Dustdigger

A Dustdigger is a scientist, archaeologist, and treasure hunter in the most classic sense. The region of Oerth occupied by the present-day Yeomanry was one of the earliest lands settled by ancient Suel travelers (among others), and remnants of their ancient civilizations litter the Yeoman landscape. Dustiggers wish to collect, record, and preserve the artifacts of these lost cultures in an effort to learn about their history. They also wish to keep such treasures out of the hands of those who would exploit them. As such, they require intelligence, cunning, and fighting prowess to complete their tasks.

The Dustiggers operate out of a relatively new yet prestigious college in Loftwick. It was founded in 571 CY with the assistance of Theodain Eriason, the Council of Grosspokesmen, and other prominent Yeoman, and works in conjunction with Wizard's academy in the same city. Only the most qualified and promising of candidates are accepted into the college's ranks, and then only the best of these graduate to become full-fledged Dustdiggers. Entrance into the college requires the recommendation of an existing Dustdigger and the approval of the Board of Regents of the college. Graduates are given a platinum pin to signify their positions as well as open permission to explore archaeological sites so long as they record their findings for the college and do not abuse the privilege. The college, financed by private investors, handsomely pays Dustdiggers for significant finds, and only Dustdiggers (along with any entourage they may have) may legally explore such sites without explicit government permission.

Due to their vast pool of skills, Rogues and Bards are the most likely classes to gravitate towards a career as a Dustdigger. Wizards, Sorcerers, Fighters, and Rangers are less common, and Paladin, Barbarian, Monk, Cleric and Druid Dustdiggers are almost unheard of.

Requirements

• Knowledge Ranks: 10 distributed amoung any of the following: arcana, history, local, religion.

• Wilderness Lore Ranks: 4

• Speak Language: 3 or more

• Appraise Ranks: 4

• Yeoman Citizenship: A prospective Dustdigger must be a citizen of the Yeomanry League and be of good repute (never convicted of a major crime) and have a certain number of Fame / Influence points (TBA) with Yeoman institutions.

• The Dustdigger must continue to be a member of the Dustdigger College in Loftwick. Members can be ejected for misappropration of archaeological treasures.

Hit Die: d6

Class Skills:Skill points at Each Level: 6+ Int mod
Appraise (Int), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Disable Device (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Knowledge (Int), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Speak Language (--), Use Magical Device (Int), Use Rope (Dex), and Wilderness Lore (Wis).

Class Features:

• Weapon and Armor Proficiency:
  Dustdiggers are skilled in all simple weapons and are proficient in all light and medium armor but not shields. Note that wearing some armor detracts from a number of skills and may cause spell failure.
  
  
• Spells:
  Dustdiggers are entitled to a limited number of arcane spells. To cast a spell, a Dustdigger must have an intelligence of at least 10 plus the spell's level. Dustdigger bonus spells are based on Intelligence, and saving throws against these spells have a DC of 10 + spell level + the Dustdigger's Intelligence modifier (if any). When a Dustdigger gets "0" spells of a given level, the Dustdigger gets only bonus spells, if applicable. A Dustdigger prepares and casts spells just as a wizard does. Note that the spell selection for a Dustdigger includes some divine spells, but they should be treated in this case as arcane, and are prepared and cast as wizard spells. Such spells are exceptional in that 'divine' spells used by Dustdiggers may not be copied and utilized by any other class.

  1st Level:

  Comprehend Languages
  Detect Evil / Good / Law / Chaos
  Detect Magic
  Detect Secret Passages
  Identify
  Light
  Mage Hand
  Open / Close
  Read Magic
  Unseen Servant

  2nd Level:

  Darkvision
  Find Traps
  Knock
  Leomund's Trap
  Levitate
  Locate Object
  Make Whole
  Shatter
  Wizard Lock

  3rd Level:

  Dispel Magic
  Fly
  Illusory Script
  Obscure Object
  Remove Curse
  Secret Page
  Shrink Item
  Tongues

  4th Level:

  Dimension Door
  Free Action
  Minor Creation
  Wizard Eye

  
  
• Lore:
  Dustdiggers gather and disseminate knowledge. At 1st level, they gain the ability to know legends or information regarding various topics just like the Bard's bardic knowledge class ability, adding his Dustdigger level and his Intelligence modifier to the knowledge check. If the Dustdigger's previous class was a bard, these level bonuses stack.
  
  
• Feats:
  

  2nd level:

  Dustdigger gains the Alertness feat at no cost.

  3rd level:

  Dustdigger gains the Skill Focus feat with the skill of his / her choice at no cost.

  4th Level:

  Dustdigger gains an intuit sense that alerts them to danger from traps, giving him a +1 bonus to Reflex saves made to avoid traps.

  5th level:

  Dustdigger gains the ability to Identify magic items, as per the spell. A Dustdigger may make one attempt per item per day.

  6th level:

  Dustdigger may use their knowledge to gain the effects of a Legend Lore or Analyze Dweomer spell. This ability may be used once per day.

  7th level:

  Dustdigger retains their Dex bonus to their AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker.

  8th level:

  Dustdigger can cast, in effect, a stronger version of the 6th level wizard spell Analyze Dweomer, which tells *all* of an object's magical properties (does not work on creatures) that are equal to or lower than the caster level check rolled. This ability requires 12 hours to complete.

  9th level:

  Dustdigger selects a number of skills equal to 3 + their Intelligence modifier. When making a skill check with one of these skills, the Dustdigger may take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent him from doing so.

  10th level:

  Dustdigger can no longer be flanked, since they can react to opponents on opposite sides of them as easily as they can react to a single attacker.

Thanks to Roger Moore for allowing us to develop this Prestige Class.

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