New Fighter class: the JANNISARY

[David]

JANNISARY, WARRIOR CLASS
by Benjamin Franz <[e-mail]>

ABILITY REQUIREMENTS: Strength 13, Intelligence 12, Charisma 10
PRIME REQUIREMENTS: Strength, Charisma
RACES ALLOWED: Human, Half-Elf (I will not be allowing half-elves without a DAMN good reason!)
ALIGNMENTS ALLOWED: Lawful good

Jannisaries are members of a special subclass of warrior that serves as soldiers and keepers of the peace in lawful and just societies. As a group, the jannisaries of a particular society report directly to that society’s ruler, although a strict hierarchy of command exists within the jannisaries themselves. Because they bring a sense of security and maintain moral order, jannisaries tend to be well-liked among the populace. Additionally, the ranks of the jannisary are generally open to most citizens of the society, and it is usually deemed an honor for a family to have a relative serving their country as a jannisary.

Following rigorous training, jannisaries are swift, strong, and quick-witted. With experience, they become master fighters and premiere strategists. Only humans and half-elves may become jannisaries. To do so, the aspirant must have minimum ability scores of 13 for Strength, 12 for Intelligence, and 10 for Charisma. Just like a paladin, Strength and Charisma are the prime requisites for a janissary. Also like a paladin, all jannisaries must be Lawful Good in alignment. Both males and females can become jannisaries.

TABLE 4: JANNISARY EXPERIENCE LEVELS

Level Experience Hit Dice (d10)
1 0 1
2 2000 2
3 4000 3
4 8000 4
5 16,000 5
6 32,000 6
7 64,000 7
8 125,000 8
9 250,000 9
10 500,000 10
11 750,000 10 + 1
12 1,200,000 10 + 3
13 1,500,000 10 + 5
14 1,800,000 10 + 7
15 2,100,000 10 + 9
16 2,400,000 10 +10
17 2,700,000 10 + 11
18 3,000,000 10 + 13
19 3,300,000 10 + 15
20 3,600,000 10 + 17

Role: As described above, the jannisaries are the soldiers and peace-keepers of their society. They have sworn allegiance to the ruler of their society and will come to his or her aid or service when commanded to do so. Such service might include being sent as an emissary to a foreign government or being sent to lead an exploratory mission into previously unknown areas.

The jannisary is trained to be both a protector and a leader, and he or she is perfectly comfortable leading a group of any sort, usually with an understanding but stern manner. At all times, a jannisary is an extension and reflection of his or her country. As such, the jannisary always behaves with nobility and fairness, and he or she would never willingly betray country or ruler.

Equipment: Jannisaries obtain clothing, weapons, armor, and related equipment from their country’s central armory at no cost; however, they are responsible for keeping the equipment in excellent condition and paying for any necessary repairs. If the central armory is inconvenient, such as occurs when a jannisary is in another city of the country or outside the country, then the jannisary must send for and await delivery of the desired equipment or use other means to obtain it. When he returns to the city which houses the central armory, the jannisary must give an accounting of all equipment obtained from other sources, and that equipment must be turned in to the armory if the jannisary has no immediate need for it.

Special Abilities: When determining saving throws, the jannisary may use the warrior or the priest saving throw, choosing the most beneficial for his or her level.

At 3rd level, the jannisary gains the ability to detect undead and extra-planar creatures within a radius of 10' per level of the jannisary. The jannisary must concentrate to use this ability, and, therefore, can perform no other action during the round. The ability does not reveal any information about the origin of the creature or creatures detected other than that they are undead or extraplanar in origin.

At 6th level, the jannisary gains the ability to detect evil intent up to 30' away by concentrating on locating evil in a particular direction. This is like the paladin ability save for the range.

At 9th level, the jannisary gains a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls when fighting a great ghul or ghul-kin; additionally, he or she gains a +1 bonus to saving throws vs. spells and magical effects from these devious creatures. The jannisary will recognize a great ghul or ghul-kin on sight, even if it is hiding behind an illusion. This bonus reflects focused study on these particular creatures and how to defeat them.

Upon reaching 12th level, the jannisary undergoes a cleansing ritual which ends with his or her receiving a vision of some object or being to be sought. Typically, the vision is of a unique magical item or rare magical creature. Pursuing this quest becomes the jannisary’s motivation for the remainder of his or her life. Usually, the jannisary’s ruler will give him or her leave to follow this quest, but the jannisary is expected to come to the ruler’s aid if a call for such is made. The jannisary’s responsibility to the ruler and the state always supersede his or her personal goals. Furthermore, the jannisary is aware that it is pursuing the quest, not completing it, that is of importance, and while many jannisaries go to their graves without ending their quests, none of them feel unfulfilled when they do so.

