[Bc]Strider [PEACH](3.5)

[Psionic Dog]

The lovely people over here suggested that with modern creep the Horizon Walker PrC would make an excellent base class. Since I have a pressing need to procrastinate on my final exam studding I thought I'd go ahead and take a stab at writing it up. Rather than get creative I just stretched out the existing Horizon Walker and filled the gaps with Ranger stuff and named it 'Strider.' So... comments?

Strider
Hit Die d8

The Strider’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft(Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (planes) Int, Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Use Rope (Dex)

Skill Points: 4 + int

{table] Level | BaB | Saves | Special
1st: | +1 | +2/+0/+0 | 1st Favored Enemy, Track
2nd: | +2 | +3/+0/+0 | Terrain Mastery, Combat Style
3rd: | +3 | +3/+1/+1 | Endurance, Wild Empathy
4th: | +4 | +4/+1/+1 | Terrain Mastery
5th: | +5 | +4/+1/+1 | Animal Companion
6th: | +6/+1 | +5/+2/+2 | Terrain Mastery,
7th: | +7/+2 | +5/+2/+2 | Improved Combat Style, 2nd Favored Enemy
8th: | +8/+3 | +6/+2/+2 | Terrain Mastery, Woodland Stride
9th: | +9/+4 | +6/+3/+3 | Swift Tracker
10th: | +10/+5 | +7/+3/+3 | Terrain Mastery
11th: | +11/+6/+1 | +7/+3/+3 | Combat Style Mastery
12th: | +12/+7/+2 | +8/+4/+4 | Planar Terrain Mastery,
13th: | +13/+8/+3 | +8/+4/+4 | Camouflage, 3rd Favored Enemy
14th: | +14/+9/+4 | +9/+4/+4 | Planar Terrain Mastery
15th: | +15/+10/+5 | +9/+5/+5 | Planar Empathy, Planar Companion
16th: | +16/11/6/1 | +10/+5/+5 | Planar Terrain Mastery
17th: | +17/12/7/2 | +10/+5/+5 | Hide in Plain Sight
18th: | +18/13/8/3 | +11/+6/+6 | Planar Terrain Mastery
19th: | +19/14/9/4 | +11/+6/+6 | 4th Favored Enemy
20th: | +20/15/10/5 | +12/+6/+6 | Planar Terrain Mastery, Timeless Body[/Table]

Favored Enemy
As the Ranger entry. A Strider gains a Favored Enemy at 1st level, and an additional favored enemy every 6 levels.

Track
A strider gains Track as a bonus feat at 1st level.

Terrain Master and Planar Terrain Master
Every even level the Strider may take one Horizon Walker Terrain Master ability. Starting at 12th level the Strider may take a Planar Terrain Mastery instead. See the Horizon Walker class for a list of possible Terrains.

Combat Style (ex)
Again, as a Ranger, only Improved Combat Style comes one level later for the Strider.

Endurance
At third level the Strider gains Endurance as a bonus feat.

Wild Empathy (ex)
A Strider gains Wild Empathy as a Ranger 2 levels lower.

Animal Companion (ex)
At 5th level a Strider gains an animal companion as Druid of 1/2 the Strider's level. If the Strider already has an animal companion the add 1/2 the Strider's level to the effective druid level for determining animal companion features.

Woodland Stride (ex)
At 8th level a Strider gains Woodland Stride. See your local Players Handbook for details.

Swift Tracker (ex)
At 9th level a Strider gains Swift Tracker a Ranger.

Camouflage
A Strider of 13th level or hider can use the hide skill in any natural terrain for which he has terrain mastery even if the terrain does not normally grant cover or concealment.

Planar Empathy
At 15th level a strider may make Wild Empathy checks on magical beasts with the celestial or fiendish subtype that have an Int of 3 or lower.

Planar Companion
By subtracting one from their effective druid level, a strider may have a celestial or fiendish animal companion at 15th level.

Hide in Plain Sight
At 17th level whenever a Strider is in a non-urban area that he or she has terrain (or planar) mastery of, a Strider may use the hide skill even while being observed.

Timeless Body
Upon attaining 20th level a Strider no longer takes penalties for aging. Bonus still accrue, and the Strider may still die of old age.

[Person_Man]

IMO, the Horizon Walker's Terrain Mastery would be useful from ECL 1-5, and that it's Planar Terrain Mastery would be useful from 6-10. Darkvision and a bunch of modest Skill bonuses can be purchased with cheap magic items by ECL 6, and Dimension Door and Tremorsense and whatnot can easily be purchased with magic items by level 10. Strider spaces the powers out too far, basically trading Ranger spellcasting for Terrain powers. So it really has nothing going for it.

So my opinion is that you should just make the Horzon Walker a base class from levels 1-10 as written (with Track and maybe some Skill feats) and think of new class features for levels 11-20. I'll read through my Planar Handbook and see if I can think of anything tomorrow.

[SilentNight]

Perhaps granting combat styles based on terrain? As cliche as it is I can see something like increased speed and fire damage for fire terrain mastery. Maybe something better when I'm more awake.