View source for Marshal, Retooled (3.5 Class)

=== Marshals and other ''Dungeons & Dragons'' supplements ===

Although the class is designed to be mostly self-sufficient, one of the big problems with the Marshal was the lack of support between classes. Aside from a pair of classes that provided some auras, the concept of an aura class was greatly neglected. Given that the original marshal had troubles being a martial character despite being geared for such, and because it was hidden within a supplement that saw very little light (the ''[[Publication:Miniatures_Handbook|Miniatures Handbook]]''), the marshal was relegated to second duty. Some supplements either provided very limited help (''[[Publication:Complete_Champion|Complete Champion]], [[Publication:Heroes_of_Battle|Heroes of Battle]], and the [[Publication:Magic_Item_Compendium|Magic Item Compendium]]'') or served as a blanket replacement (''[[Publication:Tome_of_Battle|Tome of Battle: the Book of Nine Swords]]'', with its White Raven discipline). In order to provide options for the marshal that decides to multiclass or enter into a suitable prestige class.

''[[Publication:Heroes_of_Battle|Heroes of Battle]]'': a supplement that could quite easily rework the Marshal into the fray, providing more auras and options for the character, fell oddly short from its expectations. However, the concept of a commander and a campaign geared towards battles is a natural for a Marshal. Namely, the concept of rally and commander’s auras are suitable for a Marshal, not to mention that a Marshal would be a high-ranking commander straight out of the box.

