When I played 3.5, I had a love for the knight class and I know I wasn't the only one who enjoyed their unique challenge ability.In Pathfinder, I see the Cavalier base class get ignored for some reason. Looking at the class, I couldn't see much wrong with it except for one thing- the orders.Two deal with royalty, one deals with faith, one is self-serving, another is selfless, and the last one is a defender of the people. All a bunch of opposing sides of a similar coin. So instead of doing a class rewrite, I worked on adding a new order. I will be working on more orders to create for the class as the concept strikes me. This is my first custom addition, so if anyone could give some feedback it would be greatly appreciated.
Order of the Hunt
Cavaliers who join the order the hunt are guardians of nature, and are a sword arm against those who would dare to defile her beauty. Given their connection to the wildlife, druids tend to accept these warriors as kin through a shared cause, allowing them to learn their secret language and granting them abilities to aid them in their campaign. Cavaliers of this order are as much an avenger as they are a defender and investigator, riding to the aid of such an under-appreciated resource.
- Speak with nature (Ex): At 2nd level, an order of the hunt cavalier may use speak with animals as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 1+Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).
- Nature’s avenger (Ex): At 8th level, an order the hunt cavalier can no longer sustain the anger he feels towards the cruelty the growing world has towards nature, granting a +1 circumstance bonus to attack rolls, damage, and AC against targets the cavalier has witnessed abusing nature. This bonus increases an additional +1 if the target is also challenged by the cavalier.
- Nature’s investigator (Ex): At 15th level, an order of the hunt cavalier may use detect alignment as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 1+Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). The cavalier must roll a sense motive when using this ability at a DC equal to 10+ target level+ target’s Charisma modifier. If successful, the cavalier can see if the target has befouled nature in any way or intends to instead of seeing their alignment. If unsuccessful, the cavalier simply sees the targets alignment.
There are a couple questions I have about it, to make sure I'm not breaking any framework.
- Is the order too powerful or not strong enough in comparison with the ones already published?
- Is it alright for the members of this order to have druidic as a language, due to their bond with nature?
It came to my attention that "abuse of nature" is a bit too vague. I'll come up with specifics that outline what is definitely considered a misuse or perversion of nature.
So far, I've got hunting purely for sport, Raising/controlling undead, beating an animal when it poses no threat, burning down forests, and harming harmless fey.
Naturally, the DM can say "This creature is a perversion of nature," or a something similar to that effect to let the cavalier know that he should act upon it. The player can take time to outline what his character deems to be a misuse of nature, of course.