Some armies do not have cavalries. Either due to a realm's lack of suitable mounts or the knowledge to properly utilize them for war, many societies make do without knights on horseback. This is not to say a military force would be unable to combat such dreaded enemies as mounted warriors. In fact, many armies employ a special kind of infantryman who bravely defends the front lines from the devastating charges of those who would dare use an animal to help them fight. The anticavalier is a specialist at combating mounted foes, brutal and ruthless to both the mount and rider alike. They study and exploit the weaknesses of cavaliers and other mounted soldiers who would believe they are invincible when astride their mighty steeds.
Anti-Cavalry Training: At 1st level, an anticavalier can treat any two-handed weapon as if it had the Trip special quality. At 5th level, they can treat any two-handed weapon as if it had the Brace special quality. At 15th level, they can treat any two-handed weapon as if it had the Reach special quality. And at 20th level, they can treat any two-handed weapon as if it had the Deadly special quality. Also at 1st level, they receive a +4 bonus to trip attempts made against charging foes. This bonus increases by +1 every four levels thereafter. At 3rd level they receive a +4 bonus to CMD vs Overrun. This bonus increases by +1 every four levels thereafter. Additionally at 1st level, the anticavalier gains Favored Enemy bonuses when combating riders and their mounts. This is identical to the Ranger class feature. If at anytime a rider and their mount are separated during the course of a battle with an anticavalier, the Favored Enemy bonuses are halved, unless the anticavalier was the direct cause of the separation. This replaces Mount.
Role:While not necessarily evil, anticavaliers are often seen as cruel and dishonorable for their methods. However, they are not that different from ordinary cavaliers. They simply operate differently on the battlefield. In fact, their cunning and daring when facing off against larger and faster threats earn them great respect from their fellow foot soldiers. They are competent melee combatants and useful allies, even though they sometimes make the horses nervous.
There are many other abilities of the cavalier that rely on mounts that you'll need to deal with.
I am open to any new ideas to round his archetype out. During the Ming Dynasty in China, two thirds of the army carried "Chang Dao", the Chinese equivalent to the Japanese Nodachi or Nagamaki. These weapons were designed to take out Mongolian horsemen (cavaliers in their own right) AND their horses in one mighty swing. That's my primary inspiration here:)
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what you are talking about is basicly the "peasent knights" of eastern europe as well. as a hero he still fights bravely even valeriously, but not having access to armor, fine horse, or much else. the average impovished noble, when called to war (and forced to go dispite his poverity) had actually learned how to unhorse, and kill, knights in armor. these fighting styles were passed on by the survivors, and taught to their peasent millitas making them more effective.
be a goblin. use a horsechopper
Goblins would be great anticavaliers!
Bump. For the hell of it.