General Prestige Class : Warmaster
On a green hill outside the Furyondan capital of Chendl sprawls a vast, white mansion surrounded by stables and fortifications. Most civilian passersby deem it the home of some wealthy lord, but a practiced military eye notes that many of the walls and catapults face each other, nor any outward threat. Also, military officers across the world recognize the mansion as a hallowed training grounds: The Furyondan College of War.
Graduates of the College of War - called warmasters - have served Furyondy's military for generations, providing most of the army's high-ranking generals. Receiving an assignment to train at the College of War is the best assignment a young officer can hope for, and those who excel in the harsh training there become a formidable presence on the battlefield.
Warmasters are generally drawn from the ranks of standing armies, so fighters predominate at the College of War. But the appointment process has a political aspect (as does everything else in Furyondy), so civilian "heroes of the realm" sometimes find themselves training to become warmasters. Clerics and paladins of Heironeous and Sr. Cuthbert are common, but other classes are rare (every class at the College of War has at least a few wizards and rangers, however). Would-be warmasters are most often human, although every race is represented at the College of War.
NPC warmasters are usually found at the head of an army, either on the march or defending a castle at a strategically important site. Most are eager to lend a hand to fellow warmasters; the college's alumni form a loose "old soldier's network." Sometimes the bonds of comradeship even stretch across battle lines, although warmasters stress loyalty as a primary virtue.
This prestige class may not be suitable for all campaigns, due to the responsibilities that warmasters have thrust on them and the complexities involved in maintaining a keep or castle. As in all things, your DM decides on the viability of this class in your game.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Warmaster, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Any nonchaotic, nonevil.
- Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks.
- Feats: Leadership, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Specialization,
- Base Attack Bonus: +7.
Class Skills
The warmaster's class skills are Bluff, Craft, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge, Profession, Ride, and Sense Motive.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
Brotherhood: Warmasters are a fraternal organization, and members are generally willing to lend a hand to their fellows. You gain a +4 competence bonus to Diplomacy checks made to influence other warmasters. This is a two-way street: You are expected to treat other warmasters honorably and charitably.
Leadership Bonus: Warmasters earn bonuses to their leadership level (character level + Cha bonus), enabling them to attract more powerful cohorts and followers when they use the Leadership feat upon earning a new level.
Battle Cry: When your shout rings across the battlefield, it lifts the spirits of your allies. This ability functions as the bard's inspire courage ability. This bonus lasts a number of rounds equal to your Charisma bonus, and you can shout a battle cry once per day for every level of warmaster you have attained.
Direct Troops: As a full-round action, you can give compelling directions. You can bestow a +2 competence bonus on either attacks or skill checks to all allies within 30 feet. This bonus lasts a number of rounds equal to your Charisma bonus.
Tower: An organization affiliated with you (the army or an important lord, for example) has offered to build you a tower in a mutually agreeable location. As long as you uphold the ideals of the organization involved, you can manage the affairs of the tower as you wish, although you are responsible for up-keep costs. A square, three-level building made of stone.
Rally Troops: Your presence is enough to grant any allies within 30 feet a second saving throw against fear and charm effects that they have already succumbed to. Even if they fail the second saving throw, any fear effects are less severe: panicked characters are only frightened, frightened characters are only shaken, and shaken characters are unaffected.
Hard March: You can exhort your troops to march faster. Anyone traveling with you gains a +4 morale bonus to Constitution checks required for making a forced march or any other task requiring extended exertion. Animals are nor affected.
Keep: As "Tower" above. A keep is a fortified stone building with fifteen to twenty-five rooms.
Battle Standard: The mere sight of your coat of arms or other heraldic display is enough to turn the ride of battle. Allies within 30 feet of your standard gain the effects of both Battle Cry and Rally Troops (above) as long as the standard is within range and is held by you. If your standard is captured in battle, all allies within range aware of its loss suffer a -1 morale penalty to attacks and damage until it is recovered in addition to losing the benefits described above.
Castle: As "Tower" above. A castle is a keep (also above) surrounded by a 15-foot-high stone wall with four towers. The wall is 10' thick.
Die for Your Country: Your presence inspires your troops to make the ultimate sacrifice for your cause. Any allies within 30 feet of you can continue to fight while disabled or dying without penalty. They continue until they reach -10 hit points.
Huge Castle: As "Tower" above. This large complex has numerous associated buildings (stables, a forge, granaries etc.) and an elaborate 20 foot high 10 foot thick wall creating bailey and courtyard areas. The wall has six towers.
| Warmaster | Hit Die: d10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Brotherhood, Leadership bonus +1 |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Battle cry |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Direct troops, Leadership bonus +2 |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Tower, rally troops |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Hard march, Leadership bonus +3 |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Keep |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Battle standard, Leadership bonus +4 |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +2 | Castle |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +3 | Die for your country, Leadership bonus +5 |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Huge castle |
Source: Sword and Fist