Weapon and Armor Proficiency: As an advaitan, you are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as light and medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).
As an advaitan, you can shape formulae while wearing light or medium armor or using a shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, you incur a chance of arcane spell failure when wearing heavy armor. This only applies to the formulae you know as an advaitan, and you might incur arcane spell failure chance for formulae received from other spellshaper classes.
Formulae: You begin your career with knowledge of three arcane formulae. You have access to two circles of your choice from the following list: Blustering Gale, Crushing Stone, Perfect Freeze, Searing Flame, and Surging Spirit. You also gain access to a particular circle depending on your choice of mount, as shown in the table below.
Mount Type | Granted Circle |
Construct | Shocking Current |
Ooze | Roaring Tide |
Plant | Natural Balance |
Vermin | Deteriorating Corrosion |
Undead | Devouring Shadow |
You also gain access to additional circles as you gain levels. At 4th level, you gain access to an additional circle from the above list. At 10th level, and again at 16th level, you gain access to another circle, but your studies have shown you more subtle techniques for manipulating magical power, so you can make these choices from any circle.
Once you know a formula, you must prepare it before you can use it (see Formulae Prepared, below). A formula usable by an advaitan is considered a spell-like ability unless otherwise noted in its description. Unlike most other spell-like abilities, arcane formulae are subject to arcane spell failure chance, as described in Weapon and Armor Proficiency above. The save DC for a formula that allows a save is 10 + formula level + your Intelligence modifier.
You learn additional formulae at higher levels, as shown on the table above. To learn or shape a formula, you must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the formula, as well as meeting the formula's prerequisite. See page 36 of The Codex of Spellshaping: The Twelve Circles to determine the highest-level formulae you can learn.
Upon reaching 4th level, and at every even-numbered advaitan level after that (6th, 8th, 10th, and so on), you can choose to learn a new formula in place of one you already know. In effect, you lose the old formula in exchange for the new one. You can choose a new formula of any level you like, as long as you observe your restriction on the highest-level formulae you know; you need not replace the old formula with a formula of the same level. For example, upon reaching 10th level, you could trade in a single 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-level formula for a formula of 4th level or lower, as long as you meet the prerequisite of the new formula. You can only swap a single formula at any given level.
Formulae Prepared: You can prepare only two of your known formulae at 1st level, forcing you to choose between them. You ready your formulae by meditating and exercising for 5 minutes. If every formula you have prepared is expended, you can also ready a new set of formulae by spending a move action to steady your nerves and harness the residual magical energy that has passed through your body. When you ready formulae in this way, you cannot ready a formula that is currently expended. Thus, you must ready a different set of formulae from those you have just used. The formulae you choose, regardless of the method used to do so, remain prepared until you decide to meditate again and change them. You need not sleep or rest for any long period of time to prepare your formulae.
If you can't ready enough formulae to fill all of your available readied formula slots, perhaps because too many were expended, you simply ready as many as you can and the remaining slots are wasted. For instance, if you know 5 formulae but can prepare up to 3, and you ready a new set of formulae as a move action (as described above), then, if you've already expended 3 formulae, you have only two formulae available to you. Thus, you simply ready both.
You begin an encounter with all of your prepared formulae unexpended, regardless of how many times you might have already used them since you chose them. When you shape a formula, you expend it for the current encounter, so each of your prepared formulae can be used once per encounter (unless you recover them, as described below).
You can recover a single expended formula by taking a standard action to focus on it. Doing this does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If you complete your meditation, you recover that one expended formula, but not any others you have expended. Note that a formula that is not prepared cannot be considered expended, so you don't have to recover a formula after it's been replaced, even if you later prepare it yet again.
Spellshape Attacks (Sp): Among the first abilities that you learn as an advaitan are your spellshape attacks. You start play with access to the spellshape attacks associated with the circles to which you have access. Whenever you gain access to a new circle, you also learn its spellshape attack.
Mounted Combat: At 1st level, you gain Mounted Combat as a bonus feat, even if you do not meet the normal prerequisites.
Favored Mount: At 1st level, you can purchase, construct, find, or call through ritual meditation a special mount, depending on the kind of mount you select. Depending on the type of mount you select, you gain different abilities as your level increases, as noted under your One Soul As Two ability. Your may choose from a Construct, an Ooze, Plant, Undead, or Vermin mount. At 1st level, you have only one choice in each of these categories for the particular creature you gain as a mount, but as you grow in levels, you gain further options and your mount advances in power.
In any case, your mount must be a mindless creature. If your mount ever gains an Intelligence score or loses the Mindless special quality, it ceases to be your favored mount and loses any benefits or abilities granted by having been your favored mount. You can obtain another favored mount if you lose the service of one. Similarly, if your mount should be slain or otherwise released from your service, you can obtain another mount. While your first mount does not come at a cost to you, replacing it costs 500 gp for parts, reagents, special offerings or incenses, or whatever other raw materials go into the process for obtaining a mount for you, and this process takes 1 week.
Spellstrike Blade (Su): At 2nd level, you master the technique of channeling magical energy through mundane weaponry. By using your weapon as a conduit for magical energies, you can allow any minor formulae you shape to affect your melee attacks as though they were the spellshape attack associated with that formula's circle. Such a formula's extra damage, if any, is of the same kind as its circle's spellshape attack, rather than your weapon's normal damage. For instance, if you had shaped the
scorching blast formula and applied this ability, your melee attacks would deal an extra 1d6 points of fire damage, plus 1 point of fire damage per shaper level, until the end of your turn.
