The Rake - LotFP Custom Class

The Rake

          Some folks are just born a cut above the rest when it comes to wealth and power. It's a sad fact that one's station in life (at least initially) is not at all based upon any merit, but rather luck and circumstance. While most of those who begin in such a position wish nothing more than to simply exploit it to it fullest and join their fellows in debauchery and political games, some few yearn for adventure and danger that cannot be found in their pampered parlors or mahals. 

    These individuals leave a life of wealth behind to wander like vagabonds through the wilderness. Their companions have excuses; they need to climb to social ladder, or enrich themselves or chase down eldritch secrets. Rakes often adventure simply because they are bored. They also do not travel alone. Rakes attract followers like flies to honey, their easy going attitudes and deep pockets win them friends and sword-arms everywhere they go. Rakes are dependent on their abilities to win friends and influence others, drawing on a lifetime of barking orders and playing social games to solve their problems.

Level	XP	HP	Paralyze	Poison	Breath	Device	Magic	Largesse	Delegation
1	0	1d6	14	16	15	14	14	150sp	1 in 6
2	1,750	1d6	14	16	15	14	14	200sp	1 in 6
3	3,500	1d6	14	16	15	14	14	250sp	1 in 6
4	7,000	1d6	14	16	15	14	14	300sp	2 in 6
5	14,000	1d6	11	12	14	13	12	400sp	2 in 6
6	28,000	1d6	11	12	14	13	12	450sp	2 in 6
7	56,000	1d6	11	12	14	13	12	500sp	3 in 6
8	112,000	1d6	11	12	14	13	12	550sp	3 in 6
9	224,000	1d6	9	10	12	11	10	600sp	3 in 6
10	336,000	+2*	9	10	12	11	10	750sp	4 in 6
11	448,000	+2*	9	10	12	11	10	800sp	4 in 6
12	560,000	+2*	9	10	12	11	10	850sp	4 in 6
13	672,000	+2*	7	8	10	9	8	900sp	5 in 6
14	784,000	+2*	7	8	10	9	8	950sp	5 in 6
15	896,000	+2*	7	8	10	9	8	1150sp	5 in 6
16	1,008,000	+2*	7	8	10	9	8	1200sp	6 in 6
17+	+112,000/lvl	+2*	5	6	8	7	6	1250sp	6 in 6

*Constitution modifiers no longer apply

       

B/X & OSE Rules

Requirements	None
Prime Requisite	CHA
Hit Dice	d6
Thac0 Table	As Rogue
Maximum Level	14
Armor	Any, including shields
Weapons	Any
Languages	Alignment, Common

          Rakes only have two abilities, the first is known as Largesse, which represents either the Rake's authority to impress others into their service or to simply bribe them; Largesse in game terms is a Pool of resources (not necessarily money) which renews each time that the Rake gains a level. These resources are generally derived from either holdings that the Rake's family controls, a stipend from some sort of investment, or simply a legitimate or criminal enterprise that the Rake has created or had bestowed upon them. This pool of resources is used to entice people to work for them, to keep them in their employ, and to pay for any household costs that may arise. 

    Rakes may have followers beyond those they hire through their Largesse. In addition to having the resources or influence to hire independent help, Rakes need not pay for such things as death benefits or recruitment fees, but shares still must be paid - though at only a 50% rate, and they may be paid from the Rake's Largesse first.

       
          The Rake's second ability is known as Delegation, which represents the Rake's talent for convincing followers to take risky actions in spite of their Morale. Delegation takes time, people don't go to their deaths lightly. The Rake has to make a speech in length equal to minutes time the number of HD (usually hirelings only have 1 HD) of the Hirelings they wish to talk into a dangerous action. If the Rake were trying to convince 6 HD of followers to charge a band of Ogres, it would take them 6 minutes to do so. 

        Even with the power of Delegation, some actions are simply too foolish to consider. No one is going to grab a cursed item, or touch an artifact that just obliterated the last person who did so. 

        Whenever a Rake is injured while close to one of their minions they may make a Delegation check, if successful the Rake takes no damage and the follower is killed.