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Dragon riders develop a strong bond with their mounts that allows the two to work together.

Requirements

Class Features

The following are class features for the dragon rider prestige class. All these special features function only when a dragon rider is riding his preferred mount (see below).

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragon riders gain no new weapon or armor proficiencies.

Dragon Cohort: At 1st level the dragon rider may designate a dragon that he has previously ridden as his dragon cohort, though this is limited by the dragon rider's Leadership score and the dragon's equivalent level (see Table 2-15 for CR and Effective Character Level of various dragon cohorts). A dragon rider counts a dragon's Effective Character Level as being 3 lower than its actual value. The dragon rider cannot attract a cohort whose Effective Character Level (counting the -3 adjustment) is higher than his total levels (this is an exception to the normal rule, which states that the cohort must be lower than the character's level).

First, the dragon rider must use the Leadership feat to gain an appropriate dragon as a cohort. If the character already has a special mount, familiar, or animal companion, he suffers a -2 penalty on his Leadership score.

A dragon will not agree to serve anyone whose alignment opposes its own. The dragon rider may have only one dragon cohort at any one time, and either part ymay sever the relationship at any time. Once the relationship ends, the mount loses any benefits it gained according to Table 2-16. A dragon cohort ages but does not gain experience.

Most dragon cohorts are at least of young age. Wyrmling and very young dragons are too young to serve as cohorts, as they are either still under the care of their parents or too immature to deal with the symbiotic relationship required between a dragon rider and his mount. (Red and gold dragons tend to be amenable to the cohort relationship by the time they are very young.) Dragons older than adult age make poor cohorts, since they are unable or unwilling to bind themselves to a humanoid (an obviously lesser being) for an extended period of time.

Also, in order for the dragon rider (and dragon) to gain all the benefits of the prestige class, the dragon must be capable of bearing the rider, the same as a typical mount. The dragon must be at least one size category larger than the rider. This means that Small riders can actually use their cohorts as mounts earlier than their Medium counterparts. The mount must also be strong enough to bear the rider aloft. As a quadruped, a dragon can carry more than the normal weight of a creature with its size and Strength; however, flying creatures can carry weight aloft only up to their maximum light load.

The dragon rider must spend a minimum of seven days training with his cohort before any benefits accrue. Thereafter, the dragon gains the advantages listed on Table 2-16 based on the dragon rider's level. The dragon gains no abilities other than those listed, though it is considered a bonded companion (for abilities and spells that affect bonded relationships).

Additionally, the dragon rider has a number of obligations to his mount. First, the dragon needs a suitable lair. The Monster Manual provides information detailing typical lairs for the various dragon species. Dragons not provided with a suitable lair will certainly rebel against their riders.

Secondly, the dragon must be provided with treasure to keep in its lair. A minimum hoard of 1,000 gp value of treasure per Hit Die of the dragon is typical, with the exact makeup depending on the type and likes of the dragon. (The dragon is not keeping treasure safe for its rider, the treasure belongs to the dragon, who will not part with its treasure easily.)

Finally, and most important, the dragon must be treated with the respect that a creature of its Intelligence, power, and stature commands. it is not a dumb beast to order around, nor is it merely a minion to command. Even lawful good dragons are willful creatures with their own desires and needs.

If the dragon rider meets all these requirements and successfully attracts a dragon cohort, the dragon gains certain benefits, gleaned from training with the dragon rider (see Table 2-16: Dragon Rider's Mount for benefits). If the dragon rider and dragon part ways (either through mutual decision, the death of the rider, or other event), the dragon loses the bonuses at a rate of -1 per week, until the dragon's normal statistics are reached.

Table 2-16: Dragon Rider's Mount
Dragon Rider Level	Bonus Hit Dice	Natural Armor	Strength Adjustment
1-3	+2	+2	+1
4-6	+4	+4	+2
7-9	+6	+6	+3
10	+8	+8	+4

Dragon Rider Level: This refers to the character's dragon rider levels only. If the dragon suffers a level drain, treat the dragon as the mount of a lower-level dragon rider.

