The Noble

[rabindranath72]

Here is a class I devised for a Dragonlance campaign. It has been used in play a few times, and it seems to work well. Enjoy!
Noble (Charisma)

With its many kingdoms and empires, Krynn has its fair share of nobles, which come in different forms and names in the different cultures and races. So we find kings and khans among men, thanes among dwarves, emperors among minotaurs and speakers among elves (to name just a few examples).

Despite the different names, nobles in all different cultures share more or less the same fundamental characteristics, born from the privilege of title.
ABILITIES

NOBLE LORE (Charisma): This ability deals with the knowledge of bloodlines, noble families, laws, customs, local legends, traditions, coats of arms, noble titles, etiquette etc.

PRESTIGE: A noble is a recognized figurehead, known to the people of his homeland. Prestige allows the noble to invoke certain legal rights and to gain advantages that non-nobles cannot have, such as:

- discounts on arms;

- ability to retain the assistance of powerful individuals who would otherwise be disinclined, including that of demanding shelter from both nobles and temples, and calling in favours when dealing with people or organizations;

- right to bear arms;

- right to have armed and liveried retainers;

- right to attend the Kings court;

- right of trial by his peers.

Along with these benefits, however, comes the responsibility to uphold them. The character is expected to uphold the nobility of the land and support the King (or Queen, Khan, Prince, Duke as may be appropriate). As such he is expected to behave in a manner befitting his station, to remain free of the suspicion of treason and to appear, in all ways, to be a peer of the realm. Should the character fail to uphold his status then at the best he will become a social outcast, at the worst he will be executed for treason.

Prestige does not function in lands outside the noble's homeland, unless the title granted is something of worldwide importance such as a king or emperor, and even then, it may (10-30% depending on attitude toward the noble's territory) be ignored.

EMBOLDEN: At 3rd level as a knight (C&C PH p.26).

EXALT (Charisma): As a bard of the same level (C&C PH p.29).

WEALTH: The noble starts with amazing wealth for a first level character. In addition to his normal starting money and equipment, the noble receives 150 gp + 150 gp for every point of Charisma modifier he possesses, if positive. Some or all of this initial bonus money can be added to the nobles starting equipment budget if desired. This money is a stipend from the nobles family and is provided to ensure the noble does not drag the familys name into the mud by appearing unkempt. Each year, the noble receives another allowance of the same amount. If he publicly squanders this money, however, he will receive no more.

PRIME ATTRIBUTE: Charisma

HIT DICE: d8

ALIGNMENT: any

WEAPONS ALLOWED: as bard

ARMOR ALLOWED: as ranger

ABILITIES: noble lore, prestige, embolden, exalt, wealth.

STARTING GOLD: 6d10 x 10 gp

Level HD BtH EPP

1 d8 0 0

2 d8 +1 1,501

3 d8 +1 3,401

4 d8 +2 6,801

5 d8 +2 14,001

6 d8 +3 28,001

7 d8 +3 56,001

8 d8 +4 110,001

9 d8 +4 220,001

10 d8 +5 440,001

11 +3 HP +5 690,001

12 +3 HP +6 840,001

13+ 150,000 per level

[CharlieRock]

I pretty much just used the Knight class to fill the 'nobles' role. Have you seen the multi-class article in Crusader (noticed your almost basically mixing bard with knight)? ...(goes off in search of back issues)...
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[serleran]

Not sure they really get that much to make me want to play one. No retainers (though they could probably buy them), no heirlooms (maybe they just use their money for whatever equipment they want), and the "noble lore" thing strikes me as something I'd never see in play, but my style is very different.

Interesting anyway. If I were to use it, it would only be a foundation for NPCs, and not a strict set-up.

[rabindranath72]

CharlieRock wrote:
I pretty much just used the Knight class to fill the 'nobles' role. Have you seen the multi-class article in Crusader (noticed your almost basically mixing bard with knight)? ...(goes off in search of back issues)...

Yes, I have it. I did not want to come with the huge XP requirements of a full multi/dual class. Nor I wanted the noble to necessarily be so battle-savvy. So....here is the noble

[rabindranath72]

serleran wrote:
Not sure they really get that much to make me want to play one. No retainers (though they could probably buy them), no heirlooms (maybe they just use their money for whatever equipment they want), and the "noble lore" thing strikes me as something I'd never see in play, but my style is very different.

