Here's a revised Cavalier.
Enjoy cats and dogs.
(Note: Please don't be too harsh in your reviews of this)
1st Challenge 1/day, Gallant Nature, Mount, Oath, Order
2nd Order Ability
3rd Cavalier’s Charge
4th Challenge 2/day, Expert Trainer
5th Oath
6th Shield Ally
7th Challenge 3/day, Bulwark of Defense
8th Order ability
9th Oath
10th Challenge 4/day, Vigilant Defender
11th Mighty Charge
12th Demanding Challenge
13th Challenge 5/day, Bond of Loyalty
14TH Oath
15th Order ability
16th Challenge 6/day, Impetuous Endurance
17th Loyalty Beyond Death
18th Oath
19th Challenge 7/day, Daunting Challenge
20th Supreme Charge
Challenge (Ex): Once per day, a cavalier can challenge a foe to combat. As a swift action, the cavalier chooses one target within sight to challenge. The cavalier’s melee attacks deal extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of his challenge. This extra damage is equal to the cavalier’s level. The cavalier can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every three levels beyond 1st, to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level. Challenging a foe requires much of the cavalier’s concentration. The cavalier takes a –2 penalty to his Armor Class, except against attacks made by the target of his challenge. The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious or until the combat ends. Each cavalier’s challenge also includes another effect which is listed in the section describing the cavalier’s order.
Gallant Nature: A cavalier is skilled in courtly intrigue and royal etiquette. The cavalier gains a competence bonus to Diplomacy, Knowledge (nobility), and Sense Motive skill checks equal to his class level.
Mount (Ex): A cavalier gains the service of a loyal and trusty steed to carry him into battle. This mount functions as a druid’s animal companion, using the cavalier’s level as his effective druid level. The creature must be one that he is capable of riding and is suitable as a mount. A Medium cavalier can select a camel, hippogriff, or horse but can also select a big cat, megaloceros, or wolf if he is at least 7th level. A Small cavalier can select a big cat, pony, or wolf, but can also select a bear, boar, dog, or ram if he is at least 4th level. The GM might approve other animals as suitable mounts. A cavalier does not take an armor check penalty on Ride checks while riding his mount. The mount is always considered combat trained and begins play with Light Armor Proficiency as a bonus feat. A cavalier’s mount does not gain the share spells special ability. A cavalier’s bond with his mount is strong, with the pair learning to anticipate each other’s moods and moves. Should a cavalier’s mount die, the cavalier may find another mount to serve him after 1 week of mourning. This new mount does not gain the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities until the next time the cavalier gains a level.
Oath (Ex): At 1st level the Cavalier swears a specific Oath to abide by. This Oath gives the Cavalier a measure of instilled power which is fueled by his own honor and code of conduct. At 5th level, 9th level, 14th level, and 18th level, the Cavalier gains the ability to swear one additional Oath. Choose from the following Oaths below:
Oath of Bravery: The Cavalier vows to be brave and to fight the fear that is instilled in him by his foes. The Cavalier gains a +1 moral bonus to save against fear effects. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Chastity: The Cavalier vows to fight his urges to give in to the pleasures of the flesh. The Cavalier gains a +1 moral bonus to save against enchantment (charm) effects. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses. The Cavalier may not take this oath if he has already taken the Oath of Courtship.
Oath of Chivalry: The Cavalier vows to fight challenged opponents fairly and to resist winning by duplicitous means. The Cavalier gains +1 moral bonus to saving throws. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Compassion: The Cavalier vows to resist greed and avarice and attempt to share what he can with those less fortunate than he is. The Cavalier gains a +1 morale bonus on Diplomacy, Handle Animal, and Heal skill checks. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Courtship: The Cavalier vows to honor and cherish the individual whom he has professed his undying love towards. The Cavalier gains a +1 moral bonus to save against enchantment (charm) effects. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses. The Cavalier may not take this oath if he has already taken the Oath of Chastity.
Oath of Faith: The Cavalier vows to uphold the tenants of his religion and resist urges to disobey the teachings of his chosen deity. The Cavalier receives a +1 moral bonus to save against taking negative levels or negative energy damage. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Greed: The Cavalier vows to resist the urge to give away what he has rightfully earned and to obtain as much as possible. The Cavalier receives a +1 morale bonus on Appraise, Bluff, and Sense Motive skill checks. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Justice: The Cavalier vows to attempt and bring justice to those who commit crimes and atrocities. The Cavalier receives Damage Reduction 1/– (this DR stacks with other forms of DR of it’s kind). This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Loyalty: The Cavalier vows to resist urges to betray his friends and comrades in arms. The Cavalier receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against enchantment (compulsion) spells and affect as long as he keeps this oath. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Mercy: The Cavalier vows to resist sadism and to attempt and give mercy to those who deserve it. The Cavalier gains a +1 moral bonus to save against taking nonlethal damage. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Protection: The Cavalier vows to his charge to the best of his ability. The Cavalier must choose a ally or companion when taking this Oath. The Cavalier gains a +1 morale bonus to his AC whenever he is adjacent to this character. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Purity: The Cavalier vows to resist the urge to imbibe alcohol and drugs for the sake of remaining pure. The Cavalier gains a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against curses, diseases, and poisons. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Oath of Vengeance: The Cavalier vows to attempt to slay all foes of a certain subtype. The Cavalier must choose a type (and subtype if applicable) of monster when taking this Oath. From then on, the Cavalier receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls against creatures of that type or subtype.. This bonus increases by +1 for every five levels the Cavalier possesses.
