Please rate Halfling Outrider

[smetzger]

Halfling Outrider, S&F P.22.

Lets consider the errated version with BAB increases.

Requirements: BAB +5, Halfling, Listen 4 ranks, Ride 6 ranks, Spot 4 ranks, Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery

Class Features: Alertness, Ride Bonus, Defensive Ride, Deflect Attack

So, rate it on:
1) How well it stacks up with core classes.
2) How often a PC or NPC will go with this class.
3) How 'fun' it is to play this class and how much this class adds to the game.
Each is worth 3 points(0 to 3), with an additional point that you could add for Misc. reasons.

 

[Sejs]

I voted 0.

Their benefits are:

-Free Mount: being able to afford a decent horse by 5th level isn't exactly hard.

-Alertness: whee, it's the Alertness feat.

-Ride Bonus: whee, it's the Skill Focus(Ride) feat.

-Defensive Ride (1/day at 2nd to 5/day at 9th): It's the ability to Run Away. That's it. You cannot attack, and in response you get a +2 dex, +4 Ac, and your mount gets similar bonuses and can move at double speed for 3+your dex mod in rounds, after which you are both winded until you rest for 10 minutes. What being "winded" entails is not explained. This would be slightly useful (again, for running away), but the lack of what being winded means makes it pretty much useless.

-Deflect Attack: It's the same ability to deflect attacks against your mount that the Mounted Combat feat gives you, except that it uses a different (and frankly, inferior) mechanic. Give me a Ride check against DC: X over a DC 20 reflex save any day.


In short - it's limp and uninspired. I would rather play just a straight character of -any- class over a halfling outrider. Even commoner. A halfling Fighter 5 / Halfling Outrider 10 would be a worse mounted combatant than a halfling Fighter 15, or any similar combination. Heck, a halfling Fighter 6 / Ranger 6 / Rogue 3 would -FAR- outshine an Outrider in the same circumstances.

 

[Destil]

I rated it at 3. It's dull, though it's one of the few archtypes that can effectivly use a mount in a dungeon (Halfling on a war-dog). Personaly I've reduced to a five level Prc for use IMC.

 

[smetzger]

New low 3.90 after 31 votes

---------------------------
7. Shadowdancer(7.05, 93, 40632), Duelist(7.18,62,44686)

6. Arcane Archer(6.23,70,38773), Assassin(6.07,54,38913), Blackguard(6.29,52,39353), Loremaster(6.58,79,40493), Archmage(6.91, 110, 4073), Church Inquisitor(6.74,27,41662), Devoted Defender(6.68,53,43342), Drunken Master(6.03,37,43839)

5. Dwarven Defender(5.72,69,39947), Cavalier(5.45,53,42534), Fist of Hextor(5.41,29,45277)

4. Ghost Walker(4.95,37,46163), Gladiator(4.85,34,46981)

 

[daTim]

I'm interested in hearing from those people who gave this a 10... or even anything above a 5. I only hope it wasnt people who voted it that high to try to raise the average.

 

[Gaiden]

I'm interested in hearing from those people who gave this a 10... or even anything above a 5. I only hope it wasnt people who voted it that high to try to raise the average.

I rated it a 7 and definitely cannot stand when people rate things just to F&*% with the average. I did so perhaps because of a personal bias where I designed a halfling village where an eldrich master resides. This village is guarded by a betallion of cheetah mounted halfling outriders lead by a Ranger/Outrider of high level with the mother cheetah (the one that gave birth to the rest of them). I just thought that this guard group was so cool that I could not legitimately rate the PrC below 5.

It has actually been a while since I reviewed those NPC's so I don't even remember the details of all of the abilities. But what I did remember is that the class functions particularly well for its niche and that to me is the ultimate way of rating a PrC.

It is not weaker than the core classes in terms of what the class tries to accomplish. It is not geared to straight combat which is why a straight fighter is better, and in my opinion, a straight fighter should always be better a fighting than almost all PrC's (perhaps, the iaijutsu master, weapon master, and a few others are the legitimate exceptions).

While a PC would not always want to go with this concept it is really damn cool for NPC's. Moreover, there is no criterion Smetzger gives for how one ought to rate the chance a PC would take the class. IMO, it is a good thing that not everyone wants to take the class. If everyone did, it would mean that the class was most likely overpowered. Rather, I would prefer that you only take the PrC because of roleplaying reasons.

The fun issue, I already talked about. The class is really fun (at least to DM) and adds a tremendous amount of flavor to my campaign. I stand by my 7.