Advance Classes
AMBASSADOR
The fastest path into this advanced class is from the Charismatic hero basic class, though other paths are conceivable.
- Requirements
To qualify to become an Ambassador, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
- Skills: Diplomacy 6 ranks, Knowledge (civics) 6 ranks, Knowledge (theology and philosophy) 6 ranks. Charismatic Hero Talents: Charm, favor.
- Allegiance: An Ambassador must pledge her primary allegiance to a faction, nation, world, or empire and remain a dutiful servant of this body; if the Ambassador breaks this allegiance, she loses all the benefits of the Diplomatic Immunity and Open Arms class features (see Class Features, below).
Class Information:
Ability Affinity: Charisma and Intelligence
Hit Die: 1d6
Action Points: The Ambassador gains a number of action points equal to 6 + one-half her character level, rounded down, every time she attains a new level in this class.
Class Skills: The Ambassador’s class skills are as follows. Bluff (Cha), Computer Use (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (behavioral sciences, civics, current events, history, theology and philosophy) (Int), Profession (Wis), Read/Write Language (none), Research (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), and Speak Language (none).
Skill Points at Each Level: 5 + Int modifier (4 + Int modifier for non-humans).
| Class Level |
Efficiency Bonus |
Special | Defense Bonus |
Reputation Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | Diplomatic immunity | 1 | 1 |
| 2nd | 0 | Open arms | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd | 0 | Bonus feat | 2 | 1 |
| 4th | 1 | Information access | 2 | 2 |
| 5th | 1 | Stipend | 3 | 2 |
| 6th | 1 | Bonus feat | 3 | 2 |
| 7th | 1 | Restricted access, Bonus Attack |
4 | 3 |
| 8th | 1 | Stipend | 4 | 3 |
| 9th | 1 | Bonus feat | 5 | 3 |
| 10th | 2 | Select consuls | 5 | 4 |
Class Features:
- Diplomatic Immunity
- Starting at 1st level, if the Ambassador is arrested for a crime, she can make a Diplomacy check to invoke her diplomatic credentials and not suffer the usual legal penalty or punishment. The severity of the crime determines the DC of the Diplomacy check, and how authorities react if the Ambassador succeeds. See Table: Diplomatic Immunity for Diplomacy check DCs based on the severity of the crime. If one of the Ambassador’s consuls (see the select consul class feature, below) is arrested for a crime and unable to secure her own release, the Ambassador may intercede on the consul’s behalf. One may aid the other’s Diplomacy check. An Ambassador who routinely invokes the privilege of diplomatic immunity—either on her own behalf or to protect her selected consuls—is likely to be recalled or terminated by those she has sworn to represent.
| Severity of Crime | Examples | DC | Effect of Successful Diplomacy Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 5 | Disturbing the peace, public intoxication, noninjurious traffic violation | 15 | –2 penalty on subsequent Diplomacy checks in that area |
| Class 4 | Possession of controlled substance, injurious traffic violation, operating business without a license, operating a vehicle or starship without a license, assault without a deadly weapon | 20 | –5 penalty on subsequent Diplomacy a checks in that area |
| Class 3 | Attempted bribery of a public official, robbery or grand theft, aiding and abetting a known felon, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a concealed weapon | 25 | –10 penalty on subsequent Diplomacy checks in the area |
| Class 2 | Murder or manslaughter, fraud, smuggling, assault against a public official, trafficking in controlled substances | 30 | Deportation within 2d6 hours |
| Class 1 | Conspiracy against the government, murder of a public official, sabotage of public utilities | 35 | Detention pending the diplomatic action by character’s affiliated government |
- Open Arms
- Beginning at 2nd level, the Ambassador is skilled at initiating peaceful negotiations. She may add a competence bonus equal to one-half her Ambassador class level on all Diplomacy checks.
- Bonus Feats
- At 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the Ambassador gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and the Ambassador must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it. Attentive, Defensive Martial Arts, Dodge, Educated, Improved Initiative, Low Profile, Oathbound, Renown, Trustworthy.
- Information Access
- Starting at 4th level, the Ambassador can make Gather Information checks without spending money or making Wealth checks, provided she is dealing with individuals or organizations that are helpful, friendly, indifferent, or unfriendly toward her or those she represents. Dealing with individuals or organizations that are hostile requires the Ambassador to make Wealth checks as usual when using the Gather Information skill.
- Stipend
- Skilled diplomats are well paid for their loyalty and dedication, and they are accustomed to traveling in style. At 5th level, and again at 8th level, the Ambassador gains a one-time Wealth bonus increase of +4.
