Complete Scoundrel.pdf

D E S I g n E R S

M ike M c A rtor , F. W esley s chneider

S E n I o R A R T D I R E C T o R D & D

s tAcy l onGstreet

A R T D I R E C T o R

k Arin J Aques

C o V E R A R T I S T

W illiAM o’c onnor

I n T E R I o R A R T I S T S

d Avid b irchAM , M iGuel c oiMbrA ,

e d c ox , e ric d eschAMps , c Arl F rAnk ,

r Andy G AlleGos , h oWArd l yon ,

W Arren M Ahy , M ichAel p hillippi ,

F rAnz v ohWinkel , e vA W iderMAnn ,

k ierAn y Anner

C A R T o g R A p h E R

M ike s chley

g R A p h I C D E S I g n E R

k Arin J Aques

g R A p h I C p R o D u C T I o n S p E C I A l I S T S

e rin d orries , A nGelikA l okotz

I M A g E T E C h n I C I A n

c hristinA W iley

A D D I T I o n A l D E S I g n

r obert J. s chWAlb

D E V E l o p E R

A ndy c ollins

E D I T o R S

J enniFer c lArke W ilkes , b eth G riese ,

J ohn t hoMpson

E D I T I n g M A n A g E R

k iM M ohAn

D E S I g n M A n A g E R

c hristopher p erkins

D E V E l o p M E n T M A n A g E R

J esse d ecker

D I R E C T o R o f R p g R & D

b ill s lAvicsek

p R o D u C T I o n M A n A g E R S

J osh F ischer , r AndAll c reWs

Some information in this book is taken from or derived from these sources: “Songsabers of Waterdeep” by Mike Mearls and the

D ragon staff, D ragon Magazine 335, and “The Silver hexameric folio” by greg Marks, D ragon Magazine 338.

Based on the original D ungeons & D ragons ® rules created by E. gary gygax and Dave Arneson, and the new D ungeons & D ragons

game designed by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and peter Adkison.

This product uses updated material from the v.3.5 revision.

This W izarDs of the C oast ® game product contains no open game Content. no portion of this work may be reproduced in any

form without written permission. To learn more about the open gaming license and the d20 System license, please visit www.

wizards.com/d20.

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& lATIn AMERICA

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first printing: January 2007

ISBn: 978-0-7869-4152-0

D ungeons & D ragons , D&D, D ungeon M aster , d20, d20 System, W izarDs of the C oast , Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, Complete Scoundrel, all

other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., in the u.S.A. and other countries.

This material is protected under the copyright laws of the united States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited

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Visit our website at www.wizards.com/dnd

Poison Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Psithief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Psychic Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Savvy Rogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Sly Fortune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Sound of Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Sure Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Survivor’s Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Sweet Talker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Swift Ambusher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Swift Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Tempting Fate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Third Time’s the Charm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Throat Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Unbelievable Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Victor’s Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Warning Shout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Skill Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Acrobatic Backstab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Assume Quirk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Back on Your Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Clarity of Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Clever Improviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Collector of Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Conceal Spellcasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Corner Perch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Dismount Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Easy Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Escape Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Extreme Leap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

False Theurgy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Group Fake-Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Healing Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Hidden Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Leaping Climber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Listen to This . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Magical Appraisal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Mosquito’s Bite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Never Outnumbered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Nimble Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Nimble Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Opening Tap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Point It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Quick Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Quick Swimmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Second Impression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Shrouded Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Social Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Slipping Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Speedy Ascent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Spot the Weak Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Sudden Draw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Swift Concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Timely Misdirection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Tumbling Crawl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Twisted Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Up the Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Walk the Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Wall Jumper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Whip Climber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Chapter 4: New Spells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Animate Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94

Aquatic Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Armor Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Assassin’s Darkness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Blockade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Catapult . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Create Fetch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Disobedience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Enlarge Weapon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Evacuation Rune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

Fatal Flame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Grasping Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Harmonic Void . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Healer’s Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Lucky Streak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Mage Burr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Manifestation of the Deity . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Mimicry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Opportune Dodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Scry Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Siphon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Smoke Stairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103

