Dragon Protector Prestige Class - Saltwave RPG Campaign

Dragon Protector Prestige Class

Elite Vassals and Agents of the Great Dragons

Dragons are huge, powerful, smart, and deadly creatures. They can take down entire towns and hundreds of trained troops in a single attack. In truth, the only things that can really challenge a dragon are other dragons, powerful outsiders, and… adventurers.

Dragons that involve themselves in human affairs make enemies. Most of those enemies have the resources to hire, sponsor, or order adventurers to harass or slay the dragon. Given that dragons universally value their lives and their privacy, what then are they to do? They sponsor their own adventurers, of course!

Dragon protectors are elite fighters trained to protect the property, privacy, and safety of their dragon masters. Some are recruited from the ranks of experienced warriors who demonstrate exceptional skill and loyalty to their employers. Most, however, are raised within the lands and courts of their dragon patrons and are accepted into the dragons' service upon showing great potential. After serving in less important roles, the best are promoted to become the bodyguards and secret service of the dragon masters.

A dragon protector is an elite character devoted to the service of a particular dragon. In exchange for this loyal service, the dragon provides exceptional resources and training. Dragon protectors make sure of the security of dragon's homes, undertake special missions to acquire things the dragons desire, and serve as messengers, heralds, and diplomats to other dragons and demihuman rulers.

Requirements

Base Attack bonus: +5
Language: Draconic
Knowledge (War) Ranks: 8
Feats: Dodge, Expertise, Power Attack, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization
Special: The character must be accepted by the dragon he will serve in a personal meeting and must also accept an open-ended geas of loyalty.

Skills

Class skills: Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (war) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).

Skill Points: 4 + Int bonus / level

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragon protectors have proficiency with simple and martial weapons, light, medium, and heavy armor, and shields. If the dragon protector's master prefers its servants to master a special weapon, then the character may gain proficiency with one exotic weapon as a free bonus feat.

Resource Bonus: All dragon protectors are supported by their patrons. This takes the form of extraordinary resources for gear. NPC dragon protectors are equipped as PCs, using the Character Wealth by Level table on page 145 of the DMG. PC dragon protectors receive gifts (or loans) of magic from their patrons that gives them an effective two level bonus of wealth. For example, an 8th level PC dragon protector has the wealth (usually in gear) that a 10th level PC would ordinarily possess.

Aura of Courage: The dragon protector is immune to fear (magical and otherwise). Allies within 10 feet of the character gain a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects. This ability is the same as the paladin's Aura of Courage ability.

Bonus Feat: The dragon protector gains a bonus feat from the list available to fighters, plus any additional combat-specific feats allowed by the referee.

Keen Senses (Ex): At 3rd level, the character's security training and association with the dragon have paid off to hone the character's keen senses. This gives the character a competence bonus of +2 on listen, search, sense motive, and spot checks. This bonus increases to +3 at 5th level, +4 at 7th level, and +5 at 9th level.

Dragon Protector (Hit Die: d10)
Level	Attack Bonus	Fort. Save	Ref. Save	Will Save	Special
1	+1	+2	+0	+2	Enhanced Resources, Aura of Courage
2	+2	+3	+0	+3	Bonus Feat
3	+3	+3	+1	+3	Keen Senses +2
4	+4	+4	+1	+4	Bonus Feat
5	+5	+4	+1	+4	Keen Senses +3
6	+6	+5	+2	+5	Bonus Feat
7	+7	+5	+2	+5	Keen Senses +4
8	+8	+6	+2	+6	Bonus Feat
9	+9	+6	+3	+6	Keen Senses +5
10	+10	+7	+3	+7	Bonus Feat

Dragon protectors often favor lighter armor that allows them freedom of movement. They prefer to work together to attack and slay intruders, sacrificing defense for offense. After all, if someone is able to penetrate the outer defenses of a dragon's lair, heavy armor isn't likely to protect the dragon's guards. In such a situation, the dragon protectors seek to do as much damage as possible with abilities like spring attack, power attack, whirlwind attack, cleave, and expert tactician. They also fight wisely, using flanking abilities, tumbling, disarms, trips, entanglement attacks, and constricted terrain to fix their enemies in place until more help (often the dragon itself) can arrive.

Dragon protectors use Knowledge (war) to plan tactics, strategy, and security methods. They use Sense Motive to assess the fighting ability of their opponents and to defeat intruders' attempts to bluff their way into the dragon's presence. They use Diplomacy to understand the etiquette of dealing with the dragon and its allies and enemies, and to persuade others to comply with the dragon's wishes. When diplomacy fails, they use Intimidate to get information and enforce the will of their patrons.

Requirements

Skills

Class Features

Dragon Protector (Hit Die: d10)