User:Leziad/Elite Cavalier

Elite Cavalier

Elite Class: An elite version of a base class is meant to be used by player characters or powerful NPCs in a game where third party material is being used. These classes are stronger than their base variants, to narrow down the power gap between player characters. The elite variant attempts not to change any core mechanics of the class. It is intended that player (or powerful NPCs) pick the elite version of a class as their main class, while the base version is reserved for NPCs and for players who are multiclassing.

A variant of the cavalier, which mostly aims to increase the character's overall utility. The elite cavalier is capable of being a skilled socialite, with her deeds reflecting her reputation. Powerful cavaliers are able to imbue their legend into their weapons, making them more dangerous than normal. This special archetype is compatible with the cavalier's alternate class, the samurai.

Changes

• Saving Throws: An elite cavalier has a good Fortitude and Will save progression.
• Bonus Feats: An elite cavalier gains their bonus feat class feature at 3rd level, 6th level and each six levels thereafter. A cavalier’s levels stack with any fighter levels she possesses for the purpose of meeting the level prerequisite for feats, such as Weapon Specialization.
• Weapon Proficiencies: An elite cavalier is proficient with the bastard sword. An elite samurai's proficiencies do not change.
• Altered Class Features: Tactician, Weapon Expertise (Samurai), Banner, Demanding Challenge.
• New Class Features: Renown, Social Talent, Test of Mettle, Chain Challenge, Unyielding Challenge.

Altered Class Features

• Tactician (Ex): An elite cavalier may grant any teamwork feat she has with her tactician class feature. The cavalier can use this ability twice per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day at 5th level and for every 5 levels thereafter.
• Weapon Expertise (Ex): At 3rd level, an elite samurai gains an unparalleled expertise with his chosen weapons. The samurai selects one weapon he is proficient with. The samurai can draw the selected weapon as a free action as if he had the Quick Draw feat. If he already has the Quick Draw feat, he threaten while his chosen weapon is sheathed and may draw as part of making an attack of opportunity. In addition, whenever he threatens a critical hit with the selected weapon, he gains a +2 bonus on the confirmation roll.
• Banner (Ex): An elite cavalier's banner may alter the type of banner she is displaying whenever she rests. If an elite cavalier is using an actual banner, the range she confers her banner bonus increases by 10 feet.
• Demanding Challenge (Ex): At 12th level whenever a cavalier declares a challenge, her target must pay attention to the threat she poses. As long as the target is within the threatened area of the cavalier, it provokes an attack of opportunity from the cavalier whenever it attack or target a creature other than the cavalier. Furthermore, the target of the cavalier's challenge cannot take immediate actions during the cavalier's turn.

New Class Features

Renown: At 1st level, an elite cavalier gains a vigilante's renown talent. For the purpose of this talent, she counts as her social identity when unarmed, and in her vigilante identity if she has a weapon drawn.

Social Talent: At 2nd level, 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, an elite cavalier gains a vigilante social talent. She may not select a vigilante social talents that would require her to be a craftsman or professional. For the purpose of vigilante social talents except renown, an elite cavalier does not have a vigilante identity and is always considered to be in her social identity.

Test of Mettle (Ex): At 6th level, an elite cavalier is capable of calling out for worthy foes. As swift action, she may expend a use of challenge to start a test of mettle. All opponents of the elite cavalier with a CR of at least the her class level -2 may accept her test of mettle, becoming the target of her challenge. If multiple opponents accept the test of mettle, the cavalier may choose which become the target of her challenge. A cavalier's test of mettle wards off weaker opponents. Any opponent of the elite cavalier's class level -3 or lower who can see or hear her, must make a Will save (DC 10 + ½ cavalier level + the cavalier's Charisma bonus). On a failure, they cannot attack the elite cavaliers or her allies as per sanctuary for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the cavalier's Charisma modifier. This is a mind-affecting effect and may be broken as normal.

Upon declaring a test of mettle, the the elite cavalier becomes emboldened and gains a number of temporary hit points equal to her class level + her Charisma modifier. These temporary hit points lasts for 1 minute and are always lost first. If no opponents accepts her challenge, the cavalier regains a use of challenge. A cavalier may call a test of mettle no more than once per combat, and she cannot do so while she is actively challenging an opponent.

Chain Challenge: A 7th level elite cavalier gains the Chain Challenge feat as a bonus feat. In addition of gaining the feat, the elite cavalier can use it more effectively; she increases the range she may enact a secondary challenge to 60 ft. and may use it as a free action usable outside of her own turn.

Unyielding Challenge (Ex): At 16th level, whenever an elite cavalier is actively challenging an opponent, she becomes immune to fear-effect, and the exhausted, dazed, fatigued, staggered and stunned conditions inflicted by other creatures. This does not protect her from those conditions if they are caused by her own abilities.

Archetype Changes

Gallant Protector/Honor Guard

• No longer gains Defensive Challenge, instead retaining Demanding Challenge.

Optional Features

These class features may or may not be included based on the GM, or the power level of the game.

Squire (Ex): A 3rd level cavalier may opt to gain the service of a squire. Doing so typically requires 24 hours of searching and a DC 20 Diplomacy check. A squire is a non-combatant NPC similar to a cohort, whose main duty is to assist the cavalier. She aids her to don her armor, feed her horse, set up camp, etc. The squire is a 1st level aristocrat, except that it is proficient with all simple weapons, one martial weapon and no armor or shields. At 5th level, the squire trades her aristocrat level for her first class level. A squire's hit points are equal to half the cavalier's and it may use the cavalier's save when doing so would be beneficial. A squire provides her cavalier the Alertness feat.

However, taking a squire also places additional duties on the cavalier's shoulders. The cavalier may not harm, nor allow harm to come to her squire. She must keep her squire fed, housed and provide training for her, which takes 1 hour every morning. If the cavalier and the squire are to be separated, she must ensure that her squire be compensated and cared for. If the cavalier violates this agreement, it counts as a violation of her edict and her squire may leave. If the squire dies, leaves or becomes a proper warrior in her own right, the cavalier must wait 1 week before seeking another. The newly acquired squire starts as an untrained aristocrat, but gain all benefits of the cavalier's old squire after the cavalier gain a level or a year pass, whichever happens first.

If the cavalier takes the Leadership she may choose her squire as a cohort. At which point the squire gains level as normal, usually as a non-elite cavalier. If she does, the new cohort uses its own hit points and saves from now on. The new cohort is unusually loyal, ignoring the leadership penalties for having a mount, failure, aloofness and even cruelty.