Myrmidon

Description

The Myrmidon is the ultimate soldier. Soldiering is his life. He may be a high-ranking officer or a career sergeant; he may belong to one nation's armed forces or may be a mercenary, the campaign and the adventuring party, he brings discipline and a useful understanding of military tactics; he's often rigid and cone of rugged temptuous individualists or characters who don't like to take orders, so he can cause a lot of friction in an adventuring party, too.
When first created, the Myrmidon's player must decide whether his character is part of a standing army or a mercenary unit. If he's part of a standing army, he's employed as a soldier or officer in the army ofa nation. large region, city guard, or even palace/castle guard. If he's part of a mercenary unit, he belongs to a group of freelance soldiers who hire themselves to just about anyone who can pay; or may be a personal bodyguard. The DM will have the deciding vote in what sort of force the Myrmidon belongs to; if, for instance. the DM doesn't want to have an all-military campaign, he'll probably insist that the Myrmidon be a mercenary, currently employed by a player-character or NPC important to the current story.
However, in the course of the campaign, the Myrmidon's employment can change, once or several times. He may start out as a mercenary bodyguard, later in the campaign, he may find himself commanding a small mercenary force in a border war; later still, he may accept a commission in the king's army and find himself a regular officer. The choice of whether the character is of a non-commissioned rank (such as recruit. private. or sergeant) or an officer's rank (such as captain) is entirely up to the DM, who'll make his choice based on what works best in his campaign's current storyline.
To be a Myrmidon. the charac- ter must have scores of at least 12 in Strength and Constitution.

Role

In the campaign's culture, the Myrmidon is a career soldier. In times of war. they're heroes to the nation. In times of peace, the common folk often look on them as parasites. living off taxes but providing no useful service. Mercenaries are often looked on as bandits and predators. Regardless of the public's opinion, though, the Myrmidon and the standing army are necessary to the defense of the nation. and so there are always Myrmidons to be found.

Weapon Proficiencies

The Myrmidon may spend his Weapon Proficiency slots any way he chooses.

Non-weapon Proficiencies

Bonus Proficiencies

Ancient History (specifically Military History), Fire-Building

Recommended

General

Animal Handling, Cooking, Heraldry, Riding, Land Based, Seamanship, Swimming, Weather Sense

Priest

double slots unless Paladin
Reading/Writing

Rogue

double slots
Disguise

Warrior

Armorer, Blind-Fighting, Bowyer/Fletcher, Charioteering, Endurance, Navigation, Set Snares, Survival, Tracking, Weaponsmithing

Wizard

double slots unless Ranger
Reading/Writing

Equipment

The Myrmidon may spend his starting gold on whatever sort of arms, armor, and equipment he chooses. If, when he's first created, it is agreed that he'll be part of a specilic military force with specific equipment requirements, he's required to buy that equipment, but the DM must give him extra gold in the amount of half that cost.

Special Benefits

The Myrmidon has two advantages of note: First, he gets a free Weapon Specialization. He must choose it from the following group: Battle axe, Bow (composite long bow.,composite short bow, or long bow), Crossbow (heavy crossbow or light crossbow), Polearm (choice), Lance (choice), Spear, Sword (choice). Second, the Myrmidon is usually in the employ of some powerful patron. The DM will have to decide what immediate benefits this grants him; they vary with the type of employer he is working for.
For instance, if he•s working for a wealthy nobleman, he won't have to spend any money for room and board and will enjoy an upper-class existence. Or, if he's part of a standing army, he may be immune to prosecution by the civilian authorities (though he can certainly face court martial for misdeeds).

Special Hindrances

The Myrmidon is instantly recognizable by his military demeanor, erect posture, disciplined mannerisms. etc. (There are plenty of soldiers and mercenaries who aren't Myrmidons who aren't so distinctive.) Because he is distinctive, the Myrmidon is easily remembered and described by witnesses to his adventures; this makes it easier for the enemy to identify him and follow his trail if he•s trying to escape or travel through dangerous territory.
A second hindrance is his employer. Naturally, his employer makes many demands on the Myrmidon. If the Myrmidon is a bodyguard, he must accompany his employer just about everywhere, regardless of any personal goals or interests the Myrmidon has. If the Myrmidon is a common soldier, he's subject to the orders of his officers. If the Myrmidon is a military officer, he's subject to the orders of his superiors or the local ruler, and bears the added stress of having to look out for his men whenever they're engaged in military action.

Wealth Options

The Myrmidon receives the standard 5d4x10 gp starting gold.

Races

Depending on the way the DM has set the campaign up, any demihuman race can have Myrmidons. Mercenary Myrmidon demihumans will be travelling mostly in human-occupied lands, while Myrmidon demihumans in standing armies will usually stick to their own race's territories although some special ones (i.e., the player-characters) will often find themselves sent out on special quests and adventures all over the campaign world.

[Complete Fighter's Handbook]