Here is a 20 level "core class" version of my Femme Fatale, which I'm submitting to Signs & Portents. Comments?
FEMME FATALE
“Conan licked suddenly dry lips. By Mitra, what a
woman! She was glorious: her legs, her breasts, her
whole body was perfect.”---Steve Perry
Femmes Fatale are beautiful and charming women,
often found among the courtesans and mistresses
frequented by the nobility. They are most frequently
cold and calculating creatures driven by a quest for
personal power, whether they wear the crown
themselves or direct the course of events from the
shadows. Typically, they will seek out the most
powerful and wealthy man they can find, seduce him,
drain him of cash and gifts, then abandon him for a
more promising target.
“She danced away with a saucy laugh and an even
saucier roll of her hips. Mayhap his purse could
stand one more night.”
---Robert Jordan, CONAN THE UNCONQUERED
Hardly a Conan story exists that does not feature a
Femme Fatale. They are powerful movers and shakers
behind the scenes of any civilized society. Their lust
for power often leads them along the road of the
assassin, poisoner, sorcerer or thief if they cannot
become nobles themselves. An alarming number of
Femmes Fatale, often ex-paramours of sinister
sorcerers, possess enough ill-gotten arcane knowledge
to have the Dabbler feat, and these are the most
dangerous seductresses of all.
Variant Femme Fatale: Priestesses of demon gods
and fertility goddesses (such as Derketo and Ishtar) all
make flavorful variants over the more common
variety, as do obsessive, psychotic stalkers who aren't
so much fixated on obtaining wide personal power as
in complete domination over a single target.
Femmes Fatale, Race and Favoured Class: Any
female from any civilized (non-nomadic) race should
be able to take Femme Fatale as her favoured class;
they exist in cities everywhere. Most femmes fatale in
Hyboria are exotic beauties from the decadent foreign
lands of Khitai, Shem (the western city-states), Stygia,
Vendhya, or Zamora; however, many Nemedian and
Zingaran femmes fatale exist.
Male Version: This class can easily be adapted to
males, if desired. For another take on male seducers,
see the “Lothario” PrC in
The Quintessential Human
and
Ultimate Prestige Classes, Vol. 2, both by
Mongoose Publishing.
Abilities: A high Charisma is most important to a
Femme Fatale. High scores in Dexterity (for a high
dodge, initiative, and finesse attack), Intelligence (for
skill points) and Wisdom are also useful.
Abbreviation: Fem
HD: d6
Starting Equipment: 100 + 10d6 sp
Skill Points At 1st level: (8 + Int mod) x4
Skill Points At Each Additional Level: 8 + Int mod
Class Skills: Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int),
Craft (Herbalism) (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise
(Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather
Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis),
Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Local or
Nobility), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform
(Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive
(Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str),
Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex).
___________________________________________
Level 1: Art of Seduction +2, Charismatic Defense,
Sneak Attack Style, Sneak Attack +1d6/+1d8.
Base Attack +0, Base Dodge +0, Base Parry +0,
Magic Attack +0, Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +2.
Level 2: Dance of Desire 1/day, Fervent Kiss 1/day.
Base Attack +1, Base Dodge +1, Base Parry +0,
Magic Attack +0, Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +3.
Level 3: Black Widow, Passion, Sneak Attack
+2d6/+2d8.
Base Attack +2, Base Dodge +1, Base Parry +1,
Magic Attack +1, Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +3.
Level 4: Art of Seduction +4, Dance of Desire 2/day.
Base Attack +3, Base Dodge +2, Base Parry +1,
Magic Attack +1, Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +4.
Level 5: Fervent Kiss 2/day, Sneak Attack +3d6/+3d8.
Base Attack +3, Base Dodge +2, Base Parry +2,
Magic Attack +2, Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +4.
Level 6: Bonus Feat, Sneak Attack Style. Base Attack
+4, Base Dodge +3, Base Parry +2, Magic Attack +2,
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +5.
Level 7: Dance of Desire 3/day, Evasion, Sneak
Attack +4d6/4d8. Base Attack +5, Base Dodge +3,
Base Parry +3, Magic Attack +3, Fort +2, Ref +5, Will
+5.
Level 8: Art of Seduction +6, Fervent Kiss 3/day.
Base Attack +6/+1, Base Dodge +4, Base Parry +3,
Magic Attack +3, Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +6.
Level 9: Mobility, Sneak Attack +5d6/+5d8. Base
Attack +6/+1, Base Dodge +4, Base Parry +4, Magic
Attack +4, Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +6.
Level 10: Bonus Feat, Dance of Desire 4/day. Base
Attack +7/+2, Base Dodge +5, Base Parry +4, Magic
Attack +4, Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +7.
