Hit Die: d6.
Every city has hobos, and these poor, downtrodden people are often marginalized and criminalized by the societies they live in. But the unruly adventurer, looking for a cheap thrill, should beware their wrath - hobos have a lot to be angry about, and nothing left to lose.
[Legal disclaimer: Neither I, the EN World posters, nor any of the people or entities associated with Flay condone or encourage real world violence or marginalization of hobos. This class was written in response to a series of postings about a hobo theoretically winning initiative on a player group and killing them all.]
To qualify to become a Hobo, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any.
Skills: Gather Information 8 ranks, Hide 8 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks.
Feats: Improved Initiative, Stealthy, Quick Draw. Proficiency with at least one exotic or martial weapon.
Special: A hobo cannot amass wealth greater than that of the wealth guideline for 1/5th of his or her level.
The Hobo's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha), and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Table: The Hobo
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special | Sneak Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Half-Sleep | +1d6 |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Uncanny Dodge | +2d6 |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | City Hates Me +1 | +3d6 |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Improved Uncanny Dodge | +4d6 |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Poison Use | +5d6 |
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | City Hates Me +2 | +6d6 |
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Always Armed | +7d6 |
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +6 | Evasion | +8d6 |
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +6 | City Hates Me +3 | +9d6 |
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Use Whatever | +10d6 |
All of the following are Class Features of the Hobo prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Hobos gain no additional armor or weapon proficiencies.
Sneak Attack: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name. The extra damage dealt increases by +1d6 every level. If an Hobo gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack.
Half-Sleep: A hobo can, rather than resting for 8 hours a day, declare that he is "half-sleeping." For the next day, the hobo requires twice as much rest, but it need not be continuous, and conditions need not be favorable for the hobo to benefit from this rest. Despite being at rest, a hobo under the effects of half-sleep is always aware of his surroundings, and cannot be surprised by mundane means. Each level gained in hobo reduces the number of hours half-sleep requires to rejuvenate the body by 1, to a minimum of 6 hours at level 10.
City Hates Me: A hobo is continually wary and mistrustful of other people. His senses, however, are attuned to the city. So long as he is in a village, town, or city of some sort (of any size), the hobo gains a +1 bonus to initiative per 3 hobo levels. This bonus stacks with other bonuses, such as the bonus from Improved Initiative.
Always Armed: The hobo gains Improved Unarmed Strike, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.
Use Whatever: The hobo no longer suffers a penalty when using improvised weapons.
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is Copyright 2005 Moritheil.
DnD 3.5, which most of the material is based on, is Copyright Wizards of the
Coast.