NPC Expert Horseman over a lifetime

Yes, I'm doing another one of these threads,

if you have read the others you can skip down to the first post.

If you haven't read the others then...

NPC’s over a lifetime
My preference is 1exp/day for NPC's, 365 exp/year
so for humans

• age 15 is level 1
• age 18 is level 2
• age 24 is level 3
• age 32 is level 4
• age 35 is “middle age” –1 S, D, & Co; +1 I, W, & Ch
• age 43 is level 5
• age 53 is “old age” –2 S, D, & Co; +1 I, W, & Ch
• age 57 is level 6
• age 70 is “venerable” –3 S, D, & Co; +1 I, W, & Ch
• age 73 is level 7
• age 92 is level 8

Maximum age for humans is 110
of course some NPC's are quicker, or slower that others so +/- 1 level is not unusual

Human Expert

Johan, Human, Rider
Expert L1; med humanoid; AL NG; CR .5; age 15

HD 1d6 (+3); hp 6;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 13 (17 with cover);
BAB +0; Atk +0 melee or +1 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +2;
Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 11.

Skills (32 points): Animal Empathy +4, Appraise +3 (4), Bluff +4, Handle Animal +4, Heal +4, Listen +2, Ride +4 (7), Sense Motive +3, Spot +2, & Use Rope +2 (3)
Feats: Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Leather, +2, speed 30ft, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Dagger: Atk +0 melee, +1 thrown, Dmg 1d4, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +1 ranged, Dmg 1d4, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +0 melee, +1 thrown, Dmg 1d8, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: bedroll, flint & steel, pouch with sling stones (10), riding saddle & tack, rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

"Lightning"
Horse, Light; Large Animal
HD 3d8+6; hp 19;
Init +1; Spd 60 ft; AC 13;
Atk 2 hooves +2 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d4+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Run
SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 13, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +6

A light horse cannot fight while carrying a rider.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a light horse is up to 150 pounds; a medium load, 151-300 pounds; a heavy load, 301-450 pounds. A light horse can drag 2,250 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5)
Cover (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Soft fall (DC15)
Control mount in battle (DC20)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC20)

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run (Gallop) -8

Jophan's family has been breeding horses for generations, and they were quite happy he has the family "knack" with animals.
(One of my favorite parts of the "Expert" class is that they can learn "Exclusive" skills such as Animal Empathy.)

His horse is a Courier breed. They gave him a fast horse because at his age they would rather have him ride away from trouble as fast as he can. (I used the standard light horse from the MM, but with Run as it's Special Quality instead of Scent.)

Well I like Johan already

Johan, Human, Handler
Expert L2; med humanoid; AL NG; CR 1; age 18

HD 2d6 (+3); hp 10;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 13 (17 with cover);
BAB +1; Atk +1 melee or +2 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +3;
Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 11.

Skills (40 points): Animal Empathy +5, Appraise +4 (5), Bluff +5, Handle Animal +5 (7), Heal +5, Listen +2, Ride +5 (10), Sense Motive +4, Spot +2, & Use Rope +3 (4)
Feats: Skill Focus Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Leather, +2, speed 30ft, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Dagger: Atk +1 melee, +2 thrown, Dmg 1d4, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +2 ranged, Dmg 1d4, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +1 melee, +2 thrown, Dmg 1d8, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: bedroll, flint & steel, pouch with sling stones (10), riding saddle & tack, rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

"Rabbit"
Horse, Light; Large Animal
HD 3d8+6; hp 19;
Init +1; Spd 60 ft; AC 13;
Atk 2 hooves +2 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d4+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Jump
SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 13, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +4, Jump +7

A light horse cannot fight while carrying a rider.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a light horse is up to 150 pounds; a medium load, 151-300 pounds; a heavy load, 301-450 pounds. A light horse can drag 2,250 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5)
Cover (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Soft fall (DC15)
Control mount in battle (DC20)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC20)

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run -8

Now at 18 the family gives him more responsibility. Now he cares for a half dozen horse (including his own). His new favorite is a show-horse trained to jump obstacles.

Johan, Human, Horse Trader
Expert L3; med humanoid; AL NG; CR 2; age 24

HD 3d6 (+3); hp 13;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 14 (18 with cover);
BAB +2; Atk +2 melee or +3 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +3;
Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 11.

