Beastborne Outrider (Barbarian/Cavalier)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The beast outrider is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with light armor, medium armor, and with shields (except for tower shields).

Bestial Mount (Ex)

At 1st level, a beastborne outrider forms a bond with a strong, loyal companion that permits her to ride it as a mount. The animal chosen as a mount must be large enough to carry the beastborne outrider (Medium or Large for a Small character; Large or Huge for a Medium character). The beastborne outrider does not take an armor check penalty on Ride checks while riding her mount. The mount is always considered combat trained, and begins play with Endurance as a bonus feat. A beastborne outrider’s mount does not gain the share spells special ability.

Each time the beastborne outrider increases in level, she can do one of two things; either retain her current mount and allow it to progress normally, or she may select a new, more impressive mount better suited to her chosen terrain and increased power. This newly selected mount must be capable of bearing her weight, have at least four legs, and has a maximum number of Hit Dice allowed for an animal companion of a beastborne outrider with an effective druid level as shown on the Animal Companion Base Statistics table of the Core Rulebook. Thus, a beastborne outrider may select anything from a horse or camel to a dire bear or triceratops as her mount as she increases in level.

Like a cavalier’s mount, a bestial mount does not gain the share spells ability. Instead, it gains the Master’s Rage ability at 5th level (see below). This ability replaces the mount’s share spells ability.

Master’s Rage (Ex): At 5th level, whenever a beastborne outrider can spend rounds of rage to allow her bestial mount to rage. The beastborne outrider must spend an equal number of rounds to activate and maintain the bestial mount’s rage as she would to maintain her own. If the beastborne outrider and bestial mount rage at the same time, she must spend the appropriate number of rounds to maintain both hers and her mount’s rage. This ability replaces the animal companion’s share spells ability.

Should the beastborne outrider's mount die, the beastborne outrider may not obtain another mount for 30 days or until she gains a beastborne outrider level, whichever comes first. During this 30-day period, the beastborne outrider takes a –1 penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls.

The bestial mount ability otherwise functions like the druid’s animal companion ability, except that the beastborne outrider’s effective druid level is equal to her beastborne outrider level. This ability replaces the rage powers gained at 2nd, 10th, and 18th level.

Order (Ex)

At 1st level, a beastborne outrider gains the cavalier’s order ability, except that the beastborne outrider must select the Order of the Beast and gains her order abilities at 3rd, 9th, and 16th level. This ability replaces fast movement, uncanny dodge, and improved uncanny dodge.

Rage (Ex)

This is exactly like the barbarian ability of the same name, except that the morale bonus to Strength and Constitution is reduced by 2. This reduction also applies to her greater rage (+4 instead of +6) and mighty rage (+6 instead of +8).

Rage Power (Ex)

This is exactly like the barbarian ability of the same name, except that the beastborne outrider gains a rage power at 2nd level and every four levels thereafter.

Beast Training (Ex)

At 4th level, a beastborne outrider gains the druid’s wild empathy ability, except that she cannot use it to influence any creature other than those of the animal type. Once per day, a beastborne outrider can take 20 to teach her bestial mount a new trick (though limits on number of tricks known are unchanged). In addition, she gains a +4 on this and all other Handle Animal skill checks regarding her bestial mount. This replaces trap sense.

Brutal Charge (Ex)

At 5th level, a beastborne outrider learns to make more devastating charge attacks while mounted at the expense of accuracy. The beastborne outrider loses the normal +2 bonus to her melee attack rolls on a charge while mounted, and gains a +2 bonus on damage rolls to her melee attack while mounted instead. This bonus increases to +4 at 11th level. In addition, the beastborne outrider does not suffer any penalty to his AC after making a charge attack while mounted. This ability replaces rage power at 6th level.

Fierce Challenge (Ex)

Starting at 7th level, the beastborne outrider can spend rounds of rage to challenge a foe to combat, as the cavalier’s challenge ability. As a swift action, the beastborne outrider can spend 4 rounds of rage and chooses one target within sight to challenge. The beastborne outrider’s melee attacks deal extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of her fierce challenge. This extra damage is equal to the beastborne outrider’s level. The beastborne outrider can use this ability once per day at 5th level, plus one additional time per day for every six levels beyond 7th, to a maximum of three times per day at 19th level.

Challenging a foe requires much of the beastborne outrider’s concentration, and therefore, cannot rage or use rage powers. Also, the beastborne outrider takes a –2 penalty to her Armor Class, except against attacks made by the target of her challenge, and while the challenge is in effect. The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious or until the combat ends. Each beastborne outrider’s challenge also includes another effect which is listed in the section describing the beastborne outrider’s order. This ability replaces damage reduction.

Inspired Warleader (Ex)

At 8th level, a beastborne outrider becomes a symbol of inspiration to her allies and companions. As long as the beastborne outrider is clearly visible, all allies within 60 feet receive a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear and a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made as part of a charge. At 13th level, and every five levels thereafter, these bonuses increase by +1. The beastborne outrider must be at least Small or larger and must be on her mount for this ability to function.

Reckless Rider (Ex)

At 12th level, while mounted, a beastborne outrider gains a morale bonus equal to 1/2 her beastborne outrider level on attack and damage rolls on the round she enters a battle. A beastborne outrider only gains this bonus against an opponent (or group of opponents) once per day. Thus, she cannot leave a battle and reengage moments later to gain the benefits of this ability more than once in the same battle. This ability replaces rage power at 14th level.

Mounted Ferocity (Ex)

At 15th level, the beastborne outrider becomes angrier as she fights, the pain of her wounds fueling her strength, and that of her mount. While mounted, the beastborne outrider and her mount gains a cumulative +2 morale bonus to Strength and a cumulative –1 penalty to AC for every 5 points of damage she takes (maximum +10 Strength, –5 AC) for the duration of the encounter. These bonuses last until the battle ends or the target falls unconscious. In either case, once the battle rage ends, the beastborne outrider becomes fatigued for 1 minute per round she remained in the battle rage. This ability replaces indomitable will.

Rage Powers

The following rage powers complement the beastborne outrider multiclass archetype: animal fury, beast totem (greater)*, beast totem (lesser)*, beast totem*, come and get me*, flesh wound*, guarded life (greater)†, guarded life*, increased damage reduction, inspired ferocity*, intimidating glare, no escape, primal scent†, reckless abandon*, scent, strength surge, and terrifying howl. (*Advanced Player’s Guide, †Ultimate Combat)