- Restricted Access
- At 7th level, the Ambassador gains clearance to access restricted files or classified information from any source that recognizes her faction, organization, nation, world, or stellar empire. She gains a +5 bonus on Computer Use checks made to defeat computer security and a +5 bonus on Research checks.
- Select Consuls
- At 10th level, the Ambassador may appoint a number of individuals equal to her Reputation bonus as “consuls” or “attachés.” These appointed individuals gain all the benefits of the diplomatic immunity, information access, and restricted access class features (described above). The Ambassador may revoke these privileges at any time and appoint replacement consuls as she sees fit. It takes 1d4 hours for an Ambassador to invoke or revoke a consul’s or attaché’s privileges.
DOGFIGHTER
The fastest path into this advanced class is from the Fast hero basic class, though other paths are certainly possible.
- Requirements
To qualify to become a Dogfighter, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
- Skills: Pilot 6 ranks.
- Feat: Starship Operation (ultralight).
- Dexterity Modifier of: +2.
- Class Information
The following information pertains to the Dogfighter advanced class.
Hit Die: The Dogfighter gains 1d8 hit points per level. The character’s Constitution modifier applies.
Action Points: The Dogfighter gains a number of action points equal to 6 + one-half his character level, rounded down, every time he attains a new level in this class.
Class Skills" The Dogfighter’s class skills are as follows. Bluff (Cha), Computer Use (Int), Craft (electronic, mechanical) (Int), Knowledge (popular culture, streetwise, technology) (Int), Navigate (Int), Pilot (Dex), Profession (Wis), Repair (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 5 + Int modifier (4 + Int modifier for nonhumans).
| Class Level | Efficiency Bonus |
Special |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | Bonus feat |
| 2nd | 1 | Defender of the universe |
| 3rd | 1 | Bonus feat Extra Attack |
| 4th | 1 | Shake, rattle, and roll (1/day) |
| 5th | 1 | To the max! |
| 6th | 2 | Bonus feat |
| 7th | 2 | Shake, rattle, and roll (2/day)+ |
| 8th | 2 | Keep it together |
| 9th | 2 | Bonus feat Extra Attack |
| 10th | 2 | Shake, rattle, and roll (3/day) |
Dogfighter's Class Features:
- Bonus Feats
- At 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the Dogfighter gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and the Dogfighter must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it.
Blind-Fight, Brawl, Gearhead, Improved Brawl, Improved Feint, Spacer, Starship Battle Run, Starship Dodge, Starship Feint, Starship Gunnery, Starship Mobility, Starship Operation, Starship Strafe, Zero-G Training.
- Defender Of The Universe
- Starting at 2nd level, a Dogfighter applies his new found skills in the forum of a bonus to the die result whenever he spends an action point to modify an attack roll, skill check, ability check, or saving throw made aboard a starship. The bonus is equal to his Dogfighter class level divided by 2 round down. So (Class Level / 2) round down.
- Shake, Rattle, And Roll
- At 4th level, a Dogfighter learns how rock an enemy starship with weapons fire. The Dogfighter must declare that he is using this ability before making the attack roll (thus, a failed attack roll ruins the attempt). A starship damaged by the Dogfighter’s attack is shaken for 1 round; all passengers and crewmembers (pilots and gunners included) aboard the shaken ship take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 1 round. A Dogfighter may use this ability once per day at 4th level, twice per day at 7th level, and three times per day at 10th level.
- To the max!
- At 5th level and beyond, a Dogfighter can coax more thrust out of a ship’s engines, increasing its tactical speed by +500 feet. The Dogfighter must be piloting the ship to increase its tactical speed.
- Keep It Together
- At 8th level, a Dogfighter can continue to operate a starship even after it has been reduced to negative hit points and has begun breaking apart. The ship may take one move action or one attack action each round. However, the ship cannot be repaired and continues to lose 1 hit point per round, exploding once it reaches its destruction threshold. The Dogfighter and all other personnel aboard the ship are considered shaken, taking a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks.
Engineer
The fastest path into this advanced class is from the Smart hero basic class, though other paths are possible.
- Requirements
To qualify to become an Engineer, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
- Skills: Computer Use 6 ranks, Craft (electrical) 6 ranks, Craft (mechanical) 6 ranks, Knowledge (technology) 6 ranks, Repair 6 ranks.
- Class Information
Ability Affinity: Intelligence and Wisdom
Hit Die: The Engineer gains 1d6 hit points per level. The character’s Constitution modifier applies.
Action Points:The Engineer gains a number of action points equal to 6 + one-half his character level, rounded down, every time he attains a new level in this class.
