Spider Rider (3.5e Prestige Class)

Spider Rider
"&ldquo;Look! There is a spider rider leading the left flank&rdquo;, Orethyl pointed as he thought to his spider.

&ldquo;Yes&rdquo;, thought his monstrous spider Aranai back to him, &ldquo;We should engage with caution.&rdquo;

Aranai began to crawl forward - accelerating into a scuttle - breaking into a run faster than the mightiest warhorse. Catching his foe in the flank, Aranai speared the enemy spider on Orethyl&rsquo;s lance. The lance shattered as shards and splinters flew through the air, even as Orethyl leaped at his foe, drawing his blade to finish the job...

The war would be won, whatever the cost.."

Spiders are sacred. A bond with a spider is the ultimate gift - such is the teaching of the spider riders. Both Lolth and Arachne gift their greatest followers with spider-bonds. A follower is given a monstrous spider egg, and when it hatches, the new spider rider is bonded mentally, physically and spiritually to their spider. But the spider riders are divided: half of them worship Lolth, the other half Lolth&rsquo;s sister - Arachne. This results in a war, a war that will last until one side is destroyed utterly: the War of the Spider Queens.

Becoming a Spider Rider
A character can only become a spider rider through her great devotion to spiders. A character ready to join the ranks of the spider riders is totally obsessed by spiders, studying and handling them constantly, bringing them up regularly in conversation. A character may seek to become a spider rider to become a master of mounted combat.

Class Features
All the following are class features of the spider rider.

 (Su): When the spider rider gains her first level in the spider rider prestige class, her monstrous spider egg hatches. The spider is immune to fear effects and can speak, understand, and read any languages that the spider rider can. The spider is no longer mindless, but is ridden as a creature of Intelligence 1 (see below).

 (Sp): At 1st level the spider rider can speak mentally to any spiderkind creature within 30ft. The spiderkind creature will understand whatever the spider rider says to it. The spider rider can pinpoint the exact location of any spiderkind creatures within 30ft, even if she can&rsquo;t see them. She can use the Handle Animal skill with spiders (and monstrous spiders). For the purposes of qualifying for prestige classes and feat prerequisites she is treated as having the Vermin TrainerDrU feat.

 (Sp): At 1st level, the spider rider can use web as a spell-like ability four times a day (with a caster level equal to the character&rsquo;s spider rider class level). The web materializes out of thin air at the point where the spell-like ability was aimed at.

 (Sp): At 2nd level the spider rider can use summon spider swarm as a spell-like ability three times a day (with a caster level equal to the character&rsquo;s spider rider class level).

 (Ex): At 2nd level as a swift action, the spider rider gains the ability to travel between two points as if by means of a dimension door spell (except that you can take action after using this ability). She can travel up to the number of feet shown in the &ldquo;Spider Jump&rdquo; column of Table: The Spider Rider and a maximum total number per day equal to the value in parenthesis. The spider rider may include her monstrous spider mount in a spider jump. When this ability is performed it appears just like when a jumping spider &ldquo;jumps.&rdquo;

 (Sp): At 5th level the spider rider can use summon spider IV as a spell-like ability once per day (with a caster level equal to the character&rsquo;s spider rider class level).

 (Su): At 3rd level the spider rider may rebuke spiderkind creatures as a cleric would rebuke undead. She rebukes spiderkind as a cleric of three levels lower would. The character&rsquo;s monstrous spider mount is unaffected by her rebuke attempts, and receives a +4 bonus against other spider rider rebuke attempts.

 (Ex): At 4th level, the spider rider gains a +2 competence bonus to Ride checks when riding a monstrous spider. This increases to a +4 competence bonus at 6th level.

 (Ex): At 6th level, the spider rider does not suffer penalties to AC due to charging while mounted on a monstrous spider, and only takes half of the normal penalty to ranged attacks due to being mounted.

 (Sp): At 7th level the spider rider can use summon spider V as a spell-like ability once per day (with a caster level equal to the character&rsquo;s spider rider class level).

 (Ex): While riding a monstrous spider, the spider rider gains a +2 competence bonus to attack rolls and AC.

 (Sp): At 9th level the spider rider can use summon spider VI as a spell-like ability once per day (with a caster level equal to the character&rsquo;s spider rider class level).

 (Sp): At 10th level the spider rider can use spider calling as a spell-like ability once per day (with the caster level equal to the character&rsquo;s spider rider class level).

