So, I'm looking to create a custom fighter martial archetype around the idea of a Cavalier. I've found a few attempts posted here and elsewhere on the internet, but none of them really encapsulated what I'm looking for. The basic idea to to create a fighter that specializes in mounted combat, but without all the moral/religious/paladin/shining knight tropes that normally accompany characters of this type. (Not that there's anything wrong with such characters, I'm a big fan of paladins myself, but I want the archetype itself to be neutral to such ideas).
The only thing that I'm not very happy with is the fact that I can't find a way around having a "magically summoned" mount as part of the archetype. To me, it simply needs to be there for balance; as a lot of DnD sessions take place in environments where horses can't easily go (ie dungeons) there needs to be some sort of game mechanism to account for that. I Cavalier who has to simply tie up his horse outside every dungeon and go without it is not a very fun character to play. Thus, my hybrid Summon Steed spell based on Find Familiar and Find Steed.
Anyways, I could use some feedback. Thoughts? Suggestions?
(Note: I stole some ideas from this post: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?366470-Cavalier)
Cavalier
Fighter Marital Archetype
Cavaliers are mounted warriors without peer. While anyone with the means can attempt to fight from horseback, few have the dedication, skill, and talent needed to become a true Cavalier. Blessed at their consecration by otherworldly powers, Cavaliers develop a mystical connection with their mounts. This magical bond is can be an expression of either arcane or divine power, or from some other source depending on the individual character’s background. The bond allows you to summon, dismiss and interact with a magical steed as described below.
Level 3
Beginning when you choose this archetype at level 3, you gain two attributes. First, you gain the “Mounted Combatant” feat described on page 168 of the PHB (Copied here for easy reference).
Mounted Combatant: You are a dangerous foe to face while mounted. While you are mounted and aren’t incapacitated, you gain the following benefits:
• You have advantage on melee attack rolls against any unmounted creature that is smaller than your mount.
• You can force an attack targeted at your mount to target you instead.
• If your mount is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Second, you gain the ability to cast the spell “Summon Steed” once per long rest.
Summon Steed (Based on the spells “Find Steed” and “Find Familiar”)
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You summon a spirit that assumes the form of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed, creating a long-lasting bond with it. Appearing in an unoccupied space within range, the steed takes on a form that you choose, such as a warhorse, a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff. (Your DM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.) The steed has the statistics of the chosen form, except that it has a +1 bonus to its Strength, Constitution and Dexterity scores above that of normal creatures of the chosen form. While it appears normal, it is actually a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of its normal type. Additionally, if your steed has an Intelligence of 5 or less, its Intelligence becomes 6, and it gains the ability to understand one language of your choice that you speak.
Your steed serves you as a mount, both in combat and out, and you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit. While mounted on your steed, you can make any beneficial spell that targets you also target your steed.
When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. Anything equipped on the steed (tack, harness, barding, saddle bags, etc.) disappears along with it. Casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum and with all equipment intact.
You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear into a pocket dimension where it awaits your summons. Anything equipped on the steed (tack, harness, barding, saddle bags, etc.) disappears along with it. As an action while it is temporarily dismissed, you can cause it to reappear in any unoccupied space within 30 feet of you.
While your steed is within 1 mile of you, you can communicate with it telepathically.
While mounted, the rider can choose to either control the steed or allow it to act independently (see PHB 198).
The mount is extremely loyal and always has the best interests of its bonded rider in mind. It will never intentionally act in a way that would be to its master’s detriment or against its master’s wishes.
You can’t have more than one steed bonded by this spell at a time. If you cast this spell while you already have a bonded steed, you instead cause it to adopt a new form. Anything equipped on the steed at the time (tack, harness, barding, saddle, etc.) transforms to fit the steed’s new form as well.
Level 7
Mounted Charge
At 7th level, your training allows you to make a special attack while mounted. As an action when mounted, you can have your mount move up to its base speed, but a minimum of at least 15 feet in a straight line and then you can make a single attack with a melee weapon. For this attack, your normal proficiency bonus is doubled. On a hit, you deal extra damage equal to three times your proficiency bonus.
Level 10
Master of the Lance
Your training with a lance is unmatched. Beginning at 10th level, you have advantage when attacking with a lance while mounted. In addition, you score a critical hit on a roll of 18-20.
Level 12
Improved Bonded Steed
You now have further choices as to the form of your chosen steed. Beginning at 12th level, in addition to the previous forms mentioned in the Summon Steed spell, you can also choose to have your steed take the form of a flying or underwater creature. The steed takes on a form that you choose, such as a pegasus, giant eagle, hippogriff, griffon, hippocampus, sea horse, sea lion or dolphin. (Your DM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.)
Level 15
Improved Mounted Charge
Your mount now charges through enemies at its normal speed. Starting at 15th level, your mount can move through occupied enemy squares as long as the enemy creature is of a size category smaller than your mount. The creature must make a Strength saving throw (DC 8+Proficiency+Mount's Strength Bonus) or fall prone and be trampled for 2d6+4 bludgeoning damage. Enemies with more than two feet on the ground have advantage on this saving throw.
Level 18
Inspiring Charge
The sight of you charging into battle serves as a source of inspiration for your allies and dread for your foes. Starting at 18th level, when you perform a mounted charge you may also chose to use a bonus action and upgrade it to an inspiring charge. You and all allies within a 30 foot radius of your position at the beginning of your inspiring charge receive 10 temporary hit points. Additionally, for one minute all allies that begin their turn within a 30 foot radius of your position receive advantage to their attack, ability check and saving throw rolls. Likewise, all enemies that begin their turn within a 30 foot radius of your position receive disadvantage to their attack, ability check and saving throw rolls. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Please let me know what you think! Thanks!
