Illus. by A.
Swekel
Règles sur les mentors
espite its title, this book, like its predecessor,
contains material designed to interest players
and their characters. That’s intentional. The PCs
are at the center of the story, and nothing truly
happens in even the most elaborate game world unless
the PCs experience it somehow—whether they see it
firsthand or learn about it later.
Accordingly, this chapter details ways you can enrich
the experience of the PCs in your game world, and by
extension, the players at your game table. You can start
PCs as apprentices or encourage them to start businesses
as a sideline to adventuring (and a source for future
adventures). You can offer them new powers and rewards:
magical locations as treasure, teamwork benefits, and
guardian spirits. Finally, you can design new prestige
classes that give the players exactly what they want for
their characters while immersing them in the world
you’ve created.
STUDENTS AND MASTERS
A character can take the Leadership feat to gain a cohort,
who then serves that PC as a general helper, a bodyguard,
or a sidekick. The cohort is a unique NPC, but one who
remains subservient to his or her master.
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But what happens when a PC wishes to apprentice
himself to a powerful wizard, or offers his services to a
powerful rogue in order to learn from him? This relation-
ship can be modeled on the Leadership feat, but the PC
gains no tangible benefit for becoming a cohort. Not
many players want to play a subservient minion of
an NPC.
Instead, the character can opt to take the Apprentice
feat. A character who wishes to become a teacher
himself once he has surpassed his own instructor
can take the Mentor feat.
APPRENTICESHIP
Once a character has taken the Apprentice feat, she
is considered an apprentice. The first thing she must
do is select a type of mentor; the mentor choices are
listed below. The DM can create new mentor types
using the listed mentors as guidelines.
Upon becoming an apprentice, a character
immediately gains two new class skills and two
bonus skill points to spend on these class skills.
These new class skills are added to the class skill list
for any character class or prestige class she gains. The
specific skills gained as class skills depend on the
type of mentor she selects.
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 In addition, the character gains one specific benefit (the travel with the PCs, so he or she won’t take treasure, XP,
exact type depends on the type of mentor selected) from and spotlight time from the player characters.
her mentor, and in desperate times she can even call upon A character can try to gain
him for aid. Apprentices are expected to learn and grow, a mentor of a particular race,
and mentors are loath to step in and provide physical sup- class, and alignment, but the
port or financial aid, or to pull strings for an apprentice. actual details are left to the
Convincing the mentor to aid in this way requires DM. If a character selects a
a successful level check (d20 mentor who is too different
+ character level), the DC of from her skill set, interests, or
CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 6

which is set by the DM and var- goals, the advantages of this

ies from 10 for simple favors to feat are correspondingly di-
as high as 25 for highly dan- minished. The mentor has
gerous, expensive, or illegal gear as an NPC (see Table
favors. A successful check 4–23: NPC Gear Value,
means the mentor helps in page 127 of the Dungeon
some way (lends a mag- Master’s Guide) and must
ic item, accompanies have the Mentor feat.
the character on a
short mission, pulls Expectations of
strings to get an ap- the Apprentice
pointment with Maintaining the sta-
the mayor, and so tus of apprentice isn’t
on) but demands cheap. The appren-
double the normal tice is expected to
Illus. by V. Rams

tithe the next time tithe 100 gp of her

the character gain earnings each time she
a level. Once the gains a level. This tithe
character asks for covers costs such as sup-
aid, no further re- plies, guild dues, gifts to
quests for aid will the mentor, and miscellaneous
be honored until costs. The tithe must be paid to
she gains at least one the mentor as soon as possible
experience level. (and certainly before the char-
acter gains another level), or she
Finding a Mentor Where the mentor leads, risks losing her apprenticeship.
When a character decides the student follows A 1st-level character doesn’t need
to become an apprentice, to pay a tithe until she reaches 2nd level.
she must first locate an appropriate mentor. Not just any Additionally, an apprentice is expected to practice her
NPC will do. As with the Leadership feat, apprenticeship skills, study, and even undertake minor tasks for her
depends heavily on the social setting of the campaign, mentor. Every week, she must spend at least 8 contiguous
the actual location of the PC, and the group dynamics. hours working for her mentor and practicing her skills.