 (Ex): At 11th level and every second level thereafter, the spider rider&rsquo;s monstrous spider mount gains 2d10 Hit Dice.

In addition to the feats on this list, the epic spider rider may treat any feat designated as a fighter bonus feat as being on the spider rider bonus feat list. A spider rider must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, including ability score and base attack bonus minimums.

Monstrous Spider Mount
Monstrous spider mounts have the following game statistics.

Class Features
All the following are class features of the spider mount.

Use the base statistics for a monstrous spider of the mount’s kind, but make the following changes.

Hit Dice: The number of d10 Hit Dice that the monstrous spider mount has (this replaces its normal Hit Dice). A monstrous spider mount has a good base attack bonus and good Fortitude and Reflex saves. Treat the monsterous spider mount as a character with class levels equal to the spider’s HD. A monstrous spider mount gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice. The monstrous spider mount has 2+ Intelligence modifier skill points per Hit Die, but must train for one hour a day with the spider rider in order to gain these skill points.

Natural Armor: The number noted here is an improvement to the monstrous spider’s existing natural armor bonus.

Attacks: The monstrous spider mount can make multiple attacks with her bite attack as if it where a manufactured weapon, with a -5 penalty to each extra attack. The spider cannot use its poison ability while making multiple attacks.

Size: Upon hatching, the monstrous spider mount is Tiny size. 1d4 hours later, she sheds her skin and becomes Small size. When a new level in spider rider is gained by a spider&rsquo;s rider, she sheds her skin and grows one category in size up to a maximum size of Huge at 4th level.

Type: The monstrous spider mount&rsquo;s type changes from vermin to magical beast (augmented vermin).

Ability Scores: The monstrous spider mount&rsquo;s ability scores are chosen using the elite array, replacing the 10 and the 8 with the rider&rsquo;s Intelligence and Charisma scores, which the monstrous spider mount shares. The racial ability score adjustments, Armor Class and attack modifiers and bite damage due to size for the monstrous spider mount are shown on Table: Monstrous Spider Adjustments by Size. For details on monstrous spiders see Monstrous Spider: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large and Huge.

Optionally a DM may allow their player to roll 4 sets of 4d6 discarding the lowest die and arrange the results among the monstrous spider mount&rsquo;s Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom scores.

 (Su): The monstrous spider mount shares a bond with her rider that transcends the physical. The mount assumes the rider&rsquo;s alignment. If a spider rider dies, the monstrous spider mount dies instantly as well. If the monstrous spider mount dies the rider must attempt a Fortitude saving throw of DC 25. If the saving throw is failed, the spider rider loses 2 hit points per spider rider level. She will then go into a rage for 1d12 + (her Constitution modifier) rounds as if she was a 1st level barbarian.

At all times, the monstrous spider mount and rider can communicate empathetically and telepathically, see out of each others eyes, and can locate each other as if by the locate creature spell.

The spider rider automatically passes Ride checks to attack while mounted and to control her mount in battle when mounted on her spider, and has full control over her spider&rsquo;s speed at all times. The spider rider and her spider share the same initiative, which is rolled using their highest initiative bonus (The rider&rsquo;s or the spider&rsquo;s).

' (Sp):''' 3 times per day at 3rd level, the monstrous spider mount can reduce its size to any size category smaller than itself as a swift action. This spell-like ability lasts until the spider decides to end it, which it can do as a free action. The caster level is 1 for this ability. This ability works like a stackable reduce person.

 (Ex): At 4th level, the monstrous spider mount&rsquo;s land and climb speeds increase by +10ft. At 6th level, the bonus to the monstrous spider mount&rsquo;s speed increases by an additional +10ft and increases again at 8th level by another +10ft.



 (Ex): If the monstrous spider mount 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 monstrous spider mount is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless monstrous spider mount does not gain the benefit of Evasion.

 (Ex): At the spider rider’s option, she may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) she casts upon herself also affect her monstrous spider mount. The monstrous spider mount must be within 5 feet of her at the time of casting to receive the benefit. If the spell or effect has a duration other than instantaneous, it stops affecting the monstrous spider mount if she moves farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the spider again, even if it returns to the spider rider before the duration expires. Additionally, the spider rider may cast a spell with a target of “You” on her monstrous spider mount (as a touch range spell) instead of on herself. A spider rider and her spider can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion’s type [ magical beast (augmented vermin)].