Level 11: Fervent Kiss 4/day, Sneak Attack
+6d6/+6d8. Base Attack +8/+3, Base Dodge +5, Base
Parry +5, Magic Attack +5, Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +7.
Level 12: Art of Seduction +8, Sneak Attack Style.
Base Attack +9/+4, Base Dodge +6, Base Parry +5,
Magic Attack +5, Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +8.
Level 13: Dance of Desire 5/day, Sneak Attack
+7d6/+7d8. Base Attack +9/+4, Base Dodge +6, Base
Parry +6, Magic Attack +6, Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +8.
Level 14: Bonus Feat, Fervent Kiss 5/day. Base
Attack +10/+5, Base Dodge +7, Base Parry +6, Magic
Attack +6, Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +9.
Level 15: Sneak Attack +8d6/+8d8. Base Attack
+11/+6/+1, Base Dodge +7, Base Parry +7, Magic
Attack +7, Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +9.
Level 16: Art of Seduction +10. Base Attack
+11/+6/+1, Base Dodge +8, Base Parry +7, Magic
Attack +7, Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +10.
Level 17: Dance of Desire 6/day, Sneak Attack
+9d6/+9d8. Base Attack +12/+7/+2, Base Dodge +8,
Base Parry +8, Magic Attack +8, Fort +5, Ref +10,
Will +10.
Level 18: Bonus Feat, Fervent Kiss 6/day, Sneak
Attack Style. Base Attack +13/+8/+3, Base Dodge +9,
Base Parry +8, Magic Attack +8, Fort +6, Ref +11,
Will +11.
Level 19: Sneak Attack +10d6/+10d8. Base Attack
+14/+9/+4, Base Dodge +9, Base Parry +9, Magic
Attack +9, Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +11.
Level 20: Art of Seduction +12. Base Attack
+15/+10/+5, Base Dodge +10, Base Parry +9, Magic
Attack +9, Fort +6, Ref +12, Will +12.
___________________________________________
CLASS FEATURES:
Weapon & Armor Proficiency: A Femme Fatale is
proficient with all simple weapons, poniards and
whips. They are not proficient with any armour or
shields.
Art of Seduction: The femme fatale receives a +2
bonus at first level to all Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather
Information, and Perform skill checks against those
attracted to her gender when wearing light or no
armour. This bonus increases by +2 every fourth level
(+4 at 4th level, +6 at 8th level, +8 at 12th level, etc.).
Charismatic Defense: The femme fatale uses her
Charisma modifier as a bonus to her Dodge DV and
saving throws at all times vs. those attracted to her
gender when wearing no armour. This bonus is
reduced by 50% if light armour and negated
completely by medium or heavy armor.
Sneak Attack Style: As Thief.
Sneak Attack: As Thief.
Dance of Desire: A Femme Fatale with three or more
ranks in Perform (Dance) can, with a successful skill
check, cause all those within 30 feet of her who are
attracted to her gender (and not otherwise distracted,
such as in combat) to become
fascinated with her. The
targets to be
fascinated are allowed a Will save (DC
equals 10 + her Perform: Dance skill modifier). Those
fascinated receive a -4 penalty to Listen and Spot
checks so long as she keeps dancing. Should a target
make its save, she cannot attempt to
fascinate that
same target again for 24 hours. If she has six or more
ranks in Perform (Dance), the
fascinated audience's
penalty to Listen and Spot checks is further increased
to -6; if she has ten or more ranks in Perform (Dance)
the
fascinated audience's penalty to Listen and Spot
checks is further increased to -8. The femme fatale
must be wearing no armor to use dance of desire. At
2nd level, she can use this ability once per day; this
increases to twice per day at 4th level, and by one use
every third level thereafter (3/day at 7th, 4/day at 10th,
etc.).
Fervent Kiss: Once per day, a Femme Fatale can use
her fervent kiss class feature against a person attracted
to her gender to achieve one of the following effects of
her choice: 1) To stabilize a dying individual; this
works like an automatic success of the Heal skill; 2)
impart a +1 morale bonus to an individal's attack,
damage, skill checks and saving throws for a number
of hours equal to her Charisma modifier; or 3) receive
a +1 bonus to her next Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather
Information or Sense Motive skill check against the
target of her kiss. The femme fatale must be wearing
no armor or light armor to use fervent kiss. Her use of
this class feature increases to twice per day at 5th
level, and by one more use every third level thereafter
(3/day at 8th level, 4/day at 11th level, etc.).
Black Widow: The femme fatale gains the Poison Use
feat for free (and ignores the prerequisites) at 3rd
level.
