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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Aug 2004 : 10:58:10
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Is it just me or isn't this new character concocted by Ed not ultimately cool? (see the "Storm's quieter days" articles by Ed on the WotC website for more details about the Realm's new Lancelot!!  )
quote:
Rhoegantle Malyth
(CG male human Highknight 4/Ranger 7; a darkly handsome bastard son of Azoun IV raised in Suzail as a servant by a War Wizard and made a forester in his restless youth; now he is one of the most trusted agents of Alusair's regency operating in the northeastern areas of Cormyr and into the Dalelands, and he watches over the interests of Cormyr -- and increasingly, over the doings of the Bard of Shadowdale, with whom he has fallen hopelessly in love).
Now, I only hope that someone (*cough* Ed or Eric Boyd *cough*) can post a 3.5 version of the Highknight PrC as a web enhancement... (remembering that the 3.0 version lacked quite a bit of "zing" and had to be improved by nearly every DM on Earth using it... I can post my version here if there are some interested individuals) Better, I hope Ed features this character in a novel someday!
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2004 : 16:09:58
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The original Purple Dragon Highknight appears in Dragon Annual #5, in Ed's "After the Dragon" article. A while back, I posted a 3.5 version of the class here, but I have since come to believe that the class doesn't properly reflect the Bond-like role that highknights fill in Cormyr, instead being more of a class exclusively for Knights Royal (the former King's Blades). Glarasteer, our emblematic Highknight, is nothing like what's depicted by this class.
'Tis something I plan on discussing very soon.  |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2004 : 16:11:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
'Tis something I plan on discussing very soon.
I look forward to this discussion. One thing I did like about the annual was, if I recall correctly, it had a list of some current Highknights serving the Crown. |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2004 : 21:14:32
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Here's my home version, which I totally mangled from the original concept:
PDK's Purple Dragon Highknight Home Version PrC
"Highknight is a title given to Cormyrean knights who have shown exceptional service to the Crown. Many highknights gravitate towards court assignments, while others remain on the battlefield, serving alongside their fellow Purple Dragons. The ones who elect to serve in continual court assignments are often required to develop certain skills that are better suited to such a delicate environment. They are also trained to react in certain ways in specific situations and learn to develop contingency plans to minimize risk. This particular breed of highknights receives special training to better accomplish their duties.
Trained in court etiquette and realm law as well as in the use of weapons, these special highknights are regularly mind read by the War Wizards to guarantee their continued loyalty, as well as to guard against magical influences and impostors posing as real knights. These highknights usually draw difficult duties such as investigating suspected traitors among the ranks of superior Purple Dragon officers or the nobility, or guarding royalty or unpopular visiting envoys.
In Cormyr, Highknights can speak with royal authority, and they can always gain audience to any Royal or Court personage (though they'll face penalties for frivolous use of this privilege).
Most Highknights are fighters, but Filfaeril and Vangerdahast desire the office to be open to bards, rangers, and other persons difficult to fit into court hierarchy. Highknights can be encountered anywhere in the Dragon Reach and Dragon Coast, but they're most likely to be found in Cormyr proper.
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
Alignment: Any good
Race: Any
Base Attack Bonus: +8
Feats: Dodge, Endurance, Great Fortitude
Special: Must have been previously promoted to Highknight by a Cormyrean Royal
Class Skills
Balance (Dex), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty (Int), Knowledge: Local [Cormyr] (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform: Dance (Cha), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis)
Points at each level: 4 + Int modifier
Level Attack Fort Ref Will Special
1 +1 +2 +0 +0 Dauntless Guard
2 +2 +3 +0 +0 Uncanny Dodge (Dex Bonus to AC)
3 +3 +3 +1 +1 Magic Resistance 10
4 +4 +4 +1 +1 Natural Armor +1
5 +5 +4 +1 +1 Poison Resistance
6 +6 +5 +2 +2 Magic Resistance 20
7 +7 +5 +2 +2 Uncanny Dodge (Cant be Flanked)
8 +8 +6 +2 +2 Natural Armor +2
9 +9 +6 +3 +3 Magic Resistance 30
10 +10 +7 +3 +3 Unswerving Stand, Immune to Sec Poison Dmg
Class Feature
Dauntless Guard: Beginning at 1st level, when a Highknight guards a known or familiar area in accordance to orders, he gains the following abilities while fighting there.
· +2 Strength
· +2 Con
· +2 on all Saves
· +4 dodge bonus to AC
The increase in Con raises the Highknights hp by 1 per level, but these hit points go away the moment he moves away from the area. Note: the area guarded cannot exceed a square area whose sides are equal to the Highknight’s class level x 10 (i.e. a 5th level Highknight can use this ability within 50’x50’ area)
Poison Resistance: At 5th level, a highknight gains a second chance on any Fort saves vs. Poison; if the result of the first save is unfavorable, a second roll can be attempted. At 10th level, immunity to secondary damage becomes automatic.
Magic Resistance: At 3rd level, by exposure to spells (working with a war wizard) the highknight gains resistance to a single chosen magical attack form, such as cold, electricity, fire, or acid. This resistance only applies to spells, spell-like abilities or supernatural attacks. It does not help against natural cold, heat or any other type of danger from natural environments. Each time the highknight suffers damage from that sort of magic, subtract 10 points from the damage suffered by the highknight. This immunity improves to 20 points at 6th level and 30 points at 9th level. This ability stacks with resist element spells: a highknight with magical resistance (fire) 20 and resistance energy (fire) 10 is effectively shielded against 30 points of fire damage against every fire attack. This ability does not stack with protection from energy spells: all damage counts against the protection from energy spell, and once expired, the leftovers then count against a highknight’s magical resistance. Note that the highknight is not protected against any other side effect: only damage is reduced from the listed amount (i.e. a highknight would be protected against the damaging aspect of a shout spell, but not its deafening effects). Alternatively, the highknight can choose another type of resistance at level 6 or 9. For example, Sir Erathen picks magic resistance electricity 10 at 3rd level. He could increase this feature to resistance 20 and 30 respectively at 6th or 9th level, or he could pick cold magical resistance 10 and acid magical resistance 10 instead.
Natural Armor: The highknights natural armor rating improves by +1 at 4th level, and to +2 at 8th level.
Uncanny Dodge: At 2nd level, the highknight does not lose his Dex bonus to AC from being flat-footed. At 7th level, opponents do not gain any attack bonuses for flanking the highknight.
Unswerving Stand: At 10th level, the Highknight dedication to the cause of Cormyr has reached a level so great that his Dauntless Guard ability improves to the following values:
· +4 Strength
· +4 Con
· +4 on all Saves
· +6 dodge bonus to AC
The increase in Con raises the Highknights hp by 2 per character level, but these hit points go away the moment he moves away from the area."
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2004 : 21:35:21
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| I don't think we can take the James Bond model to apply to all Highknights; the men guarding the king in Hand of Fire are Highknights are well as Glarasteer. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2004 : 07:06:46
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I would have to agree.
The model may work with two or three knights, but we have to assume that there is about as much variation in personality and operation traits as there is in the regular armies of the Forest Kingdom.
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Rhoegantle Malyth
