Scheming Noble (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

A backstabbing noble is an plotting and conniving noble, an aristocrat willing to go to risk his honor to push her goals or agenda. Knowledgeable in all kinds of tricks and stunts, the backstabbing noble but rarely has to resort to actual sneak attacks, but is usually more than willing to use any opening in social intruige.

Class Information

This is a prestige archetype.

Prestige Class: Noble Scion from Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige.

Build Class: Rogue.

The backstabbing noble is a rogue with money and connections.

Role: A backstabbing noble often keeps to the shadows, acting incognito or through pawns. Some separate their adventuring and social careers, and adventure under a secret identity. Either way they are effective scouts, planners, tricksters and in a pinch backstabers.

Alignment: Any. A backstabbing noble generally hides her true agenda under layers of deception.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Skills

The backstabbing noble's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Dex), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Stealth (Dex), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 8 + Int modifier.

Class Features

The backstabbing noble has all the class features of the rogue, except as follows:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A backstabbing noble is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, and short sword. She is not proficient with any armor or shields.

Affluent (Ex)

At each level, a backstabbing noble gains a stipend worth a number of gold pieces equal to 750 multiplied by her class level. (He gains 750 gp at 1st level, an additional 1,500 gp at 2nd level, and so on.) Affluent, prestigious influence, aristocratic erudition, leadership, and greater leadership replaces trap sense.

Prestigious Influence (Ex)

At 2nd level, a backstabbing noble can use her influence to receive special treatment, favors, and other services. He effectively has a pool of virtual gold pieces equal to 150 gp plus 10 gp per class level to spend on services and non-material goods. This pool replenishes at the beginning of every week.

Services and nonmaterial goods available to a backstabbing noble include:

• Pay for lodgings, stabling, taxes, and tolls.
• Improve her lifestyle quality.
• Hire entertainers, messengers, mounts, servants, transport, workers, and so on.
• Obtain invitations to exclusive events, or entry into privileged locations.
• Spread rumors or start a whispering campaign.
• Purchase spellcasting services.
• Employ an expert hireling to make a skill check with a check bonus of +10 plus her class level (50 gp).

A backstabbing noble cannot permanently gain goods or wealth from this ability; boons attainable from this ability are generally only available in settlements of 5,000 people or more. The exact benefits available in a location are subject to GM discretion. Affluent, prestigious influence, aristocratic erudition, leadership, and greater leadership replaces trap sense.

Aristocratic Erudition (Ex)

At 3rd level, a backstabbing noble gains a bonus equal to 1/3 her class level on Diplomacy, Knowledge (local), and Knowledge (nobility) checks. This ability also reduces the DCs of Diplomacy and Knowledge (local) checks others make to gather publicly known information about the backstabbing noble by the same amount. Affluent, prestigious influence, aristocratic erudition, leadership, and greater leadership replaces trap sense.

Servitor (Ex)

At 4th level, a backstabbing noble gains a faithful NPC servitor of the same level as a cohort granted by the Leadership feat. This servitor can only have levels in NPC classes and comes equipped with gear appropriate for a character 1 level lower than the servitor's actual level. The servitor does not follow the backstabbing noble as would a cohort or follower, but instead can run various errands for her master while the backstabbing noble is adventuring, such as delivering messages or maintaining the scion's manor in her stead.

Regional Expertise (Ex)

At 5th level, and again at 11th and 15th level, a backstabbing noble gains a bonus feat from one of the lists below, depending on where he is from. These feats must be taken from the same list at each level (except for feats under the “general” category, which can be taken by nobles from any region). A backstabbing noble need not meet the prerequisites for these feats. At their discretion, GMs may add other feats to these regions or create lists for other regions. This replaces the level 5, 11, and 15 sneak attack bonus.

Land of the Fallen Dragon Kings: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (dueling sword), Flanking Foil, Step Up, Weapon Focus (dueling sword).