Passion: At 3rd level, a femme fatale can make
someone attracted to her gender into her thrall through
sexual intercourse. She must make a Perform check
opposed by her victim's Will save (DC 10 + her
Perform modifier). If she succeeds, the target becomes
her thrall. In order to attack, disobey, or lie to the
femme fatale, the thrall must make a Will save (DC 10
+ Femme Fatale's class level + Femme Fatale's
Charisma modifier). A thrall has a -4 penalty to saves
against a femme fatale's Charisma based skills, spells
and spell-like abilities.
If a femme fatale is attacked or obviously in danger,
her thrall gets a +2 to attack and damage rolls made
while defending her. A femme fatale may hold one
person in thrall at 3rd level and a second at 5th level.
A person cannot be enthralled by two femme fatales at
the same time.
Bonus Feat: At 6th level, and every four levels
thereafter (10th, 14th, and 18th) the femme fatale may
choose any a bonus feat from this list: Alertness,
Beauteous Visage, Charming, Commanding Voice,
Courtesan, Dangerous Beauty, Dodge, Fleet-Footed,
Gossip Network, Light-Footed, Improved Initiative,
Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Negotiator, No Honour,
Patience, Performer, Persuasive, Priest (she ignores
the prerequisites), Seductive, Skill Focus, Sleep
Mastery, Sneak Subdual, Stealthy.
Evasion: At 7th level, the femme fatale gains Evasion.
If exposed to any effect that allows a Reflex saving
throw for half damage, the femme fatale takes no
damage wioth a successful saving throw. Evasion can
only be ud if she is wearing light or no armour. If the
femme fatale already has Evasion as a class feature
from some other class, she instead gains Alertness.
Mobility: At 9th level, the femme fatale gains a +4
dodge bonus to Defence Value against attacks of
opportunity caused when she moves out of or within a
threatened area. If the femme fatale already has
Mobility from some other class, she instead gains
Fleet-Footed.
___________________________________________
NEW FEATS
APPEARANCE: ABOVE AVERAGE (General)
Physically, you are more appealing to others. This can
take the form of something blatant, such as a perfectly
sculpted face, or something more subtle, like a pair of
radiant or unusually colored eyes.
Prerequisites: Cha 11+.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Bluff (non-combat),
Diplomacy and Gather Information checks.
Special: You may only take this feat at first level.
BEAUTEOUS VISAGE (General)
You are supernaturally attractive.
Prerequisite: Charisma 18+.
Benefit: You are becoming beyond the ken of mortals,
with a face that could launch a thousand ships or
break ten thousand hearts. Barring obvious hostility,
all NPC attitudes from those attracted to your gender
are automatically raised by two levels and a Charisma
check can potentially raise them even more, but
cannot lower it.
Special: This feat can only be taken at 1st level unless
you are a Scholar with a Corruption score of 7+.
CHARMING (General feat)
You are extremely charming, clever and witty.
Prerequisite: Cha 13+.
Benefit: Your Charisma is considered to be two points
higher than normal for determining your ability
modifier to all Charisma-based skills against those
attracted to your gender.
Special: Your Charisma increase granted by this feat
only counts towards your magic attack modifier vs.
those attracted to your gender.
CHARISMATIC DEFENSE (General)
Your exquisite body distracts your enemies in combat.
Prerequisite: Cha 13+.
Benefit: You use your Charisma modifier as a bonus to your
Dodge DV and saving throws at all times vs. those
attracted to your gender when you are wearing no
armor. This bonus is reduced by 50% if you are
wearing light armor and negated completely by
wearing medium or heavy armor. This feat provides an
mechanic for the scanty style of battle dress popular
among sword & sorcery archetypes suchj as chainmail
bikini heroines and loincloth wearing barbarians.
COMMANDING VOICE (General)
Your voice is beautiful and confident.
Prerequisite: Cha 13+.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to all Bluff and
Diplomacy checks that involve speaking, and to
Perform checks that involve speaking, singing or
reciting verse.
COURTESAN (General)
Clever, witty, and well-educated, courtesans advise,
seduce and entertain clients on every level. They also
learn to manipulate others to their advantage.
Benefit: The following are always considered class
skills for you, regardless of class: Bluff, Diplomacy,
Gather Information, and Perform. You receive a +1
bonus to each skill (Bluff bonus in non-combat only).
DANGEROUS BEAUTY (General)
You have a certain something about you that compels
others to lust after you, regardless of the danger.
Prerequisites: Charisma 15+, Appearance: Above
Average.