Spell Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Spore Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Spymaster’s Coin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Wall of Vermin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Wand Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Winged Watcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Chapter 5: Scoundrel Equipment . . . . . . . . 107

Hidden Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Surprise Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Alchemical Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Poisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Magic Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Aspect Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Bands of Fortune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Bladeshimmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Lucky Charm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Panic Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Rod of Ropes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

Shrunken Shrieker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

Trinket of Trickery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Wheel of Fortune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Living Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

Green Air Bramble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

Gut Mites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

Jabberweed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119

Planar Motes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119

Rust Monster Wand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Torch Bug items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Chapter 6: Scoundrel Adventures. . . . . . . . 121

What Are Scoundrel Adventures? . . . . . . . . 121

DMing with Scoundrels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Themes of Scoundrel Adventures . . . . . . . . 125

Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

The Free League . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

The Blind Tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

Seven Ravens Clan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Legendary Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Legendary Site Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . .142

Bussengeist Haunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Champion’s Crown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143

Court of Thieves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

The Frog God’s Fane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145

Heward’s Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146

The Highest Spire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147

Iron Wyrm Vault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149

Olidammara’s Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Otyugh Hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151

Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

One Hundred Scoundrel Challenges . . . . . 156

Contents

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 1: Scoundrels of All Types . . . . . . . . . 7

What Makes a Scoundrel? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Scoundrels of Any Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Scoundrels of Any Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Playing a Scoundrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Making a Scoundrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Chapter 2: Prestige Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Choosing a Prestige Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Avenging Executioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Battle Trickster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Cloaked Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Combat Trapsmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Fortune’s Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Gray Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Magical Trickster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Malconvoker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Master of Masks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Mountebank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Psibond Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Spellwarp Sniper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Uncanny Trickster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Chapter 3: Feats and Skill Tricks . . . . . . . . . .71

New Feats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Advantageous Avoidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Ascetic Stalker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Better Lucky than Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Chant of the Long Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Chord of Distraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Concussion Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Cool Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Daredevil Athlete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Daring Outlaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Daring Warrior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Deadly Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Deafening Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Disemboweling Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Dumb Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Eldritch Erosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Expanded Ki Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Enduring Ki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Epic of the Lost King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Fortuitous Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Freerunner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Good Karma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Head Shot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Healer’s Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Impeding Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Improved Familiar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Improved Skirmish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Lucky Break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Lucky Catch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Lucky Fingers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Lucky Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Magical Fortune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Make Your Own Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Martial Stalker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Master Spellthief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Merciful Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Mind Drain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Miser’s Fortune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Persistent Attacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Poison Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Introduction

“It’s locked,” Lidda said, backing away from the heavily bound

iron door. Its hundreds of etched demonic faces leered at her.

“Of course it is. That’s your job. Deal with it,” prodded Regdar,

his armor clanking as he shifted impatiently.

“I can’t. It’s not locked like that. Hennet, you want to give this

one a try?”

“Pardon me,” the sorcerer whispered as he squeezed past Regdar,

whose wide frame illed most of the tight hallway. Stepping

in front of Lidda and gesturing his companions back, Hennet

lamboyantly produced a wand, a limsy thing little more than a

gnarled twig. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment

to summon the power inherent in his blood, then focused on the

wand. A silent wave of blue sparks washed over the evil-looking

door, but as they struck its surface they vanished like rain upon

warm stone.

“It’s beyond the wand’s power,” Hennet stated matter-of-

factly as the blue light faded. He turned back, skirting past the

ighter.

Regdar looked to Lidda with an exasperated shrug. “Well, how

do we get by?”

“We look for another way.” Annoyance tinged Lidda’s voice.

“I could try something,” chirped Gimble from the rear. Disbe-

lieving eyes turned toward the brightly dressed bard. With his

hands stretched out ahead of him, the gnome forced his way past

his doubtful companions. He tossed Lidda a jaunty smirk and a

quick raise of his eyebrows as he met her level gaze.

“A little room, please,” Gimble said in serious tones, mocking

Hennet’s dramatic pose. The others stepped back as he put his

back between them and the door. The gnome reached into his

cloak for a split second, then pressed his hands against the door

and began whispering slowly, ominously.

Regdar glanced at Hennet, who arched an eyebrow dubiously.

