Owl Knight (PrC)

[Fiery Diamond]

So, I came up with this idea about six months ago and wrote it out. I recently went back and revised it. It was originally crafted as a PrC for Rangers, maybe Druids, but I have a player in my campaign who has a Fighter/Cleric multiclass character, and this class fits conceptually for him. So, here it is - the Owl Knight.

Owl Knight

The mounted archer who feels at one with the air, far closer to nature than those who ride on horseback, the Owl Knight swoops across battlefields, raining arrows on his foes. His affinity for his Giant Owl mount goes beyond that of master and servant; the two become lifelong friends. The Owl Knight once sought out this companion, raised him, and trained him to accompany the fighter in battle. Most Owl Knights are nature-lovers, while some are simply dedicated animal specialists. Thus, Rangers often feel most suited to become Owl Knights, as does the occasional Druid archer, but Fighters also sometimes follow this path. Owl Knights are rarely evil, as the Owls are have an innate tendency to good.

Hit die: d8

Requirements
Base Attack: +6
Skills: Ride 8 ranks, Handle Animal 8 ranks
Languages: Sylvan
Feats: Any two archery-related feats (or class abilities giving such feat benefits)
Special: Rear and train a Giant Owl

Class Skills
The Owl Knight’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis)
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier

Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Owl Knight is proficient with all bows and with light armor.
Animal Companion: If the Owl Knight has levels in Druid or Ranger, his animal companion continues to advance as if he had gained levels in his previous class.
Spellcasting: If the Owl Knight has levels in a divine spellcasting class, he gains new spells per day as if he had gained levels in his previous class. If he has more than one divine spellcasting class, he chooses which to advance at each level.
Owl Ally: For as long as the Owl Knight maintains a positive relationship with his Owl, that Owl gains certain bonuses, as described in the following table:
{table]Owl Knight Level|Bonus d10 HD|Natural Armor Adj.|Str/Dex Adj.|Special
1-3|+0|+2|+1|Empathic link, Share spells, Hover
4-6|+2|+4|+2|Improved evasion, Improved speed
7-9|+4|+6|+3|Improved maneuverability
10|+6|+8|+4|Spell resistance 20+[/table]

Empathic Link: As in PHB page 45
Share Spells: As in PHB page 45
Hover: As in MM, page 304
Improved Evasion: As in PHB, page 45
Improved Speed: As in PHB, page 45
Improved Maneuverability: The Owl’s maneuverability changes from average to good.
Spell Resistance: The Owl gains spell resistance 20, gaining an additional point of spell resistance for each class level gained after tenth.
Aerial Archery: At every odd-numbered level, the Owl Knight chooses a bonus feat relating to archery that he has the prerequisites for. For the sake of this ability, the Ranger’s combat style can be used to fulfill prerequisites.
Skyshot: At 10th level, the Owl Knight gains the Skyshot ability once per day. While flying at least 100 feet above your target, make a bow attack at your full base attack bonus as a full round action. If the attack hits, add ½ your Owl Knight level dice (of the same kind as the bow normally uses) to the damage roll. This attack bypasses all damage reduction.

Table: The Owl Knight

{table]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells per Day
1st|+1|+0|+2|+2|Owl Ally, Animal Companion, Aerial Archery|+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
2nd|+2|+0|+3|+3| |+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
3rd|+3|+1|+3|+3|Aerial Archery|+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
4th|+4|+1|+4|+4| |+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
5th|+5|+1|+4|+4|Aerial Archery|+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
6th|+6|+2|+5|+5| |+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
7th|+7|+2|+5|+5|Aerial Archery|+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
8th|+8|+2|+6|+6| |+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
9th|+9|+3|+6|+6|Aerial Archery|+1 level of current divine spellcasting class
10th|+10|+3|+7|+7|Skyshot|+1 level of current divine spellcasting class[/table]

I'm not sure at all about my capstone; actually, I think it's pretty crappy. I'd love suggestions for a better capstone.

So, I want to know what you people think about this. Please respond in one of four ways:
1. Well balanced
2. Too weak (and suggestions for improvement)
3. Too strong (and suggestions for improvement)
4. Good concept + 1, 2, or 3

-Fiery Diamond

[AstralFire]

General Comment: GIANT OWLS ROCK.