Benefit: Targets lose the benefit of their Wisdom
bonus against all of your Charisma based skill checks.
Special: This penalty applies to any Will saves against
spells cast by you from the Hypnotism sorcery style.
GOSSIP NETWORK (General)
You have a reliable network of friends, lovers and/or
contacts among a certain group or unique location.
Prerequisite: Cha 13+.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus to Gather Information
and Intimidate checks within a particular city or
among a certain organization.
Special: The group or location selected can be
changed after six months spent with a new group or in
a new location.
SEDUCTIVE (General)
Your seductive manner allows you to manipulate
those attracted to you like mere puppets on a string.
Prerequisites: Cha 13+, Appearance: Above Average.
Benefit: You begin the day with a number of
Seduction points equal to your Charisma modifier.
Any time you make a Charisma based skill check to
influence or impress someone attracted to your gender,
you may spend a Seduction point to add a +1d6 bonus
to your roll. Additionally, before an opponent makes a
Charisma-based skill check or Sense Motive roll
against you (or someone you are trying to bluff,.
persuade, or seduce), you may spend a Seduction
point to incur a -1d6 penalty to your opponent’s roll.
Unspent Seduction points are lost at the end of the
day.
Special: You may take this feat up to three times; each
time, it increases the size of the die (d6 to d8, d8 to
2d6) and you gain an additional Seduction point.
SIGN OF THE WHORE (General)
Your birth was strongly influenced by the whore, the
sign of temptation. Your birthright became an
uncanny knack to manipulate others.
Benefit: Once per day, you may make a Bluff
(Seduction) skill check as a free action to overwhelm a
target attracted to your gender with your seductive
presence. If the target fails to make a Will save with a
DC equal to your skill check result, you gain a +10
bonus on your next Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather
Information, Intimidate or Perform check against him.
Special: This feat may only be taken at first level.
VIXEN (General)
You naturally know how to use your beauty and
seductive manner to manipulate others.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to Bluff checks out of
combat against those attracted to your gender. Bluff,
Diplomacy, Gather Information and Perform are
always considered class skills for you.
Special: This feat can only be taken at first level.
___________________________________________
NEW EQUIPMENT
Clothing, Serving Wench: .5 sp (5 cp). A cheap
muslin outfit covering little more than trull’s garb. It
advertises the wearer’s lowly profession plainly,
granting a +2 circumstance bonus to female Disguise
checks to impersonate a serving wench.
Clothing, Trull: 2 sp. This scanty attire consists of a
colorful, diaphanous silk loincloth and a suggestive,
low-riding belt to attach it to. Red is the usual color of
the silk, as red is the color asociated with whores and
avoided by other women. This has led to trulls being
referred to as “red silk girls” in many cities. Trull’s
clothing advertises the wearer’s profession plainly,
granting a +2 circumstance bonus to female Disguise
checks to impersonate a trull.
Clothing, Courtesan: 20 sp. This revealing but
comparitively expensive attire consists of thin golden
breast plates (not to be confused with breastplate
armor; the plates are mere coverings that emphasize
rather than disguise) which are connected by a tiny
golden chain, a bejewelled golden belt, and a
gold-embroidered diaphanous silk loin cloth.
Courtesan’s clothing advertises the wearer’s
profession plainly but with more taste and ostentation
than trull’s clothing, granting a +2 circumstance bonus
to female Disguise checks to impersonate a courtesan.
Daring noblewomen in decadent lands such as Zamora
sometimes cannot be told apart from their courtesan
counterparts, leading to embarrassing and deadly
mistakes.
Dress, Daring: 20-50 sp. A female wearing this
exquisitely made, daringly slit silk garment gains a +2
circumstance bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy and Gather
Information checks against those attracted to the
wearer’s gender. Dresses of this type are worn by
courtesans and lusty noblewomen; styles, color, cut
and embroidery vary wildly, but all reveal more than
they conceal. A female wearing one gains a +2
circumstance modifier to Disguise checks made to
impersonate a courtesan or noblewoman on the prowl.
Female Make-Up Kit: 5 sp. Kohl for the eyes,
powder, rouge, garish red lip coloring, all cheap. A
woman who wears this is often said to get her beauty
from a "paint pot" and may be implied to have little
beauty of her own as natural, at least by jealous
competitors. It is frequently worn by tavern trulls and
streetwalkers to call attention to their eyes and
profession. The price is for a one month supply. It
provides a +1 circumstance penalty to the disguise
skill of any female trying to pose as a cheap trull.
