Titles

Through your travels and efforts, doings and misdoings, you are bound to be found, recognized, or recalled from something memorable you've done. Titles are earned through these deeds. Whether it's "Orc Smasher" from that time you defeated a whole platoon of Orcs, or "Fumble Fingers" from when you dropped your weapon on your toe, it's something memorable that you are known for.

Titles are equippable, yet not tangible. Creatures can have one title equipped at a time, and to switch the title out requires a standard action. Titles can have lasting abilities that are always active, or once a day uses that sometimes do or do not require an action to use. Titles should not be too incredibly powerful, though for some abilities you may see it fitting to allow a player more power in a title than usual.

**MINOR TITLES**

Minor titles are usually given for small, remembered tasks and usually have a minimal effect. These titles can be anything from gaining a +1 bonus on attack rolls against Dragons with the Fire subtype, or a +1 bonus on a saving throw vs 1st level spells. They mimic traits in many ways, and it would not be a bad decision to allow a minor title to grant a character a character trait while it's equipped. Titles like this work best from 1st to 5th level.

*Example*: Morier the Fighter had gone outside when he heard a scream come from an alleyway. He was attacked by three thugs and was able to take two of them out, and scared off the last one. He gains the title of "White Knight" for his deeds which grants him a +1 bonus to all attack rolls against rogues while his title is equipped.

**MODERATE TITLES**

Moderate titles are a bit more powerful. They can grant abilities that occasionally rival feats or other abilities. Granting the temporary use of a feat, even if only for once a day would fall in a category such as this, but usually the prerequisites should still be met. It could grant you weapon focus in a certain weapon, or maybe allow you to have a minor bonus to some skill checks while it's equipped, or maybe even grant the character a specific ability. These titles work best from 6th to 10th level.

*Example*: Valstix the GGunslinger was known for his skill with his blaster, and could take out many foes with a single shot. His fearful gun could always strike fear in the heart of his opponent. He has earned the title of "Fear cannon". Once per day when he makes an attack roll on an aware opponent, he gains an intimidate check as a free action. If he succeeds, the creature becomes shaken for the remainder of the encounter.... IF HE SURVIVES.

**MAJOR TITLES**

Major titles are much more important and grand than the previously listed titles. These may allow the use of a feat that normally the player couldn't access (Weapon specialization for a Bard for example), or may allow them to use a spell once per day as a spell like ability. It could also be a lasting effect like a +2 to +4 bonus to attack rolls against a specific kind of creature or maybe even an additional use of a class ability per day. These titles are best used for levels 11th-15th.

*Example*: Marian Lionsgate is a powerful spell caster who has stood strong against the clan of wizards that had tried to slay her family. She took down the last of their guild and showed them her great magic powers. She has earned the title of "Magica Omega". Once per day she can use the effects of the maximize meta-magic feat on a spell for free, to demonstrate her great arcane prowess.

**EPIC TITLES**

These titles are amazing. Truly amazing abilities for truly amazing deeds. Stopping an army by yourself, slaying a dragon in melee combat... while thousands of feet in the air... with your bare hands. Abilities like this do not have a definite limitation, only what the DM feels is a worthy title and ability for your act of great bravery and skill. These are best used for levels 16-20.

*Example*: Kali was a wandering cleric who traveled the land healing the sick. She would face any hardship to aid the sick and dying and along with her allies she entered the realm of a powerful lich and struck him down. Not wanting to leave it at that, she extracted the souls from within him and used them to resurrect those he had slain in his conquest. She has earned the title of "Life Giver" and as such she grants all allies within 30 feet of her Fast healing 3 which stacks with all other forms of Fast healing or regeneration.

**USE OF TITLES**

The use of titles as a reward to your players is a good way to do so without a magic item or extra money or experience points, and in the hands of a skilled DM they can be integrated quite easily into their campaign, and with a limited use on them it isn't an ability that can get overly abused or overpowered.