The Collector (Character Kit)

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﻿The collector is an historian interested in the physical remains of history. Historical tales are simply backdrops that enhance the collectable nature of rare antiquities; these stories imbue the item with a value that transforms it from an ordinary item into a truly wondrous museum piece.
Collectors can be found in the field much more often than typical historians. They scour the earth looking for the valuable bits and pieces of the past that they desire. They can expound for hours upon their favorite subjects, often to the point of boring those around them. However, these collectors don't care; they are almost lost in the mists of time.
Collectors do not study history for the purpose of entertaining others or keeping records. They desire only the fortune and prestige that comes from owning historical antiquities. Of course, many collectors profess (and actually have) altruistic motives for their passion. They believe that their work confirms the theories of their more desk- bound brethren.
Competition between collectors is quite stiff. Those who run in the same circles and share the same interests are quite aware of each other. They butt heads in the field as often as they do in the classroom. After all, they are competing for the possession of unique objects.
Requirements: Collectors spend a lot of time interacting with other people in the field. Sometimes they are called upon to fight for what they want (or already own). For these reasons, collectors are more physical than regular historians.
As such, collectors must have a minimum Strength score of 10 and a minimum Constitution score of 12.
Role: The collector can be encountered while working alone or with a group. They tend to enjoy traveling by themselves, as they are often distrustful of others.
However, even the greatest collectors need assistance from time to time. This is especially true if one or more of their competitors gathers a force of minions to unearth an item. In such cases, a collector may feel compelled to hire a few adventurers.
Other times, a collector may find himself in competition with adventurers. Perhaps both groups are striving to unearth a particularly rare item. A serious collector will do his best to ensure that the item in question finds its way into his collection.
Many collectors concentrate their efforts on acquiring particularly powerful and unique magical items. Entire adventures or even campaigns can be driven by the importance of finding just one special magical item.
Weapon Proficiencies: Club, dagger, dart, mace, sling, and short sword
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Required: Ancient History and Appraising. Recommended: Reading/Writing, Etiquette, Local History, Disguise, Forgery, Tracking, Modern Languages, and Ancient Languages.
Equipment: Collectors do not require any special equipment. They usually dress appropriately for the surrounding locale, as they do not want to draw any attention to their work and alert competitors to their presence.
As soon as word gets out that a particular collector is in a certain area, all of his competitors will descend on that region, determined to beat the collector to his discovery.
A collector's rank among his fellows is based upon a system of one-upmanship. Those who consistently outperform their competitors earn the most respect.
Special Benefits: Collectors can wear any kind of armor they wish-including plate mail. However, most collectors eschew anything heavier than chain mail, as it is quite difficult to remain inconspicuous while tromping around in a suit of field plate armor.
Special Hindrances: Collectors must constantly add to their collection. In fact, they must procure one important piece for their collection each level. Collectors are unable to advance to the next level if they have not attained an important piece-even if they have enough experience points.
The items needed are often magical in nature particularly when trying to reach the 8th level and above. For this reason, many collectors possess more magical items than one might expect for a historian of their level. This is another reason why collectors try to maintain a low profile. Their wealth makes them obvious targets for thieves and other rogues.