It, IMO, is pretty sweet and I hope you all can fund use for it in your games.
Again - me crave feedback :D
Lion’s Guard
“I serve King Hamanu, and as such I fear only failure and his wrath.”
-Vor Mountain-crusher, Captain of the Lion’s Guard
Utterly loyal and fearless, the personal guard of King Hamanu is made up exclusively of half-giants and they are one of the most elite and dangerous fighting forces on the Tablelands. Each member is hand selected and the harsh training regiment insures that only the best survive to serve within the ranks of the Lion’s Guard.
Members of the Lion’s Guard are not only the best that their race has to offer in the way of physical power, but the need for them to be effective guards requires that they have a keen mind as well. So only the best and, relatively speaking, the brightest of the half-giants are chosen to enter this class.
The duties of the guard include maintaining the person security of King Hamanu, guarding the grounds of Destiny’s Kingdom, the King’s palace, and serving as elite heavy shock-troops in the King’s army. They are sometimes tasked with the protection of high ranking templars, but this is a very rare occurrence and members of the King’s personal guard cannot be requisitioned by the templars without the Hamanu’s personal approval. These elite warriors answer only to the King, the High Templar of the Lion’s Guard, and the Captain of the Lion’s Guard.
Due to the martial requirements of their duties, members of the Lion’s Guard come almost exclusively from those of the fighter class, but some gladiators and psychic warriors are selected from time to time to become for entry into this class. Barbarians, while excellent warriors, find that their unpredictable nature is in constant conflict with the order and discipline within this unit and as such they are rarely selected to join.
Hit Die: d12
Requirements
To qualify to become a member of the Lion’s Guard, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Half-giant
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Alertness, Disciplined
Special: Must be accepted into the Lion’s Guard by King Hamanu, the High Templar of the Lion’s Guard, or the Captain of the Lion’s Guard.
Special: Cannot have Intelligence with negative ability modifier.
Special: Must be able to lift a heavy load weighing 1,600 lbs.
Special: Must be able to lift a heavy load weighing 1,600 lbs.
it might be better to have this spelled out in a way that gives a strenght number or modifier
it might be better to have this spelled out in a way that gives a strenght number or modifier
I was told that having actual attribute numbers is a no-no - but that this was was okay - don't ask me why, but that was what I was told.
I was told that having actual attribute numbers is a no-no - but that this was was okay - don't ask me why, but that was what I was told.
Who told you!!!! I want names!!!!
Who told you!!!! I want names!!!!
I do not recall - or I just will not say - but I think it is a poor rule if it is one. Feats require certian ability score and I think it is silly to say that PrCs cannot have the same requirement.
It is open for change though.
With this lifting weight limit prereq does it mean the would be Lion's Guard must always be able to lift that amount of weight or only at the time entering the PrC? Reason I ask is that items, spells, or powers could enable a character to lift that amount of weight. What happens in the case of an aging character that takes reductions to his Strength score or suffers ability drain?
Possible stupid question.
With this lifting weight limit prereq does it mean the would be Lion's Guard must always be able to lift that amount of weight or only at the time entering the PrC? Reason I ask is that items, spells, or powers could enable a character to lift that amount of weight. What happens in the case of an aging character that takes reductions to his Strength score or suffers ability drain?
I think it would be just like any other situation that caused the character to lose a requirement to a PrC - like one that required a BAB or +5 and a character dying or losing a level - that character would not be able to use the class features of the PrC nor would they be able to advance within the class. Or if some one became good when their Prc required an evil alignment - they would become an ex-member fo that class I believe.
The lifting thing is the minumum that they have to be able to lift to be in the class.
Does that answer your question?
I think it would be just like any other situation that caused the character to lose a requirement to a PrC - like one that required a BAB or +5 and a character dying or losing a level - that character would not be able to use the class features of the PrC nor would they be able to advance within the class. Or if some one became good when their Prc required an evil alignment - they would become an ex-member fo that class I believe.
The lifting thing is the minumum that they have to be able to lift to be in the class.
Does that answer your question?
For the most part. One more question though. As unlikely as this would be, what if 1,600 lbs. isn't considered a "heavy" load for a character entering the PrC?
*yoink*
*Members of the Lion’s Guard use their Strength modifier for Intimidate checks.
Unless you saw a similar note to the skills section, somewhere in a WotC PrC, I suggest you make this a class ability.
The rest is nice!
