Persians: Best dressed warriors. Ever.

Either that, or the worst at camouflage. You decide.

DAZ Studio, no postwork. Click to enlarge if you eyeballs can take it.

I’ve got a thing for Persians. I’m still merrily painting my Persian figures (16 done, a mere 26 to do!) to use when playing De Bellis Antiquitatis and studying Achaemenid Persia, though lifestuff, rendering and general role-playing goodness has eaten into the time available.

Meantime, it occurred to me that 4e D&D is the first version of that veritable rules-system where it’s possible to create half-way decent Persian warriors without feeling like you’re being short-changed in the armour department. I mean, these guys wore little more than quilted duvets onto the battlefield. That’s Cloth Armour by anyone’s measure (the lucky ones were laced with iron scales), and in previous editions meant they might as well have a target painted on their heads thanks to their lousy Armour Class. And this for a people who called their soldiers Immortals. C’mon!

4e changes that thanks to AC being derived from the highest of INT or DEX if you’re wearing light or no armour. Suddenly the quick, lighlty armoured Persians come into their own.

Take the guy above, for example.

I’d make him as an Archery-based Ranger with Nature as his Trained Class skill and Athletics, Endurance, Heal, Perception and Stealth filling his other class slots. Grab Human Perseverance as his Human Feat and choose one other to taste. I suggest Toughness, Far Shot or (from Martial Power) Hunter’s Aim or Secure Encampment. For this guy, it’s archery-based Powers all the way.

Here’s a quick sample build:

Achaemenid Persian Immortal
STR 12, CON 13, DEX 18, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 11

HP 30, bloodied 15, surges 7×7/day
AC 14, Fort 13, Ref 16, Will 13, Init +4

Kopis (scimitar) +3 vs AC, 1d8+1, High crit
Longbow +6 vs AC, 1d10+4, range 20/40, Load free
Hunter’s Quarry/w, Careful Attack(melee)/w +3 vs AC, Careful Attack(ranged)/w +6 vs AC, Hit and Run/w +3 vs AC, Nimble Strike/w +6 vs AC
Dire Wolverine Strike/e +3 vs AC
Split the Tree/d +6 vs AC

Athletics +6, Endurance +6, Heal +7, Nature +7, Perception +7, Stealth +9
Human Perseverance, Toughness, Prime Shot, Archery combat Style

Yeh. I’d play him. Especially in those clothes.