Not all heroes have a humble beginning as the son of a pig farmer in some back-country borough. Some come from well-to-do families, and may even have a title in their futures. Instead of doing chores, they've been highly educated by learned tutors, and while they may not have experience per say, they have received second-hand insights that can help them to begin their path to greatness.
    The patrician is a base class with a twist. Accessible to any character at 1st level, it represents a more heroic version of the aristocrat class from the Dungeon Master's Guide. Consider taking this class to represent a noble who has decided to take up adventuring, as a lark or for higher purposes.
    Adventures: Many patricians see adventuring as a pass-time. They don't go traipsing into deep catacombs and fight monsters for the treasure. They go traipsing into deep catacombs and fight monsters for the stories they can tell afterwards (and of course, a little treasure doesn't hurt either). While many patricians start off with less than noble intentions, some find themselves travelling the world for a higher purpose. Their families might have been deposed by a wicked villain, they may seek a way to slay a dragon that has been terrorizing the area, or they may travel in order to help alleviate the sufferings of those in need.
    Characteristics: Given their access to tutoring in their youth, patricians have received a well-rounded education that provides them with many of the skills that they use in their adventuring. Many patricians are eager to help their allies, whether their allies want the assistance or not and often show a surprising amount of skill in a variety of fields. Patricians are not without the ability to defend themselves, and have a smattering of combat training that comes in quite handy while away from home.
    Alignment: Generally coming from fairly structured environments, patricians are generally lawful, and usually comfortable with that fact. Although less common, chaotic patricians do exist, and are generally the result of extremely strict or cloistered upbringings. They tend to spend their money freely and revel beyond what is considered to be wise, or even acceptable. Patricians are neutral in their overall outlook towards ethics, but adventuring patricians tend more towards good than evil. Evil patricians are usually more focused on a very particular goal and long-term adventuring does not generally suit them.
    Religion: Patricians are not usually known for being pious, but those who do worship deities tend to follow those that emphasize their particular outlook on life. Olidammara is very popular among patricians. Saint Cuthbert, Pelor and Kord are also often worshipped by patricians.
    Background: While they may not come from particularly rich upbringings, all patricians come from well-to-do backgrounds. Often spending their childhoods away from playing with 'peasant' children, they instead while away their days in the company of one or more tutors, learning a great deal on a number of subjects. They may be expected to one day inherit a title and some land, or even to just fritter their lives away in idle pursuits. For glory, necessity or even idle boredom, the patrician has left the comfort of their homes and taken to adventuring.
    Races: Any race that produces aristocrats also produces patricians. Humans, elves and dwarves, with their stronger emphasis on nobility are more likely to be patricians, although some well-to-do halfling patricians have been known to travel. A surprising number of illegitimate children, born to a noble parent become patricians. Half-elves and planetouched races make up a fairly good percentage of adventuring patricians and even the occasional half-orc patrician have been known to exist.
    Classes: Given their upbringing and relative affluence, patricians tend to get along with those that share their tastes. They work exceedingly well with bards and rogues, who may enjoy the attention given to them by the patrician or may just like having them their bills. They also get along fairly well with clerics and wizards with whom they can relate to on a more intellectual level. Fighters, paladins and monks may eventually come to respect the patrician's talents, but usually see them as a frivolous adventurer or a liability. Less civilized classes, such as a the barbarian, druid and ranger generally don't get along at all with patricians, at least until the patrician can prove that they won't die if left on their own in the wilderness for a few hours.
    Role: The patrician is a skilled character. They usually find their niche as the face of an adventuring party, using their social skills to help grease the wheels, and occasionally a few palms, when needed. They aren't skilled warriors, but can hold their own in battle, although not as well as a fighter can. In a group without a bard, a patrician can do their best to assist allies who are struggling. In a group without a rogue, a patrician can act as a look-out or at the very least, help determine which treasure is actually worth something and which is just worthless baubles.

Game Rule Information
Patricians have the following game statistics.
    Abilities: Patricians who focus on becoming skilled benefit from a high Intelligence score, as it provides them with additional skill points, allowing them to become experts in a number of fields, or learn a smattering of several different studies. More insightful patricians prefer a higher Wisdom score as it helps to improve their observational skills improves their Will saving throws. Patricians looking to lead a group will want a high Charisma score as many of their class skills are reliant on that. Second to any of those, a patrician will want a good Strength score to assist them in battle as well as a decent Constitution score.
    Alignment: Any.
    Hit Die: d8.
    Starting Age: As fighter.
    Starting Gold: 6d8 x 10 gp.

Class Skills
The patrician's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language, Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Survival (Wis). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player's Handbook for skill descriptions.
    Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4.
    Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the patrician.
    Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The patrician is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all types of armor and shields (including tower shields).
    Personal Studies: At 1st level, a patrician selects a single skill, which may be from their class skills, or a cross-class skill. The patrician always considers this skill to be a class skill.
    Weapon Schooling (Ex): Patricians benefit from a well-rounded education, which includes self-defense. At 1st level, a patrician gains either Exotic Weapon Proficiency or Weapon Focus as a bonus feat. The patrician does not need to meet the prerequisites of either of these feats to select them.
    Complementary Education (Ex): At 2nd level, the patrician learns to make better use of their skills when applying them to complementary purposes. When the patrician has five or more ranks in a skill, they receive an additional +1 bonus (for a total bonus of +3) on skill checks with each of its synergistic skills.
    This ability stacks with others that provide a bonus to skill synergy such as the Complementary Insight feat (see Races of Destiny).
    Improved Teamwork (Ex): While a patrician may not be the voice of experience, they are able to use what they know to help assist their allies. Starting at 3rd level, when the patrician uses the aid another action to improve an ally's skill check result, attack bonus or Armor Class the bonus they provide is increased by +1. This normally means that they provide a +3 bonus when aiding another, instead of the normal +2 bonus.
    This ability stacks with others that provide a bonus when using the aid another action, such as the one provided by the rilkan race (see Magic of Incarnum).

• Peasant Hero (Class)
• Acolyte (Class)
• Class Struggles
• Origins of the PCs
• Zen & the Art of Character Creation