Chariot Air Assault
The thunder of hooves grows louder. Dozens of chariots race toward the shield wall, wheels grinding furrows in the earth. The men raise their pikes, bracing against the charge. Just as the men tense for impact, the chariots swing away sharply and unleash a hail of arrows.
In the age of the chariot, the chariot proved to be an effective platform for launching missile attacks. The charioteers in the Battle of Kadesh, perhaps the most famous battle involving chariots, utilized the bow as their primary weapon. Targeting infantry units at a distance could decimate enemy lines. In a pinch, the charioteer could dismount, engage the enemy and then retreat to their chariot and move on.
Chariot Archer (Ranger Archetype)
The chariot archer is an archetype of the ranger class.
Mount (Ex)
The chariot archer gains mount, as per the cavalier class. Instead of a single mount, the chariot archer pilots a chariot driven by two mounts. For the purpose of choosing feats and the expert trainer ability, the companions are considered to have, and benefit from, the same feats and tricks. The mounts only function in combat is driving the chariot. Instead, the chariot provides a combat platform for the chariot archer. While on a chariot, the penalty a chariot archer suffers when using a bow while mounted is reduced by 2.
This ability replaces track.
Ride-by Attack (Ex)
The chariot archer receives Ride-by Attack as a bonus feat. For the purpose of combat, ranger abilities, and all mounted feats, the chariot archer is considered mounted when driving a chariot.
This ability replaces wild empathy.
Chariot Archer Style (Ex)
At 2nd level, a chariot archer must select the chariot archer combat style.
This modifies the ranger’s combat style feat class feature.
Thundering Hail
At 3rd level, the chariot archer gains the ability to make a a full attack with a bow when performing a ride by attack while mounted on a chariot. The chariot archer can use thundering hail a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Wisdom modifier. When attacking with thundering hail, the chariot archer suffers a -2 penalty to attacks and damage rolls.
At 8th level, the chariot archer suffers no penalties to attack and damage rolls when using thundering hail.
At 13th level, the chariot archer gains +2 to attack and damage rolls when using thundering hail.
At 18th level, the chariot archer gains +4 to attack and damage rolls when using thundering hail.
This ability replaces favored terrain
Expert Trainer (Ex)
At 4th level, a chariot archer learns to train mounts with speed and unsurpassed expertise. The chariot archer receives a bonus equal to 1/2 his ranger level whenever he uses Handle Animal on an animal that serves as a mount. In addition, he can reduce the time needed to teach a mount a new trick or train a mount for a general purpose to 1 day per 1 week required by increasing the DC by +5. He can also train more than one mount at once, although each mount after the first adds +2 to the DC.
This ability replaces hunter’s bond.
Expert Driver (Ex)
At 7th level, the chariot archer may ignore difficult terrain in one type of terrain listed in the ranger’s favored terrain when driving a chariot.
At 12th level, the chariot archer selects second terrain type for his expert driver skill.
Expert driver replaces woodland stride and camouflage.
Evasive Charge (EX)
At 8th level, when mounted on a chariot, the chariot archer may choose to take a –2 penalty on ranged attack rolls made with a bow to gain a +2 dodge bonus to his armor class.
While performing a ride by attack with a bow or a thundering hail, the chariot archer may choose to take a –4 penalty on ranged attack rolls to gain a +4 dodge bonus to his armor class.
Chariot Archer Style
Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Weapon Focus (bow) and Trick Riding.
At 6th level, he adds Improved Mounted Archery and Wheeling Charge to the list.
At 10th level, he adds Mounted Skirmisher and Weapon Specialization (bow) to the list.
Chariot Marksman (Fighter Archetype)
The chariot marksman is an archetype of the fighter class.
Mount (Ex)
The chariot marksman gains mount, as per the cavalier class. Instead of a single mount, the chariot marksman pilots a chariot driven by two mounts. For the purpose of choosing feats and the expert trainer ability, the companions are considered to have, and benefit from, the same feats and tricks. The mounts only function in combat is driving the chariot. Instead, the chariot provides a combat platform for the chariot marksman. While on a chariot, the penalty a chariot marksman suffers when using a ranged/thrown weapon while mounted is reduced by 2.
This ability replaces 1st level bonus feat.
Expert Trainer (Ex)
At 4th level, a chariot marksman learns to train mounts with speed and unsurpassed expertise. The chariot marksman receives a bonus equal to 1/2 his ranger level whenever he uses Handle Animal on an animal purpose to 1 day per 1 week required by increasing the DC by +5. He can also train more than one mount at once, although each mount after the first adds +2 to the DC.
This ability replaces 4th level bonus feat.
Mobile Marksman (Ex)
At 5th level, a chariot marksman gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with all ranged attacks made while mounted on a chariot. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 5th.
This ability replaces weapon training 1.
Dismounted Marksman (Ex)
At 9th level, the chariot marksman chooses one ranged/thrown weapon for which he has weapon focus. He receives the mobile marksman bonus on ranged attack and damage rolls with that weapon when not mounted.
This ability replaces weapon training 2.
Reckless Barrage (Ex)
At 13th level, when mounted on a chariot, the chariot marksman may choose to take a –2 penalty on Armor Class to gain +2 bonus to attack rolls and +1 on damage rolls made with ranged/thrown attacks.
At 17th level, when mounted on a chariot, the chariot marksman may choose to take a –4 penalty on Armor Class to gain +4 bonus to attack rolls and +2 on damage rolls made with ranged/thrown attacks.
This ability replaces weapon training 3 and weapon training 4.
