FREERIDER.

[The Hive Mind]

During the wars of the Third Age, those nobles that were not captured, tortured, and killed by the dark god’s forces were left landless and wandering, striving to unite what remained of the people they had once protected. Those who were successful in gathering a loyal band of followers became wandering outlaws, striking where they could against the Shadow’s forces and battling every day for the survival of their families. Generations have passed, and now the descendants of these lords and their men are known as freeriders. Though some have settled down in one location to start new lives, many still roam the Eredane countryside seeking vengeance for their ancestors and freedom for their people.

Hit Die: d10.


Requirements

Base Attack Bonus: +6.
Skills: Handle Animal 4 ranks, Ride 8 ranks, Survival 4 ranks.
Feats: Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge.
Special: The character must be a Sarcosan or Erenlander human from Erendane.

Class Level / Base Attack Bonus / Fort Save / Ref Save / Will Save / Special
1st ----------------+1 -------------+2 --------+0 --------+0 -----Horse lord, special mount
2nd ----------------+2 -------------+3 --------+0 --------+0 -----Mounted maneuver
3rd ----------------+3 -------------+3 --------+1 --------+1 -----Bonus feat
4th ----------------+4 -------------+4 --------+1 --------+1 -----Special mount, spur on
5th ----------------+5 -------------+4 --------+1 --------+1 -----Mounted maneuver
6th ----------------+6 -------------+5 --------+2 --------+2 -----Bonus feat
7th ----------------+7 -------------+5 --------+2 --------+2 -----Special mount, devasting attack
8th ----------------+8 -------------+6 --------+2 --------+2 -----Mounted maneuver
9th ----------------+9 -------------+6 --------+3 --------+3 -----Bonus feat
10th --------------+10 -------------+7 --------+3 --------+3 -----Special mount, sweeping strike

Class Skills: Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Freeriders are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and all types of armor, and with shields.

Horse Lord (Ex): A freerider is as comfortable on his horse as he is on foot. This affinity grants him a +1 circumstance bonus per level to all Handle Animal and Ride checks when dealing with horses.

Special Mount (Ex): The light warhorses granted to Sarcosan knights as mounts are the fastest and strongest of their species. At 1st level, a freerider gains a Sarcosan warhorse that gains the benefits of a rank 1 wildlander animal companion. Each time this ability is gained thereafter, the mount gains one rank as if it were a wildlander's animal companion.

If the steed dies, the freerider must return to his band of freeriders and convince both them and his new steed of his worth as a warrior. If he succeeds, he may acquire a new warhorse of the same kind as his mount. The new mount may begin with the previous mount's abilities or may take some time to acquire them, at the DM's discretion.

Mounted Maneuver (Ex): The freerider and his horse train together constantly. They become akin to a single figure, able to accomplish maneuvers in combat that no normal rider and mount could hope to do. The freerider may choose a maneuver from the following list at 2nd, 5th, and 8th level:

Deft Dodging: By focusing on dodging opponents and defensive maneuvers, this maneuver grants both the freerider and his mount a bonus to AC. If both he and his mount do nothing but move during a round, both gain a +4 dodge bonus to AC.

Dismounting Cut: The freerider may make a trip attack to dismount a mounted opponent with any weapon. As per the rules for tripping with a weapon, this does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Additionally, the opponent does not have an option to attempt to dismount you in return.

Erratic Attack: By weaving, dodging, and feinting, the freerider and horse make themselves unpredictable and difficult targets. Either the freerider or his horse may gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC in any round that either make an attack. If both the freerider and horse are charging, this ability may instead be used to negate the normal Armor Class penalty to both.

Hit and Run: Once per round when mounted, the freerider can move away from any one enemy against whom he has just made a melee attack without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Wheel About: When charging, including using the Spirited Charge and Ride-by Attack feats, the freerider's mount may take a turn of up to 90 degrees once during his movement.

Bonus Feat: At 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter, the freerider gains a bonus feat from the following list. The character must still meet any prequesites for a feat he selects. The feats are: Mounted Archery, Sarcosan Pureblood, Skill Focus (Ride), Trample, Weapon Focus (Sarcosan lance, scimitar, or composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (Sarcosan lance, scimitar, or composite longbow).

Spur On (Ex): At 4th level, the freerider can spur his horse on to greater than normal speeds. During any round in which the freerider's horse makes a charge or double move, the mount's speed is doubled. So a horse with a base speed of 40 ft. would travel 160 ft. with a double move. This ability may only be used a number of rounds equal to the horse's Constitution bonus.

Devasting Attack (Ex): The freerider gains the Devasting Mounted Assault feat as a bonus feat. If he already has that feat, he still suffers the normal –5 penalty on iterative attacks, but he does not suffer the additional –5 penalty on interative attacks made while on a mount that is performing a single move or a charge (making such attacks is normally impossible, but the ability is granted by the Devastating Mounted Assault feat.

Sweeping Strike (Ex): With quick cuts and momentum, the freerider and his horse can become a whirling platform of death on the battlefield. If the freerider's mount takes only a single move, the freerider may make a single melee attack at his highest base attack bonus against all opponents he threatens at any point during his steed's movement for the round. Neither the freerider nor the steed provoke attacks of opportunity from any opponent they attack.

When using this ability, the freerider gives up all other attacks for the round, including those granted by the use of the Cleave feat or haste spell.