In the past, the sages say, humans could communicate with each other instantly, no matter how far apart they were. You could write a letter to a friend, feed it to a thinking machine,and—carried by petitions seeking free cable access and larger genitalia from the gods and other powers—it would arrive seconds later at its destination. But that was a long time ago, and most communities don’t have “emeel” or even a radio to allow communications with the rest of the world. In the Gamma Age, when a message or package must be delivered, there is usually only one option: Send someone to deliver it.
The Messenger is the Pony Express rider and two-fisted FedEx delivery driver of the Gamma Age, a professional courier who takes messages, objects, and even people from one place to another. Whether on horseback, steam-powered motorcycle, hybrid truck, train, or even ornithopter, the Messenger gets his cargo through, braving the horrors of the wilderness and the attacks of bandits.
REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +1.
Skills:
Navigate 1 rank,
Stealth 2 ranks.
Feats: One of
Animal Affinity,
Aircraft Operation, or
Surface Vehicle Operation.
CLASS INFORMATION
Hit Die: d8.
Action Points: 6 + one half character level (rounded down) per level.
Class Skills: Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Drive (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (gossip, streetwise) (Int), Navigate (Int), Perception (Wis), Pilot (Dex), Read Language, Ride (Dex), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks Per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Table: The Messenger
CLASS FEATURES
Traveller: At 1st level, the Messenger gains the Guide feat for free. If he already has Guide, he gains a further +1 bonus on Navigate and Survival checks.
Born to Ride: At 2nd level, the Messenger gains a +1 bonus on all Drive, Ride, and Pilot checks. This bonus increases to +2 at 5th level, and +3 at 8th level.
Bonus Feats: At 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the Messenger gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and the Messenger must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it.
Action Hero,
Aircraft Operation,
Armour Proficiency {Light},
Dodge,
Drive-By Attack,
Heroic Surge,
Personal Firearms Proficiency,
Run,
Scavenger,
Surface Vehicle Operation,
Survivalist,
Vehicle Dodge,
Vehicle Expert.
Signature Vehicle: At 4th level, the Messenger chooses one specific vehicle or mount that he possesses and can use proficiently. The top speed of that vehicle increases by 20 feet (2 squares in vehicle scale), its Defence increases by +2, and its Manoeuvre modifier (if any) increases by +2. These benefits apply only when the Messenger is riding of piloting the vehicle or mount.
If a signature vehicle is destroyed or a signature mount dies, the Messenger can only gain another one after he gains another character level.
Friend in Every Port: At 5th level, the Messenger develops a web of contacts and allies in a number of communities (including non-human ones). By spending 1 action point, the character finds a contact in a community whom he can draw upon for information or services. The larger the community, the more aid the contact is capable of providing; the contact has a total bonus in any relevant skills equal to the community’s population level.
Swift Voyage: At 7th level, the Messenger can move faster and more efficiently through any terrain, thanks to a mixture of driving or piloting skill and an understanding of short cuts and the best routes. When travelling long distances, the Messenger (and any passengers in his vehicle) covers 20% more distance than normal in a given time period. This does not affect his speed in combat. At 10th level, the Messenger covers 30% more distance than normal.
Improved Signature Vehicle: At 8th level, the Messenger becomes even more skilled at driving or piloting his signature vehicle, or riding his signature mount. The initiative bonus of the vehicle increases by +4, its Defence increases by an additional +2, and the DCs of stunts are reduced by -3. These benefits apply only when the Messenger is riding or piloting the mount or vehicle. The vehicle also gains an additional 5 hit points, whether the Messenger is using it or not.
Get the Mail Through: At 10th level, the Messenger becomes almost impossible to sway, slow, or derail when he’s delivering a message or package. While directly engaged in delivering something, the character rolls an additional 1d6 whenever an action point is spent to improve a d20 roll, and takes the value of all d6s rolled.
