| Prime Requisite: | INT |
| Requirements: | None |
| Hit Dice: | 1d6 |
| Maximum Level: | 14 |
Note: The Scholar campaign class is simply the Bard campaign class re-dressed.
Scholars come in many stripes, from well-tutored nobles to self-taught adventurers and university students turned adventurer. They are useful for the breadth and depth of their knowledge and lore, and for their sage advice.
Scholars advance in attack throws and saving throws as a thief, by two points every four levels of experience. At first level, scholars hit an unarmored foe (AC 0) with an attack throw of 10+. They may fight with any missile weapons and any one-handed melee weapons, and may wield a weapon in each hand if desired. They cannot wear armor heavier than leather, and cannot use shields. Scholars can use magical items useable by thieves.
Each scholar has studied a field of specialty, and starts with a bonus proficiency chosen from the following: Alchemy, Collegiate Wizardry, Engineering, Healing, Knowledge (any), Language (any), Mapping, Naturalism, Navigation, or Theology.
By reciting heroic stories or giving pertinent advice, scholars can inspire courage. Inspiring courage requires a few moments of oration before a battle (one round), and grants the scholar's allies within a 50' radius a +1 bonus to attack throws, damage rolls, morale rolls (for monsters or NPCs allied with the scholar), and saving throws against magical fear. The bonus lasts for 10 minutes (1 turn). A scholar can inspire courage in any given character once per day per class level. (Even the most inspiring story gets old if you hear it twice in the same day.) A scholar cannot inspire courage on characters who are already engaged in combat.
Because of their study of ancient annals and legends, scholars possess loremastery. This knowledge allows them to decipher occult runes, remember ancient history, identify historic artifacts, and similar tasks. At 1st level, the character must make a proficiency throw of 18+ on 1d20 to succeed in these tasks. The proficiency throw required reduces by 1 per level.
This same knowledge allows scholars to dabble in the arcane. They may attempt to use wands, staffs, and other magic items only useable by mages. At 1st level, the character must make a proficiency throw of 18+ on a 1d20 or the attempt backfires in some desultory way (Judge's discretion). The proficiency throw required reduces by 2 per level, to a minimum of 3+.
Upon attaining 4th level (Annalist), the scholar gains the ability to read languages, including ciphers, treasure maps, and dead languages, but not magical writings. A proficiency throw of 5+ on 1d20 is required. If the roll does not succeed, the scholar may not try to read that particular piece of writing until he reaches a higher level of experience.
When a scholar reaches 5th level (Chronicler), his chronicles of battle inspire his hirelings to strive for glory. Any henchmen and mercenaries hired by the scholar gain a +1 bonus to their morale score if the scholar is there to witness and record their deeds. This bonus stacks with any modifiers from the scholar's Charisma or proficiencies.
Upon reaching 9th level (Loremaster), a scholar can build an academy and become a ruler. When he does so, up to 1d4+1×10 0th level mercenaries and 1d6 scholars of 1st—3rd level will come to apply for jobs and training. If hired, they must be paid standard rates for mercenaries. Additional rules for academies are detailed in the Campaigns chapter of the ACKS rules.
At 10th level, a scholar can read and cast magic from arcane scrolls with a proficiency throw of 3+ on 1d20. However, a failed throw means the spell does not function as expected, and can create a horrible effect at the Judge's discretion.
Scholar Proficiency List: Acrobatics, Alertness, Armor Training, Art, Bargaining, Bribery, Combat Trickery (disarm), Command, Diplomacy, Eavesdropping, Fighting Style, Healing, Knowledge, Land Surveying, Language, Leadership, Lip Reading, Magical Engineering, Mapping, Mimicry, Performance, Precise Shooting, Prestidigitation, Running, Skirmishing, Swashbuckling, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus
| Experience | Title | Level | Hit Dice | Loremastery | Arcane Dabbling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Pupil | 1 | 1d6 | 18+ | 18+ |
| 1,400 | Chirographer | 2 | 2d6 | 17+ | 16+ |
| 2,800 | Archivist | 3 | 3d6 | 16+ | 14+ |
| 5,600 | Annalist | 4 | 4d6 | 15+ | 12+ |
| 11,200 | Chronicler | 5 | 5d6 | 14+ | 10+ |
| 22,400 | Academician | 6 | 6d6 | 13+ | 8+ |
| 45,000 | Professor | 7 | 7d6 | 12+ | 6+ |
| 90,000 | Scholar | 8 | 8d6 | 11+ | 4+ |
| 190,000 | Loremaster | 9 | 9d6 | 10+ | 3+ |
| 290,000 | Loremaster, 10th level | 10 | 9d6+2* | 9+ | 3+ |
| 390,000 | Loremaster, 11th level | 11 | 9d6+4* | 8+ | 3+ |
| 490,000 | Loremaster, 12th level | 12 | 9d6+6* | 7+ | 3+ |
| 590,000 | Loremaster, 13th level | 13 | 9d6+8* | 6+ | 3+ |
| 690,000 | Grand Loremaster | 14 | 9d6+10* | 5+ | 3+ |
| * Hit point modifiers from Constitution are ignored | |||||
| Level | Petrification & Paralysis | Poison & Death | Blast & Breath | Staff & Wands | Spells | Attack Throw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 13+ | 13+ | 16+ | 14+ | 15+ | 10+ |
| 3–4 | 12+ | 12+ | 15+ | 13+ | 14+ | 9+ |
| 5–6 | 11+ | 11+ | 14+ | 12+ | 13+ | 8+ |
| 7–8 | 10+ | 10+ | 13+ | 11+ | 12+ | 7+ |
| 9–10 | 9+ | 9+ | 12+ | 10+ | 11+ | 6+ |
| 11–12 | 8+ | 8+ | 11+ | 9+ | 10+ | 5+ |
| 13–14 | 7+ | 7+ | 10+ | 8+ | 9+ | 4+ |