Animal Companion: If the Owl Knight has levels in Druid or Ranger, his animal companion continues to advance as if he had gained levels in his previous class.
Spellcasting: If the Owl Knight has levels in a divine spellcasting class, he gains new spells per day as if he had gained levels in his previous class. If he has more than one divine spellcasting class, he chooses which to advance at each level.
Owl Ally: For as long as the Owl Knight maintains a positive relationship with his Owl, that Owl gains certain bonuses, as described in the following table:

What I would do instead, personally, is this:

Bonded Companion: If the Owl Knight's Giant Owl is his Animal Companion, Familiar or a Special Mount, the Owl Knight adds his Owl Knight levels to those levels to determine the Giant Owl's features. Additionally, any classes that previously granted a partial Animal Companion, Familiar or Special Mount progression instead grant a full progression with regard to Giant Owls.

If the Owl Knight's Giant Owl is not an Animal Companion, Familiar, or Special Mount, his Giant Owl instead gains the following benefits:

I would change saves to High Reflex and Will. You don't stand and fight much as a mounted archery (Fortitude) and the classes that can enter it already come in with a good Fort.

Skyshot... is pretty bad, honestly, as are the bonus feats (especially putting one at first level - that's begging for a dip). Try to go for more unique stuff and less fighter variation.

What I would love to see is a Mount-Related PrC that eventually gave the mount itself some pretty darn cool powers. In the meantime, I suggest looking at Halfling Outrider (Complete Warrior) and the Falling Star Homebrew (http://www.dotradical.net/jaerc/tob10c_fs.pdf) discipline for some interesting ideas. I'd say more, but I really need my sleep soon.

Love the idea, though.

[Fiery Diamond]

Ok, changed the saves. I think you are right about that.

I don't really have access to much outside of core, so my homebrews are mainly meant to fit in with a core-only or mostly-core setting. Of course, this makes it difficult to find interesting things for new ideas. The link to Falling Star is pretty helpful -- who came up with that? I definitely am going to peruse it later and base my capstone after one of the more powerful ones there.

Yes, Giant Owls rock. That's why I decided to make this PrC. :smallbiggrin:

As far as feats go, the biggest limitation on coming up with different ideas is that I have to pull them completely out of my head if they aren't core, because I don't have access to other books. Which stinks. Mightily. Although, as far as dipping the PrC - well, people dip fighter. Because they are strange. I generally don't play with minmaxers or ultra-powergamers, so I don't usually look at things from the perspective of dipping classes. I figure, if you're gonna take a PrC, take it till the end. Obviously, not everyone thinks that way, but...

Regarding the animal companion and Owl - the Owl can't have been the animal companion: they're magical beasts, not animals. They could be familiars (that would be very weird) or special mounts, though, so I guess that makes sense. Do you think it's overpowered to allow the animal companion and the Owl to progress? I'm guessing that's why you gave that suggestion, but I'm not sure. 'Cause I don't really know whether it's overpowered or not.

Thanks very much for your insights, and I hope for more good feedback.

-Fiery Diamond

[AstralFire]

Ok, changed the saves. I think you are right about that.

I don't really have access to much outside of core, so my homebrews are mainly meant to fit in with a core-only or mostly-core setting. Of course, this makes it difficult to find interesting things for new ideas. The link to Falling Star is pretty helpful -- who came up with that? I definitely am going to peruse it later and base my capstone after one of the more powerful ones there.

Several people on the WotC boards came up with it. It's a little limited on the whole, I think, since they were afraid of stepping on toes with the normal Book of 9 Swords disciplines, but it's a good guide to start coming up with cool stuff.


Yes, Giant Owls rock. That's why I decided to make this PrC. :smallbiggrin:

Totally agreed, Giant Owl is my most commonly used mount. My Kobold Mounted Archer is using a Phoera instead, but only because they're a size category smaller and firebirds are hard to find.


As far as feats go, the biggest limitation on coming up with different ideas is that I have to pull them completely out of my head if they aren't core, because I don't have access to other books. Which stinks. Mightily.

When I'm not sleep-and-drive-addled, I'll try and help you out with that.


Regarding the animal companion and Owl - the Owl can't have been the animal companion: they're magical beasts, not animals. They could be familiars (that would be very weird) or special mounts, though, so I guess that makes sense. Do you think it's overpowered to allow the animal companion and the Owl to progress? I'm guessing that's why you gave that suggestion, but I'm not sure. 'Cause I don't really know whether it's overpowered or not.

There are a variety of ways, feats included, to gain Magical Beasts as Animal Companions, much as you can get odd Familiars. (Interestingly, Paladins appear to be the only ones who don't get much in the way of restrictions for their mount - perhaps because it *has* to be ridable.) I don't know if there's anything specifically allowing the Giant Owl, but I would not be surprised, and it seems like good forethought to me.

It's not really a matter of being overpowered so much as simplification, I feel. Less mundane book-keeping.

I will reiterate I think it'd be really cool if the *mount* got some nifty (Ex) and (Su) abilities to aid you.