alice_of_ebony
First Post
Hey there
I've been working on a mounted archer PrC, based on the ranger.
Much of the mount-related material is adapted from the Windrider PrC in Masters of the Wild.
So, any comments?
============================
Nomad Raider (3.5 mounted archer)
(flavor text) Most Nomad Raiders are rangers.
Hit Dice: d8
Prerequisites:
BAB +7
Ride 10 ranks,Handle Animal 10 ranks, Survival 6 ranks
Mounted Archery, Rapid Shot
BAB: as Ranger
Good saves: Fort and Ref (as Ranger)
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: None/None
Class Skills: Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (geography/nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis).
Skill Points per Level: 4 + Int modifier
Spellcasting: None
Chosen Mount
The nomad raider may designate any one mount she has previously ridden as her chosen mount. This creature may not be a bonded companion (such as a familiar, nomad raider's mount, or animal companion) to anyone else at the time, and if it's Intelligence score is 3 or higher, it must also agree to this relationship. The nomad raider can use any means desired to obtain this agreement - the Diplomacy skill, bribery, or even magical persuasion - but the creature must be willing.
The nomad raider must spend a minimum of three days training her chosen mount before any benefits accrue. Thereafter the creature gains the advantages listed in the section 'The Nomad Raider's Mount', based on the nomad raider's level. The creature retains its own type and gains no abilities other than those listed, though it is considered a bonded companion.
The nomad raider may have only one chosen mount at a time, and either party may sever this relationship at any time without penalty. Once it ends, the mount loses any benefits it gained from the relationship. If the chosen mount is a paladin's warhorse, the rules for a paladin's mount supersede those given here.
A nomad raider who intentionally mistreats any mount she has ridden loses her chosen mount. Until she atones (see the atonement spell description), any creature she asks to be her next chosen mount will treat her with enmity, which manifests as a -4 racial penalty on interactions.
Mount Feat
At 2nd level, a nomad raider can grant her chosen mount one bonus feat from the Mount Feats list, below. This feat does not count against the creature's normal feat capacity, though it must still meet all prerequisites for it, as noted in the appropriate feat description. To grant a bonus feat, the nomad raider must spend one month training the mount. The nomad raider can bestow a second bonus feat on the same mount at 5th level, and a third at 8th level. These additional bonus feats require the same training time as the first. The nomad raider can train only one mount at a time.
Mount Feats: Alertness, Blind-fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Dragon's Toughness***, Dwarf's Toughness***, Endurance, Fleet of Foot****, Flyby Attack**, Giant's Toughness***, Great Fortitude, Hover**, Greater Weapon Focus*, Improved Critical*, Improved Flight***, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Multiattack**, Power Attack, Run, Snatch**, Toughness, Weapon Finesse*, Weapon Focus*, Wingover**.
* may be taken repeatedly, for a different weapon each time
** Monster Feat
*** from Masters of the Wild
**** from Song and Silence
Bonus Feat
At 3rd level, 6th level and again at 9th level, a nomad raider may take a bonus feat from the nomad raider bonus feats list, below. This feat does not count against the nomad raider's normal feat capacity, though she must still meet all prerequisites for it, as noted in the appropriate feat description.
Nomad Raider Bonus Feats: Animal Affinity, Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Exotic Weapon Proficiency*, Far Shot, Greater Weapon Focus*, Improved Critical*, Improved Initiative, Improved Precise Shot, Manyshot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Trample, Weapon Finesse*, Weapon Focus*.
* may be taken repeatedly, for a different weapon each time
Improved Mounted Archery
The penalty a nomad raider of 4th level or higher takes when using a ranged weapon while mounted is reduced: 0 instead of –2 if her mount is taking a double move, and –2 instead of –4 if her mount is running.
Mounted Dash
If the mount of a nomad raider of 4th level or higher is wearing light barding or no barding, and is carrying a light load, it has a 10 feet enhancement bonus to its speed.
Improved Mounted Dash
If the mount of a nomad raider of 7th level or higher is wearing light barding or no barding, and is carrying a light load, it has a 20 feet enhancement bonus to its speed.
Nomad Archery
Normally a rider can use a free action with their Ride skill to get cover (+4 AC bonus) from their mount. However, they cannot attack while doing so. A nomad raider of 7th level or higher may attack from this position with a -2 penalty to her attack bonus. By ducking from side to side, leaning over and even under her mount, she may interpose her mount between her and any attack against which she has not lost her Dexterity bonus.
Improved Nomad Archery
Normally a rider can use a free action with their Ride skill to get cover (+4 AC bonus) from their mount. However, they cannot attack while doing so. A nomad raider of 10th level or higher may attack from this position with no penalty to her attack bonus. By ducking from side to side, leaning over and even under her mount, she may interpose her mount between her and any attack against which she has not lost her Dexterity bonus.
The Nomad Raider's Mount
Nomad Raider Level:: The character's nomad raider levels only. If the mount suffers a level drain, treat the creature as the mount of a lower-level nomad raider.