Female Make-Up Kit, Deluxe: 50 sp. This is the kind
used by many concubines, courtesans or noble ladies,
being composed of excellent quality materials. The
price is for a one month supply. It provides a +1 bonus
to disguise checks for females trying to pose as
courtesans or nobles, and a +1 bonus to all
Charisma-based skill checks between the female
wearing it and those attracted to her gender.
Female Make-Up Kit, Masterwork: 150 sp. This kit
is composed of only the rarest and most expensive
beauty enhancers available throughout the known
world. Only the richest concubines, courtesans and
noble ladies can afford it. The price is for a one month
supply. It provides a +2 circumstance bonus to
disguise checks for females trying to pose as
high-ranking courtesans or nobles, and a +2 bonus to
all Charisma-based skill checks between the female
wearing it and those attracted to her gender.
J
ewelry, Arm Ring: 10-50 sp. This is a gold band
designed to fit around the upper arm snugly. Arm
bands vary in design from the plain but masculine ring
favored by many warriors, to the ornate, slithering
serpents favored by Stygian noblewomen. Costs vary
according to the intricacy and ornamentation; certainly
more expensive versions exist, but are not commonly
encountered.
Jewelry, Anklet: 5-20 sp. This is a flimsy gold chain
worn around the ankle favored by courtesans. The
varying cost accounts for different levels of quality in
the metal and design. More expensive versions (often
set with gems) exist for up to 100 sp.
Jewelry, Bracelet: 2 sp-200sp. Worn around the
wrists, these clink and clash together or against other
objects, creating a -2 penalty to Move Silently checks.
Neck versions are rumored to exist in the Black
Kingdoms where some tribes use multiple rings to
stretch their women’s necks out over time.
Je
welry, Necklace: 4 sp-400 sp. Whether plain or set
with gems, these flashy items are designed to draw
attention to the wearer’s neck and chest. Costs vary
according to the intricacy and ornamentation; certainly
more expensive versions exist, but are not commonly
encountered.
Jewelry, Ring: 2-200 sp. Available in many different
designs and with many ornamentations, in different
quality levels. Versions exist for the ears, fingers,
nose, toes, and other body parts. More expensive rings
exist but are not commonly encountered. Signet rings
feature an upraised family crest or other readily
identifiable symbol and are used to seal important
documents in wax as a form of proof that the
document comes with authority. Signet rings typically
cost 10 sp.
Perfume, Common: 5 sp. These are the strong, cheap
perfumes used by dancers and trulls everywhere. Each
bottle holds approximately 30 applications. Each
application provides a +1 bonus to Charisma-based
skill checks and a +4 bonus to rolls to locate you by
scent and the perfume has a duration of 1d4+1 hours.
Wearing more than one application at a time does not
improve the bonus to Charisma-based skill checks, but
does increase the duration by 1d4+1 hours and the
bonus to locate you by scent to +8.
Perfume, Fancy: 50 sp. These are expensive local
perfumes representing the best commonly available,
and are worn by courtesans and noble ladies alike.
Each bottle holds approximately 30 applications. Each
application provides a +2 bonus to Charisma-based
skill checks and a +6 bonus to rolls by others to locate
you by scent and the perfume has a duration of 1d4+1
hours. Wearing more than one application at a time
does not improve the bonus to Charisma-based skill
checks, but does increase the duration by 1d4+1 hours
and the bonus to locate you by scent to +10.
Perfume, Exotic: 150 sp. These are the rarest, most
exquisite lotus blossom fragrances imported from
Stygia, Vendhya and Khitai. Each bottle is a minor
work of art in and of itself and holds approximately 30
applications. Each application provides a +4 bonus to
Charisma-based skill checks and a +10 bonus to rolls
by others to locate you by scent and the perfume has a
duration of 1d4+1 hours. Wearing more than one
application at a time does not improve the bonus to
Charisma-based skill checks, but does increase the
duration by 1d4+1 hours and the bonus to locate you
by scent to +12.
___________________________________________
NEW MAGIC ITEMS:
Necklace of Fire: Although exact details of the legend
vary, all versions of the tale say a sorcerer laid a spell
on this necklace for a queen, and a woman who wears
it becomes irresistible.
“Thirteen rubies, each as big as the first joint of a
man’s thumb, each set on a moonstone-crusted
seashell in gold. Now, that’s worth stealing.”
---Robert Jordan, CONAN THE UNCONQUERED
Any female who wears the necklace of fire receives a
+10 bonus to all Charisma based skill checks against
those attracted to her gender.
Cost: 10,000 sp.
[EDIT] Changed spelling of plural version of class name from "femme fatales" to "femmes fatale" as per proper French. Thanks for the tip; I was following standard English rules of making things plural by adding an "s" on the end.
