General Prestige Class : Night's Watch Ranger
The guardians of the Wall call themselves the Night's Watch, saying that they have "taken the black." They protect humanity from the creatures of the wilderness and the deep winter, creatures such as giants, ogres, and wights. In return, all of their past crimes, no matter how vile, are forgiven. The Night's Watch only accepts men into its ranks.
Although all the men of the Night's Watch stand guard against the threats from the north, it is the rangers of the watch that face many of the toughest duties. Expected to be a mounted soldier, a solitary scout, a huntsman, and even a spy, it is a ranger who undertakes the most dangerous sorties and missions into the wilds of the north. Although every man of the watch takes the oath and takes the black, only the best outdoorsmen and warriors become rangers.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Night's Watch Ranger, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Knowledge (local - the Ice Wall) 4 ranks, Ride 6 ranks.
- Feats: Endurance.
- Base Attack Bonus: +4.
- Special: Take the oath of the Night's Watch (see the Oath of the Night's Watch below for details), follow its restrictions, and remain obedient to the officers of the Night's Watch and their orders.
Class Skills
The night's watch ranger's class skills are Bluff, Climb, Craft, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (local - the Wall), Knowledge (nature), Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, Spot, Survival, and Swim.
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are all class features of the Ranger of the Night's Watch prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Rangers of the Night's Watch gain proficiency with all simple and martial weapons, light and medium armors, and shields.
Withstand Cold (Ex): Brothers of Night's Watch know how to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. They gain a +4 competence bonus to saving throws involving magical or normal cold.
Great Fortitude: The brother of Night's Watch gains the Great Fortitude feat as a bonus feat.
Woodland Stride (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a ranger of the Night's Watch may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without suffering damage or other impairment. However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that are enchanted or magically manipulated to impede motion still affect the character.
Swift Tracking: Beginning at 4th level, the ranger of the Night's Watch can move at normal speed while following tracks without suffering the normal -5 penalty, and suffers only a -10 penalty when moving at up to twice normal speed while tracking (instead of the normal -20 penalty).
Leadership: All brothers of Night's Watch gain Leadership as a bonus feat at this level. If they already have the feat, they gain a +2 bonus to their Leadership score.
| Night's Watch Ranger | Hit Die: d8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Withstand cold |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Great Fortitude |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Woodland stride |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Swift tracking |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Leadership |
The Oath of the Night's Watch
"Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all nights to come."
Source: Dragon #307