Covert Legionnaire

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by André La Roche

Filcher of enemy secrets, spoiler of corrupt plots, Covert Legionnaires are among the more knowledgable and trusted members of the Legion of Steel. A Covert Legionnaire take upon herself one of the most vital duties of the Legion of Steel—their spy work. Almost literally possessing an ear in every port, members of this class carry out the more clandestine duties of the Legion, acting as a go-between for various cells in each city, coordinating secret attacks on caravans of dark knights, and undermining Solamnic attempts to infiltrate the Legion and defame the group. To those that know such individuals, the knowledge and resourcefulness she possesses is an invaluable trait to rely upon in the stickiest of situations.

Rogues, bards, fighters, and rangers often become Covert Legionnaires, in order to gain a complimentary mix of combat and stealth-based abilities. Barbarians, paladins, monks, clerics of good gods, and druids rarely take become Covert Legionnaires, as they prefer a more direct course of action. Neutral-aligned clerics, mystics, sorcerers, and wizards oftentimes make rather effective Covert Legionnaires by combining mental and illusion magic resulting in an almost devastating effect.

NPC Covert Legionnaires often work in semi-organized cells inside city settings alongside other legionnaires; no single member knowing much about the others in case of capture. When in rural areas, they tend to act individually.

Hit Die: d6

Requirements

To qualify to become a Covert Legionnaire, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Alignment: Any non-evil.
Evasion: The Covert Legionnaire must possess the evasion ability.
Feats: Iron Will, Track
Skills: Bluff 4 ranks, Disguise 4 ranks, Gather Information 10 ranks, Search 8 ranks, and Sense Motive 4 ranks.
Special: Must be a trusted member of the Legion of Steel.

Class Skills

The Covert Legionnaire's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int, exclusive skill), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Read Lips (Int, exclusive skill), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player's Handbook for skill descriptions.

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Covert Legionnaire prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Covert Legionnaires gain no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.

Note that armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket, and Tumble, and that carrying heavy gear imposes a check penalty on Swim checks.

Favor: The Covert Legionnaire has the ability to call in favors from those he knows. By making a favor check, the Covert Legionnaire can call upon powerful contacts to gain important information, equipment, access to restricted areas, etc.

To call in a favor, the Covert Legionnaire makes a favor check. Roll a d20 plus your favor bonus (+1 at 1st level, +2 at 3rd level, etc.). The DM sets the DC based on the scope of the favor being requested. From simple favors (such as coercing the captain of the guard to let a friend out of prison) that warrant a DC 10, to highly dangerous ones (allowing one a personal audience with an Overlord) at DC 25. The Covert Legionnaire can't take 10 or take 20 on this check, nor can she retry the check for the same (or virtually the same) favor, unless circumstances permit otherwise.

A Covert Legionnaire can try to call in a favor once per week for every class level she has.

Improved Evasion: Upon attaining 2nd level, a Covert Legionnaire's gains improved evasion. This ability works like evasion, except that while the Covert Legionnaire still takes no damage on a successful Reflex save against spells such as fireball or a breath weapon, she now takes only half damage on a failed save.

Favored Enemy: The Covert Legionnaire gains a favored enemy as per the Ranger ability. Covert Legionnaires may also choose an organization such as the Knights of Takhisis as their favored enemy.

Web of Contacts: At 2nd level, a Covert Legionnaire is able to draw upon information gathered by various contacts, in and outside of the Legion of Steel from all across Ansalon. Covert Legionnaires thus gain a +1 insight bonus to Bluff, Disguise, Gather Information, and Search checks. This bonus increases by +1 every other level (+2 at 4th level, +3 at 6th level, +4 at 8th level, and +5 at 10th level.)

Sneak Attack: If a Covert Legionnaire can catch an opponent when she is unable to defend herself effectively from his attack, he can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Basically, any time the Covert Legionnaire's target would be denied her Dexterity bonus to AC (whether she actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), the assassin's attack deals +1d6 points of damage. This extra damage increases by +1d6 points every three levels (+1d6 at 3rd level, +2d6 at 6th level, and +3d6 at 9th level.). Should the assassin score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. It takes precision and penetration to hit a vital spot, so ranged attacks can only count as sneak attacks if the target is 30 feet away or less.

With a sap or an unarmed strike, the Covert Legionnaire can make a sneak attack that deals subdual damage instead of normal damage. He cannot use a weapon that deals normal damage to deal subdual damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual -4 penalty, because he must make optimal use of his weapon in order to execute the sneak attack.

A Covert Legionnaire can only sneak attack living creatures with discernible anatomies-undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Additionally, any creature immune to critical hits is similarly immune to sneak attacks. Also, the Covert Legionnaire must also be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach a vital spot. The Covert Legionnaire cannot sneak attack while striking at a creature with concealment or by striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

If a Covert Legionnaire gets a sneak attack bonus from another source (such as rogue levels), the bonuses to damage stack.

Slippery Mind: At 5th level, the Covert Legionnaire gains slippery mind. This extraordinary ability represents the Covert Legionnaire's ability to writtle free from magical effects that would otherwise control or compel her. If a Covert Legionnaire with a slippery mind is affected by an enchantment and fails her saving throw, 1 round later she can attempt her saving throw again. She only gets this one extra chance to succeed at her saving throw.

Heightened Persuasion: A Covert Legionnaire has become so convincing when asking for aid, that as an extraordinary ability he may add his Charisma modifier to all favor checks beginning at 7th level.

Extend Evasion: By 10th level, those calling themselves friends to the Covert Legionnaire are so familiar with their friend and look to his knowledge and reactions, that they look to his reactions for guidance. All allies within 20 feet that can see or hear the Covert Legionnaire gain the benefits of the evasion ability. Those who already possess his reactions Justify with people knowing/knowing of him so well.

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