Class Skills: The Engineer’s class skills are as follows. Computer Use (Int), Craft (electronic, mechanical, structural) (Int), Disable Device (Int), Drive (Dex), Knowledge (physical sciences, technology) ( Int) , Navigate ( Int) , Pilot (Dex) , Profession (Wis), Read/Write Language (none), Repair (Int), Search (Int), Speak Language (none).
Skill Points at Each Level: 7 + Int modifier (6 + Int modifier for nonhumans).
| Class Level | Efficiency Bonus |
Special |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | Builder, improve kit (+1) |
| 2nd | 0 | Quick craft, superior repair |
| 3rd | 0 | Bonus feat |
| 4th | 1 | Improve kit (+2), reconfigure weapon, sabotage |
| 5th | 1 | Craft XP reserve, quick craft Extra Attack |
| 6th | 1 | Bonus feat, craft XP reserve |
| 7th | 1 | Craft XP reserve, improve kit (+3), quick fix |
| 8th | 2 | Craft XP reserve, weapon upgrade |
| 9th | 2 | Bonus feat, craft XP reserve |
| 10th | 2 | Craft XP reserve, unflustered |
Engineer's Class Features
- Builder
- At 1st level, the Engineer gains the bonus feat Builder.
- Improve Kit (+1)
-
- An engineer can use his know-how to upgrade an electrical or mechanical tool kit at no additional cost.
- Electrical Tool Kit, Basic: For the cost of a basic electrical tool kit, an Engineer can assemble a mastercraft (+1) version of the kit that grants a +1 equipment bonus on all Repair checks made to fix electrical devices.
- Electrical Tool Kit, Deluxe: For the cost of a deluxe electrical tool k it, an Engineer can assemble a mastercraft (+1) version that grants a +3 equipment bonus (instead of the usual +2 equipment bonus) on all Repair checks made to fix electrical devices and a +1 equipment bonus on all Craft (electrical) checks.
- Mechanical Tool Kit, Basic: For the cost of a basic mechanical tool kit, an Engineer can assemble a mastercraft (+1) version of the kit that grants a +1 equipment bonus on all Repair checks made to fix mechanical devices.
- Mechanical Tool Kit, Deluxe: For the cost of a deluxe mechanical kit, an Engineer can assemble a mastercraft (+1) version that grants a +3 equipment bonus (instead of the usual +2 equipment bonus) on all Repair checks made to fix mechanical devices and a +1 equipment bonus on all Craft (mechanical) and Craft (structural) checks.
- Quick Craft
- At 2nd level, an engineer learns how to craft ordinary scratch-built electronic, mechanical, and structural objects more quickly than normal. When using the Craft (electronic), Craft (mechanical), or Craft (structural) skill to build an ordinary scratch-built item, the Engineer reduces the building time by one-quarter. At 5th level, the Engineer reduces the building time of ordinary objects and mastercraft objects by half.
- Superior Repair
- At 2nd level, an Engineer learns improved ways of repairing robots, vehicles, mecha, starships, and cybernetic attachments.
An Engineer with a mechanical tool kit and an appropriate facility (a workshop, garage, or hangar) can repair damage to a robot, vehicle, mecha, starship, or cybernetic attachment. (Without a mechanical tool kit, the Engineer takes a –4 penalty on the Repair check.) With 1 hour of work, the engineer can restore a number of hit points based on his Repair check result, as shown in Table: Superior Repair. If damage remains, the Engineer may continue to make repairs for as many hours as needed to fully repair the damaged robot, vehicle, mecha, starship, or cybernetic attachment.
| Repair Check Result | Damage Repaired |
|---|---|
| Less than 20 | None |
| 20–29 | 2d6 + Engineer class level |
| 30–39 | 3d6 + Engineer class level |
| 40 | 4d6 + Engineer class level |
- Bonus Feats
- At 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the Engineer gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and the Engineer must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it. Aircraft Operation (spacecraft), Builder, Cautious, Gearhead, Mastercrafter, Salvage, Surface Vehicle Operation, Vehicle Expert, Zero-G Training.
- Improve Kit (+2)
- At 4th level, the Engineer can assemble mastercraft (+2) electrical and mechanical tool kits. This ability works as the 1st-level improve kit class feature, except the equipment bonuses improve by an additional +1.
- Reconfigure Weapon
- At 4th level, an Engineer can reconfigure a melee or ranged weapon, improving one aspect of it. Reconfiguring a weapon requires 1 hour of work and a successful Repair check (DC 20); reconfiguring a mastercraft weapon is slightly harder (DC 20 + the weapon’s mastercraft bonus feature). An Engineer may take 10 or take 20 on this check. The reconfiguration imposes a –1 penalty on attack rolls made with the weapon but grants one of the following benefits indefinitely:
- Changed Rate of Fire: The reconfiguration changes the weapon’s rate of fire. A semiautomatic-only weapon switches to an automatic-only weapon, or vice versa. This benefit applies only to a ranged weapon with either a semiautomatic or automatic fire setting.
