Custom Class: The Lackey

LACKEY

Prime Requisite: Dexterity
Requirements: none
Hit Dice: 1d6
Maximum Level: 14

[HD 1, Fighting 1b thief, Thievery 2 (5 skills), Arcane 0, Divine 0]

Sometimes a level 0 torchbearer, pack hauler, valet or weapon caddy becomes a henchman and survives to reach first level. While many become fighters, some decide that they are more comfortable in their roles as assistants and general-purpose flunkies. These become the highly-useful lackeys.

Of necessity, lackeys gain skill in fighting, but not nearly to the level of fighters. At first level they hit an unarmored foe at 10+, and advance 2 points every four levels, as thieves. Lackeys may use any axes, flails, hammers and maces, and daggers, staffs, darts, crossbows and saps. They are not trained to use shields, or dual wield, but may use two-handed weapons (often a battle axe or great axe, or war hammer, because they are also useful as tools to break down doors or bust up chests). Lackeys are often called on to carry heavy loads, so they are limited to wearing leather armor or lighter.

Because they are schooled at Dungeoneering, beginning at first level, Lackeys can Find Traps, Remove Traps, and Open Locks as a thief of the same level.
At first level Lackeys also gain two special powers: first, the ability to haul goods efficiently or act as a porter: if using a backpack or porter’s pack, the weight carried in that pack is counted only as ½ it’s actual weight. So, for a lackey, a backpack filled with 4 stone of treasure, would only count as 2 stone toward his encumbrance. Second, the lackey gains the general proficiency “dungeon bashing” for free.

When a Lackey reaches 9th level, he can open a guildhall, and will attract 2d6 first level lackeys eager to learn the secrets of a successful servitor.

Class Proficiencies: Alertness, Ambushing, Animal Husbandry, Animal Training, Bribery, Caving, Climbing, Diplomacy, Eavesdropping, Endurance, Fighting Style (single weapon or two-handed weapon),Gambling, Healing, Knowledge, Labor, Lock-picking, Mapping, Profession, Riding, Running, Skirmishing, Survival, Swashbuckling, Tracking, Trap Finding, Trapping, Wakefulness, Weapon Finesse.

Saving Throws and Attack Throws are the same as for Thieves.

Level XP Title Hit Dice Find Traps Remove Traps Open Locks
1 0 Flunky 1d6 18+ 18+ 18+
2 1400 Porter 2d6 17+ 17+ 17+
3 2800 Footman 3d6 16+ 16+ 16+
4 5600 Attendant 4d6 15+ 15+ 15+
5 11,200 Assistant 5d6 14+ 14+ 14+
6 22,400 Factotum 6d6 13+ 13+ 12+
7 45,000 Valet 7d6 11+ 11+ 10+
8 90,000 Butler 8d6 9+ 9+ 8+
9 190,000 Steward 9d6 7+ 7+ 6+
10 290,000 Steward 9d6+2 5+ 5+ 4+
11 390,000 Steward 9d6+4 3+ 3+ 3+
12 490,000 Steward 9d6+6 2+ 2+ 2+
13 590,000 Steward 9d6+8 2+ 2+ 1+
14 690,000 Steward 9d6+10 1+ 1+ 1+

I love every part of this class.

Fantastic. Kudos, Doc.

Haha! Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

This is a delightful class. If we ever launch an ACKS e-zine, this needs to be in it. 

Nice! But maybe instead of having its own hall the Lackey’s hall is part of another characters hall…

Warder

Colonel Mustard: Is this place for you?

Wadsworth: Indeed no, sir. I’m merely a humble butler.

Colonel Mustard: What exactly do you do?

Wadsworth: I buttle, sir.

Colonel Mustard: Which means what?

Truth be told, I was going to elimnate any mention of a stronghold for the Lackey, but since every other class could build one, I threw in something.

I also drew up these two pieces of equipment of interest to the enterprising Lackey:

Porter’s Pack (4gp): a large backpack with sturdy frame and additional straps (often a head strap). It can hold up to 8 stone of items. However, it is impossible to Run, Charge or Retreat while wearing a porter’s pack and it must be dropped before such a move is made. A character with the Labor [Porter] general proficiency, or the Porter class power of the Lackey class will only count one half of the weight toward encumbrance.

Wheelbarrow (8gp): a one-wheeled cart pushed by 1 man using both hands. It can hold up to 15 stone, only half of which counts toward encumbrance. . A character with the Labor [Porter] general proficiency, or the Porter class power of the Lackey class will only count one third of the weight toward encumbrance. However, most dungeons are not wheel-barrow accessible. If the user has to Run or Retreat, he must abandon the wheelbarrow. If stairs or pits are encountered, the wheelbarrow must be unloaded and the load hand carried around the obstacle.

I think the stronghold works tbh. What does an experienced lackey do? Becomes a lackey-trainer!

Perhaps, and this adds complexity, the lackey can choose - either opening a guildhall, or somehow enhancing the stronghold of another class.

I would play the hell out of this.

Am I the only one thinking Nodwick?

I love this character class. I’m now trying to convince my Judge to include it in his campaign.