Their misgivings quickly gave way to surprise, though, as a loud

creaking echoed through the web-strewn hall. The heavy door

swung inward at the gnome’s push.

“How’d you—?” Lidda started.

“Old gnome trick.” Gimble waved his arms toward the entrance

like the most gracious host. “After you.”

As his companions passed by cautiously, Hennet ixed the

gnome with a sidelong look. Gimble hung back a moment. Deftly,

he slipped the palmed stone with its sinister demon face—just

like the ones on the door—back into his cloak. He’d found it a

few rooms back and pocketed it in case it might prove useful, as

it had.

Skipping after his allies, Gimble smiled. They didn’t need to

know. That was the old gnome trick.

Another classic fantasy igure is the witty rogue who lives

by his luck and always comes out on top: the scoundrel.

Scoundrels can be wildly different characters, including

Bilbo Baggins, Robin Hood, Han Solo and Princess Leia,

Sherlock Holmes, Zorro, and Lara Croft. All of them live

by their wits, take chances when they must, and land on

their feet against all odds. Each has a distinct personality

and goals, from solving crimes to committing them, but

these characters’ methods and outlooks, not their profes-

sions or morality, make them scoundrels.

As personas for characters, scoundrels represent a style

of play rather than a class. They’re the sneaks, the cheats,

the bluffers, and the opportunists. They use improvisa-

tion and imagination to gain an advantage, exploiting a

weakness or a hidden beneit in even the worst situation.

Anyone can play a scoundrel. Simply adjust how you

prepare for encounters, react to situations, and interact

with both NPCs and your fellow PCs. Lawful or chaotic,

sword-swinger or spellcaster, scoundrels come in all

types.

Scoundrels are also fun and valuable tools for DMs.

Whether a skilled but unreliable cheat the PCs can never

be sure about, or an entire guild of trained sneaks and

thrill-seekers, the scoundrel archetype might enhance

a campaign in any number of ways. The versatile new

feats, skill tricks, spells, and equipment presented in this

book might be just the way to spark a party’s imagination

and inspire new tactics. By the same token, putting these

features in the hands of an opponent NPC allows you to

confront even the most experienced player with something

never seen before.

WhaT’s InsIde

Like earlier entries in this series, Complete Scoundrel is a

resource for players and DMs who wish to add elements

of this book’s theme to their game.

Chapter 1 introduces the concept of the scoundrel.

What does it mean to play a scoundrel, and how can you

best craft your scoundrel character? This chapter explores

the archetype in detail, giving players and DMs a primer

on incorporating the rest of the book’s elements in their

roleplaying.

The following chapters present new abilities and options

for scoundrels of all sorts. Chapter 2 details prestige classes,

while Chapter 3 offers many new feats to exploit a situation

to the fullest. Chapter 3 also introduces two new rules

subsystems: skin-of-your-teeth luck feats and an exciting

way to enhance your skills with special tricks.

Chapter 4 presents a variety of new spells designed

with the scoundrel in mind. Chapter 5’s selection of new

equipment—including alchemical, magical, mundane,

and even living items—offers an array of useful gear for

characters who seek the right tool for every job.

Chapter 6 discusses the scoundrel adventure or cam-

paign, including how to challenge characters who live

Your sCoundrel

A lot of the fun of the D&D® game lies in playing iconic

individuals and fantasy archetypes: the axe-wielding

barbarian, the wise, staff-bearing wizard, the expert sharp-

shooter elf. All these images hold an identiiable charm.

by their cleverness and daring. This chapter presents

new organizations and contacts to help scoundrels

participate in the campaign world, as well as new

magical locations to test even the most daring or sneaky

characters.

Boyington of the so-called Black Sheep Squadron and the

legendary German pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel in World War

II; the “Desert Fox” Erwin Rommel, who ultimately died

for his attempt to assassinate Hitler; Hannibal of Carthage

and Fabius Cunctator, whose delaying tactics weakened

the Carthaginian army; Shaka, the brilliant tactician and

king of the Zulu; Oda Nobunaga, whose cunning, business

acumen, and ruthlessness brought his clan to the brink

of conquering all Japan; China’s irst emperor, Qin, who

united the Three Kingdoms; and the eloquent Shawnee,

Tecumseh.

