Falconer Knight (3.5e Alternate Class Feature)

Author: Leziad (talk) Date Created: 17th March 2025 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Falconer Knight

While most cavaliers train relentlessly with their mount in order to become fearsome warriors, the falconer knight trains with a trusty bird of prey. While still powerful warriors, the falconer knight is usually trained to be a vanguard scout or a hunter of monsters, rather than a mounted combatant. The bond between a falconer knight and her raptor is very strong, and they learn how to rely on one another.

Class: Cavalier

Level: 1st-20th

Replaces: Mount, Cavalier’s Charge, Expert Trainer (Altered), Banner, Mighty Charge, Greater Banner, Supreme Charge

Benefit: A falconer knight gains the following class features:

Class Skill: A falconer knight adds Knowledge (Local), Knowledge (Geography), Perception and Survival to her list of class skills. If her order would add Survival to her class skill, she instead adds Knowledge (Nature).

Raptor Companion (Ex): At 1st level, a falconer gains a bird animal companion. This functions as a druid’s animal companion, using the cavalier’s level as her effective druid level. The raptor companion is always considered combat trained. A falconer knight's raptor does not gain the share spells special ability. The falconer knight cannot teach her raptor the work trick, but can teach it either the roam or distract trick for free. Whichever trick the falconer knight does not pick then can be picked as a trick later. At 6th level, a falconer can direct her raptor companion to strike an enemy from high above. Her raptor companion gains the following trick as a bonus trick.

Roam (DC 15): The falconer knight can let her animal companion loose to roam and forage. She must let it roam for no more than a week. When the falconer lets it roam, it agrees to return to the place he let it loose within the time periods he designates.

Distract (DC 20; bird only): The animal companion flutters wildly around any enemy it would normally attack with the attack trick. It makes an attack roll against that enemy. On a hit, the enemy is shaken for 1 round.

Swooping Charge (DC 20; bird): The falconer’s bird companion flies up and then swoops down into a charge. To perform this trick, the companion must be able to fly, and it must be outdoors or someplace with enough room for the bird to fly great distances in (a grand cathedral may have enough room, but dungeons usually do not). It spends a full-round action flying to a high vantage point, and on the next round makes a charge attack upon an enemy the falconer designates. If that charge attack hits, the bird deals 2d4 points of damage instead of 1d4 with its talon and gains a ×4 critical modifier when making the attack. If the bird hits, the target is staggered for 1 round.

A falconer’s bond with her raptor is strong, with the pair learning to anticipate each other’s moods and moves. Should a falconer's raptor die, the falconer knight may find another mount to serve him after 1 week of mourning.

Falconer's Tactics (Ex): At 3rd level, the falconer knight automatically grants her teamwork feats to her raptor companion. The companion doesn’t need to meet the prerequisites of these teamwork feats.

This ability replaces cavalier's charge.

Avian Expert (Ex): The bonus to handle animal from Expert Trainer at 4th level only applies to avian animals. However the falconer knight gains the Master of Falconry feat as a bonus feat.

This ability alters Expert Trainer.

Armor Training (Ex): At 5th level, a falconer knight gains the fighter's armor training class feature, using her cavalier level –2 as her effective fighter level for this class feature.

This ability replaces banner and greater banner.

Blood Talons (Ex): At 11th level, the falconer knight’s raptor companion is capable of inflicting terrible wounds with its talons. The falconer knight’s raptor companion gains rend (2 talons, 2d4 +2d4 bleed). From now on, it may select Rending Fury as a feat.

This ability replaces mighty charge.

Unbreakable Bond (Ex): At 20th level, the bond between the falconer knight and her raptor companion is nothing short of legendary. While the falconer knight is alive, her raptor familiar is immune to fear, charm and compulsion effects and gains a morale bonus on attack roll and saving throws equal to the falconer knight’s Charisma bonus.

This ability replaces supreme charge.

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