Unless you saw a similar note to the skills section, somewhere in a WotC PrC, I suggest you make this a class ability.
I suggest waiting for r7 ;)
You should consider it
Keep up with the good work for the making of a better Athas.
Great job on the Yellow Robe!! and the Templar class in general hehehe really
Thanks
I appreciate your interest in this class though, and even if it is never "official", please feel free to use it in your game. I have used it in my campaign to devastating effect against PCs, who now fear even to step foot into Urik :D
As for your suggestion about a bonus feat at 3rd level, thanks, but I am sure you will notice that the ability named Hamanu's Might grants the Lion's Guard the bonus feat Awesome Blow - which is most "awesome" when used in conjunction with a charge and the Power Attack feat
Also - do not fear, because I am still creating things for Athas and post them here on the message board for people to comment on and use, so there may be some additional awesomeness coming sometime soon - though completing my book has to come first if I want to get it finished before August. I have four other PrCs and the Cerulean Advent PrC and spell/transformation arc (this is another advanced being using the Tyr storm as a focus) in different stages of completeness and I think people will drool over!
Harm’s Way: Once per round, if you are adjacent to an ally who is targeted by a direct melee or ranged attack (but not an area effect), you can subject yourself to the attack in the ally’s stead. If the attack hits you, you take damage normally. If it misses, it also misses the ally.
You must declare your intention to place yourself in harm’s way before the attack roll is made. You select your ally either prior to combat or immediately after you make your initiative check. You can’t change your ally for the duration of the combat.
You can’t change your for the duration of the combat.
Can't change your what?
I think this ability from d20 Modern is much more in line with the prc...
Harm’s Way: Once per round, if you are adjacent to an ally who is targeted by a direct melee or ranged attack (but not an area effect), you can subject yourself to the attack in the ally’s stead. If the attack hits you, you take damage normally. If it misses, it also misses the ally.
You must declare your intention to place yourself in harm’s way before the attack roll is made. You select your ally either prior to combat or immediately after you make your initiative check. You can’t change your for the duration of the combat.
Actually - I think this would have been a better ability for the Crimson Legionnaire and/or Pennarin's Matched-Pair gladiator PrC that I do not think the general public has seen.
Is there a way to give them pounce? It would fit the theme and let them do devastating charges.
I disagree that pounce fits that well with this class, but people are free to change the material for their own games as they see fit. IMO, adding another feature to the class would be slightly unbalancing when they will already be getting a bonus feat at 3rd level as well as up to a +2 morale bonus on AC, attacks, and saves at 5th level. Sure, if this were a 10 level PrC, I could see adding some additional features like Powerful Charge, but pounce does not really jive in my head when I think of this class.
Plus, I do not really recall seeing pounce as a feat or anything, and it is a feature that I really only recall being on four legged creatures with a rake attack (ie back claws), so I do not see why it would be a good feature for a bipedal, 12-foot tall(ish) half-gaint.
Can't change your what?
Ally. I edited my post.
Actually - I think this would have been a better ability for the Crimson Legionnaire and/or Pennarin's Matched-Pair gladiator PrC that I do not think the general public has seen.
I'm sorry, I thought "the personal guard of King Hamanu" would have an ability that help them, you know, guard Hamanu.
I'm sorry, I thought "the personal guard of King Hamanu" would have an ability that help them, you know, guard Hamanu.
In principle, maybe, but I recall the half-giants from PP2 being quite proactive in their "defending".
Maybe a mix of defending and attacking could work. Anyway, the defending ability can be used to support another half-giant guard, making the duo quite deadly. That's to be considered as well.
I'm sorry, I thought "the personal guard of King Hamanu" would have an ability that help them, you know, guard Hamanu.
[sarcasm] Hmm, your right, they do need abilities that aid them in guarding the King - but wait a second and hold the phone! Is that not what Expanded Awareness (up to +4 on some "guard duty type" skill checks), Fearless (basically immunity to fear and such as implied by the abilities name), and Blessing of the Lion (up to a +2 morale bonus on AC, attacks, and saves) all do - give these guys an edge in performing their duties? Maybe I was wrong and these abilities don't, but golly, it sure seems like they do. [/sarcasm]
:D
On another note, I do have (somewhere in a pile of notes - I lost some stuff a while ago when my computer went belly-up) a Heavy Armor Specialist that the Harm's Way ability would be great for - kind of a bodyguard/armored "tank" to shelter nonmelee allies or to hold the line of combat in a clash of armies.