Pack Master (Apath)

	Unofficial rules compendium
	Contents 1 Class Abilities 1.1 War Beast (Ex); 1.2 Armor Training (Ex); 1.3 Pack Tactics (Ex); 1.4 Expert Handler (Ex); 1.5 Pack Master (Ex); 1.6 Go For the Throat (Ex); 1.7 Pack Lord (Ex); 1.8 Kill Command (Ex); ; 2 Summary of Changed Class Abilities;
	Contents 1 Class Abilities 1.1 War Beast (Ex); 1.2 Armor Training (Ex); 1.3 Pack Tactics (Ex); 1.4 Expert Handler (Ex); 1.5 Pack Master (Ex); 1.6 Go For the Throat (Ex); 1.7 Pack Lord (Ex); 1.8 Kill Command (Ex); ; 2 Summary of Changed Class Abilities;

The pack master is not admitted to a cavalier order, but he and his pack are a useful and valued allies.

This is a development of the Hound master by Cody Coffelt.

Class Abilities

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

War Beast (Ex)

At 1st level, a pack master gains the service of a loyal war beast to aid him in battle. This beast functions as a druid’s animal companion, using the pack master’s level as his effective druid level.

The pack master can pick any Small or Medium animal companion commonly available in the area as his war beast. The war beast never grows to more than Medium size, which may force the pack master to take the option to increase the animal companions Strength and Dexterity by +2 each. . A pack master’s beast does not gain the share spells special ability. These beasts are not suitable for riding and cannot be trained to carry riders.

The war beast is always considered combat trained and begins play with Light Armor Proficiency as a bonus featThe war beast can choose teamwork feats when selecting feats gained from additional Hit Die.

If a war beast dies, the pack master may replace it after 1 week of training with a replacement animal.

This ability replaces mount.

Armor Training (Ex)

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

Starting at 2nd level, a pack master and his war beasts learn to be more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever the master or his beasts 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 Pack master does not belong to a cavalier order and gains neither benefits or edicts.

Pack Tactics (Ex)

At 3rd level, a pack master learns greater coordination with his war beast. When a war beast attacks a target of the pack master'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)

At 4th level, a pack master learns to train animals with speed and unsurpassed expertise. The pack master receives a bonus equal to 1/2 his cavalier level whenever he uses Handle Animal on an animal. In addition, he can reduce the time needed to teach an animal a new trick or train an animal for a general purpose to 1 day per 1 week required by increasing the DC by +5. He can also train more than one animal at once, although each animal after the first adds +2 to the DC. This replaces expert trainer.

Pack Master (Ex)

Upon reaching 5th level, the pack master has the option to take on a second war beast. All the war beasts of one master beasts have identical game statistics. Every 5 levels, the pack master may take on an additional war beast to a maximum of 5 war beasts at level 20. A pack master with 2 or more war beasts reduces his effective druid level for the war beast ability by one per war beast he has; two war beasts reduce the level by 2, three war beasts reduce the level by three and so on. This ability replaces banner.

Go For the Throat (Ex)

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

Pack Lord (Ex)

At 14th level, the pack master becomes a rallying point for his war beasts. All his war beasts within 60 feet receive a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects. In addition, the pack master can spend a standard action to grant all his war beasts within 60 feet an additional saving throw against any one spell or effect that is targeting them. This save is made at the original DC. Spells and effects that do not allow saving throws are unaffected by this ability. This replaces greater banner.

Kill Command (Ex)

At 20th level, the pack master may issue a kill command. This is a swift action that grants all beasts an attack of opportunity on a target of the pack master' challenge. 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
Order
Cavalier's Charge
Expert Trainer
Banner
Mighty Charge
Greater Banner
Supreme Charge