Bonus Hit Dice: These are extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which provides a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice also improve the mount's base attack and base save bonuses.
Natural Armor: The amount by which the creature's natural armor bonus is increased.
Strength Adjustment: Add this figure to the mount's Strength score.
Feature: Special abilities granted to the mount.
Empathic Link (Su)
The nomad raider has an empathic link with her mount out to a distance of up to 1 mile. The nomad raider cannot see through the mount's eyes, but they can communicate empathically. Note that even intelligent mounts see the world differently from humans, so misunderstandings are always possible.
Bonus Trick
The Handle Animal skill allows you to teach your mount tricks (if it is an animal). A Nomad Raider of 4th level or higher may use her empathic link to teach her mount a bonus trick, a second if 7th level or higher and a third if 10th level.
Survivalism
A chosen mount uses the empathic link to learn the same number of ranks of the Survival skill as it's nomad raider of 7th level or higher. If the nomad raider is mounted, but unconscious or semi-conscious, the mount will attempt to carry the nomad raider to a place of safety and care.
Tracking
If a nomad raider of 10th level has the Track feat, her chosen mount acquires it also through the empathic link. If seperated from the nomad raider, her chosen mount will attempt to find and follow her, whether it has the Track feat or not.
===================
If it needs to be downpowered, I can think of three ways:
(i) reduce skill points to 2+Int. This is wrong, flavorwise. If anything, I'd be looking to ways to increase skill points to 6+Int and expand the class skills list back towards the ranger's.
(ii) lose the good Fort saves. This works, flavor-wise.
(iii) lose one (or more?) of the bonus feats, and re-order the features slightly.
EG
1. Chosen Mount, Mount Feat
2. Improved Mounted Archery
3. Bonus Feat
4. Mounted Dash
5. Mount Feat
6. Nomad Archery
7. Bonus Feat
8. Improved Mounted Dash
9. Mount Feat
10. Improved Nomad Archery
TIA,
Alice
I've been working on a mounted archer PrC, based on the ranger.
Much of the mount-related material is adapted from the Windrider PrC in Masters of the Wild.
So, any comments?
============================
Nomad Raider (3.5 mounted archer)
(flavor text) Most Nomad Raiders are rangers.
Hit Dice: d8
Prerequisites:
BAB +7
Ride 10 ranks,Handle Animal 10 ranks, Survival 6 ranks
Mounted Archery, Rapid Shot
BAB: as Ranger
Good saves: Fort and Ref (as Ranger)
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: None/None
Class Skills: Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (geography/nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis).
Skill Points per Level: 4 + Int modifier
Spellcasting: None
Code:
[b]Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Features[/b]
1. +1 +2 +2 +0 Chosen Mount
2. +2 +3 +3 +0 Mount Feat
3. +3 +3 +3 +1 Bonus Feat
4. +4 +4 +4 +1 Improved Mounted Archery, Mounted Dash
5. +5 +4 +4 +1 Mount Feat
6. +6 +5 +5 +2 Bonus Feat
7. +7 +5 +5 +2 Improved Mounted Dash, Nomad Archery
8. +8 +6 +6 +2 Mount Feat
9. +9 +6 +6 +3 Bonus Feat
10. +10 +7 +7 +3 Improved Nomad ArcheryChosen Mount
The nomad raider may designate any one mount she has previously ridden as her chosen mount. This creature may not be a bonded companion (such as a familiar, nomad raider's mount, or animal companion) to anyone else at the time, and if it's Intelligence score is 3 or higher, it must also agree to this relationship. The nomad raider can use any means desired to obtain this agreement - the Diplomacy skill, bribery, or even magical persuasion - but the creature must be willing.
The nomad raider must spend a minimum of three days training her chosen mount before any benefits accrue. Thereafter the creature gains the advantages listed in the section 'The Nomad Raider's Mount', based on the nomad raider's level. The creature retains its own type and gains no abilities other than those listed, though it is considered a bonded companion.
The nomad raider may have only one chosen mount at a time, and either party may sever this relationship at any time without penalty. Once it ends, the mount loses any benefits it gained from the relationship. If the chosen mount is a paladin's warhorse, the rules for a paladin's mount supersede those given here.
A nomad raider who intentionally mistreats any mount she has ridden loses her chosen mount. Until she atones (see the atonement spell description), any creature she asks to be her next chosen mount will treat her with enmity, which manifests as a -4 racial penalty on interactions.
Mount Feat
At 2nd level, a nomad raider can grant her chosen mount one bonus feat from the Mount Feats list, below. This feat does not count against the creature's normal feat capacity, though it must still meet all prerequisites for it, as noted in the appropriate feat description. To grant a bonus feat, the nomad raider must spend one month training the mount. The nomad raider can bestow a second bonus feat on the same mount at 5th level, and a third at 8th level. These additional bonus feats require the same training time as the first. The nomad raider can train only one mount at a time.
