Political leaders, prominent merchants, and crime lords of the independent Verge colonies are always looking for a strong right arm. Thus, professional bodyguards can always find work. While many bodyguards spend the majority of their time watching out for their employer's personal safety, other bodyguards function as free-roving security consultants who ferret out dangerous plots, work in advance of their client's movements, or check up on known troublemakers.

In the Verge: The Verge is crawling with shady merchants who need protection. Rigunmor traders, A-O arms dealers, Lucullan smugglers, and Alaundrin nobles are all in the market for this hero's services.

The Bodyguard makes security his specialty. He knows how to keep someone safe and how to provide personal protection to the utmost degree. The Bodyguard can be more than a security specialist, however. He might be part private detective, part hired muscle. He might serve as a driver or other personal aide, in addition to being ready at all times to offer protection to the client he watches out for. The Bodyguard has the ability to avoid trouble, and when trouble can't be avoided, he can protect a client through a variety of other means.

Select this advanced class if you want your character to excel at security and safe-keeping, both from a tactical perspective and through the use of whatever level of force is required.

The fastest path into this advanced class is from the Tough hero basic class, though other paths are possible.

To qualify to become a Bodyguard, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +2.

Skills: Concentration 6 ranks, Intimidate 6 ranks.

Feat: Personal Firearms Proficiency.

The following information pertains to the Bodyguard advanced class.

Hit Die: 1d12

Action Points: 6 + one-half character level, rounded down, every time the attains a new level in this class.

The Bodyguard's class skills are as follows.

Concentration (Con), Disguise (Cha), Drive (Dex), Forgery (lnt), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

The following features pertain to the Bodyguard advanced class.

A Bodyguard may elect to place himself in the path of danger to protect a single ally. Once per round, if the Bodyguard is adjacent to an ally who is targeted by a direct melee or ranged attack (but not an area effect), the Bodyguard can subject himself to the attack in the ally's stead. If the attack hits the Bodyguard, he takes damage normally. If it misses, it also misses the ally. The Bodyguard must declare his intention to place himself in harm's way before the attack roll is made. He selects his ally either prior to combat (in the case of protecting a specific client) or immediately after he makes his initiative check. The Bodyguard can't change his ally for the duration of the combat.

This ability allows a Bodyguard of 2nd level or higher to designate a single opponent during his action and receive a +1 competence bonus on attacks against that opponent. The Bodyguard can select a new opponent on any action. At 8th level, the competence bonus increases to +2.

At 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the Bodyguard gets a bonus feat. The bonus feat must be selected from the following list, and the Bodyguard must meet all the prerequisites of the feat to select it.

Advanced Firearms Proficiency, Armor Proficiency (Light), Armor Proficiency (Medium), Attentive, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Double Tap, Improved Brawl, Improved Feint, Improved Knockout Punch, Knockout Punch, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Quick Reload, Streetfighting, Vehicle Expert.

Once per day, a Bodyguard of 4th level or higher can focus his effort to burst into sudden action when the situation calls for it. He can change his place in the initiative order, moving higher in the count by a number less than or equal to his class level, as he sees fit. He can declare the use of this ability at the start of any round, before anyone else takes an action.

When trouble occurs, a Bodyguard of 5th level or higher can make a charge without having to move in a straight line. All other charge rules apply, but the Bodyguard can alter his direction when making a charge to avoid obstacles.

At 7th level, a Bodyguard develops the ability to turn a strong defense into a powerful offense. If an opponent makes a melee attack against the Bodyguard and misses while he is using the total defense option, the Bodyguard can attack that opponent on his next turn (as an attack action) with a +4 bonus on his attack roll. The Bodyguard gains no bonus against an opponent who doesn't attack him or against an opponent who makes a successful attack.

At 10th level, a Bodyguard can use his expertise to provide protection for up to six allies (not including himself). He spends 1 action point and takes a full-round action to issue orders and directions. Doing this provides the Bodyguard's allies with a +1 insight bonus to Defense for 3 rounds.