Skills (48 points): Animal Empathy +5, Appraise +6 (7), Bluff +6, Handle Animal +6 (8), Heal +6, Listen +2, Ride +6 (11), Sense Motive +6, Spot +2, & Use Rope +3 (4)
Feats: Mounted Combat, Skill Focus Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Studded Leather, +3, speed 30ft, 20 lbs
Weapons: Daggers (2): Atk +2 melee, +3 thrown, Dmg 1d4, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +3 ranged, Dmg 1d4, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +2 melee, +3 thrown, Dmg 1d8, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: bedroll, flint & steel, pouch with sling stones (10), riding saddle & tack, rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

"Brick"
Horse, Heavy; Large Animal
HD 3d8+9; hp 22;
Init +1; Spd 50 ft; AC 13 (or Ride Skill Check);
Atk 2 hooves +3 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d6+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Toughness
SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +6

A heavy horse cannot fight while carrying a rider

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a heavy horse is up to 200 pounds; a medium load, 201-400 pounds; a heavy load, 401-600 pounds. A heavy horse can drag 3,000 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5)
Cover (DC15)
Soft fall (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Control mount in battle (DC20)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC21)
Mounted Combat Feat: Ride Check Result acts as mount’s AC for 1Atk/round

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run -8

Johan is now selling and buying horses for the family. (His appraise, bluff, and sense motive skills are now frequently put to use.)

He has been trained to protect his mount if fighting occurs, but they would still prefer him to avoid combat. For this reason he rides a large mount to discourage attacks, but not a warhorse.

Johan, Human, Vet
Expert L4; med humanoid; AL NG; CR 3; age 32

HD 4d6 (+3); hp 17;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 14 (18 with cover);
BAB +3; Atk +3 melee or +4 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4;
Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 11.

Skills (56 points): Animal Empathy +5, Appraise +6 (7), Bluff +7, Handle Animal +7 (9), Heal +7 (9), Listen +3, Ride +7 (12), Sense Motive +7, Spot +3, & Use Rope +4 (5)
Feats: Mounted Combat, Skill Focus Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Studded Leather, +3, speed 30ft, 20 lbs
Weapons: Daggers (2): Atk +3 melee, +4 thrown, Dmg 1d4, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +4 ranged, Dmg 1d4, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +3 melee, +4 thrown, Dmg 1d8, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: bedroll, flint & steel, healers kit (10 uses), military saddle & tack, pouch with sling stones (10), rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

"Clement"
Horse, Heavy; Large Animal
HD 3d8+9; hp 22;
Init +1; Spd 50 ft; AC 13 (or Ride Skill Check);
Atk 2 hooves +3 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d6+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Toughness
SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +6

A heavy horse cannot fight while carrying a rider

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a heavy horse is up to 200 pounds; a medium load, 201-400 pounds; a heavy load, 401-600 pounds. A heavy horse can drag 3,000 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5) *
Cover (DC15) *
Soft fall (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Control mount in battle (DC20)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC21) *
Mounted Combat Feat: Ride Check Result acts as mount’s AC for 1Atk/round
* Military saddle bonus applies

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run -8

He is now in charge of stableboys instead of idividual mounts. The horses he personally treats are the sick or wounded, and when needed he is the one who performs the final cure.

Johan, Human, Vet
Expert L4; med humanoid; AL NG; CR 2.5; age 35 (middle age)

HD 4d6-4 (+3); hp 13;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 14 (18 with cover);
BAB +3; Atk +2 melee or +4 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +4;
Str 9, Dex 12, Con 9, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 12.

Skills (56 points): Animal Empathy +5 (6), Appraise +6 (7), Bluff +7 (8), Handle Animal +7 (10), Heal +7 (10), Listen +3 (4), Ride +7 (12), Sense Motive +7 (8), Spot +3 (4), & Use Rope +4 (5)
Feats: Mounted Combat, Skill Focus Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Studded Leather, +3, speed 30ft, 20 lbs
Weapons: Daggers (2): Atk +2 melee, +4 thrown, Dmg 1d4-1, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +4 ranged, Dmg 1d4-1, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +2 melee, +4 thrown, Dmg 1d8-1, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: bedroll, flint & steel, healers kit (10 uses), military saddle & tack, pouch with sling stones (10), rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

"Clement"
Horse, Heavy; Large Animal
HD 3d8+9; hp 22;
Init +1; Spd 50 ft; AC 13 (or Ride Skill Check);
Atk 2 hooves +3 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d6+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Toughness
SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +6

A heavy horse cannot fight while carrying a rider

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a heavy horse is up to 200 pounds; a medium load, 201-400 pounds; a heavy load, 401-600 pounds. A heavy horse can drag 3,000 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5) *
Cover (DC15) *
Soft fall (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Control mount in battle (DC20)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC21) *
Mounted Combat Feat: Ride Check Result acts as mount’s AC for 1Atk/round
* Military saddle bonus applies

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run -8

(Advancing to middle age may have helped more than it hurt. He lost HP and his Melee and damage went down, but 7 skills went up due to Ability bonuses in Wis & Cha)

Johan, Human, Horse Trainer
Expert L5; med humanoid; AL NG; CR 3.5; age 43 (middle age)

HD 5d6-5 (+3); hp 15;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 14 (18 with cover);
BAB +3; Atk +2 melee or +4 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +4;
Str 9, Dex 12, Con 9, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 12.

