Rogue, Diplomat

When a situation spirals out of control and war, trade conflict, or any other clash of wills is ready to spin a region out of control, the diplomat is the first one to head to the front lines. He specialises in soothing hurt feelings, bridging the gap between two sides, and ironing out compromise.

The Quintessential Rogue
Author Michael Mearls
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2002

Often, the diplomat is caught in a crossfire, trying to mend fences that neither side truly wants restored. In many cases, one side sends in diplomats merely to delay the inevitable, hoping to catch their enemies off guard or buy time necessary to build up arms and troops.

Adventuring: Diplomats often turn to adventure as a way to earn more money from their skills. Most expeditions to foreign lands or alien environments attempt to hire a diplomat to serve as an envoy and unofficial spokesperson, helping smooth relations with humanoid species they encounter or foreign governments they must work with. Many expeditions that depart for the deepest areas of the earth count on diplomats to help hammer out alliances with deep dwarves, Gnomes, and other potentially friendly races in that hostile realm.

Role-Playing: Diplomats are compromise makers. They seek the middle ground in conflicts, trying to weigh the benefits and drawbacks offered by both positions and create a solution that keeps everyone happy, or at least equally discontent. In social situations they are extremely cool and collected, very rarely losing their cool or focus. Diplomats can be maddeningly detached, refusing to allow emotion or an extreme point of view to sway them from recognising that one side is rarely completely in the right. Of course, diplomats are fully capable of recognising right from wrong, they just are not quick to judge any group or viewpoint as one or the other without careful thought.

Bonuses: Diplomats excel in social situations. They deal well with a wide range of people, from courtiers to dockside thugs to alien humanoids. They gain a +2 competence bonus to all Diplomacy checks.

Penalties: Diplomats train extensively in dealing with others, leaving them without a few of the skills normally available to rogues. They do not count Balance and Use Magic Device as class skills.