Bodyguard Class

Bodyguard
The bodyguard is a senator’s vigilant protector and the crime lord’s best friend. He makes security his specialty. He knows how to keep someone safe and how to provide personal protection to the utmost degree. No one is more important to the bodyguard than his charge or client.

Many bodyguards are ex-soldiers and ex-mercenaries with a reputation for being tough as duracrete. A well-trained bodyguard not only has the ability to avoid trouble but also the martial prowess and training to protect himself and his client from harm when trouble can’t be avoided.

The bodyguard demands a lot for his unswerving loyalty. Some are drawn to the profession because it pays well, others because they believe in their client’s cause. Bodyguards are drawn to all sorts of clients, from selfless New Republic diplomats to greedy corporation presidents to vile Hutt gangsters and other scum of the galaxy. The bodyguard lives on the edge, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his charge.

Requirements
To qualify for the bodyguard prestige class, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Skills: Intimidate 6 ranks
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Martial Arts

Game Rule Information
Vitality: A bodyguard gains 1d12 vitality points per level. The character’s Constitution modifier applies.

Class Skills
The bodyguard’s class skills, and the key ability for each skill, are as follows.
Climb (Str), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge* (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession* (Wis), Pilot (Dex), Read/Write Language, Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language, Spot (Wis)
*This skill actually encompasses a number of unrelated skills. Each time this skill is learned, a specific category must also be chosen. Examples include Craft (Droids), Knowledge (Jedi Lore), and Profession (Droid Programmer).
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier

Class Features
The following are features of the bodyguard prestige class.

Harm’s Way
The bodyguard may elect to place himself in the path of danger to protect a single ally. Once per round, if the bodyguard is adjacent to an ally who is targeted by direct melee or ranged attack (but not an area effect), the bodyguard can subject himself to the attack in the ally’s stead. If the attack hits the bodyguard, he takes damage normally. If it misses, it also misses the ally.

The bodyguard must declare his intention to place himself in harm’s way before the attack roll is made. He selects his ally either before combat (in the case of protecting a specific client) or immediately after he makes his initiative check. The bodyguard can’t change his ally for the duration of the combat.

Combat Sense
This ability allows a bodyguard of 2nd level or higher to designate a single opponent during his action and receive a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls against that opponent. The bodyguard can select a new opponent on any action.

At 8th level, the competence bonus increases to +2.

Bonus Feat
The bodyguard gains a bonus feat at 3rd, 6th, and 9th level. This bonus feat is selected from the following list, and the bodyguard must meet all of the feat’s prerequisites.
Advanced Martial Arts, Alertness, Armor Proficiency (Light), Armor Proficiency (Medium), Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Defensive Martial Arts, Dodge, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Frightful Presence, Headstrong, Improved Bantha Rush, Improved Disarm, Improved Martial Arts, Improved Trip, Low Profile, Mobility, Multidexterity, Multiweapon Fighting, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Razor Bite, Razor Claws, Shot on the Run, Spring Attack, Stamina, Thick Hide, Toughness

Surprising Vigor
At 4th level, the bodyguard no longer suffers from fatigue when he takes wound damage. The bodyguard must still make a Fortitude save when he takes wound damage to keep from being knocked out, however.

Improved Charge
A bodyguard of 5th level or higher can make a charge (see Combat) without having to move in a straight line. All other charge rules apply, but the bodyguard can alter his direction when making a charge to avoid obstacles.

Defensive Strike
At 7th level, the bodyguard develops the ability to turn a strong defense into a powerful offense. If an opponent makes a melee attack against the bodyguard and misses while the bodyguard is using the total defense option, the bodyguard can attack that opponent on his next turn (as an attack action) with a +4 bonus on his attack roll. The bodyguard gains no bonus against an opponent who makes a successful attack.

Blanket Protection
At 10th level, the body guard can use his expertise to provide protection for up to six allies (not including himself). He takes a full-round action to issue orders and directions. Doing this provides the bodyguard’s allies with a +1 insight bonus to Defense for 3 rounds.

Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Defense Bonus Reputation Bonus
1 +0 +1 +2 +0 Harm’s Way +1 +0
2 +1 +2 +3 +0 Combat Sense +1 +1 +0
3 +2 +2 +3 +1 Bonus Feat +2 +1
4 +3 +2 +4 +1 Surprising Vigor +2 +1
5 +3 +3 +4 +1 Improved Charge +3 +1
6 +4 +3 +5 +2 Bonus Feat +3 +2
7 +5 +4 +5 +2 Defensive Strike +4 +2
8 +6 +4 +6 +2 Combat Sense +2 +4 +2
9 +6 +4 +6 +3 Bonus Feat +5 +3
10 +7 +5 +7 +3 Blanket Protection +5 +3
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