Jannisaries do not accumulate wealth, as the betterment of the state is sufficient compensation for their loyalties. Within their own countries, they are often treated to free meals by the citizenry (although non-jannisary companions will be expected to pay for their food). When outside of their countries, jannisaries frequently find they must hire themselves out as bounty hunters or armed escorts to earn gold for sustenance; they will, of course, never knowingly hire themselves to suspicious or criminal employers.

(What this means is that jannisaries are limited like ranger to what they can carry, giving all surplus wealth to their State. Further, unlike rangers, paladins, etc, a jannisary will almost never create their own state, but will work to extend that of their home State.)

Wealth Options: A jannisary begins with 1d4x10 gold pieces. (PCs will start with standard gold for a fighter [5d4x10gp] and equip themselves with this, assuming that it comes from the State)

[David]

This is meant as a starting point -- suggestions QUITE welcome.

A couple more perks might be nice. I'm not sure I like the dual saving throw columns.

[jason]

The powers do not seem to mesh with the description or the historic Jannisary from the Ottoman empire. I know they were an elite fighting force that gained in political power before being disbanded. I really don't see them as anything other than fighters who are loyal and political.

Maybe if I knew what the reasons and basis for the class and powers would help.

[jason]

I would think that a leader class would be more based on inspiring those around them. I would suggest morale boosts, maybe inspiring others in battle gives a to hit or ac bonus. I'm thinking that the Jannisary would need to be leading from the front for this to work.

[David]

Okay, I think you guys are sorta right, which was why I posted it here for comment, even though I couldn't articulate what was lacking. That said, I like the idea of a) a Janissary class, b) a class based outside the West, c) an alternate to the paladin/ranger, and d) some of the ideas of a brotherhood of devout fighters in a magical world. So, analyzing who the janissary really were, they're basically knights in the Ottoman empire...sorta. And that's what makes 'em interesting and worthy of their own class.

Janissary FUNCTION much like knights, but their whole construction of identity and network of loyalties are totally different. Knights were the elite fighters of the West/Christendom. Janissaries were the elite fighters of the East/Ottomans. But the similarities fall apart there. Knights were feudal lords with their own lands who served as vassals but had dynastic interests of their own. Each knight was unique and independent, his personal honor and interests likely more important than those of his sovereign or nation. In contrast, the janissary was a vassal whose first loyalty was to his "brothers" in the corps and then to his nation and then to his ruler (roughly). It wasn't until near the end of their existence that active janissaries could even get married and given that they'd been severed from their families and indoctrinated into a foreign faith from an early age, they had very few ties with their biological families either, resulting in a religious fraternity that was very loyal to its own.

Further, the janissary weren't just a fighting force; they were also the Sultan's imperial guard as well as police and firemen. While knights came home and ruled their own lands, vied with their fellows, and dreamt of glory and social advancement, the janissary was paid by the empire, owned nothing but some personal belongings (everything else belonged to the corps -- they were a caste of slaves, remember), and were brainwashed from early childhood to put the corps first in service to the empire. The janissary weren't just guardians of the Sultan, they were guardians of peace, prosperity, and the will of Allah.

Sooo....how's this?

Janissary:

• Sub-class of fighter that uses the ranger/paladin eep chart in the PH2
  
• Prime stats are STR (13) and CHR (10), but also need INT (12)
  
• d10 for hit points and all the same abilities as a fighter, unless otherwise noted
  
• Must be LG, NG, or LN
  
  
• May not begin with specialization
  
• Must serve the Empire (in this case, the Caliph in Huzuz, Zakhara) and be both devout and Enlightened
  
• Must obey the orders of any janissary two or more levels higher without question
  
• May not keep more treasure than they can carry easily (like a ranger), giving all excess to the Corps
  
• May not hold lands; these too are surrendered to either the Corps or the Empire
  
  
• Surprised like a ranger (alertness, +3) -- vigilant guardians
  
• +2 saves vs mind-affecting (hold, sleep, fear), including illusions -- dedication, keen mind, training
  
• Bardic morale bonus (+1 to hit and saves, +2 morale) but ONLY when fighting with other jannisary -- brotherhood, can't let each other down
  