- Greater Ammo Capacity: The reconfigured weapon can hold 50% more ammunition than normal. This benefit applies only to weapons that take ammunition.
- Greater Concealment: The reconfiguration grants a +2 bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal the reconfigured weapon.
- Greater Range Increment: The reconfigured weapon’s range increment increases by 10 feet. This benefit applies only to weapons with range increments.
- Signature Shooter: The weapon is reconfigured for a single individual’s use only and is treated as a unique exotic weapon. Anyone else who uses the weapon takes a –4 nonproficient penalty on attack rolls.
- Weapons can be reconfigured multiple times; each time a weapon is reconfigured, it imparts a new benefit. Undoing an Engineer’s weapon reconfiguration requires 1 hour and a successful Disable Device check (DC 20 + the Engineer’s class level).
- Sabotage
- At 4th level and beyond, the Engineer can sabotage an electrical or mechanical object so that it operates poorly. The Engineer must succeed on a Disable Device check (DC 20) to accomplish the downgrade, and sabotaging a mastercraft object is slightly harder (DC 20 + the mastercraft object’s bonus feature). Noticing the Engineer’s handiwork without first testing the sabotaged device requires a successful Search check (DC = the Engineer’s Disable Device check result). Fixing the sabotaged item requires a successful Repair.
- Sabotage Device: As a full-round action, the Engineer can reconfigure a device with electrical or mechanical components so that anyone who uses it suffers a penalty equal to the Engineer’s class level on skill checks made to use the device.
- Sabotage Weapon: As a full-round action, the Engineer can sabotage a weapon so that it misfires or breaks the next time it is used. A sabotaged weapon cannot be used effectively until repaired. This use of sabotage also applies to vehicle and starship weapons.
- Craft XP Reserve
- Starting at 5th level, an Engineer with the Mastercrafter feat can build mastercraft electronic and mechanical devices without investing as much of himself in the process.
At 5th level and every level thereafter, an Engineer gains a special reserve of experience points equal to 100 × his Engineer class level. These extra experience points are separate from experience gained through level advancement and can only be used to make mastercraft items; they do not count toward level gain. An Engineer must spend the extra experience points he gains at each level, for when the Engineer gains a level, he loses any unspent experience points in his reserve.
- Improve Kit (+3)
- At 7th level, the Engineer can assemble mastercraft (+3) electrical and mechanical tool kits. This ability works as the 4th-level improve kit class feature, except the equipment bonuses improve by an additional +1.
- Quick Fix
- At 7th level, the Engineer can repair a mechanical or electrical device in half the normal time; see the Repair skill description for normal repair times. However, cutting the repair time increases the Repair check DC by 5.
- Weapon Upgrade
- At 8th level, an Engineer can upgrade handheld or robot-installed weapons, as well as weapon systems aboard vehicles, mecha, or starships.
| Handheld/Robot Weapon Upgrade | DC |
|---|---|
| Weapon also dazes target for 1 round | 25 |
| Weapon also knocks target prone | 30 |
| Weapon leaves target shaken for 1d4 rounds | 35 |
| Weapon also stuns target for 1d4 rounds | 40 |
| Vehicle/Mecha/Starship Weapon Upgrade | DC |
| Weapon deals an extra two dice of damage | 25 |
| Weapon ignores 5 points of target’s hardness/DR | 30 |
| Weapon’s critical hit multiplier increases by 1 | 35 |
| Weapon ignores 10 points of target’s hardness/DR | 40 |
- The Engineer must spend 1 hour tinkering with the weapon, after which he must succeed at a Craft (mechanical) check. The DC varies depending on how the weapon is modified, as shown in Table: Weapon Upgrade. If the skill check fails, the attempt to modify the weapon also fails, although the Engineer may try again. (The engineer may take 20 on the skill check, but the upgrade takes 20 hours to complete.) An upgraded weapon has a 10% chance of breaking after each time it is used; it cannot be used again until repaired, and repairing it requires 1 hour and a successful Repair check (DC 40).
- Unflustered
- A 10th-level Engineer can perform complicated tasks without provoking attacks of opportunity from adjacent foes.
During any round in which the Engineer uses the Computer Use, Craft, Demolitions, Disable Device, or Repair skill, he can first make a Concentration check (DC 15) to use the desired skill without provoking attacks of opportunity. Making the Concentration check doesn’t cost the Engineer an action. He may take 10 on the Concentration check, but he cannot take 20.