My first work in the industry was for a development group called The Brood. They're the crew responsible for E.N. Publishing's Crimson Contracts and Arcane Strife, as well as UKG Publishing's amazing Year of the Zombie. They were a hardcore group to start with, led by the force of nature known as Tim Willard. I wouldn't be here talking to you about game design if it weren't for his inspiration.
A lot of the material I provided The Brood has yet to be, and may never be, published. This may be a good thing, I think as I look back on that material. Want an example? Of course you don't. But this is my blog and I'm going to subject you to whatever I choose (it is at this point that I remind you of your ever-present free will and provide you with an easy escape to more interesting fare).
The following is a prestige class I cooked up during my kobold infatuation. Since I lack the know-how for effective table presentation in this venue, I will present the info as best I can.
SPEAR SKIRMISHER
In battle, the greatest weakness of the kobolds is their lack of hand-to-hand proficiency. Most other races, including gnomes, generally outmatch kobolds in a one on one melee. While kobolds employ clever traps and sorcery to compensate for this weakness, they know that their enemies will seek to take advantage of it. Ximnorgd, informal leader of the Kobold military forces, has constructed a system of training designed to make the common Kobold warrior a more effective fighter.
Hit die: d8
Requirements
To qualify to become a Spear Skirmisher, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Kobold
Base Attack Bonus: +4
Feats: Weapon Focus (shortspear)
Special: Sneak Attack +1d6
Class Skills
The Spear Skirmisher’s class skills (and the key abilities for each) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), and Spot (Wis).
Skill Points per level: 3 + Int modifier
Base Attack Bonus: as Fighter
Fort Save: Good
Ref Save: Good
Will Save: Poor
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the Spear Skirmisher prestige class.
Spear Defense (melee) (Ex): The kobold is taught to use the spear as a defensive weapon. While wielding a shortspear she may, as a standard action, gain a +1 deflection bonus to AC against melee attacks for the round. Doing so grants a +2 bonus to any attacker’s Sunder attack roll, since the kobold is practically holding her weapon out to be smashed. The deflection bonus increases by +1 at 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level. This ability may only be used while wearing light or no armor.
Sneak Attack: This is identical to the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every three levels (2nd, 5th, and 8th). If a Spear Skirmisher receives Sneak Attack bonus damage from another class, those bonuses stack.
Bonus Feat: At 3rd and 7th level, the Spear Skirmisher may choose a bonus feat from the Bonus Fighter Feats list.
Spear Defense (ranged) (Ex): The Spear Skirmisher eventually becomes so adept at using her spear as a defensive weapon that she is able to swat incoming projectiles out of the sky. When using the Spear Defense ability, the Spear Skirmisher also gains a +1 deflection bonus against ranged attacks for the round. This deflection bonus increases to +2 at 8th level.
Reach Out and Hurt (Ex): Many opponents believe themselves safe when at distance from a Kobold. Spear Skirmishers become adept at exploiting this assumption. Once per round, as a standard action, the Spear Skirmisher may attack 10ft away as though her shortspear were a reach weapon.
Returning Spear (Su): Now bonded with her weapon, the Spear Skirmisher’s shortspear acts as though it had the returning property. This ability only functions for the wielder of the shortspear, though it applies to any shortspear the Spear Skirmisher wields.
As you can see, it was a focused enough idea for a prestige class - oriented to one race and one type of weapon. In retrospect, gaining a fighter BAB alongside all these abilities is probably too much. The Spear Defense abilities are kind of lame and don't really make up for AC disadvantage of using light or no armor. I really like the flavour of the class but I can't help but think I could have represented it better through the mechanics.
The game mechanics presented here are open content under the OGL. Ximnorgd and other proper nouns are Product Identity of David S. Gallant.
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