Horses as mounts are so passe. Instead, what about riding a shark into battle and mowing through foes with a trident? Now that, that is something most people can get behind. Obviously this class is very setting dependent as if you don't have an open ocean with you or a river or other suitable body of water, unless your mount is amphibious (You'll have to run that by the DM) your class features probably won't be used very often. You do get some neat abilities like improved mounted combat abilities, ease of jumping out of the water like a flying fish and increased movement speed for your aquatic steed.

Role: DPS

Characteristics: Wavehopping mounted warriors patrolling the open seas.

Source: Savage Species

Game Rule Information

The Waverider has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Dexterity is needed for your Ride checks, Strength for dealing big damage, and Constiution for staying alive and keeping your mount alive.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d10

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Waverider's class skills are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Profession (any) (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), and Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Waverider.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Waverider is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor and all shields

Waverider Mount Ex: A waverider can call a special aquatic mount to serve her. This may be a hippocampus (see sidebar), sea lion, shark, porpoise, elasmosaurus, or whale. This creature is stronger and more intelligent than others of its type. A waverider may have only one mount at a time. If the mount is slain, the waverider can call another one after a year and a day.

Mounted Weapon Bonus Ex: At each level, a waverider gains the indicated bonus on her attack roll with the designated weapon while mounted.

Trident Charge Ex: A waverider can use a trident to deal double damage when used from the back of a charging mount. The Spirited Charge feat can be used to increase the damage multiple to triple normal.

Ride Bonus Ex: At 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level, a waverider gains the indicated bonus on Ride checks.

Breach Ex: On reaching 3rd level, a mounted waverider can make a leaping charge to attack opponents out of the water. The mount makes a Jump check using its own ranks in the skill or the waverider's, whichever is better, to make a "running" high jump as part of a charge, with a maximum height distance of twice its length. If it contacts an opponent during the jump, the waverider gains the normal +2 bonus on her attack roll. At the end of the jump, waverider and mount are once again submerged and thus do not take the —2 penalty to Armor Class against opponents out of the water (those underwater are still able to take advantage of the waverider's being temporarily off balance). A waverider cannot use this ability in two consecutive rounds.

Depth Charge Ex: On reaching 4th level, a waverider can dive at high speed as part of a charge when attacking opponents underwater. The mount makes a Jump check using its own ranks in the skill or the waverider's, whichever is better, to make a "running" long jump as part of a charge, with a maximum distance of six times its length. If it contacts an opponent during the dive, the waverider gains a +4 bonus on her attack roll and increases the damage multiplier with her mounted weapon one more step (double to triple, triple to quadruple) but takes a —4 penalty to Armor Class for the next round. A waverider cannot use this ability in two consecutive rounds.

Improved Mounted Archery Ex: At 5th level, a waverider is better able to use a crossbow, harpoon, javelin, trident, or shortspear while mounted. When making ranged attacks with any of these weapons while mounted, she takes only a —1 penalty on ranged attacks if the mount is making a double move, and —2 if the mount is running.

Full Mounted Attack Ex: At 6th level, a waverider may attack as a standard action when its mount moves more than 5 feet rather than as a partial action.

Skim Ex: On reaching 7th level, a mounted waverider can make more effective charges against opponents out of the water, skimming over the surface like a flying fish. The mount makes a Jump check using its own ranks in the skill or the waverider's, whichever is better, to make a "running" long jump as part of a charge, with a maximum distance of four times its length, and a "running" high jump with a max- imum vertical distance of twice its length. (Use the same roll to determine both height and length.) If it contacts an opponent during the jump, the waverider gains the normal +2 bonus on its attack roll. At the end of the jump, waverider and mount are once again submerged and thus do not take the —2 penalty to Armor Class against opponents out of the water (those underwater are still able to take advantage of the waverider's being temporarily off balance). A waverider cannot use this ability in two consecutive rounds.

Superior Mounted Archery Ex: At 8th level, a waverider takes no penalties when making ranged attacks with a crossbow, harpoon, javelin, trident, or shortspear while mounted.

Wavedancing Ex: On reaching 9th level, a mounted waverider can maneuver very effectively out of the water. Rider and mount can move up to four times the mount's swim speed out of water and can make charges, including Ride-By Attacks if the waverider has this feat (normal charge rules apply). In addition, she can now use her breach, sound, and skim abilities in consecutive rounds.

Call of the Deep Su: At 10th level, a waverider can summon one or more water elementals once per day, as with a Planar Ally spell.