Comrade

*"Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite!"*

-Karl Marx

When a paladin beats a commoner for stealing the bread they need to survive- a comrade will be there to avenge him. When a commoner is hungry and cold and tired - a comrade will be there to feed him. Every time the rich robber baron takes more than he is owed- a comrade will be there to beat him and redistribute his wealth. A comrade is equality. A comrade is strong. A comrade is the people’s hero.

Born of a communist revolution comrades are communist paladins empowered not by a deity but by the will of the oppressed masses. They are found leading revolts against fat nobles, bringing down capitalist empires, and helping the common man.

### Alignment: Any Good

Chaotic comrade is a revolution starter, ripping down systems of government without concern for what will go up in its place. They are quick, effective, and possess an unmatched sense of compassion for the common man. A lawful one tends to work more from within and tries to replace one system of government with a communist one. While they may not be as quick to action their actions are more thought out and politically motivated. Neutral good comrades tend to be more flexible, adopting both strategies but never to any great extreme.

### Skills

A comrade replaces Knowledge (nobility) with Knowledge (local).

### Code Of Conduct

A comrade must be of a good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if he ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a comrade’s code requires that he adhere to socialistic/communistic ideals including an equal division of labor and wealth, and joint ownership of any major assets. He must also try to side with the common man and anyone of low standing ("oppressed masses") and shun any sort of aristocracy or nobility. A comrade may temporarily work with aristocrats so long as he works in the common man’s best interest.

### Detect Nobility (Su)

Rather than be able to detect if a creature is evil, a comrade can, at will as a swift action, determine someone’s standing in life. This functions a per detect evil, though the comrade can determine the following information:

**1st Round:** If a creature holds a noble title or if they are employed by a government.

**2nd Round:** Number of creatures who have a noble title or are employed by a government.

**3rd Round:** What their position is within the government. This is broken down into one of the following 3 categories:

* **Non-Invested:** This is the lowest level of governmental employees. They are typically minor functionaries (scribes, messengers, etc), town guards or non-officers in the military (unless they believe wholeheartedly in the ideals of their government), servants, and the like who are simply employed by the government or nobility but have no real vested interest in them.
* **Invested:** These are people who hold a position in their own right but are not members of higher rungs of the political ladder. They believe in the government or at least support it. This typically includes most officers of the military. In a theology this might be acolytes or devotees to the faith. In a capitalistic society it might be a entrepreneur, mid-level government bureaucrat, banker, etc. In a monarchy it might be a minor lord, a squire, etc. In a tribal society it might be a high ranking warrior, elder members of the society without a ruling stake, etc.
* **Patriot:** These are people high up on the ladder who run their government or have a hand in it. This group of people include those with a noble title, high ranking clergy members (theocracy), knights, generals, any sort of career politician, filthy rich businessman, etc. When determining if a creature is simply "invested" or a "patriot" ask yourself, "does the creature have an active hand in running the government?". If so, then they are a patriot.

This ability replaces detect evil.

### Smite Bourgeoisie (Su)

A comrade’s smite evil targets creatures who would count as invested or as a patriot with regard to the comrade’s detect nobility ability rather than against evil creatures. Creatures who fall into this category but are a member of a socialist government are not valid targets. If the target of smite bourgeoisie is noted to be greedy (such as dragons, dwarves, etc) or is of an evil alignment, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the comrade possesses. Regardless of the target, smite bourgeoisie attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess.

This ability modifies smite evil.

### Communist Vigilance (Su)

At 2nd level, the comrade and allies within 30 feet of him cannot be the target of precision damage unless the creature dealing it has at least twice the comrade's level in HD.

This ability replaces divine grace.

### Socialist Medicine (Su)

At 3rd level, each ally within 10 feet of the comrade gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases (including mummy rot). This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.

This replaces divine health.

### Aura Of The Revolution (Su)

At 11th level, a comrade may expend a use of his smite bourgeoisie ability as a swift action to grant all allies within 30 feet of him a morale bonus on attack and damage rolls equal to 1/3rd his comrade level against any creature who would be a valid target for his smite bourgeoisie class feature for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier. Creatures with levels in the commoner class gain this bonus while within 100 feet of an allied comrade, regardless of whether or not he expends a use of his smite bourgeoisie ability.

This ability replaces aura of justice.

### Hero Of The People (Su)

At 20th level, a comrade becomes an icon of the people- able to become a lightning rod for political change. His DR increases to 10/evil. Whenever he uses smite bourgeoisie and successfully strikes a creature targeted by that ability, 50% of all currency held by the creature is taken and given directly to the comrade (as per his code, this must later be distributed to his party members). In addition, whenever he channels positive energy or uses lay on hands to heal a creature, he heals the maximum possible amount.

This ability replaces holy champion.