* ''Commander Rating'': unlike other classes, the Marshal begins with a much higher commander rating. If using the rules, a marshal should begin on a rank no lower than lieutenant (rank 3), but usually no higher. Unless specified by the DM, the Marshal should raise in ranks at level 6th, level 10th, level 15th, and level 20th (levels 6th and 15th representing mid-level play and pre-epic play, 20th level being actual epic play, and level 10th being the theoretical midpoint of the game).<br>
* ''Rally Checks'': a Marshal making a rally check may use his [[Strength]] or [[Intelligence]] modifier instead of his [[Charisma]] modifier. As well, the auras of Commander’s Loyalty and Aura of Courage add the aura’s benefit to rally checks. A marshal using his rally ability may make a rally check as a [[Free_Action|free action]] as part of the action required to activate the ability, and the effects of the check last for as long as the marshal rallies. A 11th level marshal with the [[#Commander's_Skill_Mastery|Commander’s Skill Mastery]] class ability may take 10 when making a rally check (an exception to the rule in which you may not take 10 on a rally check) even if stress and distractions affect him. A 18th level Marshal may use his Charisma modifier and either his Strength or Intelligence modifier when making rally checks.<br>
* ''Commander Auras'': given that the Marshal is the perfect battlefield class, and being an aura-inspired class, they gain unique benefits. A Marshal may take a commander aura instead of a minor, major or greater aura, plus the commander’s aura they gain by means of rank. Auras gained by means of commander rating are treated as the Marshal’s auras in all respect (including scaling the benefit based on the type of aura they are similar to), and may be deactivated as a swift action. Unlike commander’s auras, if a Marshal chooses a commander’s aura instead of a minor, major, or greater aura, he may take the benefit of the aura alongside a pre-existing commander aura, but the marshal may not have an aura of the same type as the equivalent commander aura (thus, a marshal that has chosen a commander aura as a minor aura may not have a minor aura of its own, but it may have that minor-equivalent commander aura alongside the actual commander aura).<br>The following is the equivalency between the commander’s auras (and their requirements, with alternate requirements in the case of a Marshal) and the Marshal’s auras:<br>
** ''Animal Commander'' (commander rating 1, any neutral alignment, [[SRD:Druid#Wild_Empathy|wild empathy]] or [[Handle Animal]] 4 ranks): Major Aura
** ''Archery Commander'' (commander rating 2, any chaotic alignment, [[Point Blank Shot]]): Greater Aura
** ''Bloodthirsty Commander'' (commander rating 3, any evil alignment): Minor Aura
** ''Deathslayer Commander'' (commander rating 2, any good alignment, [[SRD:Cleric#Turn_or_Rebuke_Undead|turn undead]] or [[Knowledge]] [religion] 9 ranks): Greater Aura
** ''Defensive Commander'' (commander rating 2, lawful good alignment): Major Aura
** ''Dwarf Commander'' (commander rating 3, [[SRD:Dwarf_Subtype|dwarf]], lawful good alignment): Major Aura (2x bonus vs. giants)
** ''Elf Commander'' (commander rating 3, [[SRD:Elf_Subtype|elf]], chaotic good alignment): Minor Aura
** ''Feral Commander'' (commander rating 3, any neutral alignment, [[Handle Animal]] 5 ranks): Minor Aura
** ''Giant-Killer Commander'' (commander rating 2, [[SRD:Small|Small]] or smaller size, any good alignment): Minor Aura
** ''Goblinoid Commander'' (commander rating 3, [[SRD:Goblinoid_Subtype|goblinoid]], lawful evil alignment): Minor Aura
** ''Maneuvering Commander'' (commander rating 2, chaotic good alignment): Minor Aura
** ''Melee Commander'' (commander rating 3, any lawful alignment, base attack bonus +2): Major Aura
** ''Mobile Commander'' (commander rating 3, any chaotic alignment): Major Aura (5 ft. per point of bonus)
** ''Necromantic Commander'' (commander rating 2, any evil alignment, [[SRD:Cleric#Turn_or_Rebuke_Undead|rebuke undead]] or [[Knowledge]] [religion] 9 ranks): Greater Aura
** ''Orc Commander'' (commander rating 3, [[SRD:Orc_Subtype|orc]], lawful good alignment): Major Aura
** ''Orderly Commander'' (commander rating 2, any alignment): Major Aura (adds 5 ft per point of Charisma or Intelligence to movement speed, minimum 10 ft., when making a rally check or using the Marshal’s rally; the ability stacks with the movement boost from rally)
** Protective Commander (commander rating 1, any lawful alignment): Major Aura
** Pursuing Commander (commander rating 2, lawful evil alignment): Major Aura
** Reckless Commander (commander rating 2, chaotic evil alignment): Major Aura
** Runt-Squasher Commander (commander rating 2, [[SRD:Large|Large]] or larger size, any evil alignment): Major Aura
** Sneaky Commander (commander rating 5, chaotic evil alignment, sneak attack or sudden strike ability): Greater Aura
** Spellslinging Commander (commander rating 3, ability to cast 1st level spells or [[Knowledge]] [arcana] 5 ranks, [[Spellcraft]] 5 ranks): Greater Aura
** Steadfast Commander (commander rating 5, lawful good alignment): Minor Aura
** Tyrannical Commander (commander rating 5, lawful evil alignment): Minor Aura<br>
::''Note'': since Doublestrike Commander and Healing Commander do not provide any bonuses (instead enabling actions), they may not be chosen as Marshal’s auras.<br>
* ''Volley of Arrows'': a marshal’s extra damage from rally adds to the damage dealt from a volley of arrows in the following way: for a normal volley, all creatures take damage equal to the marshal’s rally extra damage; for a concentrated volley, the creature takes damage equal to the marshal’s rally extra damage per five arrows shot (thus, a concentrated volley of 20 arrows shot from a [[SRD:Longbow|longbow]] led by an 8th level marshal deals 4d8 points of damage plus 8d6 points of damage from the rally). The marshal must be using his rally ability in order to add the extra damage, but he may make the volley attack as a standard action instead of a full round action as part of the rally.<br>
* ''Siege Engines'': a Marshal does not affect the damage from siege engines (if any) when using his rally ability, and any ability that increases damage does not affect the damage from siege engines. However, auras and abilities that increase attack rolls do affect the siege engine attack roll.

