HOLOVID STAR

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Holovids rank among the most popular forms of entertainment in the galaxy, and the holovid industry hauls in quintillions of credits every year. Holovid stars enjoy a kind of celebrity usually afforded only to royalty (and indeed, many go into politics when their acting careers start to flag). From action-adventures to dramas to comedies to documentaries, holovid stars in any segment of the industry are recognized almost immediately wherever they go, and treated with courtesy, respect, and even awe. At the heights of their careers, some even rub shoulders with the galaxy’s movers and shakers, dining with heads of state, chatting with ambassadors, and acting as spokespersons for political causes. But holovid stars, despite their detractors’ claims, do not exist in a vacuum of glamour and glitz. Some perform only when they aren’t busy with more important concerns, and these celebrities have various ties to the Rebel Alliance, the Galactic Empire, the Corporate Sector Authority, the Jedi Temple, smuggling rings, terrorist cells, and a variety of criminal activities. The experience an actor gains from making holovids can come in handy when she is fighting for a cause she believes in (or simply trying to make a few extra credits on the side).

Nobles make the best holovid stars, though they can come from nearly any background, depending on the kind of roles the star generally plays. Holovid stars need not have been heavily involved in the industry before becoming stars (in fact, some of them are taken by surprise when strangers recognize them on the street), and the change in employment status has very little bearing on their adventuring aims. (Gamemasters and players should note, however, that a holovid star who becomes too busy to actually star in holovids anymore will swiftly earn the ire of the studios. See Ex-Stars, below.)

**Requirements**

To qualify to become a Holovid Star, a character must fulfill the following criteria.

**Skills:** Profession (Actor) 6 ranks, Perform (Acting) 6 ranks.

**Feats:** RENOWN [BASIC FEAT]

**Class Information**

The following information pertains to the Holovid Star advanced class.

**Hit Die:** The Holovid Star gains 1d2 + the Characters Constitution modifier in Hit Points per level.

**Action Points:** 6 + one-half character level, rounded down, every time the Holovid Star attains a new level in this class.

**Skill Points at Each Level:** 7 + Int modifier.

**Class Features**

The following features pertain to the **Holovid Star** advanced class.

**Celebrity**

The holovid star is almost immediately recognized wherever she goes unless she travels in disguise. This can cause her a few problems because of the excessive amount of attention she receives, but it also has its advantages. She can add her holovid star class levels to her Reputation bonus when dealing with NPC characters.

A holovid star’s celebrity also grants her access to certain privileges otherwise denied to ordinary people. A holovid star may substitute her levels from the holovid star prestige class for her Sympathy rating for a given faction when determining whether she meets the prerequisites for faction-associated feats. This rule does not apply if the holovid star has declared for a given faction.

**Bonus Class Skill**

At 1st level, the holovid star may designate a cross-class skill (except Psionic skills) as a class skill. Once designated, the skill is considered a class skill.

**Bonus Feat**

At 2nd level and again at 5th level, the holovid star gets a bonus feat, reflecting her ongoing training in the field of holovid acting. This bonus feat must be a [BASIC FEAT].

**Favor**

As a renowned celebrity and media darling, the holovid star can ask and usually receive favors from the media, in exchange for minor considerations such as exclusive interviews and public appearances. By making a favor check, the holovid star can call upon contacts and resources that most heroes don’t have. This allows the holovid star to gain important information without going through the time and trouble of a Gather Information check, or to requisition resources without paying for them. Favors also can be used to acquire the loan of equipment or documents from influential acquaintances.

To use this ability, the holovid star makes a favor check. Roll a d20 and add the holovid star’s favor bonus. The GM sets the TN of the check. Simple, low-cost, low-risk favors are TN 10, while expensive, illegal, or extremely risky favors could be TN 20 or higher. The holovid star cannot take 10 or 20 on this check, nor can she make multiple attempts at the same (or virtually the same) favor. Truly extreme favors, such as eliminating a major foe or rival, are generally beyond the capabilities of the holovid star’s media contacts. Such tasks should be the basis of an adventure — not the outcome of a single roll.

A holovid star can try to call in a favor a number of times per week of game time equal to one-half her holovid star level, rounded up. This is cumulative with the noble’s ability to call in favors. The GM should carefully monitor the use of favors to ensure that this ability isn’t abused. The success or failure of a mission shouldn’t hinge on the use of a favor, and calling in favors shouldn’t replace good roleplaying or the use of other skills or abilities. The GM can disallow any favor deemed to be disruptive to the game. See the Favors and Contacts for more information.

**Look-A-Likes**

At 4th level, the holovid star is so universally recognized that she has inspired numerous impersonators. Whenever the holovid star appears somewhere “out of context” (that is, not doing something related to her holovid career), the average person naturally assumes that the holovid star is actually a look-a-like. After all, what would a big star be doing in a place like this? The holovid star’s Reputation bonus is no longer applied as a penalty on Bluff checks to deny or hide her identity, though it doesn’t apply as a bonus, either.

**Major Celebrity**

The holovid star is such a major player that nearly everyone bends over backward to accommodate her wishes. She can add her holovid star class levels to her Reputation bonus.

**Ex-Stars**

A holovid star who does not actively participate in at least one holovid production each level loses all special abilities derived from this prestige class. This situation lasts until such time as the holovid star appears in another holovid production.