Even the smallest among us can summon up great courage and leap into battle on the mightiest of all steeds, large dogs and war ponies. They are very good at riding defensively and keeping themselves and their trusted steed alive, their dexterity due to their small size is unrivaled as they can charge nimbly even over more difficult terrain, keeping their movement unimpeded and able to make very quick turns in addition to this. They become experts at mounted combat even able to stand on their mounts while fighting.

Role: DPS

Characteristics: Small, agile, mounted warriors that are incredible at movement

Source: Complete Warrior

Game Rule Information

The Halfling Outrider has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Dexterity is paramount for being an expert outrider. Strength for dealing damage with your weaponry, Constitution for keeping yourself alive and taking damage for some of your mount

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d8

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Halfling Outrider's class skills are Handle Animal (Cha), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), and Wilderness Lore (Wis)

Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Halfling Outrider.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Halfling Outrider is proficient with whatever they were already proficient with prior to taking levels in this class.

AC Bonus Ex: A halfling outrider gains a dodge bonus to the character’s Armor Class when she is mounted. This benefit is lost in any situation in which the character would lose her Dexterity bonus to Armor Class.

Mount: A halfling outrider gains a mount appropriate to the resources of her halfling community. Most halfling communities attempt to provide an out rider with a riding dog or a warpony. A halfling outrider may, of course, choose to find and train or purchase a more exotic mount. Standard tack and harness is also provided, though, again, the character may wish to purchase masterwork or magic gear.

Halfling outrider class levels stack with paladin, druid, and ranger levels for determining the characteristics of a paladin’s mount or an animal companion.

Alertness: A halfling outrider gains Alertness as a bonus feat.

Ride Bonus: A halfling outrider gains a competence bonus equal to her class level on all Ride checks.

Defensive Riding Ex: A halfling outrider of 2nd level or higher knows the tricks of defensive riding. If she does nothing else while mounted (she cannot attack when riding defensively), she gains a +2 bonus on Reflex saves and a +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class. In addition, her mount gains a +20 ft. bonus to its speed, a +2 bonus on all Will saves, and a +4 dodge bonus to its Armor Class.

Unbroken Charge Ex: At 3rd level and higher, a mounted halfling outrider can charge through difficult terrain or squares occupied by friendly creatures by making a DC 15 Ride check.

Stand on Mount Ex: At 4th level, a mounted halfling outrider becomes able to stand on her mount’s back even during movement or combat, taking no penalties to actions while doing so, by making a DC 20 Ride check. While standing on her mount’s back, a halfling outrider does not take any penalty for using a ranged weapon while her mount is taking a double move or running (see the Mounted Archery feat description)

Leap from the Saddle Ex: A halfling outrider of 5th level or higher can dismount and land adjacent to her mount as a free action by making a DC 20 Ride check. If an opponent is in a square she threatens (after dismounting), she can make a melee attack against that opponent, taking a +2 bonus on the attack roll and a –2 penalty to Armor Class (just as if the character were making a charge). This ability is usable only if the mount is moving no faster than twice its speed.

Evasion Ex: At 7th level, a halfling outrider gains the evasion ability. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the halfling outrider is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless halfling outrider (such as one who is unconscious or paralyzed) does not gain the benefit of the ability.

While the halfling outrider is mounted, she confers this ability to her mount as well, and the mount is able to use the halfling outrider’s Reflex save bonus or its own, whichever is higher.

If the character already has the evasion ability, she gains improved evasion instead, and her mount still receives the benefit of evasion as described above. Improved evasion works like evasion, except that while the character still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw, she takes only half damage on a failed save.

Full Mounted Attack Ex: At 8th level and higher, a halfling outrider may make a full attack when her mount moves more than 5 feet but no more than a single move action. The character cannot combine this full attack with a charge action.

Quick Turn Ex: A 10th-level halfling outrider can make a DC 25 Ride check as a free action to force her mount to execute one change of direction during while running or charging (though the mount must still move at least 10 feet in a straight line after the turn to execute a charge). The turn may be up to 90 degrees, and the mount may make only one such turn per round. If the Ride check fails, the mount moves an extra 10 feet in a straight line and then loses the rest of its actions on this turn.