[RPG] How to one gain the Ride skill as a class skill with minimal expenditure

dnd-3.5egestalt

In a new game, my character is going to be a steppe warrior archer battle leader, using buffs / White Raven Tactics for the leadership part.

It is a Gestalt game, and my initial thought was to use Warblade + Cloistered Cleric as the base for this character.

However, on looking at the lists of skills I can obtain, Ride / Handle Animal are not on the list, which is somewhat of a problem for the role I wish to play.

Is it possible to add these skills to class skills of either class, via feats / domains / anything else you can think of.

I've checked a large number of domains and none of them seem to grant Ride and it is proving rather elusive.

Best Answer

Getting cross-class skills as class skills

There are several ways to get this done. Some of them are outlined below.

If you are Human...

One level of Human Paragon would give you Adaptive Learning (Ex):

At 1st level, a human paragon can designate any one of his human paragon class skills as an adaptive skill. This skill is treated as a class skill in all respects for all classes that character has levels in, both current and future.

If 3rd party material is allowed...

Rokugan Campaign Setting, page 55, has the feat Versatile, which allows you to:

Select two cross-class skills. These skills are always considered class skills for you.

Kingdoms of Kalamar Player's Guide, page 91, has the feat Skill Prodigy, which allows you to:

Learn a number of cross-class skills equal to your Intelligence modifier as if they were class skills.

If any Pathfinder material is allowed...

There is a trait system in Pathfinder that I, as a DM, do allow in my 3.5 D&D games, similarly for the exact reasons you are asking this question. Allowing someone to have a class skill is not game breaking. Here is a look at traits rules to share with your DM:

Gaining Traits

When you create your character for a campaign, ask your GM how many traits you can select. In most cases, a new PC should gain two traits, effectively gaining what amounts to a bonus feat at character creation. Some GMs may wish to adjust this number somewhat, depending upon their style of play; you may only be able to pick one trait, or your GM might allow three or more. Even if your GM normally doesn’t allow bonus traits, you might still be able to pick up some with the Additional Traits feat.

This regional trait, called Cavalry Rider, would allow you:

Benefit: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Ride checks, and Ride is always a class skill for you.

And this social trait, called Beast Bond, would allow you:

Benefits: You gain a +1 bonus on Handle Animal checks and Ride checks. One of these skills (your choice) is always a class skill for you.

This approach would give you the two class skills you desire without costing you other precious resources, such as class levels, or feats.

Other tidbits of information concerning the Ride skill

Player's Guide to Faerun, page 43, has a feat called Saddleback, which would allow you:

You can take 10 on Ride checks, even if you are rushed or threatened. If either you or your mount fails a Reflex save while mounted, you can attempt a Ride check to succeed on the saving throw anyway.

That is almost like Mounted Combat vs. Spells.

Have your horse get the Warbeast template. That template provides Combative Mount (Ex), which allows:

A rider on a trained warbeast mount gets a +2 circumstance bonus on all Ride checks.

That template also gives a lot of other things as well - all positive things - and can be completely done by you with the Handle Animal skill.

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