The only thing that I'm not very happy with is the fact that I can't find a way around having a "magically summoned" mount as part of the archetype. To me, it simply needs to be there for balance; as a lot of DnD sessions take place in environments where horses can't easily go (ie dungeons) there needs to be some sort of game mechanism to account for that. I Cavalier who has to simply tie up his horse outside every dungeon and go without it is not a very fun character to play. Thus, my hybrid Summon Steed spell based on Find Familiar and Find Steed.
Anyways, I could use some feedback. Thoughts? Suggestions?
(Note: I stole some ideas from this post: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?366470-Cavalier)
Cavalier
Fighter Marital Archetype
Cavaliers are mounted warriors without peer. While anyone with the means can attempt to fight from horseback, few have the dedication, skill, and talent needed to become a true Cavalier. Blessed at their consecration by otherworldly powers, Cavaliers develop a mystical connection with their mounts. This magical bond is can be an expression of either arcane or divine power, or from some other source depending on the individual character’s background. The bond allows you to summon, dismiss and interact with a magical steed as described below.
Level 3
Beginning when you choose this archetype at level 3, you gain two attributes. First, you gain the “Mounted Combatant” feat described on page 168 of the PHB (Copied here for easy reference).
Mounted Combatant: You are a dangerous foe to face while mounted. While you are mounted and aren’t incapacitated, you gain the following benefits:
• You have advantage on melee attack rolls against any unmounted creature that is smaller than your mount.
• You can force an attack targeted at your mount to target you instead.
• If your mount is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Second, you gain the ability to cast the spell “Summon Steed” once per long rest.
Summon Steed (Based on the spells “Find Steed” and “Find Familiar”)
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You summon a spirit that assumes the form of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed, creating a long-lasting bond with it. Appearing in an unoccupied space within range, the steed takes on a form that you choose, such as a warhorse, a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff. (Your DM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.) The steed has the statistics of the chosen form, except that it has a +1 bonus to its Strength, Constitution and Dexterity scores above that of normal creatures of the chosen form. While it appears normal, it is actually a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of its normal type. Additionally, if your steed has an Intelligence of 5 or less, its Intelligence becomes 6, and it gains the ability to understand one language of your choice that you speak.
Your steed serves you as a mount, both in combat and out, and you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit. While mounted on your steed, you can make any beneficial spell that targets you also target your steed.
When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. Anything equipped on the steed (tack, harness, barding, saddle bags, etc.) disappears along with it. Casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum and with all equipment intact.
You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear into a pocket dimension where it awaits your summons. Anything equipped on the steed (tack, harness, barding, saddle bags, etc.) disappears along with it. As an action while it is temporarily dismissed, you can cause it to reappear in any unoccupied space within 30 feet of you.
While your steed is within 1 mile of you, you can communicate with it telepathically.
While mounted, the rider can choose to either control the steed or allow it to act independently (see PHB 198).
The mount is extremely loyal and always has the best interests of its bonded rider in mind. It will never intentionally act in a way that would be to its master’s detriment or against its master’s wishes.
You can’t have more than one steed bonded by this spell at a time. If you cast this spell while you already have a bonded steed, you instead cause it to adopt a new form. Anything equipped on the steed at the time (tack, harness, barding, saddle, etc.) transforms to fit the steed’s new form as well.
Level 7
Mounted Charge
At 7th level, your training allows you to make a special attack while mounted. As an action when mounted, you can have your mount move up to its base speed, but a minimum of at least 15 feet in a straight line and then you can make a single attack with a melee weapon. For this attack, your normal proficiency bonus is doubled. On a hit, you deal extra damage equal to three times your proficiency bonus.
Level 10
Master of the Lance
Your training with a lance is unmatched. Beginning at 10th level, you have advantage when attacking with a lance while mounted. In addition, you score a critical hit on a roll of 18-20.
Level 12
Improved Bonded Steed
You now have further choices as to the form of your chosen steed. Beginning at 12th level, in addition to the previous forms mentioned in the Summon Steed spell, you can also choose to have your steed take the form of a flying or underwater creature. The steed takes on a form that you choose, such as a pegasus, giant eagle, hippogriff, griffon, hippocampus, sea horse, sea lion or dolphin. (Your DM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.)
Level 15
Improved Mounted Charge
Your mount now charges through enemies at its normal speed. Starting at 15th level, your mount can move through occupied enemy squares as long as the enemy creature is of a size category smaller than your mount. The creature must make a Strength saving throw (DC 8+Proficiency+Mount's Strength Bonus) or fall prone and be trampled for 2d6+4 bludgeoning damage. Enemies with more than two feet on the ground have advantage on this saving throw.
Level 18
Inspiring Charge
The sight of you charging into battle serves as a source of inspiration for your allies and dread for your foes. Starting at 18th level, when you perform a mounted charge you may also chose to use a bonus action and upgrade it to an inspiring charge. You and all allies within a 30 foot radius of your position at the beginning of your inspiring charge receive 10 temporary hit points. Additionally, for one minute all allies that begin their turn within a 30 foot radius of your position receive advantage to their attack, ability check and saving throw rolls. Likewise, all enemies that begin their turn within a 30 foot radius of your position receive disadvantage to their attack, ability check and saving throw rolls. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Please let me know what you think! Thanks!
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