You’re free to disallow this feat if it would disrupt the If she fails to meet this requirement, she must spend an
campaign. Unlike Leadership, the allied NPC does not additional day the next week. If she shirks her duties in
pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs
NEW FEAT: APPRENTICE NEW FEAT: MENTOR
A character with this feat has apprenticed himself to a master in A character who takes this feat has offered his knowledge
order to speed his learning and bolster his skills. This feat must and skill to a lower-level NPC and takes that NPC on as an
be taken at 1st level. Once you start gaining experience, your apprentice.
methods of learning are already too ingrained for you to be able Prerequisites: 8 ranks in at least two of the four skills associ-
to gain the benefits of a mentor–apprentice relationship. ated with your mentor category; Apprentice; you must have
Prerequisite: 1st level only. graduated from an apprenticeship.
Benefits: When you select this feat, you gain all the benefits Benefits: When you select this feat, you gain all the benefits
described in this section for being an apprentice. described in this section for being a mentor.
pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs
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 this manner for an entire month, the character’s mentor
expels her from the apprenticeship.
Mentor Types
The eight mentor types described below are fairly generic,
and can encompass any alignment, race, or class. A mentor
can easily be a chaotic evil gnome wizard craftsman or a
lawful good human rogue, for example.
Each mentor type is associated with two skills; as detailed
above, the apprentice gains these skills as class skills. In
addition, each mentor grants the apprentice additional
benefits unique to his profession and calling.
Craftsman: A craftsman mentor is skilled at building
things. A craftsman grants his apprentice a +2 competence
bonus on all Craft checks and a 10% discount when he
purchases raw materials for items he makes (including
items made with the Craft skill or with an item creation
feat, but not spell components or services).
Associated Skills: Appraise, Knowledge (architecture
and engineering).
Criminal: A criminal mentor is a high-ranking member
of a thieves’ guild, an assassin, a bandit lord, or any similar
miscreant. A criminal grants his apprentice a +2 compe-
tence bonus on Intimidate checks and an extra 100 gp to
spend on equipment as a starting character at 1st level. In
addition, the apprentice is not required to pay the 100 gp
tithe at each level, provided he remains an apprentice
in good standing. He is expected to comply with
requests from his mentor for minor services or
Ember hones her skills under the guidance
of a martial artist mentor
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tasks, such as tailing a subject, staking out a prospective
work site, and so on.
Associated Skills: Bluff, Gather Information.
Entertainer: An entertainer mentor is an actor, musi-
cian, storyteller, or other notable personality, often someone
quite recognizable or famous. An entertainer grants her
apprentice a +2 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks
and the ability to call upon the aid of an admirer or fan by
spending a tithe appropriate for the apprentice’s level. The
CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 6
admirer is of a character level equal to 1/2 the apprentice’s
own (minimum 1st) and must be within at least one step
of his alignment, but can be of any race or class. The ally
serves the apprentice for a limited duration (usually a
number of days equal to his Charisma modifier, minimum
of 1 day) as if a cohort. Once the apprentice calls upon the
aid of an admirer, he may not do so again until he gains
at least one level.
Associated Skills: Diplomacy, Perform.
Martial Artist: A martial artist mentor has perfected
a particular style of fighting, often exotic. A martial artist
grants his apprentice a +2 competence bonus on Intimidate
checks and a +2 bonus on Reflex saving throws.
Associated Skills: Concentration, Tumble.
Illus. by R. Mimura
Philosopher: A philosopher mentor is dedicated to the
pursuit of knowledge. In a civilized area he might be a
scholar or librarian, while in the wilderness he might be a
shaman or nomad. A philosopher grants his appren-
tice a +2 competence bonus on Concentration
checks and a +2 bonus on Will saving throws.
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 Associated Skills: Knowledge (any one), Sense Motive.
Soldier: A soldier mentor is a commander of an army, a
captain of a garrison, a mercenary leader, or otherwise in
command of a combat troop. A soldier grants his apprentice
a +2 competence bonus on Intimidate checks and a +2
bonus on Fortitude saving throws.
Associated Skills: Intimidate, Knowledge (local).
Spellcaster: A spellcaster mentor could be a priest of
the character’s religion, a teacher at a wizard’s guild, or an
CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 6
inventor seeking a protégé. Spellcaster mentors are not
as useful as the other seven mentors for characters who
cannot cast spells themselves. A spellcaster grants her
apprentice a +2 competence bonus on Spellcraft checks.
