Desert Rider Class

Desert Riders represent the classic Arabian warriors: well-trained, mounted fighters sweeping out of the barren wastes. They are the romantic heroes of a nomadic people, living their lives and fighting their wars from the saddle. Desert Riders are primarily horsemen, but some are more adept at riding camels. At higher circles, some begin to ride fantastic beasts like rocs of griffins, though this is rare.

Role: Opinions on the nature of Desert Riders vary according to whom you ask. To the nomadic tribes, Desert Riders are heroes, exemplifying the traditions of the desert: bravery, honesty, and freedom. To the small towns that are sometimes targets of raids, the riders are little more than wandering thieves and haughty looters, who sweep into civilized lands for raids, then "turn tail" and disappear into the desert to avoid pursuit. Both opinions are partly right. There are indeed good and lawful Desert Riders who exemplify the positive values of the desert. And there are evil men and women who live up to the villainy portrayed the townsfolk. But the true nature of the group lies somewhere between those two poles.

In turn, Desert Riders tend to view city-dwellers as impoverished cousins, unaware that the greatest riches are those of the soul, not knowing that such rewards can only be found in the freedom of the desert. Good Desert Riders tend to demonstrate the inherent superiority of their life (which accounts for the haughty attitude perceived by the townsfolk). Evil Desert Riders see the towns and villages as mere supply houses for needed material.

The Desert Riders are not bound to land and property, save for their most important possessions, their mounts. A Desert Rider only grudgingly parts with his or her steed more than a day, and then only if it is left with others who might appreciate its quality - that is, other Desert Riders, or individuals who both appreciate the value of the steed and who can he trusted to take care of it until the owner returns. At higher levels, the mount may be released to roam free. Desert Riders do sell their mounts on occasion, especially horses that have grown old. Even then, buyers are chosen carefully.

Equipment: Desert Riders may wear any type of armor, but the restrictions of their native terrain usually forbid them to wear anything heavier than chain mail. A shield is also common, along with sword and spear.

Each Desert Rider begins the campaign already owning a horse or camel. Provided a rider can pay the difference in price, he or she may "trade up" to a war horse.

Restrictions: Desert Riders are humans, elves, jann, goblins and orks. In fact, entire tribes of desert warriors are elves or orks. Goblin wolf riders form tribes in forest and hill country. Dwarves are not Desert Riders; as a rule, they do not adjust well to life in the saddle. Ogres are by far to heavy for horses, though a tribe of ox or elephant riding ogres could be a terror indeed.

Hit Die: d10
Base Attack Increment: As Fighter
Saving Throws : Fortitude (Good), Reflex (Poor), Will (Good)
• Class Skills: Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Wilderness Lore (Wis).
• Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the desert rider class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Desert riders are proficient with all simple weapons and martial weapons as well as light and medium armor and with shields.

Special Mount: The desert rider has the paladin's special mount ability as a paladin of equal level, see the PH, p 43. The desert rider gains this ability at first level, and has some abilities that are unique for the desert rider, but otherwise gains abilities at the same rate a paladin does.

It is an unfortunate fact that mounts die in battle. When a desert rider's mount dies, is sold, stolen or given away, he can replace it with any mount whose upbringing he has taken part in, with a training period of but one week. If such a mount is unavailable, the training period is one month. A special mount away from it's owner loses all special properties in one week.

A desert rider that already has the special mount ability from another class (paladin), adds his level in that class to his level as a desert rider to gauge the abilities of his special mount, but not to his ability with mounted combat.

Share Saving Throws: At first level, the desert rider and his mount can share each others Saving Throws, using the best Saving throw modifier in each category. This works only while the desert rider is within 5' of his mount. Only one Saving throw is made for attacks that could harm both horse and rider. This also enables the desert rider to share the mount's improves evasion and spell resistance abilities at higher levels, and to use Mounted combat to negate attacks directed at himself or his mount.

Mounted Combat: The desert rider learns the Mounted Combat feat at second level. This feat is also somewhat improved (see the share saving throws ability, above). If the desert rider already knows this feat, another feat from the fighter bonus feats list can be substituted.

Bonus Feats: Like a fighter, the desert rider gets bonus feats, but only one feat for every four full levels. These are chosen from the same selection as the fighter uses. See PH, p 37, for more on this. Desert riders tend to concentrate on feats they can use in the saddle.

Improved Mounted Combat: You can now try to negate an increasing number of hits each round, using the same rules as noted for Mounted Combat, above.