Political Advisor

Politicians play a complex game where subtle manipulations can yield tremendous results. Because of the complex nature of politics, politicians often have several

aides that act as an additional pair of eyes and sounding board to the politician. Someone to help write speeches and discuss policy with, as well as act as a personal assistant. Political advisors also do some of the more shady things that the politician herself can not risk being seen doing. Most politicians would be wholly unable to

function without their advisors.

Requirements

To qualify to become a political advisor, a character must fulfill the following criteria:

Skills: Knowledge (bureaucracy) 4 ranks, Knowledge (politics) 6 ranks, Sense Motive 3 ranks.

Special: Must belong to some governmental organization and be assigned to a Position of power in the organization to advise.

Game Rule Information

Vitality: Political Advisors gain 1d6 vitality points per level. The character’s Constitution modifier applies.

Class Skills

The political advisor’s class skills, and key ability for each skill,are as follows

Bluff (Cha), Computer Use (Int), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Entertain (Cha), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Pilot (Dex), Profession (Wis), Read/Write Language (None), Search (Int),

Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (None), Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Content below pending overhaul:

Declaration to Run

In this initial phase the candidate announces their intention to run for political office. The announcement is usually made public

via a popular holonet news program. In this phase, the character’s Political Campaign Bonus is established and the first of a series

of checks are made. Each political candidate rolls a d20 and adds their Political Campaign Bonus to the total. The results are tallied,

recorded (these carry over into subsequent phases) and used as rankings in the initial political poll.

Political Campaign Bonus: Intelligence Modifier + Wisdom Modifier + Charisma Modifier + Reputation Score + Special

Modifiers* + Favor Ability Modifier / 3 (rounded)

*Special Modifiers

+1 for every level in the Noble class.

+1 for every level in the Political Aide or Senator Prestige classes.

+1 for every 5 ranks in the Diplomacy, Entertain (oration), or Knowledge (politics) skills.

+3 if the character is considered a political or war hero.

-3 if the character possesses the Infamy feat.

-5 if the character has previously been convicted of a crime.

-10 if the character has previously been convicted of war crimes.

Campaign Fundraising

The next stage of the campaign process is the amassing of funds from contributors in order to run the candidates’ campaigns. To

determine how much money the candidate will accumulate for their campaign, consult the table below.

Seat of Office Amount

Mayor of a city d20 + Political Campaign Bonus x 10,000

Regional representative to a world or system government d20 + Political Campaign Bonus x 100,000

Planetary representative to a sector government d20 + Political Campaign Bonus x 1,000,000

Planetary leader or Senatorial representative of a planet,

system or sector to a galactic government d20 + Political Campaign Bonus x 10,000,000

Leader of a galactic government d20 + Political Campaign Bonus x 100,000,000

Note that in addition to the Political Campaign Bonus, candidates can also add the result of any special ability used to gather funds

or goods to their fundraising total (such as the Resource Access ability). These monies are resolved as separate rolls and the result

is added to the final fundraising result amount. Additionally, the candidate may also devote personal funds to their own campaign

fund in an amount no higher than the base monetary modifier for the level of office which they are running (10,000 for mayor,

100,000 for regional representative, 1,000,000 for planetary representative, etc.) assuming they have the credits to do so. The

campaign fund is used for all expenses related to running for office. If at any time the campaign funds are depleted, the character

must withdraw from the election. The fundraising totals are tallied and recorded. The candidate possessing the largest political

campaign fund then adds 5 to their political poll number.

Political Debates

The third phase of the election process entails two or more candidates in a forum discussion where they establish their differences

in their ideas for governance. Any candidates involved in the debates roll d20 and add their Political Campaign Bonus, Charisma

modifier, and a bonus equal to the number of ranks the candidate possesses in any two of the following skills: Bluff, Diplomacy,

Entertain (oration), Gather Information, Knowledge (bureaucracy), Knowledge (politics), or Sense Motive. Alternatively, if the

candidate does not possess ranks in at least two of the above mentioned skills they may substitute one or both with their

Intelligence modifier, Wisdom Modifier or Reputation score (-3 if character possesses the Infamy feat). The results are added onto

the running political poll numbers for each candidate.

Campaigning

This phase of the election process focuses on marketing and making appearances to the candidates’ potential constituents.

Typically, this involves heavy travel and speech-giving. All candidates running for office roll d20, add their Political Campaign

Bonus, a bonus equal to their ranks in the Diplomacy skill, and bonuses equal to their ranks in any two of the following skills: Bluff,

Entertain (oration), Intimidate, Knowledge (politics), Knowledge (world lore) (only if the specified planet is relevant to the campaign

appearance. Instead, the candidate may add +1 for each Knowledge (world lore) skill they possess ranks in). If the candidate doesnot possess ranks in at least two of the above skills, they may substitute the bonus with their Charisma modifier and Reputation

score (-3 if the character possesses the infamy feat).

Smear Campaigns (optional)

Prior to the election, candidates may attempt to lower opponents’ political standing with the general public with a smear

campaign. Starting rumors, forcing financial or medical records to be disclosed or even running attack advertising (true or false)

are all smear campaign techniques. To resolve smear campaigns, the candidate funding the smear campaign and his target

candidates make opposed Diplomacy checks. If the scandalous evidence used in the smear campaign is indeed true, the candidate

using the smear campaign gains a +5 circumstance bonus to this roll. If the target of the smear campaign loses the roll, they suffer

a -5 penalty to their political poll total. If the target succeeds their roll, the candidate who initiated the smear campaign suffers

a -5 penalty to their political poll total, and the target receives a +2 bonus to their political poll total (provided they did not run a

smear campaign of their own during the election).

Election Day

The final step in the election process is election day. All candidates running for office roll d20 and their Political Campaign

Bonus and add it to their political poll total. The candidate with the highest political poll total is declared the winner.