The Empire of Devils: Careful Speaker, Enforcer, Intimidating Prowess, Skill Focus (Knowledge [planes]).

The Land of the Ten-Thousand Gods: Improved Unarmed Strike, Skill Focus (Perform [dance]), Voice of the Sibyl, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike).

The Elven Forest Kingdom: Agile Maneuvers, Breadth of Experience, Skill Focus (Knowledge [nature]), Weapon Focus (longbow).

The Shadow Kingdom: Blind-Fight, Diehard, Shadow Strike, Stealthy.

The Kingdom of Pharaohs: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (khopesh), Self-Sufficient, Skill Focus (Knowledge [history]), Weapon Focus (khopesh).

The Satrapy of the Desert: Animal Affinity, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Appraise), Weapon Focus (scimitar).

The River Nations: Improved Dirty Trick, Improved Steal, Ironguts, Skill Focus (Knowledge [local]).

The Fallen Empire: Dazzling Display, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (falcata), Skill Focus (Bluff ), Weapon Focus (falcata).

The Gothic Kingdoms: Combat Reflexes, Focused Discipline, Skill Focus (Knowledge [nobility]), Stoic.

General: Acrobatic, Additional Traits, Alertness, Antagonize, Athletic, Cosmopolitan, Deceitful, Deft Hands, Fleet, Improved Initiative, Persuasive, Prodigy, Rhetorical Flourish, Run, Scholar.

Light Armor

At 6th level, the backstabbing noble gains Armor Proficiency (light) as a bonus feat. If she already has this feat, she instead gains a combat feat she fulfills the prerequisites for. If she gained proficiency in light armor some other way, such as by multiclassing, there is no compensation.

Leadership (Ex)

At 7th level, the backstabbing noble gains Leadership as a bonus feat. Affluent, prestigious influence, aristocratic erudition, leadership, and greater leadership replaces trap sense.

Greater Leadership (Ex)

At 13th level, a backstabbing noble can recruit a cohort up to one level lower than herself and doubles the number of followers. At 19th level, he can recruit a cohort of the same level she is and quadruples the number of followers. Affluent, prestigious influence, aristocratic erudition, leadership, and greater leadership replaces trap sense.

Peerless Patrician (Ex)

At 20th level, once per round a backstabbing noble can roll twice on any Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (nobility), or Sense Motive check and take the better roll. Once per day, instead of rolling one of these skill checks, he can assume the roll resulted in a natural 20. This replaces master strike.

Table: Backstabbing Noble

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+0	+0	+2	+0	Affluent, sneak attack +1d6, trapfinding
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+0	Evasion, prestigious influence, rogue talent
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+1	Aristocratic erudition (+1), sneak attack +2d6
4th	+3	+1	+4	+1	Rogue talent, servitor, uncanny dodge
5th	+3	+1	+4	+1	Regional expertise
6th	+4	+2	+5	+2	Aristocratic erudition +2, rogue talent, light armor, sneak attack +3d6
7th	+5	+2	+5	+2	Leadership
8th	+6/+1	+2	+6	+2	Improved uncanny dodge, rogue talent
9th	+6/+1	+3	+6	+3	Aristocratic erudition +3, sneak attack +4d6
10th	+7/+2	+3	+7	+3	Advanced talents, rogue talent
11th	+8/+3	+3	+7	+3	Regional expertise
12th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+4	Rogue talent, , sneak attack +5d6
13th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+4	Greater leadership
14th	+10/+5	+4	+9	+4	Rogue talent
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+9	+5	Aristocratic erudition +5, sneak attack +6d6
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+5	Rogue talent
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+5	Regional expertise
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+11	+6	Aristocratic erudition +6, rogue talent, sneak attack +7d6
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+11	+6	Greater leadership
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+12	+6	Peerless patrician, rogue talent

Summary of Changed Class Features

These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:

• Class Skills
• Armor Proficiency
• Trap Sense
• Sneak Attack
• Master Strike