Interesting anyway. If I were to use it, it would only be a foundation for NPCs, and not a strict set-up.

Actually they get vast landolds, in analogy to your writeup in M&T . But that is strictly the province of the CK.

For retainers, I am using the AD&D rules, and they get them from 1st level. But this, too, I consider the CK's province.

PS. the above is all encompassed in the Prestige ability.

[Treebore]

Definitely workable.
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[Turanil]

I am really not convinced by this class. First it appears underpowered, then I would rather use the Knight class to portray nobles (at least in traditional medieval settings). Also, why a noble wouldn't be a cleric (in the middle-age important ecclesiastics were often of noble origin) or a wizard, or any class that is, rather than a specific Noble class? I would rather use the various Noble kits from the 2e complete classes handbooks...
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[rabindranath72]

Turanil wrote:
I am really not convinced by this class. First it appears underpowered, then I would rather use the Knight class to portray nobles (at least in traditional medieval settings). Also, why a noble wouldn't be a cleric (in the middle-age important ecclesiastics were often of noble origin) or a wizard, or any class that is, rather than a specific Noble class? I would rather use the various Noble kits from the 2e complete classes handbooks...

Well, most of your points are rather setting-specific (traditional medieval settings, middle-age ecclesiastics). I agree that "noble" is more a role than a class, but my wife wanted to play this specific kind of character, after playing the same in a 3.x Dragonlance game (which has the Noble as a class with more or less the same characteristics). So I obliged
I am still revising it, taking bits and pieces from other sources. As soon as I have the time, I will post it.

Cheers,

Antonio

[Witterquick]

We've used the bard, practically as-is, to stand in for a dilletante noble. The bard can comprehend languages, has a vast amount of knowledge (reflecting an unusual education), moderate combat abilities and the capacity for public speaking (instead of performance).

Money, land resources, etc. are the stuff of NPC's or experience. Ya gotta keep the PC's hungry if you want them to go down dark holes with nothing but a baseball bat and a candle, ya know.
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[Moorcrys]

I think it's totally fine. Not all nobles were knights, not all nobles were clerics... it's fine with me if someone would like to play a noble character 'from birth' and wants some tangible benefit from doing so. I might try and come up with a more 'specific' class name so that (if you are intending) other classes can be granted title or have title without having to dual or multiclass into 'noble', but I can't think of one myself so... meh.

I do think that if you're going to limit its armor and weapons to ranger and bard respectively, you should give the class the 'to hit' bonus that those two classes have. I know you're not interested in them being combat powerhouses, but they won't be, and I think with their current 'to hit' progression they do fall on the underpowered side. Their hit points, limited armor, and limited weapons will prevent them from being front-line fighter-types. Even without getting campaign specific or style-specific, in any world where there are real demons, devils, monsters, etc. I would imagine that anyone with the means would at least devote time to learn how to fight with 'proper' weapons and armor befitting their station. Dueling and fighting schools might be all the rage among the nobility. Just my humble opinion.
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[Keolander]

Just to offer an alternate Noble (which I like yours, maybe we can fuse the two of ours), here is my old post about the Noble.

As someone that plays a Noble in the Blackmoor world campaign run by Zeitgeist Games, I think a Noble would be a perfect class to port over to Castles & Crusades. I also think that Blackmoor would be 1000% more fun if they used C&C instead of D&D 3.5. Think what it would be like to play someone like Aragorn II or Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, the two archetypes of nobility in The Lord of the Rings.

The Noble presented here is considered to be a 4th Son or somesuch, someone who didn't inherit his father's estates, become a Cleric/Paladin or a Knight. A little back of the envelop scribbling for this (which would probably need to be revised by people who know C&C more than I do) might look like this:

Prime: Charisma

Hit Dice: d6

Alignment: Any

Weapons: Any

Armor: Any

Use Cleric To Hit and XP Progression table

Abilities

- Birthright: At first level, Nobles begin the game with a free suit of armor of their choice, melee weapon of their choice and riding horse.

- Noble Blood: Nobles are taught from the time they are young that they are there are two kinds of people: leaders and followers. They are groomed to lead by example, to both exhort and excoriate. With this Nobles can intimidate enemies as well as uplift those whom the Noble considers allies.