Order (Ex): At 1st level, a cavalier must pledge himself to a specific order. The order grants the cavalier a number of bonuses, class skills, and special abilities. In addition, each order includes a number of edicts that the cavalier must follow. If he violates any of these edicts, he loses the benefits from his order’s challenge ability for 24 hours. The violation of an edict is subject to GM interpretation. A cavalier cannot change his order without undertaking a lengthy process to dedicate himself to a new cause. When this choice is made, he immediately loses all of the benefit its from his old order. He must then follow the edicts of his new order for one entire level without gaining any benefits from that order. Once accomplished, he gains all of the bonuses from his new order. Note that the names of these orders might vary depending upon the campaign setting or GM’s preference.
Cavalier’s Charge (Ex): At 3rd level, a cavalier learns to make more accurate charge attacks while mounted. The cavalier receives a +4 bonus on melee attack rolls on a charge while mounted (instead of the normal +2). In addition, the cavalier does not suffer any penalty to his AC after making a charge attack while mounted.
Expert Trainer (Ex): At 4th level, a cavalier learns to train mounts with speed and unsurpassed expertise. The cavalier receives a bonus equal to 1/2 his cavalier level whenever he uses Handle Animal on an animal that serves as a mount. In addition, he can reduce the time needed to teach a mount a new trick or train a mount for a general purpose to 1 day per 1 week required by increasing the DC by +5. He can also train more than one mount at once, although each mount after the first adds +2 to the DC.
Shield Ally (Ex): At 6th level cavalier becomes skilled at protecting his ward from harm. The cavalier may choose to take half the damage of one adjacent ally immediately after the ally is hit with an attack. The cavalier may decide to use this ability after an attack roll is successful at hitting an adjacent ally but not after the damage roll is made.
Bulwark of Defense (Ex): At 7th level, a cavalier becomes adept at not letting enemies pass by him without expending a great deal of effort. All squares adjacent to the cavalier are treated as difficult terrain by the cavalier’s foes (but not by the cavalier’s allies).
Vigilant Defender (Ex): At 10th level, the cavalier learns to be ever vigilant least a foe should slip by his watch and harm his ward. The cavalier adds his cavalier level to the DC of an opponents Acrobatics roll to avoid taking attacks of opportunity from the Cavalier
Mighty Charge (Ex): At 11th level, a cavalier learns to make devastating charge attacks while mounted. Double 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 cavalier can make a free bull rush, disarm, sunder, or trip combat maneuver if his charge attack is successful. This free combat maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Demanding Challenge (Ex): At 12th level, whenever a cavalier declares a challenge, his target must pay attention to the threat he poses. As long as the target is within the threatened area of the cavalier, it takes a –2 penalty to its AC from attacks made by anyone other than the cavalier.
Bond of Loyalty (Ex): At 13th level, the bond of loyalty between the cavalier and his companions becomes so strong that his allies become resistant to abilities that turn them against each other. The cavalier and any ally within 30 ft. who fails a saving throw against a charm or compulsion effect may immediately make a new saving throw (but must take the result of the 2nd saving throw even if it is worse).
Impetuous Endurance (Ex): At 16th level, the cavalier’s honor and reputation only add to his already impressive reserve of stamina. The cavalier no longer automatically fails a saving throw on the roll of 1.
Loyalty Beyond Death (Ex): At 17th level, the cavalier’s loyalty to his companions or charge cannot be stemmed by the mere threat of death. If the cavalier is brought below 0 hit points but not killed, he does not fall unconscious and may continue to act as if disabled until he is brought to -10 hit points or below, at which point in time the cavalier immediately falls unconscious and dies.
Daunting Challenge (Ex): At 19th level, the cavalier’s reputation is such that most foe he challenges is immediately overcome with the daunting sense of a great and powerful foe in their midst. Any foe the cavalier challenges who is of a CR of equal or lesser value than the cavalier’s total class level is treated as shaken if affected by the cavalier’s challenge extraordinary ability.
Supreme Charge (Ex): At 20th level, whenever the cavalier makes a charge attack while mounted, he deals double the normal amount of damage (or triple if using a lance). In addition, if the cavalier confirms a critical hit on a charge attack while mounted, the target is stunned for 1d4 rounds. A Will save reduces this to staggered for 1d4 rounds. The DC is equal to 10 + the cavalier’s base attack bonus.
I have always seen the Cavalier as a hybrid between the phb2 Knight and the minatures handbook Marshal stuck on a horse. This revision feels alot more knighty as the with the demise of tatician, but i get that as teamwork feats are abit limited to some. but it looks quite good.
The oaths are a nice exchange i personaly would focus the oaths so that they can be broken and thats therese a penal, probaly equal to the would be bonus for the rest of the day and no other oath bonuses can be used.
Oath of Chivalry- feels abit powerful compared to the others in my eyes, maby tie it to only 1 attribute or well i would say put a minimum level restriction on it but higher levels is when flexable saves tend to realy kick in.
The oath of mercy -- why? There is no save against most sources of non-lethal damage -- perhaps something else would fit there? Perhaps not taking a penalty on attack rolls when choosing to deal non-lethal damage so the player will actually be inclined to be merciful?