The tutelage of a spellcasting mentor grants additional
benefits only if the apprentice shares the same class as Becoming an Ex-Apprentice
his mentor. The apprentice only gains these benefits
when he gains a level in this class; he retains all the other
benefits of this feat (the bonus skills and the bonus on
Spellcraft checks) regardless of what class he chooses to
gain a level in.
If the apprentice and his mentor are arcane spellcasters,
he gains one additional spell known at 1st level. Wizards
gain this spell in their spellbooks, and spontaneous cast-
ers such as sorcerers or bards gain an additional 1st-level
spell beyond their normal number of spells known. As
the apprentice gains levels, he is able to learn additional
spellcasting techniques from his mentor; wizards can copy
from their mentor’s spellbook at no charge. Spellcasters
who do not prepare spells (such as a bard or sorcerer)
gain increased flexibility with the spells they know. Each
time an apprentice gains another of these levels, he can
choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already
knows. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of
the spell being exchanged.
If the character and his mentor are divine spellcasters
who prepare spells (such as clerics, druids, paladins, or
rangers), he can select one spell he knows as a preferred
spell. This can be a spell of any level he can cast. Once
per day, the apprentice can spontaneously cast a preferred
spell by swapping out any prepared spell of an equal spell
level. He can only have one preferred spell at a time, but
each time he gains a level in the associated class, he can
change his preferred spell to a different spell.
Associated Skills: Knowledge (any one), Use Magic Device.
Woodsman: A woodsman mentor might be a hunter, a
caretaker of a forest, or a scout. A woodsman mentor grants
his apprentice a +2 competence bonus on Survival checks
and the ability to follow tracks as if the apprentice had the
Track feat, but only when the DC is 20 or lower.
Associated Skills: Knowledge (nature), Survival.
Mentor Statistics
The DM should develop the mentor’s statistics. A mentor
has a base level of 5th, modified by the apprentice’s
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Charisma bonus (if any) and by the following situations.
These situations only apply when the feat is first taken; if
any of these situations change at a later date (for example,
the apprentice’s alignment changes), the mentor’s level
does not change.
Table 6–1: Mentor Level Modifiers
Condition Modifier
Mentor and apprentice are same race and class +1
Mentor and apprentice are same alignment +2
Mentor and apprentice share one alignment aspect +1
Mentor and apprentice are opposing alignments –1
Apprentice starts at maximum rank in at least two +1
of the mentor’s associated skills
In the case of the death or loss of a mentor, an ally or asso-
ciate of the prior mentor (who is of an equal level to the
original mentor) typically takes the place of the original.
The benefits gained from the Apprentice feat are not altered.
Two conditions can alter the apprentice benefits.
Surpassing the Mentor: Once the apprentice reaches
5th level, he graduates from his apprenticeship. He contin-
ues to gain the benefits of the Apprentice feat, but no longer
needs to work with his mentor. The mentor’s associated
skills remain class skills for purposes of determining the
maximum rank he can have in those skills, and he still
retains the secondary benefits, but an associated skill can
only be purchased as a class skill if he gains a level in a
class that has that skill as a class skill. He no longer needs
to tithe to his mentor upon gaining levels. If you allow, he
can also immediately exchange his Apprentice feat for the
Mentor feat (see below).
Expulsion: Grounds for expulsion include actions
deemed destructive by the mentor, failing to pay tithes in
a timely manner, or simply not spending the time required
to study the chosen craft for an entire month. A character
can also choose to leave an apprenticeship; although the
apprentice can part on good terms with his mentor, the
game effects are the same as if he were expelled.
An expelled apprentice immediately loses the second-
ary benefits of this feat, and his apprentice class skills
immediately become cross-class skills unless he possesses
a level in a class that grants the skill as a class skill. A skill
that becomes a cross-class skill begins to atrophy; the next
time the character gains a level, any skill ranks in excess
of his normal maximum skill ranks for a cross-class skill
are lost forever.
Gaining a New Mentor
If a character is expelled or voluntarily leaves an appren-
ticeship before he surpasses his mentor, he can seek out
a new mentor. The new mentor can be of any type. Find-
ing a new mentor is time-consuming. The ex-apprentice
must make a successful Gather Information check (DC
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 10 + character level), and each attempt takes a number of
days equal to his character level. Success indicates he has
found a new mentor; failure indicates that he has not, but
he can try again.
