Elk Rider
Description: The Elk-Riders were an elite light cavalry unit of mounted Rangers that operated out of Sidhe-Praxen. They were made famous during Alexandria's Crusade for serving Alexandria under Kivan Half-Elven. Although there is no organized force of them today, it is possible some Sidhe still retain the skill. Although most Elk Riders were rangers, nothing but convention prevents druids from taking the class.
Prerequisites: Mounted Archery, +6 Base Attack Bonus, Ride: 6 Ranks, Animal Companion (Elk, Deer or Similar), Elf or Half-Elf
Hit Dice: d8
Skill Points: 4+INT
Class Skills: Survival, Swim, Jump, Knowledge: Nature, Climb, Ride, Search, Listen, Spot, Concentration, Heal, Animal Handling, ????????
| × Level | BaB | Fort | Ref | Will | Ability | Spells Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +0 | Exceptional Mount, Fleet Mount, Elk-Rider Bonding | |
| 2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Bonus Feat, Saddleback | +1 to existing divine caster level |
| 3 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +1 | Improved Mounted Archery | +1 to existing divine caster level |
| 4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Bonus Feat, Child of the Forest | +1 to existing divine caster level |
| 5 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Expert Mounted Archery, Elk-Rider Empathy |
Elk-Rider Bonding : If your Animal Companion is also your Exceptional Mount, the bonuses stack. Additionally, your Elk-Rider levels stack with your Druid or Ranger levels for determining the abilities of your animal companion.
Fleet Mount : Your mount may take full move and run actions in wooded or heavily forested terrain without penalty.
Child of the Forest : You may take a 10 on any Animal Handling roll, even when the situation dictates you can not.
Saddleback: May take 10 on ride checks even when not normally able to do so with your mount.
Elk-Rider Empathy: All Animal Handling rolls made against animals of your animal companion's and exceptional mount's types, as well as all herbivores, always succeed.
Bonus Feats : You must possess any required prerequisites. Weapon Focus (any bow); Improved Weapon Focus (any bow); Skill Focus: Ride; Improved Skill Focus: Ride; Skill Focus: Animal Handling; Improved Skill Focus: Animal Handling; Animal Affinity; Ride By Attack; Point-Blank Shot; Precise Shot; Manyshot; Weapon Specialization (Any bow); Improved Weapon Specialization (Any Bow)
Improved Mounted Archery: The archer is equally at home firing mounted or dismounted. Penalties firing while mounted are reduced to 0 if you are making a double move and -2 while running.
Expert Mounted Archery: You are more at home mounted than on foot, and your martial abilities demonstrate this. You gain a +2 to hit and damage when firing a short or longbow while mounted.
Exceptional Mount Exceptional mounts are specially selected and trained variants of regular mounts possessed by certain prestige classes. They increase in power as the character gains in their prestige class level.
Level Fort Ref Will Ability
1 +1 +0 +0 Hit Point Bonus 20%, Natural armor class increased +1
2 +1 +1 +0 +2 Int; +5 Base Speed
3 +1 +1 +1 Hit Point Bonus 40%, Natural armor class increased +2
4 +2 +1 +1 +2 Int; +5 Base Speed
5 +2 +2 +1 Hit Point Bonus 60%, Natural Armor class increased +3
Hit Point Bonus: Mount gains a bonus to its hit points equaled to the listed percentage of its owners maximum hit points for as long as its owner is alive. (Rounded Down)
