Prestige Class: Dragon Knight

Hit Die: d8

Requirements:
Base Attack Bonus: +10
Skills: Handle Animal 8 ranks, Ride 8 ranks
Feats: Mounted Combat, Leadership, Iron Will
Special: Must have ridden a Dragon

Class Skills: Balance, Concentration, Craft(any), Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Jump, Profession, and Ride

Skill Points at each level: 4 + Int modifier

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Reflex Save	Will Save	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

Dragon Cohort: At 1st level the dragon knight may designate a dragon that he has previously ridden as his dragon cohort, though this is limited by the dragon knight's leadership score and the dragon's equivalent level(see the table below). A dragon knight counts a dragon's Effective Character level as being 3 lower than its value. The dragon knight cannot attract a cohort whose ECL 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 knight must use the leadership feat to gain an appropriate dragon as a cohort. If the character 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 knight may only have one dragon cohort at any one time, and either party may sever the relationship at any time. Once the relationship ends, the mount loses any benefit it gained according to the table below. 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 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 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 knight(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 1 size category larger than the rider. This means that small riders can 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 mor than normal weight of a creature with its size and strength; however flying creatures can carry weight aloft only up to their maximum load.

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

Additionally, the dragon knight has a number of obligations to his mount. First the dragon needs a suitable lair. Dragons not provided with a suitable lair will certainly rebel against their riders. Secondly, the dragon must be provided treasure to keep in it's lair. A minimum 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 willfull creatures with their own desires and needs.

If the dragon knight meets all these requirements and successfully attracts a dragon cohort, the dragon gains certain benefits, gleaned from training with the dragon rider. 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.

The ECLs on the table below already take into account the -3 listed above.

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 Young)	LG	13
Green(Young)	LE	13
Black(Juvenile)	CE	14
Blue(Young)	LE	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

Dragon Knight Level	Hit Die	Natural Armor	Strength
1-3	+2	+2	+1
4-6	+4	+4	+2
7-9	+6	+6	+3
10	+8	+8	+4

Mounted Attack: A dragon knight can attack on the same round as a dragon cohort and is not required to make a ride check to do so.

Dragon Feat: At 2nd level a dragon knight can grant a dragon cohort the following feats: Cleave, flyby attack, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Power Attack, Quicken Spell-Like ability, Snatch, Strafing Breath, Weapon Focus, or Wingover.

Empathic Communication: At third level a dragon knight and mount can communicate nonverbally with one another.

Inspire Fear: Dragon Knights add their class level to the dragon's Fearful Presence DC. The range of this ability is calculated as if the dragon were one age catagory higher.

Directed Attacks: The Dragon Knight can command the dragon to perform actions. Directing the dragon is a full-round action, and does NOT provoke an attack of opportunity. When directed the dragon gains a +4 bonus to attack rolls.

Defensive Tactics: While the Dragon Knight is mounted on the saddle of his dragon, neither the knight or the dragon can be flanked.

Defensive Teamwork: Both dragon knight and dragon receive a +2 bonus to AC, and +1 to reflex saving throws.