By Scott Moore

The latest incarnation of Unearthed Arcana introduced (or reintroduced, if you consider the original version of D&D) the concept of races as character classes. Now referred to as paragon classes, these optional character progressions allow a member of a particular race to focus on improving their natural racial abilities rather than dedicate their experience towards learning standard class-specific abilities.

In this installment of Leylines, we'll look at the sprite paragon class. Any sprite-related characters, such as those based on brownies, grigs, leprechauns, nixies, or pixies, may take levels in this class.

Sprite paragons are secretive and mysterious creatures. Seldom seen or encountered by non-fey, they are nevertheless both revered as leaders as among those of their own kind and held in awe as the magical source of the folklore found throughout the cultures of many different intelligent races.

Adventures: Few sprite paragons have the desire to be perpetual adventurers. They generally spend half of the year near their chosen home region, taking to adventuring only when they feel comfortable to do so. Pixies and nixies, for example, may join an adventuring party in the fall or winter of the year, returning home once spring is upon the land. Some brownies and killmoulis also venture out during the colder times of the year, returning in the spring to help their patron families with farming and other warm weather duties. Yet others will adventure during the warmer months, preferring to spend the cold months holed up in their host's home with the rest of their adopted family.

Some sprite paragons never adventure far from home, choosing instead to persistently patrol their local area and keep it and their fellow fey (as well as their adopted families for brownies) safe from any outside influences that may threaten the delicate balance of the region.

Characteristics: Sprite paragons are secretive and curious creatures by nature, but they will not hesitate to fiercely defend a region under their protection, such as a nixie's pond or a brownie's host's home, if they feel it is threatened in any way. They tend not to join large parties of wandering adventurers, but may instead act as a leader within a small regional band or tribe of sprites.

Alignment: Sprite paragons may be of any alignment but generally tend to have at least some aspect of neutrality in their behavior, due to their inherent attunement to the natural world. Quite a few sprite paragons also exhibit chaotic or good behavior in addition.

Religion: Although generally not affiliated with any widespread form of organized religion, sprite paragons tend to find spirituality in the natural world and usually have a concept of the divine more in tune with the beliefs and practices of druids than any other class or religion.

Background: Sprite paragons tend to be the elders or leaders of their respective communities. This is not always due to their age, but generally due to their experience in dealing with the outside world and other races in particular, or for having accomplished some remarkable feat that has become legendary within their local community. Examples would include the brownie that has lived with and serviced the same family for over two decades without being seen, the pixie who pulled an unbelievable prank on a party of adventurers, and the nixie who drove off those who threatened the calm serenity of her chosen lake.

Races: Although they definitely prefer to associate with other fey, sprite paragons also get along well with elves and halflings, whom they accept as distant kin. They also tend to get along well with humans and half-elves, but typically find dwarves and half-orcs a little too aggressive for their liking. Gnomes are considered to be fun and likeable versions of dwarves.

Other Classes: Sprite paragons tend to work best with those characters that also have a strong affinity for nature, such as druids and rangers. They respect the abilities of sorcerers, who are closer in practice to their own styles of magic, more so than other spellcasters such as clerics or wizards. They tend to shy away from the more martial types, such as barbarians, fighters, and paladins, but have an odd fascination for the type of chaotic havoc that can be unleashed by especially skilled rogues.

GAME RULE INFORMATION
Sprite paragons have the following game statistics.


Abilities: Charisma is important to sprite paragons as many of their spell-like abilities are based on it. A high Wisdom keeps them alert and aware of their surroundings, helping to prevent them from being surprised. Due to their general lack of Strength, sprite paragons rely heavily on their Dexterity when in hand to hand combat.


Alignment: Any, although most favor neutral.

Hit Dice: d6.

Class Skills
The sprite paragon's class skills (and the key ability for each) are Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spot (Wis).
In addition, several types of sprites gain an additional class skill based on their individual type:


Grigs: Jump (Str).


Leprechauns: Sleight Of Hand (Dex).


Nixies: Swim (Str).


Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the sprite paragon class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Sprite paragons are proficient with all simple weapons and with light armor.

Spells per Day: At 1st and 3rd level, a sprite paragon gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in sorcerer. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that he adds the level of sprite paragon to his level in sorcerer, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.

If a sprite paragon has no levels in sorcerer, this class feature has no effect.

Improved Spell-Like Abilities: At 1st level, a sprite paragon gains one additional daily use of each of his innate spell-like abilities. For sprite paragons without spell-like abilities, they may instead select an additional bonus feat (as detailed below).

Bonus Feat (Ex): At 2nd level, a sprite paragon gains either Mobility or Spring Attack as a bonus feat.

Spritesight (Ex): At 2nd level, a sprite paragon's low-light vision increases in range, allowing him to see three times as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination.

Ability Boost (Ex): At 3rd level, a sprite paragon's Charisma score increases by 2 points.