Monster Knight (Apath)

	Unofficial rules compendium
	Contents 1 Background; 2 Class Information 2.1 Class Skills; ; 3 Class Features 3.1 Weapon and Armor Proficiency; 3.2 Challenge; 3.3 Eidolon Mount; 3.4 Strong Fortitude Save; 3.5 Focused Charge (Ex); 3.6 Armor Training (Ex); 3.7 Monster Tactics (Ex); 3.8 Mascot (Ex); 3.9 Mighty Charge (Ex); 3.10 Greater Mascot (Ex); 3.11 Supreme Charge (Ex); ; 4 Table: Monster Knight; 5 Summary of Changed Class Abilities;
	Contents 1 Background; 2 Class Information 2.1 Class Skills; ; 3 Class Features 3.1 Weapon and Armor Proficiency; 3.2 Challenge; 3.3 Eidolon Mount; 3.4 Strong Fortitude Save; 3.5 Focused Charge (Ex); 3.6 Armor Training (Ex); 3.7 Monster Tactics (Ex); 3.8 Mascot (Ex); 3.9 Mighty Charge (Ex); 3.10 Greater Mascot (Ex); 3.11 Supreme Charge (Ex); ; 4 Table: Monster Knight; 5 Summary of Changed Class Abilities;

A monster knight combines the fighting ability of the cavalier with the eidolon of a summoner.

Background

A monster knight is a martial character that has a pact with a powerful supernatural creature, called an eidolon mount. The monster knight and his eidolon makes a perfect fighting team, each complimenting the abilities of the other. The pact between them is at the core of their lives, and is often the result of a momentous event or heritage. Some eidolon mounts have been longstanding allies of the summoner's family for generations, for others the bond happened at birth, because of an astrological conjunction, or a chance meeting. The monster knight is not a mage. Besides the bond to the eidolon mount, the monster knight has little magic; no spells and few supernatural abilities. Rather than arcane students, summoners-at-arms are warriors touched by magic.

Class Information

This is a summoner archetype with many of the traits of a cavalier.

Publisher: Everyman Gaming.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Skills

Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int ), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Knowledge (Planes) (Int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill points per level: 4 + Int mod

Class Features

The monster knight has all the summoner's class features, except as noted.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Summoners-at-arms are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all armor (heavy, light, and medium) and with shields (except tower shields).

Challenge

Once per day, a monster knight can challenge a foe to combat. As a swift action, the monster knight chooses one target within sight to challenge. The monster knight’s melee attacks deal extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of his challenge. This extra damage is equal to the monster knight’s level. The monster knight 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. A monster knight also gains a +1 attack bonus on attacks on a challenged target. This attack bonus increases by one at level seven and every 6 levels thereafter (+2 at level 7, +3 at level 13, and +4 at level 19). The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious or until the combat ends. This replaces summon monster.

Eidolon Mount

A monster knight begins play with the services of a powerful creature called an eidolon mount. The eidolon mount formed a pact with the monster knight for reasons that need not be entirely clear. This is the same as the summoner's eidolon ability except as noted here. The eidolon mount gains the mount evolution as a bonus evolution at first level. The eidolon mount of a first level monster knight can buy the large evolution (to Large size) at a cost of 3 evolution points. After level 1, the cost reverts to normal. Unlike normal eidolons, eidolon mounts heal naturally over time, and do so even when not summoned. The eidolon mount must have the quadruped or serpentine base form. (If using Everyman Unchained: Eidolons, the eidolon mount's base form can be aquatic, avian, quadruped, serpentine, or tauric.) Whatever the eidolon mount's subtype is, it can always choose a quadruped base form (bite, limbs [legs, 2]). A monster knight riding his eidolon mount ignores any armor check penalty to the Ride skill. This is a modification of the eidolon ability.

**Native Eidolon Mounts**
Some summoners-at-arms have a pact with a monster that is not extra-dimensional but instead native to the same plane as the summoner. The monster knight can take the monster ally archetype, even tough both archetypes modify the eidolon ability.

Strong Fortitude Save

The monster knight has a fortitude save in the good category, with the same base save bonus as his Will save.

Focused Charge (Ex)

At 3rd level, a monster knight learns to make focused mounted charge attacks. The monster knight receives a +4 bonus on melee attack rolls on a mounted charge (instead of the normal +2). In addition, the monster knight does not suffer any penalty to his AC after making a charge attack while mounted. If the monster knight is mounted, his mount also gains these benefits. This replaces shield ally.

Armor Training (Ex)

At 5th level, the monster knight's speed is not reduced while wearing medium armor. The armor check penalty of any armor worn by the monster knight is reduced by 1, and the maximum Dexterity bonus to Armor Class is increased by one.

Monster Tactics (Ex)

At level 8, the eidolon mount gains any tactical feats the monster knight learns as bonus feats, ignoring all prerequisites. The monster knight gains a tactical feat he fulfills the prerequisites for as a bonus feat at level 8, 12, and 17. This replaces transposition, greater shield ally, and gate.

Mascot (Ex)

At 9th level, the monster knight's eidolon mount becomes a symbol of inspiration. As long as the eidolon mount is clearly visible, all allies within 60 feet receive a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear and a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls made as part of a charge.

Mighty Charge (Ex)

At 11th level, a monster knight learns to make devastating charge attacks when mounted. Double the threat range of any weapons wielded during a mounted charge. This increase does not stack with other effects that increase the threat range of the weapon. In addition, when changing while mounted, the monster knight can make a free bull rush, disarm, sunder, or trip combat maneuver if his charge attack is successful. This free combat maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Greater Mascot (Ex)

At 15th level, the monster knight’s eidolon mount becomes a rallying call. All allies within 60 feet who can see the eidolon mount receive a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and compulsion spells and effects. In addition, while his eidolon mount is visible, the eidolon mount can spend a standard action in a display of bravery, granting all allies 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. An ally cannot benefit from this ability more than once per day. This replaces merge forms.

Supreme Charge (Ex)

At 20th level, whenever the monster knight makes a charge attack while mounted, he deals double the normal amount of damage (triple if using a lance). In addition, if the monster knight confirms a critical hit on a charge attack while mounted, the target is stunned for 1d4 rounds. A Will save reduces this to staggered for 1d4 rounds. The DC is equal to 10 + the monster knight’s base attack bonus. This replaces twin eidolon.

Table: Monster Knight

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Challenge +1, eidolon mount, life link
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Bond senses
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Focused charge
4th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Challenge 2/day
5th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Armor training
6th	+4	+5	+2	+5	Maker's call
7th	+5	+5	+2	+5	Challenge +2 3/day
8th	+6/+1	+6	+2	+6	Monster tactics
9th	+6/+1	+6	+3	+6	Mascot
10th	+7/+2	+7	+3	+7	Aspect, challenge 4/day
11th	+8/+3	+7	+3	+7	Mighty charge
12th	+9/+4	+8	+4	+8	Monster tactics feat
13th	+9/+4	+8	+4	+8	Challenge +3 5/day
14th	+10/+5	+9	+4	+9	Life bond
15th	+11/+6/+1	+9	+5	+9	Greater mascot
16th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10	Challenge 6/day
17th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+10	Monster tactics feat
18th	+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+11	Greater aspect
19th	+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+11	Challenge +4 7/day
20th	+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+12	Supreme charge

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

Skills
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Spells
Cantrips
Summon Monster
Shield Ally
Transposition
Greater Shield Ally
Merge Forms
Gate
Twin Eidolon

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