- Right of Hospitality: Deference to rank is so much a part of the world that Nobles naturally expect and recieve such from those they meet. Whenever they are in lands in which they belong to the nobility, the Noble never need worry about going hungry or houseless. This can range from a free room at an Inn (if the locality is poor) to a being a guest at the local manor house.

- Secret Language: Nobles can speak and write in a more archaic style that generally confuses anyone not of Noble birth.

- Law of the Land (5th level): Wherever a Noble goes, he is considered to be the executor of the King's Law. In the wild, where the King's Law doesn't reach, or even in the heart of the realm, Nobles are expected to bear witness and even carry out the law of the land. Nobles who flaunt their authority, however, may find themselves being subject to the very laws they themselves supposedly enforced.

Special Conduct: Similar to that of a Knight's. The Noble is expected, when capable, of extending the same courtesies to those who call upon him as he has done to others in the past. Nobles are also expected to pledge their word is true and not bear false witness, and woe be to the Noble who flaunts this commandment. Nobles are also expected to be merciful to peasants, as they depend on these people to work the land and feed them.

Racial bonuses: Both Dwarves and Elves should recieve +2 to Noble Blood when used on those of their race.

[moriarty777]

This is great stuff all around...

I can understand why some people may 'question' the noble as a valid archetype. Then again, you can also question the validity of an assassin as an archetype as well. I mean... what's an assassin but someone who gets paid to kill someone specific. However, with the class skills and abilities, the assassin makes for an interesting class.

However, Keolander is right... there is something to be said about the upbringing and teaching (training) of those of noble blood in the middle ages. It would depend on the type of campaign you intend to run as well.

One of my favorite d20 characters was a Noble in the Wheel of Time campaign. Absolute fun!

I had been thinking of doing a Noble class... and the options presented in this thread will help me a great deal (there are aspects of the noble class I played that I'd like to incorporate as well).

Moriarty the Red
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[Turanil]

Witterquick wrote:
We've used the bard, practically as-is, to stand in for a dilletante noble. The bard can comprehend languages, has a vast amount of knowledge (reflecting an unusual education), moderate combat abilities and the capacity for public speaking (instead of performance).

Excellent idea. C&C bard, as is, is excellent for portraying a noble, one who doesn't focus on knighthood but more on court intrigue. No offense intended, but I still find the custom nobles presented in this thread underpowered and lacking in flavor.
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[rabindranath72]

Turanil wrote:
Excellent idea. C&C bard, as is, is excellent for portraying a noble, one who doesn't focus on knighthood but more on court intrigue. No offense intended, but I still find the custom nobles presented in this thread underpowered and lacking in flavor.

No offense taken . I can understand you do not like the class (tastes vary, after all!), but why would the bard be a better noble than the above? My class is essentially equivalent to the Noble published in Wheel of Time and Dragonlance, and these seem to work fine in those games (I played and DMed them both).

Besides, using the bard as a Noble, would mean removing the bard from the campaign; unless you allow two different "roles" with the same class, which seems weird.

[Turanil]

double post
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[Turanil]

rabindranath72 wrote:
why would the bard be a better noble than the above?

Besides, using the bard as a Noble, would mean removing the bard from the campaign; unless you allow two different "roles" with the same class, which seems weird.

-- Bard has much better BtH, better hit-points, and more abilities.

-- Concerning the different roles for same class, I have in fact modified several classes for my own use, and the bard got some Perform and Fast-talk abiities. I could get inspiration from your thread and make a second variant as a noble (no perform and fast talk, but prestige ability). By the way, I would call this bard a "courtier", as a person having training in duelling, broad education, and used to court intrigue, etc. Not all nobles would be like that however, and many would be knights instead, a few of other classes.
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[rabindranath72]

Turanil wrote:
-- Concerning the different roles for same class, I have in fact modified several classes for my own use, and the bard got some Perform and Fast-talk abiities. I could get inspiration from your thread and make a second variant as a noble (no perform and fast talk, but prestige ability). By the way, I would call this bard a "courtier", as a person having training in duelling, broad education, and used to court intrigue, etc. Not all nobles would be like that however, and many would be knights instead, a few of other classes.

Seems fair. But then, we are drifting away from the point of view of having the Noble as a class, rather than as a role. I can see (and have run myself) games in which any class can be considered noble; and a bard would make a fine "courtier" (I used this point of view in my Birthright games).