Censor (3.5e Prestige Class)

Censor

“	information has been censored	”
—<-NPC name->, <-race-> <-class->

The path to becoming a censor is straight, narrow and difficult to traverse. To begin with, one must meet the prerequisites, demonstrating that you have the interpersonal skills to adjust the behavior of others. The real challenge comes when the censor-in-waiting locates the Board of Censorship and applies for membership. A set of tasks is then set for the prospective censor. He may be required to persuade a public speaker to modify his big speech, removing every single word that could possibly cause offense to anyone. He may be sent into a library with the task of bowdlerising all books containing overly sexual or violent content. In all cases the challenge is intended to test the censor's abilities, and also to test his devotion to the cause; he will be required to censor something even if the subject matter agrees with his own beliefs.

Becoming a Censor

Censors may come from any background: in each case they are talented speakers, well versed in persuading others by means nice or nasty to modify their behaviour. Many have clerical training, and find the censor's ethos easy to adopt: after all, they call on their gods to intervene in matters on a daily basis. The rarest of censors are also the most fervent: some bards abandon their nonlawful paths and take up the censor's mantle, attempting to undo the work of their former fellows.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any Lawful.
Skills:	Bluff 8 ranks, Diplomacy 8 ranks, Intimidate 8 ranks, Sense Motive 8 ranks.
Feats:	Diplomat, Investigator, Persuasive.

Table: The Censor

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Erase 3/day, Inspire Incompetence
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Inspire Mediocrity
3rd	+2	+1	+1	+3	Silence 3/day
4th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Scapegoat
5th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Dispel Magic 3/day
6th	+4	+2	+2	+5	Slippery Mind
7th	+5	+2	+2	+5	Modify Memory
8th	+6	+2	+2	+6	Censor's Ears
9th	+6	+3	+3	+6	Censor's Eyes
10th	+7	+3	+3	+7	Dictum
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) x 4 at first level. The censor's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana, local, religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the censor.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Censors gain no additional proficiencies in weapons or armor.

Erase (Sp): The 1st-level censor is able to exert her influence over written works that offend her. Three times per day she can delete them at will, just like an erase spell. The censor can use this spell-like ability three times per day.

Inspire Incompetence (Su): Through carefully delivered criticism, the censor is able to hinder the performance of her enemies. The victim must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the censor; and the censor must be able to see and hear the victim. If the victim fails a Will save (DC 10 + class level + Charisma modifier) he gets a -2 competence penalty on skill checks as long as he or she continues to hear the censor's objections. The effect lasts as long as the censor concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. Inspire incompetence is a mind-affecting ability.

Inspire Mediocrity (Su): The 2nd-level censor has a knack for ripping the heart and soul out of a performance simply by drawing attention to unseemly emotional displays and pleading for sensitivity towards those who might feel offended by acts of extraordinary boldness. If the victim fails a Will save (DC 10 + class level + Charisma modifier) all morale bonuses to which he is currently subject are suppressed. The effect lasts for as long as the victim hears the victim speak and for 5 rounds thereafter. Inspire mediocrity is a mind-affecting ability.

Silence (Sp): At level 3, a censor is able to stop up the foul mouths of purveyors of offensive speech. This ability is identical to a silence spell cast by a character of the censor's class level. The Will save DC to negate this effect is 12 + the censor's Charisma modifier. This spell-like ability is usable three times per day.

Scapegoat (Su): Everything is somebody's fault. If ever something causes offence, somebody has to be held responsible. Assigning blame falls within the censor's purview. When in combat, the 4th-level censor can nominate one target at a time against whom the censor and allies receive a +2 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls. Scapegoat is a mind-affecting ability, and lasts for as long as the censor speaks, up to a maximum of 2 rounds per class level.

Dispel Magic (Sp): By level 5 the censor learns how to disrupt magic that he finds offensive. Three times per day, he can unleash a dispel magic effect, as if cast by a character of the censor's class level. The Will save DC to negate this effect is 13 + the censor's Charisma modifier.

Slippery Mind (Ex): Nothing compromises the censorship more than mental influence from undesirables. Through use of reasoning and persuasion (and a lot of magic too) it is conceivable that a censor could be deflected from her purpose. By level 6 that ceases to be so much of a problem as her own motives become secondary to her sacred duty. If a censor is affected by an enchantment and fails her saving throw, 1 round later she can attempt her saving throw again. She only gets this one extra chance to succeed at her saving throw. If it fails as well, the spell's effects occur normally.

Modify Memory (Sp): The problem with memory is that it doesn't always fit the accepted version of events. If that occurs, then there's no limit to the amount of offense a person with a defective memory could cause. The censor, upon reaching level 7, is only too willing and able to redress that matter. He can bring about a modify memory effect, as if cast by a character of the censor's class level. The Will save DC to negate this effect is 14 + the censor's Charisma modifier.

Censor's Ears (Ex): By level 8, the censor is so skilled at cutting out offensive material before it reaches her ears that she develops a greater resistance to magic words. She gains a spell resistance of 11 + class level against power words, command, suggestion, greater command, lesser geas/quest and geas/quest spells and other sonic, mind-affecting spells.

Censor's Eyes (Ex): At level 9, the censor gains a measure of immunity to offensive writing. His spell resistance extends to written magical effects, including symbols, sepia snake sigils, exploding runes, glyphs of warding and the like.

Dictum (Sp): The ultimate level of the censor's development is the ability to banish, stun, incapacitate or even kill with a single word of forbiddance. This ability is usable once per day and is identical to a dictum cast by a cleric of the censor's character level. The Will save DC to negate the banishment effect of this spell-like ability is 17 + the censor's Wisdom modifier.

Ex-Censors

Playing a Censor

Combat: Censors tend to shy away from combat, though when they enter they usually play the role of debuffer, from as far away from the action as possible.

Advancement: Other classes with Charisma as a main ability score, such as the Sorcerer or Bard, may be good options for the Censor.

Resources: <-What kind of assistance members of this class can expect from each other including possible organizations->

Censors in the World

“

”

NPC Reactions:

Censor Lore

Characters with ranks in can research to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

DC	Result
11	.
16	.
21	.
26	.

Censors in the Game

Adaptation:

Sample Encounter:

EL whatever:

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