''[[Publication:Player's_Handbook_II|Player’s Handbook II]]'': a supplement that offers some options for the marshal, the book also introduces the second official aura-based class: the dragon shaman.

* ''Dragon Shaman'': the dragon shaman introduces the concept of draconic auras, and follows a progression similar to the marshal’s greater aura bonus. For purposes of multiclassing, a marshal/dragon shaman adds a +1 bonus to his greater auras for every 2 points of bonus with the dragon shaman’s draconic auras; as well, draconic aura bonuses increase by 1 for every two points of greater aura bonus. Thus, a marshal 10/dragon shaman 10 has a greater aura bonus total of +3 (+2 from the class and +1 from the draconic aura synergy) and a draconic aura bonus of +4 (+3 from the class and +1 from the greater aura synergy).<br>
* ''Adrenaline Boost'' (Marshal ACF): Adrenaline Boost is meant to replace the [[#Grant_Move_Action|grant move action]] ability, which had its own kind of progression. Keep the bonus as-is, but replace the [[#Grant_Standard_Action|Grant Standard Action]] and [[#Grant_Full-Round_Action|Grant Full-Round Action]] in case that the marshal exchanges Grant Move Action for Adrenaline Boost as follows:<br>
:At 11th level, a marshal’s granted temporary hit points act as if they were granted by a [[Constitution]] bonus. These hit points are not lost first as temporary hit points do. As well, all allies that gain the temporary hit point bonus gain a bonus on attack rolls, damage rolls, ability checks and saving throws equal to one-fourth the marshal’s level (rounded up).<br>
:At 20th level, a marshal also grants [[SRD:Regeneration|regeneration]] X, where X is equal to one fourth the marshal’s class level. This regeneration is bypassed by attacks that deal negative energy damage (such as ''[[SRD:Inflict_Light_Wounds|inflict light wounds]]'' spells), and behaves like normal regeneration.

''[[Publication:Dragon_Magic|Dragon Magic]]'': this supplement allows for most characters, including Marshals, to gain draconic auras instead of marshal’s auras. The rules for gaining auras, however, are left mildly unclear and most of the auras don’t grant a specific benefit, usually causing a dragonblooded marshal to use his own dragonblooded subtype to enhance the auras. The following should clear up things a bit, in accordance with the enhancement to the class:

* ''Draconic Auras'': The marshal can learn any of the draconic auras presented here in place of a major aura. The bonus granted by a draconic aura equals the bonus normally granted by the marshal’s greater aura, and otherwise follows all the normal rules for the marshal’s auras (including range, eligible targets, and when it ceases functioning). It is also considered a draconic aura for all effects that apply to such auras, such as the Double Draconic Aura feat. (Paraphrased and modified from ''Dragon Magic'', page 86)<br>
:For purposes of eligibility, a marshal may only choose from the list presented on the Draconic Auras section of ''Dragon Magic'', page 87. A marshal that has at least one level on dragon shaman may choose from the auras exclusive to the dragon shaman as well. A dragonblooded marshal with draconic auras may use either the progression granted by the marshal’s auras, or the progression granted by the dragonblooded subtype as presented on the Draconic Aura feat, page 16-17 of ''Dragon Magic'', whichever is highest. (Usually, this means a dragonblooded marshal will use the dragonblooded progression between levels 1st to 12th, and then the marshal progression from 13th level onward).<br>
* ''Dragon Lord'' (Draconic Aura-based PrC): A marshal that enters the Dragon Lord class adds the draconic aura progression to his greater aura bonus at the indicated levels (thus, a marshal 9/dragon lord 5 has a total greater aura bonus of +4; 2 from his marshal levels and 2 from his dragon lord levels). He may choose between the draconic auras granted by the class, or from the marshal’s list of auras (minor, major or greater) at each level in which he gains a new draconic aura. His other class abilities remain unchanged.<br>

''[[Publication:Tome_of_Battle|Tome of Battle: the Book of Nine Swords]]'': widely regarded as the book that redefines martial characters (or a book of magic-flavored anime attacks and characters), the White Raven discipline on its pages deals a mortal blow to the marshal, as abilities like Leading the Charge, Tactics of the Wolf and even the arch-famous (and undoubtedly broken) White Raven Tactics make for a superb marshal-type character. What’s best, the White Raven discipline is granted to two classes, the crusader and the warblade, and some PrCs allow for its progression (namely, Eternal Blade, Master of Nine and Ruby Knight Vindicator). For those marshals that wish to expand their options by means of adding martial maneuvers, the following should be worthwhile.