Mount Feats: Alertness, Blind-fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Dragon's Toughness***, Dwarf's Toughness***, Endurance, Fleet of Foot****, Flyby Attack**, Giant's Toughness***, Great Fortitude, Hover**, Greater Weapon Focus*, Improved Critical*, Improved Flight***, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Multiattack**, Power Attack, Run, Snatch**, Toughness, Weapon Finesse*, Weapon Focus*, Wingover**.
* may be taken repeatedly, for a different weapon each time
** Monster Feat
*** from Masters of the Wild
**** from Song and Silence
Bonus Feat
At 3rd level, 6th level and again at 9th level, a nomad raider may take a bonus feat from the nomad raider bonus feats list, below. This feat does not count against the nomad raider's normal feat capacity, though she must still meet all prerequisites for it, as noted in the appropriate feat description.
Nomad Raider Bonus Feats: Animal Affinity, Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Exotic Weapon Proficiency*, Far Shot, Greater Weapon Focus*, Improved Critical*, Improved Initiative, Improved Precise Shot, Manyshot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Trample, Weapon Finesse*, Weapon Focus*.
* may be taken repeatedly, for a different weapon each time
Improved Mounted Archery
The penalty a nomad raider of 4th level or higher takes when using a ranged weapon while mounted is reduced: 0 instead of –2 if her mount is taking a double move, and –2 instead of –4 if her mount is running.
Mounted Dash
If the mount of a nomad raider of 4th level or higher is wearing light barding or no barding, and is carrying a light load, it has a 10 feet enhancement bonus to its speed.
Improved Mounted Dash
If the mount of a nomad raider of 7th level or higher is wearing light barding or no barding, and is carrying a light load, it has a 20 feet enhancement bonus to its speed.
Nomad Archery
Normally a rider can use a free action with their Ride skill to get cover (+4 AC bonus) from their mount. However, they cannot attack while doing so. A nomad raider of 7th level or higher may attack from this position with a -2 penalty to her attack bonus. By ducking from side to side, leaning over and even under her mount, she may interpose her mount between her and any attack against which she has not lost her Dexterity bonus.
Improved Nomad Archery
Normally a rider can use a free action with their Ride skill to get cover (+4 AC bonus) from their mount. However, they cannot attack while doing so. A nomad raider of 10th level or higher may attack from this position with no penalty to her attack bonus. By ducking from side to side, leaning over and even under her mount, she may interpose her mount between her and any attack against which she has not lost her Dexterity bonus.
The Nomad Raider's Mount
Code:
[b] Nomad Bonus Natural
Raider Hit Armor Strength
Level Dice Bonus Adjustment Feature[/b]
1-3 +2 +4 +2 Empathic Link
4-6 +4 +6 +2 Bonus Trick
7-9 +4 +6 +4 Bonus Trick, Survivalism
10 +8 +10 +4 Bonus Trick, TrackingNomad Raider Level:: The character's nomad raider levels only. If the mount suffers a level drain, treat the creature as the mount of a lower-level nomad raider.
Bonus Hit Dice: These are extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which provides a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice also improve the mount's base attack and base save bonuses.
Natural Armor: The amount by which the creature's natural armor bonus is increased.
Strength Adjustment: Add this figure to the mount's Strength score.
Feature: Special abilities granted to the mount.
Empathic Link (Su)
The nomad raider has an empathic link with her mount out to a distance of up to 1 mile. The nomad raider cannot see through the mount's eyes, but they can communicate empathically. Note that even intelligent mounts see the world differently from humans, so misunderstandings are always possible.
Bonus Trick
The Handle Animal skill allows you to teach your mount tricks (if it is an animal). A Nomad Raider of 4th level or higher may use her empathic link to teach her mount a bonus trick, a second if 7th level or higher and a third if 10th level.
Survivalism
A chosen mount uses the empathic link to learn the same number of ranks of the Survival skill as it's nomad raider of 7th level or higher. If the nomad raider is mounted, but unconscious or semi-conscious, the mount will attempt to carry the nomad raider to a place of safety and care.
Tracking
If a nomad raider of 10th level has the Track feat, her chosen mount acquires it also through the empathic link. If seperated from the nomad raider, her chosen mount will attempt to find and follow her, whether it has the Track feat or not.
===================
If it needs to be downpowered, I can think of three ways:
(i) reduce skill points to 2+Int. This is wrong, flavorwise. If anything, I'd be looking to ways to increase skill points to 6+Int and expand the class skills list back towards the ranger's.
(ii) lose the good Fort saves. This works, flavor-wise.
(iii) lose one (or more?) of the bonus feats, and re-order the features slightly.
EG
1. Chosen Mount, Mount Feat
2. Improved Mounted Archery
3. Bonus Feat
4. Mounted Dash
5. Mount Feat
6. Nomad Archery
7. Bonus Feat
8. Improved Mounted Dash
9. Mount Feat
10. Improved Nomad Archery
TIA,
Alice
Last edited:
Where did you see it?
