Prestige Classes
CAVALIER
Representing the ultimate in mounted warfare, the cavalier is the quintessential knight in shining armor. The charge of the cavalier is among the most devastating offensive weapons any culture can hope to field. Most cavaliers belong to the upper social class or nobility of a society. The cavalier dedicates his life to the service of a higher authority, such as a noble or sovereign, deity, military or religious order, or a special cause. His is a hereditary honor that comes with the price of lifelong service to his monarch, country, or other object or entity. The cavalier is expected to participate in any wars or other armed conflict in which his lord or cause is engaged. Cavaliers in service to other nobles often serve their master beyond the battlefield as well, performing such duties as their skills, and their noble lord, see fit. The cavalier often pursues such selfless goals as the eradication of evil and chaos from the world, and justice for all the subjects of his land. He can also be a bully and a braggart who uses his status and privileges to pursue only his own self-aggrandizement. |
Hit Die: d10.
Requirements
To qualify to become a cavalier, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Alignment: Any lawful.
Base Attack Bonus: +8.
Skills: Handle Animal 4 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 4 ranks, Ride 6 ranks.
Feats: Spirited Charge, Weapon Focus (lance), Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack.
Class Skills
The cavalier's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Ride (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Special mount, mounted weapon bonus (lance) +1, Ride bonus +2, courtly knowledge |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Deadly charge 1/day. mounted weapon bonus (sword) +1 |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Burst of speed |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Deadly charge 2/day, Ride bonus +4 |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Mounted weapon bonus (lance) +2 |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Deadly charge 3/day, full mounted attack, mounted weapon bonus (sword) +2 |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Ride bonus +6 |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Deadly charge 4/day |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Mounted weapon bonus (lance) +3, Ride bonus +8 |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Unstoppable charge 5/day, mounted weapon bonus (sword) +3 |
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the cavalier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Cavaliers are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all types of armor, and shields.
Special Mount (Sp): A cavalier’s class levels stack with any paladin levels the character may have for determining the characteristics of a paladin’s mount.
Mounted Weapon Bonus (Ex): A cavalier gains a competence bonus on his attack roll when using the indicated weapon while mounted. For the lance, this bonus starts out at +1 at 1st level and increases by +1 every four levels thereafter. For the sword, this bonus starts out at +1 at 2nd level and increases by +1 every four levels thereafter.
Ride Bonus (Ex): A cavalier gains a competence bonus on Ride checks. This bonus starts out at +2 and improves to +4 at 4th level, +6 at 7th level, and +8 at 9th level.
Courtly Knowledge (Ex): A cavalier adds his class level to his Knowledge (nobility and royalty) checks as a competence bonus.
Deadly Charge (Ex): When mounted and using the charge action, a cavalier of 2nd level or higher may declare a “deadly charge” before making his attack roll (thus, a failed attack ruins the attempt). If he hits, he deals triple damage with a melee weapon (or quadruple damage with a lance). This ability does not stack with the benefit of the Spirited Charge feat.
Burst of Speed (Ex): At 3rd level and higher, a cavalier can urge his mount to greater than normal speed when charging. This ability doubles the maximum distance the mount can travel when making a charge, up to four times its speed. This ability can be used once per day without penalty to the mount. Each additional use of the ability in a single day requires the mount to make a DC 20 Will save immediately after the conclusion of the charge; failure results in the mount taking 2d6 points of damage.
Full Mounted Attack (Ex): At 6th level and higher, a mounted cavalier can make a full attack when his mount moves more than 5 feet but no farther than a single move action would carry it. The cavalier cannot combine this full attack with a charge.
Unstoppable Charge (Ex): When making a deadly charge, a 10th-level cavalier deals quadruple damage with a melee weapon (or quintuple damage with a lance).
Multiclass Note: A paladin who becomes a cavalier may continue advancing as a paladin.