Once a character gains a new mentor, he must imme-
diately pay a tithe of 100 gp times his character level. He
must then spend at least a week of 8-hour days studying
and working with his new mentor to become familiar
with her teaching methods. After this time, the apprentice Finding an Apprentice
gains the mentor’s associated class skills and secondary
benefits, but he does not gain bonus skill points for the
new class skills.
A new mentor’s maximum level is one level lower than
the level of the previous mentor (minimum 5th). A char-
acter who constantly changes mentors or keeps getting
expelled soon finds that no one wants to take him on as
an apprentice.
MENTORSHIP
Although mentors typically belong to a guild or organiza-
tion, they sometimes work alone. Likewise, although most
mentors take on multiple apprentices and devote their lives Keeping an Apprentice
to teaching them, some instead focus on one apprentice at
a time. Player character mentors should choose this second
option, since by taking on only one apprentice they don’t
have to devote all their time to him. The benefits for having her apprentice’s loyalty. When she first gains this feat, her
multiple apprentices don’t stack, in any event.
An apprentice is similar to a cohort, except that the
apprentice doesn’t accompany the mentor on adventures
as a standard rule. A new apprentice is always a 1st-level
character. The apprentice’s race and gender can vary, but
his class must be identical to one the mentor possesses at
least one level in. Likewise, the apprentice must have the
Apprentice feat.
The mentor must possess at least 8 ranks in two of the
four skills associated with the mentor type.
Craftsman: Appraise, Craft (any), Knowledge (architec-
ture and engineering), Profession (any).
Criminal: Bluff, Gather Information, Open Lock, Training an Apprentice
Sleight of Hand.
Entertainer: Diplomacy, Gather Information, Perform,
Profession.
Martial Artist: Balance, Concentration, Jump, Tumble.
Philosopher: Concentration, Knowledge (religion),
Knowledge (any one other), Sense Motive.
Soldier: Climb, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Ride.
Spellcaster: Concentration, Knowledge (arcana), Spell-
craft, Use Magic Device.
Woodsman: Climb, Handle Animal, Knowledge
(nature), Survival.
Since the mentor spends so much of her time teaching
the apprentice and practicing these four skills, she gains a
+2 competence bonus on checks involving any of her four
associated skills.
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While the apprentice pays his mentor a tithe, the money
from that sum goes to pay for the various expenses related
to maintaining the apprenticeship. The apprentice might
also ask his mentor for help at times, usually in the form
of a loan of money or the casting of a spell. The mentor
is free to react to these requests as she sees fit, but if she
ignores them too often, she might lose her apprentice.
CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 6
When a PC takes the Mentor feat, the DM should prepare
a small group of three to six prospective apprentices for
the character to choose from. At this stage, the prospective
apprentices don’t need full statistics; a name, race, class,
gender, and one-sentence personality should be enough.
When the PC selects one of them, she generates the
apprentice’s ability scores, using the elite array (15, 14, 13,
12, 10, 8). The apprentice must have the Apprentice feat,
but otherwise the details are up to the player character.
A new apprentice starts at 1st level, with gear appropriate
to his class.
The mentor is free to treat her apprentice however she
wants, entrusting him with as little or as much responsi-
bility as she feels appropriate. The mentor score measures
initial mentor score equals 1 + her Charisma modifier and
is modified by the following conditions.
Situation Modifier
Apprentice’s character level +1 per level
The mentor grants the apprentice a favor +1
The mentor refuses the apprentice a favor –2
The mentor provides room and board +1
Each week the mentor fails to train the apprentice –1
for the minimum required time
Each time the mentor asks the apprentice for a favor –1
The apprentice is killed as a direct result of the –5
mentor’s actions
Apprentices advance with training. Each week, a mentor
is expected to dedicate at least 8 consecutive hours to
training with her apprentice. Meeting this minimum
amount of training allows the apprentice to advance and
keeps the mentor’s own skills honed. If she neglects her
apprentice, not only does she take a penalty to her mentor
score, but she also loses her skill check bonuses until she
spends time with her apprentice.
With adequate training, the apprentice gains a level each
time the mentor gains a level. He also acquires equipment
appropriate to an NPC of his class (see Chapter 4 of the
Dungeon Master’s Guide).
