Prestige Classes

PURPLE DRAGON KNIGHT

The famous Purple Dragons are regarded across the land as exemplars of disciplined, skilled, loyal soldiers. Their reputation is deserved partly because of the heroic actions of their leaders, the Purple Dragon knights. Purple Dragon knights develop uncanny skills related to coordinating and leading soldiers. Most are fighters, rangers, or paladins, but a few bards, clerics, and rogues have been known to become Purple Dragon knights. Sorcerers and wizards tend to join the War Wizards, an elite brigade of fighting spellcasters allied with the Purple Dragons, while barbarians are too undisciplined, and druids and monks “lack the commitment” to measure up to the Purple Dragons’ exacting standards. In general, NPC Purple Dragon knights are responsible for leading the Purple Dragons on and off the battlefield. Player character knights either are retirees, special liaisons to the army, or recipients of honorary titles. A character’s level in this prestige class is irrelevant to his rank in the military, although higher-ranked knights tend to be of higher level. It is not necessary to have this prestige class to serve in the Purple Dragons at large, or even to be an officer in their ranks. Likewise, a Purple Dragon knight might serve her entire career on “detached duty,” away from the unit as a whole.

Hit Die: d10.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Purple Dragon knight, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Alignment: Lawful good, neutral good, lawful neutral, or neutral.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skills: Diplomacy 1 rank or Intimidate 1 rank, Listen 2 ranks, Ride 2 ranks, Spot 2 ranks.

Feats: Mounted Combat, Negotiator.

Special: Membership in the Purple Dragons.

Class Skills

The Purple Dragon knight's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Ride (Dex), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Table: The Purple Dragon Knight

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Purple Dragon knight prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Purple Dragon knights gain proficiency with tower shields.

Heroic Shield (Ex): A Purple Dragon knight can use the aid another action to give an ally a +4 circumstance bonus to Armor Class instead of the normal +2.

Rallying Cry (Su): Up to three times per day as a free action, a knight can utter a powerful shout that causes all allies within 60 feet to gain a +1 morale bonus on their next attack roll and increases their speed by 5 feet until the knight’s next turn. Traditionally, this mind-affecting ability is used when a formation of soldiers is about to charge.

Inspire Courage (Su): This ability, gained at 2nd level, has the same effect as the bard ability of the same name. The knight makes an inspirational speech, bolstering her allies against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the knight speak. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the knight speak and for 5 rounds thereafter. While speaking, the knight can fight but cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by magic word (such as wands). Affected allies receive a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 2nd level, a knight may use this ability once per day; at 4th level, she may use it twice per day.

Fear (Su): Once per day as a standard action, a knight of 3rd level or higher can evoke a fear effect (DC 10 + the knight’s class level + the knight’s Cha modifier) as the spell fear, using her class level as the caster level. Her allies are immune to the effect.

Oath of Wrath (Su): Once per day as a free action, a knight of 4th level or higher can select a single opponent within 60 feet and swear an oath to defeat him. For the duration of the encounter, the knight has a +2 morale bonus on melee attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, and skill checks made against the challenged target.

The effect is negated immediately if the knight uses a full-round action to move away from the challenged opponent.

Final Stand (Su): Once per day, a 5th-level Purple Dragon knight can inspire his troops to a heroic effort, temporarily increasing their vitality. All allies within 10 feet of the knight gain 2d10 temporary hit points. This ability affects a number of creatures equal to the knight’s class level + her Charisma modifier and lasts an equal number of rounds.

Multiclass Note: A paladin who becomes a Purple Dragon Knight may continue advancing as a paladin.