 (Ex): The monstrous spider mount retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

 (Ex): If a monstrous spider mount with slippery mind is affected by an enchantment spell or effect and fails her saving throw, she can attempt it again 1 round later at the same DC. She gets only this one extra chance to succeed on her saving throw.

 (Ex): This ability works like Evasion, except that while the monstrous spider mount still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks she henceforth takes only half damage on a failed saving throw. A helpless monstrous spider mount does not gain the benefit of Improved Evasion.

Ex-Spider Riders
The spider rider can make a decision to which the monstrous spider mount objects. Switching from Lolth to another deity, offending the monstrous spider mount, ceasing to revere spiderkind, taking the spider for granted, or otherwise upsetting the spider can cause the spider to leave the rider. The spider rider loses all its supernatural and spell-like abilities gained from being a spider rider. The Rider can make amends only by contacting the monstrous spider mount to apologize. If the spider accepts the apology, the monstrous spider mount will come back to the rider and the rider will regain all spider rider class features.

If the spider rider&rsquo;s monstrous spider mount dies, the rider can never have another monstrous spider mount to replace her deceased spider. However, the spider rider can spend one hour in a ritual to bring back the monstrous spider mount to life. The monstrous spider cannot be brought back to life in any other way (including methods that make the spider undead). The monstrous spider mount will then return to life in her original body. If the deity that the rider worships believes the rider to be unworthy, then the monstrous spider mount will not return to life. If the deity changes her mind about the rider&rsquo;s worth at a later date, the ritual can be undertaken again. The monstrous spider mount&rsquo;s body cannot be damaged, disfigured or destroyed unless the spider rider is also dead (and will be repaired instantly if the spider rider returns to life), and can be called to the spider rider when she wishes to perform the ritual.

Playing a Spider Rider
Adventure: Spider riders usually adventure to gain power to use in the War of the Spider Queens. They also adventure in order to fulfill a task appointed to them by their patron (either Lolth or Arachne), or to find new candidates to train in the art of the spider riders. Neutral spider riders are rather obscure in their purposes. Their objectives are not known.

Characteristics: Spider riders are totally obsessed with spiders - their minds, bodies and souls are tied to the arachnids.

Spider riders rarely stop thinking about spiders in some way (even if it is just a corner of the mind considering some spider theory), and they often weave spider-knowledge into conversations simply because they can&rsquo;t help it! They simply love spiders with their hearts, minds and souls, and can&rsquo;t imagine others not doing the same to some degree. A spider rider&rsquo;s way idea of impressing someone is showing off their knowledge of spiders. Because of this spider obession most spider rider marriages are to another spider rider or a drow.

The spider rider and her monstrous spider are as one: they are mentally bonded and share their thoughts. The rider and the spider each have their own personality, opinions, and desires. However, both rider and spider are privy to the thoughts, opinions, and desires of the other.

Races: Drow are very often spider riders - their psyche is naturally predisposed to spider obsession. Humans are rarely spider riders as most are too squeamish, scared, or untrusting to even approach a monstrous spider (let alone ride one). dwarves, gnomes, orcs (and half-orcs), and halflings are almost never spider riders, due to their hatred of the dark-skinned elves (holding grudges even against Arachne&rsquo;s drow).

Combat: The spider rider takes the party role of a fighter and fast-attacker. Their skill in arms and their spider mounts make them ideal front-line fighters. The spider&rsquo;s speed makes them excellent at fast attacking and getting where they are needed. The spider rider truly comes into her own at 3rd level when the spider is finally large enough to mount.

Advancement: A spider rider should probably consider taking levels in fighter to gain specialized mounted combat bonus feats.

Resources: Spider riders may be given various magic or helpful items to help them on their quests by the other spider riders loyal to their patron deity.

Spider Riders in the World
"Lolth is a liar. Arachne is the true Spider Queen!"

NPC Reactions: NPCs tend to jump to conclusions when it comes to spider riders, especially humans and elves: they tend to assume that they are servants of Lolth, and are reluctant to change this first judgment. While drow treat spider rider&rsquo;s with great respect, others treat them like dirt.

Spider Rider Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (religion) can research spider riders to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Spider Riders in the Game
Adaptation: As in Eberron, spiders are considered lesser to scorpions by drow, the spider could be replaced with a scorpion.