Unicorn Rider PrC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Unicorn Rider PrC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Findail
08-28-07, 02:54 PM The Unicorn Rider

Only the pure of heart can ride a Unicorn (and traditionally only a female, though the referee may waive this restriction). Among those few who are granted this privilege, it is common for a special symbiotic bond to develop between Rider and Unicorn. Those riders who follow the Unicorn Rider prestige class may gain the services of a unicorn several levels earlier than a unicorn cohort would normally be available, and will develop magical abilities similar to those of unicorns: while the unicorn itself may gain class levels like an adventurer, and its teleportation ability becomes increasingly more suited to life beyond the unicorn's home forest.

Unicorn Riders are commonly Rangers or Fighters, who frequently take mounted combat feats. It is also fairly common for spellcasters to become Unicorn Riders (if they can gain the necessary ranks in the Ride skill), despite the lack of spellcasting progression within the class: the good saving throws help the character survive adventures, and the extra power provided by the unicorn itself is considerable.

The unicorn itself is created as if it were a cohort (thus, if the referee would normally use the "elite array" for a cohort's ability scores, this is how the Unicorn's scores are generated too). Unicorns have the following racial modifiers: Strength +10, Dexterity +6, Constitution +10, Wisdom +10, Charisma +14. With 4 racial hitdice, they begin with 2 feats. The unicorn will usually not have any class levels initially: however, if the character is already higher than 10th level (the minimum for taking a unicorn cohort with the Leadership feat), each character level beyond 10th allows one class level for the unicorn. Despite being a "Magical Beast", a unicorn is considered to be Fey for purposes of determining which classes and prestige classes it may take. Note that unicorn spellcasters cannot manage the gestures required for spells with somatic components, and will require the Still Spell feat for this. They may use material components by touching them with the tip of the horn, but many will choose to take the Eschew Materials feat (they may use their initial 2 feats for this purpose).

Requirements
Race: Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Fey, Good Outsider (e.g. Aasimar, Half-Celestial).
Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Language: Sylvan.
Skill: 9 ranks in Ride.
Special: Character must seek out and befriend a unicorn.

Hit Dice and Saving Throws
Unicorn Riders have d8 Hit Dice and good Fortitude, Reflex and Will saves.

Weapons and Armour
Unicorn Riders gain no additional proficiencies with weapons or armour. Their Base Attack Bonus progresses at the same rate as that of a Rogue, 3/4 of their level.

Skills
Unicorn Riders have 4 skill points per level (plus Intelligence modifier). Their class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Jump (Str), Knowledge(nature) (Int), Knowledge(religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis).

Unicorn Rider class abilities and associated Unicorn abilities are summarised in the following table:
BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities(Rider) Abilities(Unicorn)
1. +0 +2 +2 +2 Call Unicorn (1/day), Low-Light Vision, Wild Empathy Forest Freedom
2. +1 +3 +3 +3 Detect Evil, Cure Light Wounds (1/day) Class Advancement (+1)
3. +2 +3 +3 +3 Protection From Evil, Cure Light Wounds (2/day) Class Advancement (+2), Teleport to/from Rider
4. +3 +4 +4 +4 Cure Light Wounds (3/day), Darkvision, Neutralize Poison (1/day) Class Advancement (+3)
5. +3 +4 +4 +4 Cure Moderate Wounds (1/day), Dimension Door (1/day), Unicorn Immunities Class Advancement (Rider-7), Unlocked Teleport

Class Features (Rider)
All of the following are Class Features of the Unicorn Rider prestige class.

Call Unicorn (Sp): Once per day, a Unicorn Rider may communicate with his/her Unicorn in a fashion equivalent to a Sending spell.

Low-Light Vision (Ex): Like unicorns, Unicorn Riders have low-light vision (if the character already has this as a racial ability, no further bonus is gained).

Wild Empathy (Ex): This power works like the Druid’s wild empathy class feature, with Unicorn Rider levels counting as Druid levels.

