Commander (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

The officer takes responsibility for his followers and strives for the glory and honor of the group.

The officer is a defensive Cavalier archetype focused on group tactics and tight formations rather than on an aggressive charge. The officer is a front-line fighter, but also a support character somewhat similar to the cleric or paladin in defensive abilities.

The abilities of the officer may trouble some player's suspension of disbelief, but remember that the time scale in Pathfinder is arbitrary and hit points can be a question of morale.

Class Abilities

The officer has all the cavalier's class abilities, except as noted.

Advanced Tactician (Ex)

This works like the cavalier's tactician ability, except that allies must be within 30 ft. + 5 ft./5 levels, and that the officer can share all tactical feats he knows - both those gained from the tactician ability and those gained from other sources, such as regular feat picks. The officer can still only share one tactical feat this way.

Inspiring Leadership (Ex)

Once per day, an officer can use inspiring leadership on nearby allies. This is a standard action that does not trigger attacks of opportunity, or a free action taken during a round in which the officer charges an enemy. The officer exhorts himself and his comrades to fight with renewed vigor and determination. This affects the officer and any allies within 30 ft. Targets must be able to see or hear the officer. A creature thus inspired gains 1 bonus Hit Dice (d10s), the commensurate number of temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these bonus Hit Dice), and a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls, damage, and armor class. The bonus Hit Dice count as regular Hit Dice for determining the effect of spells that are Hit Dice dependent. Inspiring leadership is a mind-affecting emotion effect and lasts for 1 minute per class level.

The officer 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. (This is as many times as a regular chevalier can use challenge.) Bonuses from multiple uses do not stack, but temporary hit points overlap; use the better value if you gain temporary hit points from several different sources, including multiple uses of Inspiring Leadership.

At level 5, and each 5 levels thereafter, inspiring leadership improves. The radius increases by 5 ft. and the bonus increases, giving one extra hit dice and increasing the attack, damage, and armor class bonus by one each.

This ability replaces the Challenge ability.

Officer's Orders (Ex)

The officer can spend a Standard Action to give an order to an ally (excluding the officer himself) within 150 ft. that can hear the officer. The targeted ally can take a full round's worth of actions, just as if his turn had come up. This does not affect the target's or officer's initiative. The target of officer's orders cannot benefit from this ability again until two rounds have elapsed.

This replaces the order ability.

Steadfast Leadership

At 2nd level, the officer can use inspiring leadership as a move action.

Officer's Charge (Ex)

At 3rd level, the officer and anyone affected by the officer's inspiring leadership ability does not take a penalty to armor class when charging. This replaces the Cavalier's Charge ability.

Rousing Leadership (Ex)

At 8th level, inspiring leadership gives the ability to throw off lasting effects. Anyone who is under a lasting condition that initially allowed a saving throw to negate or reduce the effect gains a new saving throw against that ability when an officer of 8th level or higher uses inspiring leadership on them. This additional saving throw gains a morale bonus equal to the officer's Charisma modifier. If this saving throw succeeds, it has the same effect as if the initial saving throw was a success. To benefit from this, the target has to be able to perceive the officer - this is no help to dead creatures.

Surging Charge (Ex)

At 11th level, when the officer makes a charge, allies under that officer's inspiring leadership ability can take an immediate action to charge. Each of them can choose a separate target for their charge.

This replaces the Mighty Charge ability.

Battle Leadership (Ex)

At 12th level, the officer can use inspiring leadership as a swift action.

This replaces the Demanding Challenge ability.

Battle Banner (Ex)

At 14th level, the officer’s banner becomes a rallying point for his allies. The saving throw bonus offered by the banner now applies to all saving throws. In addition, while his banner is displayed, the officer can spend a standard action to wave the banner through the air, which gives an additional use of inspiring leadership that does not count against daily limits.

Frightening Leadership (Ex)

At 15th level, when using the inspiring leadership ability, any enemies within 10 ft. of the officer must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ the officer's level + the officers Charisma modifier) or be frightened for one round. If the officer uses inspiring leadership as a part of a charge, the distance is measured at the end of the charge. This is a mind-affecting fear effect.

A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.

This replaces the order ability gained at level 15.

Supreme Orders (Ex)

Once per day at level 20, the officer can use officer's orders as a swift action to affect all allies (including himself) within 30 ft. This replaces the Supreme Charge ability.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:

• Challenge
• Tactician
• Order
• Cavalier's Charge
• Greater Banner
• Demanding Challenge
• Supreme Charge