* ''Maneuvers and Stances'': a martial adept with marshal levels, or a marshal with knowledge of at least one White Raven stance or maneuver, treats his levels in the marshal class as initiator levels for purposes of qualifying for White Raven maneuvers, or White Raven maneuvers that depend on initiator level (such as Leading the Charge). For purposes of qualifying for other classes, the marshal’s initiator level is equal to his levels in a martial adept class, plus half his levels in other classes, as usual.

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===Campaign Information===
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====Playing a <-class name->====

'''Religion:''' <-description of how this class typically (but no exclusively) approaches religion including likely portfolios it would worship->.

'''Other Classes:''' <-How this class typically interacts with other classes and how characters of this class interact with characters of other classes->.

'''Combat:''' <-Typical role in combat->.

'''Advancement:''' <-Typical advancement options for characters with this class.  Include desirable multiclass options->.
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====<-pluralized class name-> in the World====

{{quote|<-Some quote from a character of this class->|orig=<-NPC name->, <-race-> <-class->}}

<-Where characters of this class fit in a d20 world.->

'''Daily Life:''' <-day in the life of a character of this class->.

'''Notables:''' <-notable NPCs of this class->.

'''Organizations:''' <-info on what, where, when, and how characters of this class congregate and assemble->.

'''NPC Reactions:''' <-How NPCs react to PCs of this class->.
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====<-class name-> Lore====

Characters with ranks in <-the appropriate skills-> can research <-pluralized class name-> to learn more about them.  When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

{| class="zebra d20"
|+ <-the appropriate skills->
! DC || class="left" | Result
|- 
| 5 || class="left" | <-common knowledge->.
|- 
| 10 || class="left" | <-not so common knowledge->.
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| 15 || class="left" | <-rare information->.
|- 
| 20 || class="left" | <-very rare information->.
|}
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====<-pluralized class name-> in the Game====

<-How characters of this class fit in the game (PC and NPC) and what roles they play.->

'''Adaptation:''' <-Possible variant conceptions of this class.->.

'''Sample Encounter:''' <-DM placement for NPCs of this class.->.

''EL <- EL Number ->:'' <-Encounter scenario and character info on sample NPC including stat block.  The CR of the NPC is typically the same as the EL for the encounter.->.

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{{3.5e Base Classes Breadcrumb}}
[[Category:3.5e]]
[[Category:User]]
[[Category:Class]]
[[Category:Base Class]]

{{Navboxes}}
Allowed Alignments	Lawful Good +, Lawful Neutral +, Lawful Evil +, Neutral Good +, Neutral +, Neutral Evil +, Chaotic Good +, Chaotic Neutral + and Chaotic Evil +
Article Balance	High +
Author	T.G. Oskar +
Base Attack Bonus Progression	Good +
Class Ability Progression	Full +
Fortitude Save Progression	Good +
Identifier	3.5 Class +
Length	20 +
Rating	Undiscussed +
Reflex Save Progression	Poor +
Skill	Bluff +, Concentration +, Diplomacy +, Disguise +, Gather Information +, Handle Animal +, Intimidate +, Knowledge +, Listen +, Perform +, Profession +, Ride +, Search +, Sense Motive +, Speak Language +, Spot +, Survival + and Swim +
Skill Points	4 +
Summary	A retooling of the Marshal that makes it a better martial character and an extraordinary buffer (literally). +
Title	Marshal, Retooled +
Will Save Progression	Good +