It's a very preliminary version so the balance/rules might be wonky.
Caracole
The Caracole combines horsemanship with black powder weapons to devastating effect, riding into the face of the enemy, unloading a barrage of fire, and then riding off to a safe distance to reload.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The Caracole loses proficiency with heavy armor and light and heavy shields, but gains proficiency with pistol firearms.
Gunsmithing: The Cavalier gains Gunsmithing at a Bonus feat at level 1.
Skirmishing Challenge: Once per day, a Caracole can use his Skirmishing Challenge ability as a swift action. When he does so, the Caracole chooses one target within sight to challenge. The Caracole’s ranged attacks with pistols deal extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of his challenge. This extra damage is equal to the Caracole’s level. The Caracole 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.
Furthermore, once per day, the Caracole may spend a use of his Skirmishing Challenge ability to double the potential extra damage of his ranged attack. Before making the attack roll, he can choose to spend a use of his challenge to deal twice his cavalier level in extra damage on a successful hit instead of just his cavalier level in extra damage. If the attack misses, the use of the challenge is wasted.
This challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious or until the combat ends. The Skirmishing Challenge gains any order benefit the luring cavalier has. For purposes of benefits that require that the enemy be threatened (but no other purposes) treat the enemy as threatened if they are within the first range increment of the Caracole's pistols.
However, the concentration needed to maintain a challenge leaves the Caracole extremely vulnerable to attack; he takes a -4 penalty to his armor class against any attacks of opportunity he provokes.
This replaces the Cavalier's Challenge ability.
Mounted Gunnery: At first level the Caracole gains the benefits of the Mounted Archery feat, but only when using pistols.
Wheeling Charge: At 3rd level, the Caracole has mastered the difficult maneuver that grants the class it's name. As a full round action, the Caracole's mount may make a double-move. The Cavalier may take a full attack action with his pistols at any point during his mount's movement. Traditionally this maneuver is used to quickly close into optimum pistol range and withdraw to a safe distance before the enemy can mount any response
The complexity of this maneuver leaves the Caracole extremely vulnerable to melee counter-attack. Upon performing a Wheeling Charge, the Caracole takes a -4 penalty to his armor class against any melee attacks until the end of his next turn. This penalty stacks with the penalty against attacks of opportunity from his challenge.
This replaces Cavalier's Charge
Swift Reload (Ex): At 4th level, the Caracole gains Rapid Reload (pistol) as a bonus feat. At 14th level, each time the Caracole issues a challenge, he may reload any pistols he is currently wielding as a free action. This ability replaces expert trainer.
Pistol Expertise: At 5th level, a Caracole gains impressive expertise with his pistols. The Caracole can draw his pistols as a free action as if he had the Quick Draw feat. In addition, whenever he threatens a critical hit with his pistols, he gains a +2 bonus on the confirmation roll. Finally, his Caracole levels stack with any fighter levels he possesses for the purposes of meeting the prerequisites for feats that specifically select his chosen weapon, such as Weapon Specialization.
This ability replaces the Cavalier's Banner ability
Thundering Charge: At 11th level, the force of the Caracole's wheeling charge is such that it can shake even the toughest of foes. Whenever the Caracole executes a Wheeling Charge, he may may make an intimidate check to demoralize the opponent he fired upon as a free action. In addition, the Caracole no longer takes any penalties for firing his pisols while riding on a moving mount.
This ability replaces the Cavalier's Mighty Charge ability
Chosen Target: Whenever the Caracole fires upon the target of his challenge, he doubles the range increment of his pistols.
This ability replaced Demanding Challenge
Pistol Training: The Caracole gains the Gun Training class feature as the Gunslinger, but must select a firearm of the pistol type.
This replaces the Cavalier's Greater Banner ability.
Devastating Shot: The Caracole gains the benefit of his Chosen Target ability against any enemy he fires upon, not just the target of his challenge. In addition, In addition, the Caracole may declare that his first pistol shot in a round of combat is an automatic critical threat. The Caracole may use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier.
This replaces the Cavalier's Supreme Charge ability.
Well, I was hoping for a bit more feedback...
Caracole 1.1 (Fixed the issues Shadowcat pointed out)
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The Caracole loses proficiency with heavy armor and light and heavy shields, but gains proficiency with pistol firearms.
Gunsmithing (Ex): The Cavalier gains Gunsmithing at a Bonus feat at level 1.
