BRCS:Chapter one/Character/Noble

Favored Region (Ex): At 1st level, a noble may select a regional area (such as the Southern Coast, Western Coast, Heartlands, Northern Marches, or Eastern Marches of Anuire). Due to his extensive experience with the people, customs, and attitudes of the nobles and training in techniques for manipulating the nobility of this region, the noble gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty), and Sense Motive checks when using these skills in relation to regents and members of the upper class of this region.

At 5th level and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th), the noble may select an additional favored region. In addition, at each such interval the bonus in any one favored region (including the one just selected, if desired) increases by 2.

Resources (Ex): A noble gains the ability to requisition resources and information by drawing on their reputation, personal wealth, and the promise of future favors. To successfully use their influence to gain access to resources, the noble rolls 1d20 and adds his noble level plus Charisma modifier to determine the resources check result. The DM sets the check's DC. Simple favors have a DC 10, while expensive or illegal favors have a DC of 25 or higher.

A noble can only throw around so much influence before exhausting their goodwill. At 2nd level, a noble may requisition resources a number of times per domain turn equal to his Charisma modifier plus one (minimum once per turn). At 6 th, 11 th, and 16 th level the noble gains the ability to make an additional resources check per Domain turn. A failed check doesn't expend any of the noble's influence, but the noble cannot attempt to access the same resource or contact that turn, and suffers a cumulative -2 penalty to every subsequent attempt made to gain the same benefit from other sources. The DM should carefully monitor the use of this ability to ensure that it isn't abused.
Resources are comprised of physical holdings that generate income, and individuals and organizations in which the noble has influence. The income that can be accessed is equal to (100 gp x noble level) per domain turn per economic resource. Accessing these monetary assets is considered a simple favor if performed when the noble is physically present in his home province. The difficulty of this action is increased when the noble is farther away. These assets should be carefully documented between the player and DM.
Behind the Curtain: How to handle a noble's contacts. A noble's resources are all physical resources. The contacts are individuals and it is important to have them identified in order to prevent this from being reduced to simple die roll. By using this philosophy a failed resource check can actually be an indication of trouble brewing on the horizon. For example one of the noble's contacts is an administrator in Prince Avan's court, who happens to 'owe' the noble a favor. When the noble taps this resource to find out whether or not Prince Avan is attempting to muster up his troops, by checking correspondences or supplies, the resource check fails. It would be up to the DM to decide if this failure is a result of no information being available, or if in fact the noble's contact has been compromised leading to future political ramifications. Regardless of how this is handled the individuality of the contacts should be emphasized.

Born to Lead (Ex): At 3rd level, the noble's inherent ability to lead starts to shine through. The noble gains the ability to attract followers and cohorts as if he had the leadership feat.

Coordinate (Ex): At 4th level, the noble gains the ability to guide the cooperation of other characters by making a Charisma check (DC 10 + the number of characters being guided). If successful, this increases the bonus granted by cooperation (i.e., aid another) by +2. This bonus increases to +4 at 12th level.

Inspiring Leader (Ex): When a noble appears on the field and presents himself as a leader, it inspires himself and his followers, soldiers, hirelings, or other loyal subjects who can see and hear him. At 4th level, the noble and those that look to him for guidance (such as his employees, followers, or sworn subjects) gain a +1 morale bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls, Will saving throws against fear and mind-influencing enchantments (such as charm person), and to all skill checks made.
Presenting himself is a free action but entails standing tall and proud along with shouting (or forcefully giving) directions, and the bonuses last a number of rounds equal to the noble's Charisma modifier. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to the noble's Charisma modifier.

Inspire Loyalty (Ex): Beginning at 8th level, the noble can use oratory to inspire long lasting confidence in his loyal followers. To inspire loyalty, the noble must speak for at least one round and make a Lead check with a DC equal to 10 +1 per five allies to be inspired (including the noble). An ally so inspired gains a +1 morale bonus to attacks and damage, a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws against fear and mind-influencing enchantments, and a +1 bonus to all skill checks. The effect begins with the conclusion of the noble's oratory, and lasts for 1 minute per round the noble spent inspiring the allies, to a maximum of 1 hour for 60 rounds of inspirational speech. This ability is an enhancement of the noble's Inspiring Leader ability; each use of Inspire Loyalty counts as one use of the Inspiring Leader ability. Both abilities may be used in any combination a total number of times per day equal to the noble's Charisma modifier.

The confidence inspired by the noble increases as the noble attains levels. For every five levels after 8th, the bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +3 at 18th level.

Application of this ability to units in battle is slightly different. At 8th level a noble can grant a +1 morale bonus to attacks, damage and morale saving throws to a unit he personally commands (i.e., the unit he is physically present in) with a successful Lead check against a DC of 20. The DM can apply circumstance bonuses to this check depending on the nature of the battle, for instance in a war against a traditional enemy a circumstance bonus of +2 to +4 would not be inappropriate. The bonus to attack and damage applies to the first attack made by the unit so affected while the morale saving throw bonus applies as long as the noble is present on the field of battle (i.e., not in the reserve). At 13th level the noble can inspire all units located on the same area of the battle field granting them the same +1 morale bonus. At 18th level the noble can inspire all of his troops that start the battle located on the battlefield but not in the reserve with the same +1 morale bonus with a successful Lead check against DC 20 + 3 for every additional unit being targeted.

Presence (Ex): Beginning at 9th level, the noble has mastered the art of manipulation and command. For the purposes of noble class special abilities, skill checks, charisma checks, and leadership score, treat him as having a Charisma score 2 points higher than it actually is. This bonus increases by 2 points at 14th level and 19th level.