Detect Evil (Su): A 2nd level Unicorn Rider can use Detect Evil at will as a free action.

Cure Light Wounds / Cure Moderate Wounds (Sp): From 2nd level onwards, a Unicorn Rider can cure wounds, just as a unicorn can. Caster level is the character's Unicorn Rider class level.

Protection From Evil (Su): A 3rd level Unicorn Rider can generate a Protection From Evil effect at will (self only). The Rider may suppress this ability if desired.

Darkvision (Su): Unicorn Riders gain darkvision (60 ft) at 4th level (if the character already has this as a racial ability, no further bonus is gained).

Neutralize Poison (Sp): A Unicorn Rider can neutralize poison once per day at 4th level.

Dimension Door (Sp): At 5th level, a Unicorn Rider can use Dimension Door once per day, provided that he/she either begins or ends the teleportation astride his/her unicorn. Thus, the Rider may teleport from the unicorn to a nearby location, or from a nearby location to the unicorn, or teleport both Rider and Unicorn to a nearby location. Unlike the spell, the ability to take additional passengers is limited to the Rider, the unicorn, and one other person riding on the unicorn (if the unicorn itself is included). The Rider may change facing and posture during the teleport, going from a riding to a standing position or vice versa.

Unicorn Immunities (Su): Like a unicorn, a 5th level Unicorn Rider is immune to all poisons, charms and compulsions.

Class Features (Unicorn)
All of the following are abilies gained by the unicorn companion of a Unicorn Rider as the Rider gains levels.

Forest Freedom (Ex): From 1st level, the unicorn may treat any forested area (of at least 100 yards in diameter) as part of its home forest when using its Greater Teleport ability.

Class Advancement: From 2nd level, the unicorn will gain class levels (in whatever class the player selects) as the Rider gains Unicorn Rider levels. If the Rider then loses levels (e.g. as a result of being raised from the dead), the unicorn will temporarily cease advancing until the Rider catches up. If the unicorn loses levels, it will then gain them twice as fast (gaining a level when the Rider gains a level, and also when the Rider passes the halfway point in a level) until it has caught up. When the Rider reaches the 5th level of the Unicorn Rider class, the level formula for the unicorn changes: from then on, it should have as many class levels as the Rider's overall character level (including other classes, racial hitdice and level adjust) minus 7, and will advance at double-speed if necessary to reach this.

Teleport to/from Rider (Su): From 3rd level, the unicorn may treat the Rider's location as if it was a forested area, enabling it to use its teleportation ability to teleport in or out (possibly carrying the Rider when teleporting out).

Unlocked Teleport (Su): At 5th level, special restrictions on the unicorn's teleportation ability disappear entirely: it can use this under the usual rules for the Greater Teleport spell, without being restricted to forests.
The_Shaman
08-28-07, 06:44 PM Sounds a bit like the Beloved of Valarian, doesn't it? I would be more interested if it had full BAB, maybe at the expense of some of the spell-likes.
Findail
08-29-07, 05:10 PM ...Ah. Not having the BoED, I didn't know such a class already existed. But from what I can find out, that seems to be a 10-level Paladin-style class with its own limited spell-table, and is harder to qualify for (and is "exalted", which will make it unsuitable for some campaigns).

I'm not sure the class really needs full BAB, as the Unicorn itself is pretty fearsome in combat when first gained (at 7th level), and it can take full-BAB classes like Fighter or Ranger as the PC continues to advance. The unicorn in the PHB is assumed to have base ability scores in the 10-11 range, and doesn't have the benefit of Mage Armor (it's a pretty safe assumption that somebody in the party will cast this on the PC's unicorn, as it's a 1st level spell that lasts for hours). And the PC can use full-BAB classes to qualify, and continue them afterwards, so the overall "BAB shortfall" need not be more than 2 points: not a bad sacrifice to gain another combatant in the party (and the PC can still take Leadership and have a cohort too).

