Pack Master (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

The master of hounds is not a full cavalier and not admitted to a cavalier order, but is a useful and valued ally.

This is a reworking of Hound Master by Cody Coffelt. His writeup is excellent, this is merely a polish.

Class Abilities

This archetype has all normal class abilities, except as noted.

War Hound (Ex)

At 1st level, a hound master gains the service of a loyal war hound to aid him in battle. This hound functions as a druid’s animal companion, using the cavalier’s level as his effective druid level. The creature has the same game stats as a wolf.

The war hound is always considered combat trained and begins play with Light Armor Proficiency as a bonus feat. A hound master’s hound does not gain the share spells special ability. These hounds are not suitable for riding and cannot be trained to carry riders. The war hound can choose teamwork feats when selecting feats gained from additional Hit Die.

A hound master’s bond is strong and if the war hound dies, the cavalier may find another hound to serve him after 1 week of mourning. This new hound does not gain the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities until the next time the cavalier gains a level.

Any cavalier class ability (including order abilities) that normally requires the cavalier to be mounted, can be performed on foot and within 30 ft. of a war hound.

This ability replaces mount.

Armor Training (Ex)

A master of hounds needs to be swift on foot and can move at his normal speed while wearing medium armor. At 8th level, a master of hounds can move at his normal speed while wearing heavy armor, and his war hounds gain proficiency in medium armor and can move at full speed wearing medium armor. At 15th level, his war hounds gain proficiency and the ability to move at full speed in heavy armor.

Starting at 2nd level, a foot knight and his war hounds learn to be more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever the master or his hounds is wearing armor, the the armor check penalty is reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 0) and the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor is increased by 1. Every five levels thereafter (7th, 12th, and 17th), these bonuses increase by +1 each time, to a maximum –4 reduction of the armor check penalty and a +4 increase of the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed.

This replaces the order abilities cavaliers get at level 1, 2, 8, and 15. A Master of Hounds does not belong to a cavalier order and gains neither benefits or edicts.

Pack Tactics (Ex)

At 3rd level, a hound master learns greater coordination with his war hound. When a war hound attacks a target of the cavalier's challenge, it gets a +4 attack bonus. This includes CMB checks such as trip attacks. This ability replaces cavalier’s charge.

Expert Handler (Ex)

Upon reaching 4th level, the hound master has the option to take on a second war hound. All the war hounds of one master hounds have identical game statistics. At level 12 and 20, the master of hounds may take on an additional war hound. A master of hounds with 2 or more war hounds reduces his effective druid level for the war hound ability by one per war hound he has; two war hounds reduce the level by 2, three war hounds reduce the level by three and so on. This ability replaces expert trainer.

Go For the Throat (Ex)

At 11th level, a hound master has perfected fighting beside his animals. When a war hound attacks a target of the cavalier's challenge, it gets a +4 damage bonus. This ability replaces mighty charge.

Kill Command (Ex)

At 20th level, the hound master may issue a kill command. This is a swift action that grants all hounds an attack of opportunity on the target of the master of hounds' challenge target. A creature cannot be the target of this ability more than once per day. This ability replaces supreme charge.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

• Mount
• Cavalier's Charge
• Expert Trainer
• Mighty Charge
• Supreme Charge