Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darksamuari 01-08-05, 03:42 PM	I was reading the lis of npc's that your player's can hire to work for them and one that i saw was the Butler. So I started to think, how would you make a bulter. I mean, you could make an expert with skills and tuff but that is the cop out way to any non-adventuring class. So, how would you make a good Butler?
Skyrocket 01-08-05, 03:59 PM	If you want your butler to be Alfred to your Batman just hire a rogue.
Board_Rider 01-08-05, 06:07 PM	Or why put that much thought into a NPC butler?
runestar 01-08-05, 11:04 PM	Just give that Male human Rogue8/Ftr3/Clr3 ranks in profession(Butler). While you are at it, apply the shade template to him as well. :D
Furry Rodent 01-09-05, 12:32 AM	I would imagine he would be much like Ted the Enabler (If I recall his name correctly...). His job is be the most help possible to a group, so he should be as versatile as possible, and Ted is most certainly a versatile guy.
Kintara 01-09-05, 02:23 AM	It depends on how the butler is employed. Many butlers are also in charge of the rest of the servants in a household, and probably spend much of their time delegating responsibilities (when they're not getting you a vintage wine or frosty brew). But often, especially in movies and comics, you have the Lone Butler, who is basically an all-purpose manservant (and quite different from the Lone Chauffeur, who is also common, but generally stubbornly sticks to driving). They usually have unexplained talents that hint at them being ex-spies, assassins, or some other "useful" profession. If you're high enough level, it might be good to give him an ability to just "appear" out of nowhere in the blink of an eye, as soon as you call him. Perhaps he's secretly a Shadowdancer.
Tempest Stormwind 01-09-05, 02:45 AM	Here's the Enabler. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=175652) Add on a DM Granted NPC Ability: Materialize When Tiny Bell Rings, and you've got yourself a winner. Seriously, I look at the quintessential butler not as Alfred (since he's been around long enough in the comic book industry to have developed some psycho past), but rather as Willikins, from Terry Pratchett's Discworld. The man seems to have an uncanny memory and a network of secret passages about the house (despite the fact that the house has none). He also has that perpetual stare-down-the-nose-at-the-commoner feel, without actually being pompous. He's actually quite sociable, dealing frequently with the gardener, the Boy, and the ancient geyser* responsible for heating the house... not that he'd ever let anyone catch him playing cards or anything. In a min-max sense, he's probably a Generic Expert, with some twinking done to put Lesser Invocation: Flee the Scene on the list of bonus feats he can take. He's probably got enough Autohypnosis ranks to memorize the contents of a library (or at least the entire catalogue), and high Diplomacy ranks despite an abysmal Charisma score (oddities like that are a joy to roleplay, let me tell you. It also fits the archetypal lawyer -- a pain to deal with, but he'll have your head, and the head of the judge, spinning in thirty seconds if he opens his mouth). *who stokes the boiler
Ardras 01-09-05, 09:30 AM	Well Temepst, why hire a Wilkins if you can have a n Igor ? Well, surely they would be something along the line of a Telflammar Shadowlord with a hall of a Deathless Frenzy like Ability (they never really die, their Brain can overtake a new Body when the are implanted). I mean, a Igor keeps the house really nice with all the spiderwebs, dripping candles, and all the other nice Gimmicks every Advernturer's Castle should have. And, he is just so useful. Apearing always behind you, means that you can actually sit in the deepest Underdark far away from home and still get you 5 o'clock tea, Seriously, I'll go and have a look at the Gurps Discworld RPG and see if i can find the stats for an Igor, and will post a build later if I find something. But from a none Running-Gag, non Sidekick Perspective, why care about a butler ?
helicopter 01-09-05, 10:03 AM	i see a butler as a rogue or an expert. grab a few feats that allow him to use cantrips to help him with domestic chores. those cantrip feats are in complete arcane and players guide to fearun. prestidigitation would be mandatory!
Surreal 01-09-05, 10:59 AM	How about a butler like Kato? :D
darksamuari 01-09-05, 02:04 PM	To reply to Board Rider. This wouldn't be an NPC. I was thinking of playing a bulter. And being in the service of one of the other players, that is why I asked.
catharz 01-09-05, 02:15 PM	Someone unobtrusive, bound to the PC, able to materialize out of thin air, walk though walls, and tidy things up in the blink of an eye... How about a Ghost with my two favorite abilities, TK and malevolance? Give him some levels in a useful class (My vote goes to Artificer 5/MotUH 5, continuing Art), and you're set. Another good one would be an Int-based chameleon.
Board_Rider 01-09-05, 02:34 PM	To reply to darksamuri. Fine, but take notice that many here think that you meant a creation for something in an NPC mold. If you want a butler it could be anything as far as classes go. Make it Bard so he knows a ton of stuff, sings,dances and maybe even cooks.
The Thing in the Night 01-09-05, 07:32 PM	If you're planning on playing this character, I can suggest nothing better than the aforementioned Ted the enabler. However, this character can be rather boring in combat (I ready an action to counterspell...again!), so an arcane trickster/tefelmar shadowlord might be fun. Wash the dishes from across the campsite! Appear from nowhere! On a different note, what about playing a butler like the one from Tomb Raider? Simply replace the shotgun and kevlar for scorching ray and some decent armour.