Skills (64 points): Animal Empathy +5 (6), Appraise +6 (7), Bluff +8 (9), Handle Animal +8 (11), Heal +8 (11), Listen +4 (5), Ride +8 (13), Sense Motive +8 (9), Spot +4 (5), & Use Rope +5 (6)
Feats: Mounted Combat, Skill Focus Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Studded Leather, +3, speed 30ft, 20 lbs
Weapons: Daggers (2): Atk +2 melee, +4 thrown, Dmg 1d4-1, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +4 ranged, Dmg 1d4-1, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +2 melee, +4 thrown, Dmg 1d8-1, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: barding (studded leather), bedroll, flint & steel, healers kit (10 uses), military saddle & tack, pouch with sling stones (10), rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

"Forge"
Horse, Light War; Large Animal
HD 3d8+9; hp 22;
Init +1; Spd 60 ft; AC 17 (or Ride Skill Check);
Atk 2 hooves +4 melee; bite -1 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d4+3; bite 1d3+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Jump
SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +5, Listen +5, Spot +5

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a light warhorse is up to 230 pounds; a medium load, 231-460 pounds; a heavy load, 461-690 pounds. A light warhorse can drag 3,450 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5) *
Fight with warhorse (DC10)
Cover (DC15) *
Soft fall (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC21) *
Mounted Combat Feat: Ride Check Result acts as mount’s AC for 1Atk/round
* Military saddle bonus applies

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run -8

Training Horses is not easy, it takes patience and diligence. Johan assisted in the training of all his horses, but untill Forge he had never trained a horse by himself.

Johan, Human, Horse Trainer
Expert L5; med humanoid; AL NG; CR 2.5; age 53 (old age)

HD 5d6-10 (+3); hp 10;
Init +0; Spd 30 ft; AC 13 (17 with cover);
BAB +3; Atk +1 melee or +3 ranged;
SA +1 melee Atk vs. medium or smaller creatures (on foot) when mounted
SV Fort -1, Ref +1, Will +4;
Str 7, Dex 10, Con 7, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 13.

Skills (64 points): Animal Empathy +5 (6), Appraise +6 (8), Bluff +8 (9), Handle Animal +8 (11), Heal +8 (11), Listen +4 (5), Ride +8 (12), Sense Motive +8 (9), Spot +4 (5), & Use Rope +5
Feats: Mounted Combat, Skill Focus Ride & Toughness
Languages: Common

Armor: Studded Leather, +3, speed 30ft, 20 lbs
Weapons: Daggers (2): Atk +1 melee, +3 thrown, Dmg 1d4-2, crit 19-20 x2, range 10ft
Sling: Atk +3 ranged, Dmg 1d4-2, crit x2, range 50ft
Short spear: Atk +1 melee, +3 thrown, Dmg 1d8-2, crit x3, range 20ft
Equipment: barding (studded leather), bedroll, flint & steel, healers kit (10 uses), military saddle & tack, pouch with sling stones (10), rope (50’ hemp), trail rations (1 day), waterskin

Shadow
Horse, Light War; Large Animal
HD 3d8+9; hp 22;
Init +1; Spd 60 ft; AC 17 (or Ride Skill Check);
Atk 2 hooves +4 melee; bite -1 melee; Dmg Hoof 1d4+3; bite 1d3+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
SQ Move Silently
SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2;
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +5, Move Silently +5, Spot +5

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a light warhorse is up to 230 pounds; a medium load, 231-460 pounds; a heavy load, 461-690 pounds. A light warhorse can drag 3,450 pounds.

Ride Skill
Guide with knees (DC5)
Stay in saddle (DC5) *
Fight with warhorse (DC10)
Cover (DC15) *
Soft fall (DC15)
Leap (DC15)
Fast Mount/Dismount (DC21) *
Mounted Combat Feat: Ride Check Result acts as mount’s AC for 1Atk/round
* Military saddle bonus applies

Using ranged weapons while mount is moving:
Double move –4
Run –8

Johan came to understand that the real trick to training horses was figuring out what the horse was naturally good at and then training it in that direction. Shadow, had a knack for sneaking up on stableboys. Johan trained him to move silently through most terrains so he could be a "Scout's Mount".

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