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Blackspur:
A PRC I'm proposing for inclusion in the Living Pathfinder PBP community, the flavor text relates to the setting used there - E'n. Looking primarily for comments on balance, potential abuse spotting, and suggestions for flavorful class abilities - especially a worthy capstone ability.
Rorn is also famed its elite order of dweomerknights, the Blackspurs, who wield strange magics and ride into battle on creatures summoned from the Other World. Rornish youths who exhibit the special characteristics necessary to draw these creatures from the Other World are taken by the Blackspurs to one of their chapterhouses, raised and given the extensive magical and martial training unique to their order. Outsiders who show peculiar valor and honor the traditions of the Blackspurs are rare, but not unheard of.
Requirements:
BAB: 4
Special: Eidolon, Mount or Divine Bond (Steed), and Bond Senses
Skills: Knowledge (Nobility) 5, Knowledge (The Planes) 5, Ride (Dex)
Feats: Mounted Combat
HD: d10
Class Skills:
The Blackspur’s class skills are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Knowledge (The Planes) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int) and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Find a more attractively set out table version HERE
Level Base Attack Fort Ref Will Special Spellcasting
Bonus Save Save Save
1st +1 +1 +0 +0 Eidolon Mount
2nd +2 +1 +1 +1 Bonus Feat
3rd +3 +2 +1 +1 +1 level of existing
class.
4th +4 +2 +1 +1 Shield Ally
5th +5 +3 +2 +2 Heal Eidolon
6th +6 +3 +2 +2 Bonus Feat +1 level of existing
class.
7th +7 +4 +2 +2 Greater Shield Ally
8th +8 +4 +3 +3 Life Bond
9th +9 +5 +3 +3 +1 level of existing
class.
10th +10 +5 +3 +3 Bonus Feat
Eidolon Mount: A Blackspur's loyal mount and beloved Eidolon merge into a single creature. Each level of Blackspur advances a character's effective Summoner level for the purpose of determining Eidolon abilities by 1. Add your effective Druid level for your Mount or Divine Bond (Steed) to your effective Summoner level for determining your Eidolon's abilities: For example a Paladin 5/Summoner 2/Blackspur 1 would count as a 8th level Summoner for the purpose of determining his Eidolon's abilities, while a Cavalier 3/Summoner 2/Blackspur 1 would count as a 6th level Summoner for the purpose of determining his Eidolon's abilities.
If the eidolon is not capable of serving as a mount, such as the case of a medium character with an effective summoner level less than 8th, the eidolon receives a size increase to large but without any of the standard modifiers generally granted by an increase in size. However, in this case, the eidolon receives a +8 bonus to its strength only for the purpose of calculating its carrying capacity.
A cavalier does not take an armor check penalty on Ride checks while riding his Eidolon. The Eidolon is always considered combat trained thus negating the need for the ‘mount’ evolution. The eidolon does not gain the Light Armor Proficiency feat as a cavalier’s special mount normally would but does gain the share spells ability.
Bonus Feat: At 2nd level, 6th level, and 10th level, a Blackspur may select a bonus feat. These feats must be taken from the following list: Mounted Archery, Ride-by Attack, Spirited Charge, Trample, Trick Riding, Unseat, Mounted Skirmisher, Improved Share Spells, Summoner's Call, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus. A Blackspur must meet all prerequisites for bonus feats.
Heal Eidolon: As a swift action you may expend a use of your Summon Monster 1 to heal 1d10 hit points, if you have access to higher level Summon Monsters you instead heal a number of d10s equal to the highest level of Summon Monster you are capable of using. You may only expend a single use at a time.
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I like it. Comments:
1) It allows early entry, by two levels, for a flying mount for characters who are not gnomes or halflings.
2) The Heal Eidolon seems fine as a swift action. It becomes a replacement for the lost levels in the paladin's Lay on Hands. Maybe that should be reserved for the paladin version only. The cavalier version should probably get extra tactician usage for burning SLA summons.
3) Further define the "+1 level of existing class". Is this "+1 to caster level for spells known and castable" or "for all class abilities"? Is this to Summoner, Paladin or Cavalier as a choice, or specifically Summoner?
4) I would calculate the eidolon strength as total levels - 1 or probably even -2. An eidolon is a strong fighter. On his back would be a full BAB-1 melee specialist that is able to do coordinated attacks? Too strong. The eidolon is replacing a mount that has higher hit points, but mostly secondary attacks, and fewer of them.