Chronos
2013-12-04, 07:57 PM
The challenge of mounted combat is that mounts are usually much more fragile than PCs, and so a character's fighting style can be nullified by killing the mount. Usually, mounted combat builds address this by using an animal companion or other creature that gains power with the character's level for a mount. This is an exploration of a different solution: Instead of making the mount more durable, make it easy to replace.
The Shadow Rider
Requirements:
BAB: +4
Skills: Ride 7 ranks
Feats: Mounted Combat
Special:
Game Rule Information:
HD: d8
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special
1|1|2|2|0|Shadow Steed, Size Accommodation
2|2|3|3|0|Improved Evasion, Low-Light Vision
3|3|3|3|1|Ghostly Form
4|4|4|4|1|Quick cast (standard)
5|5|4|4|1|Bonus feat
6|6|5|5|2|Shadow Attack
7|7|5|5|2|Quick cast (immediate), darkvision
8|8|6|6|2|Shadow Walk
9|9|6|6|3|Shadow Herd
10|10|7|7|3|Shared Ghostly Form[/table]
Class Skills:
Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str)
4+Int skill points per level
Shadow Steed (Sp): A shadow rider can conjure up a shadowy steed at will. Treat this as a Phantom Steed spell with a caster level equal to twice the shadow rider's class level. In addition to the stats given in in that spell, the steed can make saving throws using the shadow rider's base save bonuses (the steed's Reflex saves gain an additional +5 from its dexterity). The steed gains additional abilities as the rider gains levels; see below. A shadow rider can only have one shadow steed at a time; if he summons a new one, the previous one disappears.
As with the spell, a shadow rider can create the steed either for his own use or for another individual. In these rules, references to "the rider" refer to the individual for whom the steed is created, who may or may not be the shadow rider himself.
Size Accommodation (Ex): At the rider's option, a shadow steed can either occupy the rider's own space (thus fitting into smaller places than a normal mount) or the normal space for a creature of one size category larger than the rider. The shadow steed's actual size remains unchanged.
Improved Evasion (Ex): Starting at level 2, a shadow steed gains the Improved Evasion ability. See the rogue special ability for details.
Low-Light Vision (Ex): At level 2, the shadow rider gains the Low-Light Vision special ability, and can thus see twice as far as a normal human in dim light. If he already had low-light vision, he can now see four times as far as normal in dim light.
Ghostly Form (Su): Starting at level 3, the shadow steed can use a standard action to become even more insubstantial. When in this state, it becomes incorporeal, and gains the benefit of a Blur spell (the steed's rider remains mounted despite this incorporeality). Ghostly Form lasts for a number of rounds equal to the shadow rider's Wis modifier (minimum 1), and the steed can use it at will, and can dismiss it early with a swift action.
Quick Cast: Starting at level 4, the shadow rider can use the Shadow Steed ability as a standard action, instead of the usual ten-minute casting time. At level 7, it becomes an immediate action. A seventh-level shadow rider whose steed is destroyed can thus create a new one underneath himself before he would fall.
Bonus feat (Ex): At level 5 the shadow rider gains a bonus feat. This feat can be any feat which has Mounted Combat as a prerequisite. If the feat has any other prerequisites, you may ignore them.
Shadow Attack (Ex): Starting at level 6, the shadow steed can attack as though it were a heavy warhorse (2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)).
Darkvision (Ex): At level 7, the shadow rider gains darkvision to a range of 60'. If he already had darkvision, its range increases by 60'.
Shadow Walk (Sp): Starting at level 8, a shadow steed can use Shadow Walk at will, as the spell, except that it affects only the steed, its rider, and any equipment they are carrying.
Shadow Herd: Starting at level 9, a shadow rider with a high Wisdom score may have multiple shadow steeds at once. You may summon an additional number of shadow steeds equal to your Wis modifier. If you summon more than this, the oldest one disappears.
Shared Ghostly Form (Su): At level 10, whenever a shadow steed uses its Ghostly Form ability, the effects extend to its rider as well.
The Shadow Rider
Requirements:
BAB: +4
Skills: Ride 7 ranks
Feats: Mounted Combat
Special:
Game Rule Information:
HD: d8
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special
1|1|2|2|0|Shadow Steed, Size Accommodation
2|2|3|3|0|Improved Evasion, Low-Light Vision
3|3|3|3|1|Ghostly Form
4|4|4|4|1|Quick cast (standard)
5|5|4|4|1|Bonus feat
6|6|5|5|2|Shadow Attack
7|7|5|5|2|Quick cast (immediate), darkvision
8|8|6|6|2|Shadow Walk
9|9|6|6|3|Shadow Herd
10|10|7|7|3|Shared Ghostly Form[/table]
Class Skills:
Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str)
4+Int skill points per level
Shadow Steed (Sp): A shadow rider can conjure up a shadowy steed at will. Treat this as a Phantom Steed spell with a caster level equal to twice the shadow rider's class level. In addition to the stats given in in that spell, the steed can make saving throws using the shadow rider's base save bonuses (the steed's Reflex saves gain an additional +5 from its dexterity). The steed gains additional abilities as the rider gains levels; see below. A shadow rider can only have one shadow steed at a time; if he summons a new one, the previous one disappears.
As with the spell, a shadow rider can create the steed either for his own use or for another individual. In these rules, references to "the rider" refer to the individual for whom the steed is created, who may or may not be the shadow rider himself.
Size Accommodation (Ex): At the rider's option, a shadow steed can either occupy the rider's own space (thus fitting into smaller places than a normal mount) or the normal space for a creature of one size category larger than the rider. The shadow steed's actual size remains unchanged.
Improved Evasion (Ex): Starting at level 2, a shadow steed gains the Improved Evasion ability. See the rogue special ability for details.
Low-Light Vision (Ex): At level 2, the shadow rider gains the Low-Light Vision special ability, and can thus see twice as far as a normal human in dim light. If he already had low-light vision, he can now see four times as far as normal in dim light.
Ghostly Form (Su): Starting at level 3, the shadow steed can use a standard action to become even more insubstantial. When in this state, it becomes incorporeal, and gains the benefit of a Blur spell (the steed's rider remains mounted despite this incorporeality). Ghostly Form lasts for a number of rounds equal to the shadow rider's Wis modifier (minimum 1), and the steed can use it at will, and can dismiss it early with a swift action.
Quick Cast: Starting at level 4, the shadow rider can use the Shadow Steed ability as a standard action, instead of the usual ten-minute casting time. At level 7, it becomes an immediate action. A seventh-level shadow rider whose steed is destroyed can thus create a new one underneath himself before he would fall.
Bonus feat (Ex): At level 5 the shadow rider gains a bonus feat. This feat can be any feat which has Mounted Combat as a prerequisite. If the feat has any other prerequisites, you may ignore them.
Shadow Attack (Ex): Starting at level 6, the shadow steed can attack as though it were a heavy warhorse (2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)).
Darkvision (Ex): At level 7, the shadow rider gains darkvision to a range of 60'. If he already had darkvision, its range increases by 60'.
Shadow Walk (Sp): Starting at level 8, a shadow steed can use Shadow Walk at will, as the spell, except that it affects only the steed, its rider, and any equipment they are carrying.
Shadow Herd: Starting at level 9, a shadow rider with a high Wisdom score may have multiple shadow steeds at once. You may summon an additional number of shadow steeds equal to your Wis modifier. If you summon more than this, the oldest one disappears.
Shared Ghostly Form (Su): At level 10, whenever a shadow steed uses its Ghostly Form ability, the effects extend to its rider as well.