Does the Beloved of Valarian improve the unicorn's own abilities too?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Findail 08-28-07, 02:54 PM	The Unicorn Rider Only the pure of heart can ride a Unicorn (and traditionally only a female, though the referee may waive this restriction). Among those few who are granted this privilege, it is common for a special symbiotic bond to develop between Rider and Unicorn. Those riders who follow the Unicorn Rider prestige class may gain the services of a unicorn several levels earlier than a unicorn cohort would normally be available, and will develop magical abilities similar to those of unicorns: while the unicorn itself may gain class levels like an adventurer, and its teleportation ability becomes increasingly more suited to life beyond the unicorn's home forest. Unicorn Riders are commonly Rangers or Fighters, who frequently take mounted combat feats. It is also fairly common for spellcasters to become Unicorn Riders (if they can gain the necessary ranks in the Ride skill), despite the lack of spellcasting progression within the class: the good saving throws help the character survive adventures, and the extra power provided by the unicorn itself is considerable. The unicorn itself is created as if it were a cohort (thus, if the referee would normally use the "elite array" for a cohort's ability scores, this is how the Unicorn's scores are generated too). Unicorns have the following racial modifiers: Strength +10, Dexterity +6, Constitution +10, Wisdom +10, Charisma +14. With 4 racial hitdice, they begin with 2 feats. The unicorn will usually not have any class levels initially: however, if the character is already higher than 10th level (the minimum for taking a unicorn cohort with the Leadership feat), each character level beyond 10th allows one class level for the unicorn. Despite being a "Magical Beast", a unicorn is considered to be Fey for purposes of determining which classes and prestige classes it may take. Note that unicorn spellcasters cannot manage the gestures required for spells with somatic components, and will require the Still Spell feat for this. They may use material components by touching them with the tip of the horn, but many will choose to take the Eschew Materials feat (they may use their initial 2 feats for this purpose). Requirements Race: Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Fey, Good Outsider (e.g. Aasimar, Half-Celestial). Alignment: Chaotic Good. Language: Sylvan. Skill: 9 ranks in Ride. Special: Character must seek out and befriend a unicorn. Hit Dice and Saving Throws Unicorn Riders have d8 Hit Dice and good Fortitude, Reflex and Will saves. Weapons and Armour Unicorn Riders gain no additional proficiencies with weapons or armour. Their Base Attack Bonus progresses at the same rate as that of a Rogue, 3/4 of their level. Skills Unicorn Riders have 4 skill points per level (plus Intelligence modifier). Their class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Jump (Str), Knowledge(nature) (Int), Knowledge(religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis). Unicorn Rider class abilities and associated Unicorn abilities are summarised in the following table: BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities(Rider) Abilities(Unicorn) 1. +0 +2 +2 +2 Call Unicorn (1/day), Low-Light Vision, Wild Empathy Forest Freedom 2. +1 +3 +3 +3 Detect Evil, Cure Light Wounds (1/day) Class Advancement (+1) 3. +2 +3 +3 +3 Protection From Evil, Cure Light Wounds (2/day) Class Advancement (+2), Teleport to/from Rider 4. +3 +4 +4 +4 Cure Light Wounds (3/day), Darkvision, Neutralize Poison (1/day) Class Advancement (+3) 5. +3 +4 +4 +4 Cure Moderate Wounds (1/day), Dimension Door (1/day), Unicorn Immunities Class Advancement (Rider-7), Unlocked Teleport Class Features (Rider) All of the following are Class Features of the Unicorn Rider prestige class. Call Unicorn (Sp): Once per day, a Unicorn Rider may communicate with his/her Unicorn in a fashion equivalent to a Sending spell. Low-Light Vision (Ex): Like unicorns, Unicorn Riders have low-light vision (if the character already has this as a racial ability, no further bonus is gained). Wild Empathy (Ex): This power works like the Druid’s wild empathy class feature, with Unicorn Rider levels counting as Druid levels. Detect