gains the Tyrant aura. Neutral Noble Warriors choose the same as their Smite alignment for this ability. The King Aura gives all allies within 20 feet DR10/Evil, while the Tyrant aura gives DR10/Good.

Royal Smite (Ex): Noble Warriors at 20th level who use their Smite ability successfully add their Charisma Modifier in damage a second time.

Ruler's Aura: Magical Barrier (Su): All allies within 20 feet of the Noble Warrior gain a +5 to saves VS. Magical effects.

Ex-Noble Warriors

A Noble Warrior who ceases to be Lawful no longer benefits from the bonuses of the Noble Warrior class, though they still benefit from the weapon proficiencies of the class.

Epic Noble Warrior

Table: The Epic Noble Warrior

Hit Die: d8

Level	Special
21st
22nd
23rd	Bonus Feat
24th	Smite 6/Day
25th
26th	Bonus Feat
27th
28th	Smite 7/Day
29th	Bonus Feat
30th	Smite 8/Day, Bonus Feat
8 + Int modifier skill points per level.

Bonus Feats: The epic Noble gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic feats) at levels after 20th.

Epic Noble Warrior Bonus Feat List: Noble Warriors may pick from the Epic Feats list only for their Epic level feats.

Human Noble Warrior Starting Package

Weapons: Rapier, Hand Axe

Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 8 + Int modifier.

Skill	Ranks	Ability	Armor Check Penalty
Appraise	4	Cha	—
Bluff	4	Cha	—
Craft	4	Int	—
Diplomacy	4	Cha	—
Forgery	4	Int	—
Intimidate	4	Cha	—
Decipher Script	4	Int	—
Perform (Oratory)	4	Cha	—

Feat: Improved Intiative.

Bonus Feats: Two Weapon Fighting

Gear: Noble's Garb, Silk Rope 50ft, Bedroll, Tent, Flint and Tinder, Signet Ring

Gold: 63GP

Campaign Information

Playing a Noble Warrior

Religion: Noble Warriors of Good, Neutral, or Evil alignments are typically prone to fond worship of gods who bless their followers with wealth, or good luck.

Other Classes: The Noble Warrior finds itself a target of some ridicule until they prove their worth in battle to Fighters, Paladins, and Clerics. They can typically get along somewhat with Rogues, Rangers, Wizards, and Sorcerers. They rarely, if ever, get along well with Druids, thanks to their differing opinions on the world around them.

Combat: Noble Warriors are melee combatants, though they can take very little punishment before being forced to retreat. As such, they are best at hit and run tactics, and using their charisma, and intelligence to outwit opponents.

Advancement: Noble Warriors can advance easily into most skill-based melee classes. Multi-classing into a spell-caster class gives them the ability to do a more permanent stream of damage to their enemies when they are forced to move back from the threat of their foes.

Noble Warriors in the World

“	"I hide behind no Guard! Taste steel, and let me drink of your deathly cries!"	”
—Murcielgo Alfulorz, Half-Elf Noble Warrior to a trespassing Assassin.

Noble Warriors are a more charisma-based Rogue, granting the party a face character with whom they can venture without losing too much in the combat area.

Daily Life: Noble Warriors as a group tend to be lush, or dramatic. They have a flair for overdoing things, and indulging far more than is healthy. As such, they spend much of their day absorbed in their own personal pleasures, whether good or evil.

Notables: Anell Raestri, Human Noble Warrior, Queen of the coastal "Queendom" of Cairuoni, a well-known pirate, though she is told to be a fair and just leader.

Organizations: Noble Warriors tend to comprise Royal Courts, and Nobilities all over the worlds they inhabit. As such, they are quite common to gather together.

NPC Reactions: Noble Warriors tend to receive a great berth of respect, and sometimes admiration. As such, most Noble Warriors take special care to invest in Sense Motive as a skill, as most of a population will act the same way towards them, no matter their true thoughts.

Noble Warrior Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) can research Noble Warriors to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty)

DC	Result
5	Noble Warriors are Royalty, or Nobility who have chosen the life of a skillful fighter.
10	Noble Warriors who adventure often show the ability to smite an enemy, through their own personal powers and beliefs.
15	Noble Warriors have the uncanny ability to manifest their own form of will to make someone come back to life, or die, as if their own charismatic ways could seduce the body to breathe, or never again do so.
20	Noble Warriors can Smite an enemy in a more effective attack than Clerics, or Paladins, which brings them forms of great enmity between them and the spoken classes.

Noble Warriors in the Game

Noble Warriors are a more charisma-oriented version of a Rogue class, while not giving into Sneak Attacks, or off-hand methods of greed or glory gaining. As such, they make a great face character for any group of players, or an excellent NPC.

Adaptation: Any type of nobility, or royalty can adapt well to the Noble Warrior class.

Sample Encounter

EL 12: To Come Soon

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