Bonus Hit Dice: These are extra twelve-sided (d12) Hit Dice, each of which proides a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice also improve the dragon's base attack and save bonuses. A dragon's base attack bonus is equal to its HD. A dragon has three good saves. The dragon doesn't gain any extra skill points of feats for bonus HD.

Natural Armor: The number listed here is an improvement to the dragon's existing natural armor bonus. it represents the preternatural toughness of a dragon rider's mount.

Strength Adjustment: Add this figure to the dragon's Strength score.

Mounted Attack: A dragon rider can always attack on the same round as his dragon cohort, and is not required to make a Ride check to do so.

Dragon Feat: At 2nd level, a dragon rider can grant the dragon cohort the full benefits of a bonus feat chosen from the folloiwng list: Cleave, Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Snatch, Strafing Breath, Weapon Focus, or Wingover. The bonus feat does not count against the dragon's normal feat capacity, though it must still meet all prerequisites, as noted in the appropriate feat descriptions. A dragon rider must spend one week training with the dragon in order for it to receive the bonus feat. The dragon rider may bestow a second bonus feat at 5th level, and a third at 9th level. The additional feats require the same training time as the first.

Empathic Communication (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a dragon rider is able to use nonverbal communication with his preferred mount. A dragon rider can convey information and instructions to the mount as long as they are within sight of one another.

Inspire Fear: Starting at 6th level, a dragon rider adds his dragon rider levels to his dragon cohort's Hit Dice when determining the DC of the dragon's frightful presence. The range of the dragon's frightful presence is calculated as if the dragon were on age category higher.

Directed Attacks: Beginning at 7th level, a dragon rider may give encouragement and direct this dragon cohort's attacks. Directing the dragon is a full-round action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. When directed, the dragon gains a +4 circumstance bonus on its attack rolls.

Defensive Tactics: At 8th level, neither a dragon rider nor his dragon cohort can be flanked while the dragon rider is in the saddle. The dragon and rider have learned to look in each other's "blind spots" to prevent enemies from sneaking up on them.

Defensive Teamwork: At 10th level, a dragon rider and his dragon cohort work so well together that they continually acto to protect each other from harm. Both the dragon rider and the dragon receive a +2 circumstance bonus to Armor Class and a +1 circumstance bonus on Reflex saving throws.

Table 2-15: Dragon Cohorts
Dragon	Alignment	ECL*
White (young) **	CE	9
Wyvern	N	9
Black (young)**	CE	10
brass (young)**	CG	11
Copper (young)**	CG	12
Red (very young)	CE	12
Gold (very yount)	LG	13
Green (young)**	LE	13
Black (juvenile)**	CE	14
Blue (young)**	LE	14
Brass (juvenile)**	CG	14
Dragon turtle	N	14
White ( juvenile)**	CE	14
Bronze (young)**	LG	15
Copper (juvenile)**	CG	15
Silver (young)**	LG	15
Red (young)	CE	16
Gold (young)	LG	17
Green (juvenile)	LE	17
Black (young adult)	CE	18
Blue (juvenile)	LE	18
Brass (young adult)	CG	18
White (young adult)	CE	18
Bronze (juvenile)	LG	19
Copper (young adult)	CG	19
Silver (juvenile)	LG	19

*The Effective Character Level in this column reflects the dragon rider's special ability to treat a dragon's ECL as three lower for purposes of determining what dragon he can have as a cohort.

**Medium dragons may be ridden only by a Small rider.

Advancement

Table 2-14: The Dragon Rider
Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special
1	+0	+2	+2	+0	Dragon cohort, mounted attack
2	+1	+3	+3	+0	Dragon feat
3	+2	+3	+3	+1	Empathic communication
4	+3	+4	+4	+1
5	+3	+4	+4	+1	Dragon feat
6	+4	+5	+5	+2	Inspire fear
7	+5	+5	+5	+2	Directed attacks
8	+6	+6	+6	+2	Defensive tactics
9	+6	+6	+6	+3	Dragon feat
10	+7	+7	+7	+3	Defensive teamwork