Evil (Su): A 2nd level Unicorn Rider can use Detect Evil at will as a free action. Cure Light Wounds / Cure Moderate Wounds (Sp): From 2nd level onwards, a Unicorn Rider can cure wounds, just as a unicorn can. Caster level is the character's Unicorn Rider class level. Protection From Evil (Su): A 3rd level Unicorn Rider can generate a Protection From Evil effect at will (self only). The Rider may suppress this ability if desired. Darkvision (Su): Unicorn Riders gain darkvision (60 ft) at 4th level (if the character already has this as a racial ability, no further bonus is gained). Neutralize Poison (Sp): A Unicorn Rider can neutralize poison once per day at 4th level. Dimension Door (Sp): At 5th level, a Unicorn Rider can use Dimension Door once per day, provided that he/she either begins or ends the teleportation astride his/her unicorn. Thus, the Rider may teleport from the unicorn to a nearby location, or from a nearby location to the unicorn, or teleport both Rider and Unicorn to a nearby location. Unlike the spell, the ability to take additional passengers is limited to the Rider, the unicorn, and one other person riding on the unicorn (if the unicorn itself is included). The Rider may change facing and posture during the teleport, going from a riding to a standing position or vice versa. Unicorn Immunities (Su): Like a unicorn, a 5th level Unicorn Rider is immune to all poisons, charms and compulsions. Class Features (Unicorn) All of the following are abilies gained by the unicorn companion of a Unicorn Rider as the Rider gains levels. Forest Freedom (Ex): From 1st level, the unicorn may treat any forested area (of at least 100 yards in diameter) as part of its home forest when using its Greater Teleport ability. Class Advancement: From 2nd level, the unicorn will gain class levels (in whatever class the player selects) as the Rider gains Unicorn Rider levels. If the Rider then loses levels (e.g. as a result of being raised from the dead), the unicorn will temporarily cease advancing until the Rider catches up. If the unicorn loses levels, it will then gain them twice as fast (gaining a level when the Rider gains a level, and also when the Rider passes the halfway point in a level) until it has caught up. When the Rider reaches the 5th level of the Unicorn Rider class, the level formula for the unicorn changes: from then on, it should have as many class levels as the Rider's overall character level (including other classes, racial hitdice and level adjust) minus 7, and will advance at double-speed if necessary to reach this. Teleport to/from Rider (Su): From 3rd level, the unicorn may treat the Rider's location as if it was a forested area, enabling it to use its teleportation ability to teleport in or out (possibly carrying the Rider when teleporting out). Unlocked Teleport (Su): At 5th level, special restrictions on the unicorn's teleportation ability disappear entirely: it can use this under the usual rules for the Greater Teleport spell, without being restricted to forests.
The_Shaman 08-28-07, 06:44 PM	Sounds a bit like the Beloved of Valarian, doesn't it? I would be more interested if it had full BAB, maybe at the expense of some of the spell-likes.
Findail 08-29-07, 05:10 PM	...Ah. Not having the BoED, I didn't know such a class already existed. But from what I can find out, that seems to be a 10-level Paladin-style class with its own limited spell-table, and is harder to qualify for (and is "exalted", which will make it unsuitable for some campaigns). I'm not sure the class really needs full BAB, as the Unicorn itself is pretty fearsome in combat when first gained (at 7th level), and it can take full-BAB classes like Fighter or Ranger as the PC continues to advance. The unicorn in the PHB is assumed to have base ability scores in the 10-11 range, and doesn't have the benefit of Mage Armor (it's a pretty safe assumption that somebody in the party will cast this on the PC's unicorn, as it's a 1st level spell that lasts for hours). And the PC can use full-BAB classes to qualify, and continue them afterwards, so the overall "BAB shortfall" need not be more than 2 points: not a bad sacrifice to gain another combatant in the party (and the PC can still take Leadership and have a cohort too). Does the Beloved of Valarian improve the unicorn's own abilities too?