Cataphract

Cataphract - Fighter Subclass

In the annals of history, tales of heavily armored mounted warriors dominate the chronicles of countless wars. Among the most iconic of these warriors are the Cataphracts. Recognizable by their uniquely adorned armor, both for themselves and their steeds, Cataphracts form an intimate bond with their mount, treating them as an extension of themselves in the theater of war. This unity of rider and steed embodies a harmony that is awe-inspiring, if not downright terrifying, for foes witnessing them charge.

Cataphracts are not just warriors; they are symbols of martial discipline, strength, and endurance. As they charge into the fray, their lances are not mere weapons but instruments of destiny, piercing through enemy lines with precision and force.

• Masters of the Lance: More than just a weapon, the lance is an extension of the Cataphract's arm. Through rigorous training, they achieve a mastery that allows them to execute devastating strikes from atop their mounts, leaving enemies in their wake.

• Bond with the Steed: To a Cataphract, their mount is not just a means of transportation but a trusted ally in battle. This bond is forged through shared trials and tribulations, and the deeper it grows, the harder they become to separate on the battlefield.

• Unyielding Force: The combined might of a Cataphract and their steed charging is akin to a natural disaster. The ground shakes, and enemies are left with two choices: flee or face the storm.

Whether they're nobles upholding their family's martial tradition or warriors who've embraced the path of the heavy cavalry, Cataphracts leave an indelible mark on the battlefields they grace, and their names echo through time in tales of valor and might.

Bonded Steed & Lance Mastery

Bonded Steed: Through a 10-minute ritual, you summon a loyal warhorse or a similar steed, attuned to your warrior spirit. As you grow in power and experience, so does your steed's resilience. The health of your steed compounds with your own growth, having hit points equal the creature's base plus twice your current Fighter level. This dynamic bond ensures that as you become a force to be reckoned with, so does your mount. If tragedy befalls your steed, you can perform the ritual after a long rest to call forth a new companion.

Lance Mastery: Your extensive training with the lance begins to bear fruit. When wielding a lance one-handed while atop your mount, you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls with it. Furthermore, while mounted, you can add your proficiency bonus to the damage roll of your lance attacks.

Spirited Charge

Charging Lunge: Your connection with your mount allows you to harness its speed for devastating attacks. When you move at least 20 feet straight toward an enemy while mounted and hit them with a lance attack on the same turn, your target suffers an additional 2d6 damage from the sheer force of the charge.

Guardian Steed: Your steed becomes adept at evading blows, and your bond with it serves as a protective aura. While you're mounted, any attackers targeting your steed have disadvantage on their attack rolls, unless they are also riding a mount. This feature symbolizes the heightened awareness and synergy between you and your steed in the midst of battle.

Steed's Grace

Synchronized Movement: You and your steed have practiced dodging threats together, and now it pays off. Your mount gains the benefits of the Evasion feature. If subjected to an effect allowing a Dexterity saving throw for half damage, your steed takes no damage on a successful save and only half damage on a failed one.

Mounted Agility: Your steed's training and your guiding hand make it swifter than most. The speed of your mount increases by 10 feet. Moreover, when urging your mount to dash, the momentum allows you to swiftly strike with your lance as a bonus action.

 

Lance of the Cataphract

Extended Reach: Through countless drills and exercises, you've learned to maximize the potential of your lance while mounted. Your reach with the lance increases by 5 feet, allowing you to strike foes from unexpected distances.

Impaling Charge: Your charges become feats of martial artistry, impaling foes with devastating force. Once per turn, after moving at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and successfully hitting it with a lance attack, you can compel the target to make a Strength saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failure, the sheer force of your charge knocks the target prone, leaving them vulnerable to further assaults.

Unbreakable Bond

Steed's Resilience: Your steed draws from your shared strength, becoming even harder to bring down in the heat of battle. At the start of each of your turns, if your steed has fewer than half of its hit points remaining, it gains temporary hit points equal to half your Fighter level. This protective aura showcases the profound connection you share.

Lance of Destiny: Your lance becomes an instrument of fate, channeling your indomitable will into singular, devastating blows. Once per long rest, when you land a strike with your lance while mounted, you can opt to maximize the damage of the attack, ensuring every damage die rolls its highest number. The sheer force of this blow is so potent that the target must make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failure, they are left stunned, reeling from the impact, until the end of their next turn.