CthulhuM
2007-11-17, 12:28 AM
Ever seen a fantasy movie, or read a fantasy novel, where the plucky protagonist climbs onto the back of a hulking monster and plunges his sword into it, bringing it down even as it flails about, trying desperately to crush him against the walls or fling him away?
If you've ever seen any fantasy movies, or read any fantasy novels, chances are you have, because it happens all the damn time. Why, then, is your only option in DnD to just stand in front of the giant monster, repeatedly poking it in the foot with your sword? No more I say!
Climb Aboard
You have perfected a dangerous, but highly effective, combat maneuver for use against larger foes.
Prerequisite: Climb 5 ranks, base attack bonus +3
Benefit: While adjacent to a corporeal enemy at least two size categories larger than you, you may take a standard action to attempt to activate this feat.
First, you provoke an attack of opportunity from the target creature (against which you have a +4 dodge bonus to AC). If the attack hits, your action is wasted. If it misses, you may then proceed to make a climb check (DC = 10 + target creature’s base attack bonus + 4 for each size category larger than you the creature is).
If you succeed on this climb check, you climb onto the creature’s back (or another hard-to-reach part of its body). You enter the creature’s space, much as if you had successfully grappled it. You are not considered to be grappling the creature, though you may be affected by abilities triggered by contact with the creature (such as a remorhaz’s heat ability). While you remain on the creature, it is considered to grant you improved cover (+8 AC, +4 to reflex saves) versus its own attacks, and normal cover (+4 AC, +2 to reflex saves) versus the attacks of other creatures. Additionally, the creature is considered flatfooted versus any attacks you make against it, you gain a +4 bonus on attack rolls to hit the creature, and any attack the creature makes against you provokes an attack of opportunity from you.
While using this feat, you must use 1 hand to hold on to the creature you are riding, and cannot use this hand for anything else while you remain on it. Also, you may not attack any creatures other than the one you are riding. You may cast spells, but doing so requires a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level).
A creature you are riding may take a full round action to attempt to throw you off. It makes an attack roll opposed by your climb check. If the creature beats you, you are thrown off of its back, and land prone in an adjacent space of its choosing (possibly taking falling damage if the creature is in the air, or manages to throw you off a cliff).
Alternative, the creature may take a full round action to attempt to crush you against a nearby wall or ceiling. It makes a single attack roll with a +8 bonus, opposed by your climb check. If it succeeds, it slams you against the nearest surface, dealing twice its strength bonus plus (1d8 for medium, 1d10 for large, 2d8 for huge, 3d8 for gargantuan, 4d8 for colossal) bludgeoning damage to you.
Special: A fighter may select Climb Aboard as one of his bonus feats.
Improved Climb Aboard
Your have had more experience mounting creatures against their will than is probably healthy.
Prerequisite: Climb Aboard, climb 12 ranks, base attack bonus +6
Benefit: You no longer provoke an attack of opportunity when activating the climb aboard feat, and you gain a +4 bonus on climb checks made in conjunction with the feat.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Climb Aboard as one of his bonus feats.
If you've ever seen any fantasy movies, or read any fantasy novels, chances are you have, because it happens all the damn time. Why, then, is your only option in DnD to just stand in front of the giant monster, repeatedly poking it in the foot with your sword? No more I say!
Climb Aboard
You have perfected a dangerous, but highly effective, combat maneuver for use against larger foes.
Prerequisite: Climb 5 ranks, base attack bonus +3
Benefit: While adjacent to a corporeal enemy at least two size categories larger than you, you may take a standard action to attempt to activate this feat.
First, you provoke an attack of opportunity from the target creature (against which you have a +4 dodge bonus to AC). If the attack hits, your action is wasted. If it misses, you may then proceed to make a climb check (DC = 10 + target creature’s base attack bonus + 4 for each size category larger than you the creature is).
If you succeed on this climb check, you climb onto the creature’s back (or another hard-to-reach part of its body). You enter the creature’s space, much as if you had successfully grappled it. You are not considered to be grappling the creature, though you may be affected by abilities triggered by contact with the creature (such as a remorhaz’s heat ability). While you remain on the creature, it is considered to grant you improved cover (+8 AC, +4 to reflex saves) versus its own attacks, and normal cover (+4 AC, +2 to reflex saves) versus the attacks of other creatures. Additionally, the creature is considered flatfooted versus any attacks you make against it, you gain a +4 bonus on attack rolls to hit the creature, and any attack the creature makes against you provokes an attack of opportunity from you.
While using this feat, you must use 1 hand to hold on to the creature you are riding, and cannot use this hand for anything else while you remain on it. Also, you may not attack any creatures other than the one you are riding. You may cast spells, but doing so requires a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level).
A creature you are riding may take a full round action to attempt to throw you off. It makes an attack roll opposed by your climb check. If the creature beats you, you are thrown off of its back, and land prone in an adjacent space of its choosing (possibly taking falling damage if the creature is in the air, or manages to throw you off a cliff).
Alternative, the creature may take a full round action to attempt to crush you against a nearby wall or ceiling. It makes a single attack roll with a +8 bonus, opposed by your climb check. If it succeeds, it slams you against the nearest surface, dealing twice its strength bonus plus (1d8 for medium, 1d10 for large, 2d8 for huge, 3d8 for gargantuan, 4d8 for colossal) bludgeoning damage to you.
Special: A fighter may select Climb Aboard as one of his bonus feats.
Improved Climb Aboard
Your have had more experience mounting creatures against their will than is probably healthy.
Prerequisite: Climb Aboard, climb 12 ranks, base attack bonus +6
Benefit: You no longer provoke an attack of opportunity when activating the climb aboard feat, and you gain a +4 bonus on climb checks made in conjunction with the feat.
Special: A fighter may select Improved Climb Aboard as one of his bonus feats.