When the apprentice reaches 5th level, he graduates
and follows the mentor as a cohort, as if she had the
Leadership feat.
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 Favors from an Apprentice
Periodically, a mentor might need a favor from her appren-
tice. To determine if the favor is granted, make a mentor
check by rolling 1d20 and adding the mentor score. A small
favor, such as assisting in the creation of a magic item or
guarding a location for a day, is a DC 15 check. A large favor,
such as asking the apprentice to accompany the mentor
on a short, relatively safe adventure or guarding a location
for several weeks is a DC 25 check. A huge favor, such as
CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 6
feelings. This does not count as a lost apprentice should
she seek to gain a new one in the future. She must fi nd
a new apprentice within 30 days to continue to benefit
from the skill bonuses.
RUNNING A BUSINESS
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS player characters typically have
one source of income: they fight monsters and take their

asking for the apprentice to accompany the mentor on an
extended adventure or asking him to make the mentor a
magic item, is a DC 40 check. Each time the mentor asks
a favor of her apprentice, her mentor score goes down by
1, regardless of whether or not the favor is granted.
Losing an Apprentice
If a mentor’s score ever drops to 0 or lower, the mentor’s
apprentice grows dissatisfied and leaves. The mentor
immediately loses the bonuses to her associated skills.
The mentor can also choose to expel her apprentice at
any time; the results are identical to when an apprentice
voluntarily leaves. If her apprentice dies, she can choose
to have the apprentice raised from the dead, at which
point he might leave, depending on the circumstances
of his death.
The mentor can seek out a new apprentice once a month
has passed. If she gains a new apprentice, her mentor score
is reset to its base value, –1 per previous apprentice lost. If a
mentor loses too many apprentices, she’ll quickly find that
no one wants to become her student due to the reputation
she’s gained.
At the DM’s option, relocating to a new, distant location
can remove the penalties for losing apprentices.
Finally, once the apprentice reaches 5th level and
graduates from his apprenticeship, he becomes a cohort,
as if the mentor had the Leadership feat. The mentor
can dismiss him, if she wishes, with no ill effect or hard
treasure. Rewards from grateful kings and barons and
guildmasters might supplement this income, but for the
most part, PCs finance themselves with treasure.
Yet this isn’t the only way characters can make money.
Certainly, it’s not the way the NPCs of the world survive.
They rely on skills such as Craft, Perform, and Profession
for their livelihood. Low-level PCs might rely upon these
skills as well to augment their meager income at the start
of an adventuring career.
No matter what sort of business a character runs, the rules
for determining its success or failure work the same.
BUSINESS BASICS
The rules presented here for running businesses function
primarily off a single skill check, based on the business’s
primary skill. The owner makes a special skill check using
this skill, called a profit check. The owner can opt to take
10 on a profit check but he can’t take 20. One profit check is
made once every business term, typically one month. The
profitability of the business is set by its risk and modified
by its location, the business owner’s secondary skills, and
several other factors. The degree by which the profit check
succeeds determines how much income the business
generates, or how much it loses, for that term.
While the profit check is usually based upon a Profes-
sion or Craft skill, it represents more than what a single
character does to earn money. A business is an investment
by the owner, and running a business produces more

Table 6–2: Businesses

Business Primary Skill Secondary Skills Associated Guild Capital Resources Risk
Criminal Intimidate Knowledge (local), primary Criminal High High High
organization skill of business front
Farm Profession Handle Animal, Naturalist Low Low Low
(farmer) Knowledge (nature)
Fighting school Base attack Intimidate, Craft Mercenary Low High Medium
Moneylender Profession Diplomacy, Government Medium Medium Medium
(bookkeeper) Appraise
Performance hall Perform Diplomacy, Service Low Medium Low
Sense Motive
Service Profession Appraise, Religious Medium Low Low
or Craft Diplomacy or service
Shop Profession Appraise, Arcane, religious, Medium Low High
(shopkeeper) Sense Motive or mercantile
Tavern Profession Profession (brewer Mercantile Medium Medium High
(innkeeper) or cook), Sense Motive or service
Troupe Perform Special Service Medium Low Low
University Knowledge Diplomacy, Arcane, religious, High Medium Low
Profession (teacher) or scholastic
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