Skirmishing Challenge (Ex): Once per day, a Caracole can use his Skirmishing Challenge ability as a swift action. When he does so, the Caracole chooses one target within sight to challenge. The Caracole’s ranged attacks with pistols deal extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of his challenge. This extra damage is equal to the Caracole’s level. The Caracole 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.
Furthermore, once per day, the Caracole may spend a use of his Skirmishing Challenge ability to double the potential extra damage of his ranged attack. Before making the attack roll, he can choose to spend a use of his challenge to deal twice his cavalier level in extra damage on a successful hit instead of just his cavalier level in extra damage. If the attack misses, the use of the challenge is wasted.
This challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious or until the combat ends. The Skirmishing Challenge gains any order benefit the Caracole has. For purposes of benefits that require that the enemy be threatened (but no other purposes) treat the enemy as threatened if they are within the first range increment of the Caracole's pistols.
However, the concentration needed to maintain a challenge leaves the Caracole extremely vulnerable to attack; he takes a -4 penalty to his armor class against any attacks of opportunity he provokes.
This replaces the Cavalier's Challenge ability.
Mounted Gunnery (Ex): At first level the Caracole gains the benefits of the Mounted Archery feat, but only when using pistols.
Wheeling Charge (Ex): At 3rd level, the Caracole has mastered the difficult maneuver that grants the class it's name. As a full round action, the Caracole's mount may make a double-move. The Cavalier may take a full attack action with his pistols at any point during his mount's movement. Traditionally this maneuver is used to quickly close into optimum pistol range and withdraw to a safe distance before the enemy can mount any response
The complexity of this maneuver leaves the Caracole extremely vulnerable to melee counter-attack. Upon performing a Wheeling Charge, the Caracole takes a -4 penalty to his armor class against any melee attacks until the end of his next turn. This penalty stacks with the penalty against attacks of opportunity from his challenge.
This replaces Cavalier's Charge
Swift Reload (Ex): At 4th level, the Caracole gains Rapid Reload (pistol) as a bonus feat. At 14th level, each time the Caracole issues a challenge, he may reload any pistols he is currently wielding as a free action. This ability replaces expert trainer.
Pistol Expertise (Ex): At 5th level, a Caracole gains impressive expertise with his pistols. The Caracole can draw his pistols as a free action as if he had the Quick Draw feat. In addition, whenever he threatens a critical hit with his pistols, he gains a +2 bonus on the confirmation roll. Finally, his Caracole levels stack with any fighter levels he possesses for the purposes of meeting the prerequisites for feats that specifically select his chosen weapon, such as Weapon Specialization.
This ability replaces the Cavalier's Banner ability
Thundering Charge (Ex): At 11th level, the force of the Caracole's wheeling charge is such that it can shake even the toughest of foes. Whenever the Caracole executes a Wheeling Charge, he may may make an intimidate check to demoralize the opponent he fired upon as a free action. In addition, the Caracole no longer takes any penalties for firing his pisols while riding on a moving mount.
This ability replaces the Cavalier's Mighty Charge ability
Chosen Target (Ex): At 12th level, the Caracole doubles the range increment of his pistols whenever he fires upon the target of his challenge.
This ability replaced Demanding Challenge
Pistol Training (Ex): At 14th level the Caracole gains the Gun Training class feature as the Gunslinger, but must select a firearm of the pistol type.
This replaces the Cavalier's Greater Banner ability.
Devastating Shot (Ex): At 20th level the Caracole gains the benefit of his Chosen Target ability against any enemy he fires upon, not just the target of his challenge. In addition, In addition, the Caracole may declare that his first pistol shot in a round of combat is an automatic critical threat. The Caracole may use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier.
This replaces the Cavalier's Supreme Charge ability.
Way too good. Gun training, specialization, and challenge, all in one class? Why would anyone play a gunslinger? Or a gun focused fighter?
Gunslinger still has Deeds, Grit, Nimble, and a lot more Gun Training over the Caracole (and isn't limited to the pistol).
Gun-focused fighters have weapon & armor training over the Caracole. Not to mention the fighter's superior versatility by virtue of having access to all types of guns and being able to put his secondary weapon training into a melee weapon.
OK ... Cavalier archetypes don't seem to get much feedback.
Does anyone else agree with Shadowcat that Gun Training + Access to focus/specialization + the Challenge is too much?