Con artists, innovators, heads of crime families, and

daring criminals are obvious examples of scoundrels:

Ronnie Biggs of England’s Great Train Robbery, Bonnie

and Clyde, Edward Teach (“Blackbeard”) and any number of

pirates from that period, and Wong Fei Hung, the Chinese

martial arts master and cultural hero portrayed in many

Hong Kong action ilms.

WhaT You need To PlaY

Complete Scoundrel makes use of the information in the

three D&D core rulebooks— Player’s Handbook, Dungeon

Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual . In addition, several of

the new classes presented in other books in this series—

especially the Complete Adventurer supplement—find

support here. Rules from Complete Warrior, Dungeon

Master’s Guide II, Expanded Psionics Handbook, and Player’s

Handbook II are also referenced and expanded upon.

Although possession of any or all of these supplements

can enhance your enjoyment of this book, they are not

necessary.

books

The following short bibliography should familiarize you

with some classic scoundrels of literature.

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. The wily sage Li Kao,

who has “a slight law in his character,” is a marvelous

scoundrel.

The Conan novels by Robert E. Howard. The barbarian

thief and future king is an iconic scoundrel. In a similar

vein is the bloody hero of the Kane novels by Karl Edward

Wagner (for example, Death Angel’s Shadow ).

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein is the origin of the half-

ling rogue archetype. The Lord of the Rings includes many

scoundrel characters as well, most notably Aragorn, Merry,

and Pippin.

The Icewind Dale trilogy and subsequent series by R.A.

Salvatore. The unlikely drow hero Drizzt do’Urden must

depend on his wits as well as his skill in a world that does

not welcome him. His nemesis, the troubled assassin

Artemis Entreri, and the ever-scheming Jarlaxle of Men-

zoberranzan, are also scoundrelly characters.

The Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan

Doyle, and the Judge Dee novels by Robert van Gulik.

The latter’s Chinese detective character is based on a real

magistrate of the T’ang Dynasty, but the stories are entirely

ictional in the mold of Sherlock Holmes.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley. The title character, who

draws strength from sunlight and must deal with having

freed a vampire, is resourceful, independent, and gifted

with unusual talents.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. All three of

the title characters, as well as d’Artagnan, are excellent

scoundrel archetypes.

Tom Jones. Perhaps the most famous scoundrel of lit-

erature, the young “foundling” travels through the world,

openly indulging his tastes while simultaneously demon-

strating loyalty and virtue.

sCoundrel resourCes

Scoundrels abound in iction and history. If you are look-

ing for inspiration when crafting a scoundrel character,

whether as an adventurer or as a challenging villain,

consider the following sources.

MYTh and legend

Various legendary heroes use their wits as well as their

brawn to survive and become the founders or patrons of

human cultures. Examples include the Sumerian war-

rior-king Gilgamesh as well as his barbarian companion

Enkidu, and heroes of the Trojan War, including Odys-

seus and Diomedes; trickster igures and gods such as

Coyote from Native American legend, Anansi the spider

god of West African myth, and China’s Nv Wa and the

titan Prometheus, both champions of humanity; noble

outlaws such as Robin Hood; unlikely knights such as

Sir Percival of Holy Grail fame, and knights forced to deal

with uncourtly situations, such as Sir Gawain. Modern

myth and legend continue to add to this list, as books,

ilms, comics, and even games introduce new characters

to our shared culture.

faMous fIgures froM hIsTorY

America’s Old West is illed with personalities who it

various scoundrel archetypes, from the ruthless Doc Hol-

liday to the gambler Wild Bill Hickok to the shrewd rebel

leader Cochise. The combination of a wide-open new land,

limited law enforcement, and displaced and persecuted

natives was a recipe for the rough-and-tumble climate in

which scoundrels thrive.

Legendary military leaders sometimes it the deini-

tion of scoundrels, especially those who buck tradition

or employ unorthodox tactics. Examples include “Pappy”

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