Bandit

Description

Travel is rarely a safe affair in the medieval fantasy setting, whether one traverses the forbidding wilderness or the pastoral countryside. Beside the dangers of nature and fantastic menaces, such as dragons and giants, there are humans who prey on their journeying kin. Almost every stretch of road near civilization is claimed by one or more bands of highwaymen, and even the far wilderness may hide the strongholds of robbers.
Bandits must be strong and hardy to withstand the harsh forces of nature, the people who seek their destruction, and even each other. Thieves must have minimum scores of 10, then, in both Strength and Constitution to be eligible for the Bandit kit.

Role

Bandits are often vicious characters, desperate, cunning, and cruel. They are prone to fight or even betray each other, but two things keep them bound in groups: the utter necessity of cooperation in order to survive the perils of the wilderness (let alone to be successful robbers), and the strength of whoever has established himself as leader among them by force and cunning.
Some leaders manage to weld together very large groups of Bandits. In some worlds. such as the WORLD OF GREYHAWK Fantasy Setting, there are even kingdoms of Bandits. Such things are rare, however, since few leaders have the Strength or Charisma to bind many of these thieves; even if they do, the mob will rarely stay together beyond the leader's demise.
Bandits do not belong to guilds, as such. A large group of them, or a network of cooperating groups, may be considered analogous to a guild, however — providing some training, intimidating nonmembers who operate in their "territory" (including humanoids and the like), and so forth. A few Bandit groups may actually have connections to a big city guild, though such ties would probably be very loose (perhaps occasional cooperation, rather than subservience).
Bandits rarely have pleasant reasons for pursuing their lifestyles. Most have a history better left behind, and many have a price (or three) on their heads in some place or another. The average Bandit would be better off outside the wilderness, but with enemies and authorities elsewhere, it is the closest available thing to a sanctuary.
Bandits can expect less than mercy at the hands of the law. As if Banditry itself wasn't punishable, most of these thieves already have a few major crimes under their belt. But, like a city guild, Bandits can work out arrangements with local military and civilian authorities. In exchange for bribes and a cut of the take, Bandits may garner information on rich targets and how best to avoid the punitive expeditions that may periodically be sent against them.

Skill Progression

The skills favored by Bandits are those useful for scouting and preparing ambushes — specifically, climb walls (for tree-climbing), move silently, and hide in shadows. Find/remove traps also tends to develop with a Bandit's knowledge of snares, pits and so forth, which may be employed on occasion to waylay travelers.

Weapon Proficiencies

Bandits are particularly partial to heavy, brutal, bludgeoning weapons. For this reason they may use the following cudgel-like weapons in addition to those normally permitted to thieves: flail, mace, morning star and warhammer. At least one of the Bandit's initial weapon proficiency slots must be filled by a bludgeoning weapon. Bandits must also take proficiency in the knife. They not only use this for fighting (some among them regard knife-fighting as a spectator sport), but as practical equipment for wilderness survival. Since this fills the two weapon proficiencies open to a thief, the Bandit is granted a third initial weapon proficiency slot, to fill with the weapon of his choice (from among those permitted to thieves).

Non-weapon Proficiencies

Bonus

Survival (choose appropriate terrain)

Recommended

Alertness, Animal Handling/Training, Animal Noise, Firebuilding, Intimidation, Looting, Riding, Rope Use, Set Snares, Swimming

Equipment

A Bandit should be well-equipped for wilderness survival. Vital items include provisions, backpack and pouches, flint and steel (which are more reliable than a magnifying glass for starting fires — especially at night!), tinder, a blanket, and a knife.
Less vital, but often of use, are climbing equipment (crampons, pitons, etc.), fishing gear (hooks, line, net), light sources (candle, lantern, torch), rope, sewing needle and thread, sacks for loot, a signal whistle, spyglass, small tent, thieves' picks, and a whetstone (so you can sharpen your knife when there's nothing else to do). Some Bandits, finally, like to have trained animals (dogs, falcons, pigeons) for hunting or message-carrying. To make effective use of such an animal, animal handling proficiency is needed.

Special Benefits

Because of their adeptness at ambushing, Bandits gain +1 on their attempt to surprise in a wilderness setting.

Special Hindrances

Bandits are generally despised by other characters. Normal people hate and fear highwaymen, and other types of thieves tend to look at them with scorn, as outcasts and crude robbers. For this reason, any Bandit who is recognized as such suffers a -2 reaction penalty among non-Bandit NPCs.

Races

Bandits are a motley group. and any race may be found among them — even races with a tradition of antipathy, although such characters are likely to fight each other as much as the band's targets. Humanoid and parthumanoid characters in particular favor the Bandit kit. Demihuman characters who join Bandit groups with other races are probably outcasts from among their own people.

[Complete Thief's Handbook]