Caitiff Knight (Cavalier/Rogue)

Most cavaliers are considered to be knights who seek to uphold virtue, honor in combat, champion the cause of chivalry. However, some cavaliers do not adhere to such strictures, but lean towards a more roguish way of life. Caitiff knights, whether good or evil, tend to be scoundrels at heart. They use their rugged good looks, quick minds, silver tongues, and fast reflexes to lie, cheat, and swagger their way to victory. One must constantly be on their guard when engaging a caitiff knight in combat; for one is never sure what maneuvers, feints, or cheap shots he will use, for no trick is below him. Whether the caitiff knight appears as a high class fop or devious highwayman, all can be assured that they are expert riders, skilled at mounted combat, and ruthless no matter their endeavors. (Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Cavalier.

Secondary Class: Rogue.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The caitiff knight may select six rogue skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal cavalier class skills, one of which must be Stealth. The caitiff knight gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 6 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The caitiff knight is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with light armor, medium armor, and with shields (except for tower shields). The caitiff knight is also proficient with any weapons from the rogue’s list not included in the simple or martial weapon’s lists.

Challenge (Ex): This is exactly like the cavalier ability of the same name, except that the caitiff knight can use challenge once per day at 1st level, and an additional time at 4th level and every six levels thereafter.

Order (Ex): This is exactly like the cavalier ability of the same name, except the caitiff knight may select the Order of the Mountebank, in addition to any other orders available to him.

Rogue Talents: At 1st level and every four levels thereafter, a caitiff knight gains a rogue talent for which he qualifies. At 13th level, the caitiff knight can choose advanced rogue talents whenever he could choose a rogue talent, or when he selects the extra rogue talent feat. The caitiff knight adds the following rogue abilities to the list of advanced talents he may select: evasion, uncanny dodge, and improved uncanny dodge. A caitiff knight must select uncanny dodge before selecting improved uncanny dodge. In the case of the improved evasion talent, the caitiff knight must have evasion to select it. A caitiff knight treats his level as his rogue level for the purpose of qualifying for talents with level-dependent requirements and calculating the effects of any talent or rogue ability he's chosen. This ability replaces tactician, banner, greater tactician, greater banner, and master tactician.

Silver Tongue (Ex): At 3rd level, whenever a caitiff knight uses Bluff to attempt to deceive someone, he gains a bonus on the opposed roll equal to 1/2 his caitiff knight level (minimum +1). This bonus does not apply to feint attempts or attempts to pass secret messages. This ability replaces cavalier’s charge.

Trick Rider (Ex): At 4th level, the caitiff knight gains Trick Riding as a bonus feat. At 12th level, the caitiff knight does not need to make Ride skill checks for any task listed in the Ride skill with a DC of 20 or lower. This ability replaces expert trainer.

Dirty Fighting (Ex): Starting at 6th level, a caitiff knight melds the stately forms of jousting and chivalric standards with the down-and-dirty style of a backstreets fighter. No dirty trick is beneath him. Examples include kicking sand into an opponent’s face to blind him for 1 round, pulling down an enemy’s pants to halve his speed, or hitting a foe in a sensitive spot to make him sickened for a round. A caitiff knight never takes a non-proficiency penalty on attack rolls with improvised weapons and gains a +2 bonus on all combat maneuver checks. In addition, whenever he lands a critical hit, the caitiff knight may opt to deal normal damage and roll on the following table to impose a condition rather than dealing extra damage. If the critical multiplier is x3, the duration of the effect doubles. If the critical multiplier is x4, the duration triples. This ability replaces bonus feat at 6th level.

Subtle Manipulator (Ex): Starting at 10th level, if the caitiff knight spends a full-round action studying a target, he can make a Sense Motive check opposed by the target’s Will save. If the target fails, the caitiff knight gains a +5 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks made against that opponent for a number of days equal to his Wisdom modifier. This ability can only be used on any one target once per day. This ability replaces challenge 4/day.

Mounted Skirmisher (Ex): At 11th level, the caitiff knight gains Mounted Skirmisher as a bonus feat, and does not suffer any penalty to his AC after making a charge attack while mounted. In addition, whenever the caitiff knight makes a critical hit while mounted, he deals an amount of precision damage equal to his Dexterity modifier as if the target was flat-footed. This ability replaces mighty charge.

Improved Dirty Fighting (Ex): At 12th level, the caitiff knight gains Improved Dirty Trick as a bonus feat. This ability replaces bonus feat at 12th level.

Ruthless Challenge (Ex): At 14th level, whenever a caitiff reduces the target of his challenge to 0 or fewer hit points with a melee attack, he can immediately make another attack with the same weapon at the same attack bonus as a swift action. This additional attack can be made on any legal target. The caitiff knight gains a bonus to damage with this attack equal to his caitiff knight level. This ability replaces demanding challenge.

Craven’s Blade (Ex): At 16th level, whenever a caitiff knight hits an opponent and deals precision damage, he can forgo 5 points of that damage (or 1d6 points from his devious strike order ability) and make a free Intimidate check with +5 circumstance bonus to demoralize the foe. For every additional 5 points of precision damage (or each additional 1d6 damage from his devious strike) he forgoes, he receives an additional +5 circumstance bonus on this check. This ability replaces challenge 2/day and 6/day.

Greater Dirty Fighting (Ex): At 18th level, the caitiff knight gains Greater Dirty Trick as a bonus feat. This ability replaces bonus feat at 18th level.

Supreme Skirmisher (Ex): At 20th level, whenever the caitiff knight uses Mounted Skirmisher and chooses not to make a full–attack action, he can choose to make two attacks at his highest base attack bonus instead of one. If any of these attacks hit, they deal precision damage equal to the caitiff knight’s level + his Dexterity modifier as if the target was flat-footed. Also, the caitiff knight doubles the threat range of any weapons wielded during a charge while mounted. This increase does not stack with other effects that increase the threat range of the weapon. In addition, the caitiff knight can make a free dirty trick combat maneuver if his charge attack is successful. This free combat maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity. This ability replaces supreme charge.

Rogue Talents: The following rogue talents complement the caitiff knight multiclass archetype: combat trick, distracting attack*, esoteric scholar†, fast stealth, iron guts†, nimble climber*, offensive defense*, positioning attack*, snap shot*, surprise attack, and underhanded†. (*Advanced Player’s Guide, †Ultimate Combat)

Advanced Talents: The following advanced talents complement the caitiff knight multiclass archetype: another day*, camouflage*, crippling strike, defensive roll, fast tumble*, hide in plain sight†, improved evasion, opportunist, and rumormonger†. (*Advanced Player’s Guide, †Ultimate Combat)

Table: Caitiff Knight