• Hear Falsehoods as a thief Hears Noise of the same level -- detective/police force, student of human nature, guardians of the throne
  
  
• At 3rd level, Detect Falsehoods as a thief Detects Traps of the same level -- note disguises, inconsistencies, magical illusions and polymorphs (it's a magical world -- paladins didn't really deal with undead either!), note the work of jinn
  
  
• At 6th level, may specialize in a missile weapon (only) -- the janissary were known as crack archers and riflemen
  
  
• At 8th level, start casting spells as a ranger of the same level, but sum mage/druid and limit to 1st and 2nd -- perform minor acts of devotion, but nothing beyond those powered by personal faith (either using the spheres of an Enlightened God or using the Pantheon spheres, with commensurate limitations)
  
  
• At 10th level, instill bardic bravery in all who view them -- both raw recruits and common people benefit from the janissaries obvious heroism, bravery, and devotion to duty.
  

Thoughts?

[viking]

Seems a bit better.

One other note is that with all the special abilities, they should really be on a harsher xp table.

[jason]

They do have a good amount of negatives to balance with the powers I think. Also they seem limited as to adventuring sorta like a Sohei and get no followers like most other fighter sub classes. Also they look like they would only really shine when there is more than one. I think Ranger or Paladin exp chart is ok.

[viking]

I missed the revised eep chart in the new write-up and still thought it was the original fighter eep chart.. Ranger/paladin seems right.

[viking]

There are a few deviations from actual jannisarys, btw..

1) Originally they were non-muslims captured and made slaves.. They had to convert, of course, as non-muslims couldn't bear arms.
2) They were one of the first military units to draw regular wages, so while they don't amass a lot of wealth, they are always taken care of and have a high standard of living.
3) When they reach the proper age, they can retire and receive a pension from the sultan. They are not allowed to marry until they retire from the corps.
4) In the early (pre-firearm days), it wasn't really an honor to be a janissary. If you had a family, you generally weren't acceptable to be a jannisary as you were more susceptible to outside influence.
5) Jannisary had weapon restrictions in what they carried in non-wartime (when they were police)
6) The units travelled with surgeons, it it makes total sense that a handful of jannisary warriors would travel with a priest or two of an enlightened god.

It seems like LE should be allowed, as a jannisary of an evil sultan is still a jannisary. Less a fan of the NG, as jannisary is more about law then good, but that depends on the bias you want in your world :-)

[jason]

Now we need a Varangian class.

[David]

1) The historical Janissaries were all converts. They went through some BRUTAL tests and their conversions genuine. Within the cultural context, they were seen as particularly devout Muslims, defenders of the Faith and the Empire, even though they had to shave their beards (done to make them outsiders). Within the context of Zakhara, they were unenlightened and forced to truly convert.

2) Totally. I would say high station and normal starting gold. Those in service get pay in the Empire and few other perks.

3) This varied by time, but during their "golden age" yes, quite true. See below.

4) In the pre-firearm days, the Janissary hadn't reached their zenith yet. It was their cultural entrenchment that made folks sign up their children. But it was the severing of familial ties that allowed for the janissaries' devotion to each other and the State, as well as the sultan's trust in them. This tension defined the class and when it was removed, led to the corps' fall. I would argue that when someone retires, they do not change class, neither when they marry. Perhaps at a given level (or age) it's allowed, much as fighters can "settle down" and build a castle at high level, but technically, with enough resources, any fighter can do the same?

5) True. Merely a cultural restriction, as no one but the nobles got to carry weapons then, either...

6) In a fantasy world with gods who can heal, this is where limited, faith-oriented spell casting comes in, coupled with a couple of janissaries that take healing, herbalism, and association with Enlightened, militant orders of clerics.

7) Islam is more lawful than Christianity (though still less so then Judaism) but fiercely opposed to any form of evil. They don't even have fallen angels and NO BEING can defy the will of Allah. Nothing with access to Allah or that which is holy can be evil. The janissary should reflect this bias. I added NG because Islam DOES have a tradition of questioning orthodoxy (not commonly seen in the West and often lost since the fall of the Ottomans) far beyond what Christendom finds acceptable (more comparable to Judaism).

[viking]

Makes sense..

I was more wondering if there is the equivalent for the non-enlightened side of the coin, but I aceppt that's a different class ;-) Makes sense..

Why do I see a jannisary campaign coming with our troops, some healers and the 'support' casters serving as detached artillery :-)