Horse Whisperer (Summoner)
While we often draw inspiration from other forms of media for our design ideas, rarely do we look to something as implausible as owning a horse in virtually any video game you’ve ever played. Frankly, it just stretches my belief a little much to be able to insta-call your horse (whom you never have to feed or stable) from anywhere, mount up, and go horse riding. However, when I got to thinking about it, there is at least one class that is great at instantly summoning creatures from basically nowhere to do their bidding. I am, of course, talking about the summoner, and this week I have crafted a summoner archetype to reflect the ludicrous nature of video game horse ownership, bringing some of that magic to the table.
New Summoner Archetype
Horse Whisperer
Horse whisperers share a sacred bond with a mighty steed, which they can call from anywhere to serve them, channeling their magical energies into a powerful sign or song. This bond greatly strengthens both the horse whisperer and the steed itself, making the duo a powerful threat on any battlefield.
Steed (Sp): At 1st level, the horse whisperer gains the service of a powerful steed. This steed functions as an animal companion, as the druid class feature, with the following exceptions. The steed must be a heavy horse, light horse, or pony; it does not need to sleep or eat; and it gains the extraplanar subtype. The horse whisperer treats his summoner level as his druid level for the purposes of the abilities of his steed.
The steed is extraplanar in origin and can be summoned from its home plane or dismissed back to its home plane by the horse whisperer. When summoned, the steed always appears in a space adjacent to the horse whisperer, or in the nearest unoccupied space. At 6th level, the horse whisperer can summon his steed in his own space, mounting it as a free action as part of summoning the steed, although there must be enough otherwise unoccupied space around the horse whisperer to allow for the summoned steed.
At 1st level, summoning or dismissing the steed requires a full-round action. At 5th level, this becomes a standard action. At 10th level, it becomes a move action. At 15th level, the horse whisperer can summon or dismiss his steed as a swift action. The steed is subject to dismissal and similar effects, as normal, and if it is dismissed against his will, the horse whisperer must succeed on a caster level check (DC = 10 + the caster level of the banishing effect) in order to summon his steed for the next 24 hours.
If reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, the steed automatically returns to its home plane and cannot be summoned again for 24 hours. In order to summon a steed that has been slain, the summoner must offer a sacrifice of 50 gp worth of rare incense per class level, which must be burned as part of summoning the steed.
This ability replaces the eidolon class feature.
Mounted Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a horse whisperer gains Mounted Combat as a bonus feat. Additionally, the horse whisper can use Mounted Combat to negate damage to his steed twice per round, and an additional time per round at 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter.
This ability replaces the life link class feature.
Summon Monster I (Sp): At 1st level, the horse whisperer gains the summon monster ability, as normal, except that he cannot summon additional creatures while his steed is summoned.
This ability modifies the summon monster class feature.
Extra Senses (Ex): At 2nd level, the horse whisperer’s steed’s senses are enhanced. The horse whisperer chooses one of the following special senses, which his steed gains permanently.
Darkvision: The steed gains darkvision to a range of 60 feet.
Enhanced Perception: The steed gains a bonus on Perception checks equal to 1/2 the horse whisperer’s level.
Blindsense: The steed gains blindsense to a range of 10 feet.
As a standard action, while mounted on his steed, the horse whisperer can gain the special sense of his steed for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier.
This ability replaces the bond senses class feature.
Speak with Master (Su): At 3rd level, a horse whisperer can communicate with his steed. The steed’s Intelligence score is increased to 6, and the steed is considered a magical beast (do not recalculate Hit Dice attack bonus, skill points, saving throws, etc.) and can communicate with the horse whisperer though not with other characters. At 5th level, and every 2 levels thereafter, the steed’s Intelligence is increased by a further +1.
Mounted Defense (Su): At 4th level, the horse whisperer and his steed’s close bond protects them from harm. As long as the horse whisperer is mounted on his steed, both the horse whisperer and the steed gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC.
This ability replaces the shield ally class feature.
Improved Speed (Ex): At 6th level, a horse whisperer’s mount moves at incredible speeds. The steed’s base movement speed is increased by +20 feet. Additionally, at 12th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, all the steed’s movement speeds are increased by +10 feet.
This ability replaces the maker’s call class feature.
Energy Hooves (Su): At 8th level, a horse whisperer can infuse his steed with mystical energy. Whenever the horse whisperer summons his steed, he chooses acid, cold, fire, or electricity. His steed’s hoof attacks deal an additional 1d6 points of damage of the chosen energy type. The steed continues to deal this additional damage until it returns to its home plane. Additionally, the steed’s hoof attacks count as primary natural attacks, rather than secondary natural attacks.
This ability replaces the transposition class feature.
Storm Charge (Ex): At 10th level, whenever a horse whisperer uses the charge action while mounted on his steed, his steed can make a full attack as part of the charge. Additionally, while making a charge attack while mounted on his steed, both the horse whisperer and the steed gain a +4 dodge bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity.
This ability replaces the aspect class feature.
Improved Movement (Su): At 12th level, the horse whisperer’s steed can move in ways no ordinary horse ever could. The horse whisperer chooses one of the following special abilities for his steed; once selected, the choice is permanent and cannot be changed later.
Flight: The steed gains a fly speed of 20 feet with good maneuverability.
Freedom: The steed gains the benefits of freedom of movement.
Swim: The steed gains a swim speed of 40 feet. Additionally, while the horse whisperer is mounted on his steed, both the horse whisperer and the steed can breathe water as easily as air, and the steed’s natural attacks never suffer a penalty due to being underwater.
This ability replaces the greater shield ally class feature.
Saving Grace (Su): At 14th level, the horse whisperer’s bond allows him to save his steed from harm. Whenever either the horse whisperer or his steed fails a saving throw, as an immediate action the other can attempt the saving throw and use the new result in place of the original roll. This ability only works if the horse whisperer and the steed are within arm’s reach of each other.
This ability replaces the life bond class feature.
Spirit Horse (Su): At 16th level, the horse whisperer can draw on his mighty steed’s power to save himself from harm. As a full-round action, if he is mounted on his steed, the horse whisper can enshroud himself and his steed in mystical energy. While affected by this effect, both the horse whisperer and the steed gain the incorporeal subtype and a fly speed of 100 feet with perfect maneuverability. Once initiated, this ability functions until the horse whisperer dismounts from his steed. The horse whisperer can use this ability for a number of rounds each day equal to his summoner level.
This ability replaces the merge forms class feature.
Thunder Hooves (Su): At 18th level, the hooves of the horse whisperer’s steed become supercharged with elemental energy. His horse’s hooves deal an additional 1d6 points of sonic damage on a successful hit.
This ability replaces the greater aspect class feature.
As One (Su): At 20th level, so long as he is mounted on his steed, both the horse whisperer and his steed can take an additional standard action each turn.
This ability replaces the twin eidolon class feature.