Horsebreaking Cleave (3.5e Feat)

Author: Halloweenman33 (talk) Date Created: 2/21/17 Status: Finished but open to suggestions for improvements Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Horsebreaking Cleave [Fighter] Prerequisites: Power Attack, Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Horsebreaker)), Horsebreaker Training (3.5e Feat), Weapon Focus (Horsebreaker), Strength 24, and Monkey Grip or Powerful BuildBenefit: When wielding a horsebreaker and facing an opponent on horseback (or any other mount), if you attack the mount instead of the rider and the attack is enough to kill the mount, you can immediately use Cleave to carry the attack through to the rider. This follows the same rules as Cleave, except that the rider is caught flat-footed due to the surprise of the mount being cut clean in half by the attack and any extra damage to the mount left after it reaches -10 HP is carried over and added to the damage dealt to the rider. You must declare that you are using Horsebreaking Cleave instead of regular Cleave before you roll the attack. Example: Frank has the feats Power Attack, Cleave, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Horsebreaker), Horsebreaker Training, Weapon Focus (Horsebreaker) and Powerful Build and 24 Strength. He wields a horsebreaker as a foe charges down the field on a heavy warhorse. On his turn, Frank subtracts 5 from his roll for Power Attack and attacks the horse instead of the rider. He hits an rolls damage. By a stroke of luck, Frank rolls the maximum of 32 damage on 4d8. With the 32 +10 from Power Attack (double for using a two handed weapon) + his +7 Strength Modifier for a total of 49 damage. The heavy warhorse only has 30 HP and is killed instantly with 9 damage left over after the horse is reduced to -10. Declaring Horsebreaking Cleave, the horsebreaker cuts the Warhorse in half and Frank rolls another attack at the same attack bonus (as per Cleave) against the rider, who is surprised by the blade coming through his mount and is caught flatfooted, losing his Dexterity Bonus to AC. Frank's attack is successful and he deals 28 damage +10 from Power Attack + his +7 Strength Modifier +9 carried over from the horse for a total of 54 damage. The rider only had 40 HP and is killed instantly, also sliced completely in half.Normal: Even if the mount was killed in the initial attack and Cleave were used against the rider, the sword would not be considered to be cutting clean through the mount and the Cleave attack would resolve as normal.Special: Fighters can take Horsebreaking Cleave as a one of their bonus feats.

Large creatures can eliminate the need for Monkey Grip or Powerful Build.

Creatures of Huge size or larger can eliminate the need for Horsebreaker Training.

The Strongarm Bracers can also substitute for either Monkey Grip or Powerful Build, but if they are somehow neutralized (by dispel magic, antimagic field, Mordenkainen’s Disjunction or the character is not wearing them for some reason), the character will lose access to the feat until he meets the prerequisites again (either putting back on or reactivating the Strongarm Bracers or taking Monkey Grip).

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