Despite the name, this ability can apply to any kind of melee attack, including an unarmed strike, or even a melee touch attack. This ability does not alter the base weapon damage, nor does it add the damage of the associated spellshape attack to the effects of a successful attack. It cannot be used with major formulae. You also cannot use this ability in conjunction with an attack already modified by a major formula, such as through a spellshape champion's spellshape channeling ability. Naturally, this ability doesn't affect a minor formula that doesn't actually alter your spellshape attack.
Bonus Feat: At 3rd level, and every 5th level thereafter, you can select a free feat from the following list: Armored Shaper
CSp, Cavalry Charger
CW, Combat Expertise, Extra Prepared Formula
CSp, Formula Study
CSp, Fortifying Recovery
CSp, Greater Spellshape Focus
CSp, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, Martial Stance
ToB, Martial Study
ToB, Nonlethal Spellshaping
CSp, Power Attack, Precise Shaper
CSp, Project Numen
CSp, Reshape Formula
CSp, Spellshape Focus
CSp, Ride-by Attack, Spellshape Incanter
CSp, Spirited Charge, Trample, Weapon Focus, or any metashaping feat.
An advaitan must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat, including ability score and base attack bonus minimums.
One Soul As Two: As you advance in skill and power, your bond with your mount grows larger, as its actions become ever more and more an extension of your own will and desires. You grow to understand your mount, and creatures like it, in ways few others can understand. Eventually, your connection becomes so deep that your spirit becomes entwined with your mount's physical body, allowing you to share your own spellshaping power with it.
If you've chosen a construct mount, you learn to channel and amplify the raw energy of your spellshape attacks through it, creating devastating explosions of power. If you've chosen an ooze mount, you learn to shape your formulae through its body to inflict their effects on creatures even as your mount digests them. If you've chosen a plant mount, you gain the ability to suspend your formulae for later activation. If you've chosen an undead mount, you learn to curse your foes with your spellshaping powers. If you've chosen a vermin mount, you learn to condense your spellshape attacks into venom that courses through your victims' veins.
Each time you gain this class feature, you gain the next ability along the path appropriate to your particular mount. For instance, if you have chosen a Construct mount, you first gain Spelltrigger, then Artificer's Skill, followed by Spellbeam, and, finally, Perfect Maneuvering. All of the abilities granted by this class feature are extraordinary, but if they alter the way in which you shape formulae or otherwise use spell-like or supernatural abilities, they don't make those abilities extraordinary themselves. Thus, the Spelltrigger ability doesn't allow you to shape a formula in an
anti-magic field or similar area.
Construct Mount Spelltrigger (Ex): At 5th level, the magical energy you wield through your weapon sets up a resonance with your mount's own energy supplies, allowing it to discharge that energy to devastating effect. If you successfully strike a target with a melee attack affected by a formula through your spellstrike blade ability, and you are riding your favored mount, it can shape a major formula or spellshape attack on your behalf. Because using this ability still expends the formula as if you'd shaped it, you must have it prepared and available to shape.
Your mount must spend the same action as you would to shape the formula in question, and it makes the attack roll (if any) on your behalf, but it otherwise functions exactly as if you had shaped it yourself, except as noted here. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) is based on your own ability scores, and it benefits from any abilities you possess that might improve that formula. Your mount does not provoke an attack of opportunity for shaping a formula, or for making a ranged touch attack, in this way, and you and your mount are both immune to the negative effects of a formula shaped in this way.
This ability is similar to a metashaping feat. The level of the formula your mount shapes, plus the degree of any metashaping feats affecting it, plus 2, cannot exceed ½ your shaper level (rounded up).
Artificer's Skill (Ex): At 9th level, you gain a phenomenal understanding of machinery and craftsmanship. You gain an insight bonus on Craft (machinery) checks and Disable Device checks equal to ½ your class level. These class skills are always class skills for you.
Spellbeam (Ex): At 14th level, you learn how to augment power passed through your mount, vastly increasing the size and power of the blast. Whenever you use your spelltrigger ability, you can decide to change the effect into a line. The line's length is equal to the normal range of the formula; if the range of the formula is denoted by a spellshape attack, then the line's length is equal to the range of that spellshape attack if you were to shape it. While your mount needs not make an attack roll, any creature within the area can make a Reflex save. A failed save indicates that the creature takes damage (if any) as normal for that formula, and is subject to any other effects as if affected normally by that formula (including any other saving throws normally allowed by that formula). A successful save indicates that the creature takes only ½ damage (if any) from the formula, and is not subject to any other effects of the formula.
Perfect Maneuvering (Ex): At 20th level, your mount responds to your guidance as if it were an extension of your body. Your mount gains the benefits of being considered a piece of your worn equipment, but none of the potential drawbacks. It's still a creature. For instance, your mount usually doesn't need to make a separate saving throw if an effect would target both you and your mount, although other creatures can still specifically target your mount. On the other hand, you cannot be disarmed of your mount. In general, treat your mount as though it were a suit of armor, except that sunder attacks can still target it (and are resolved just as if the attacker were attacking your mount, since it retains its usual statistics as a creature).
Ooze Mount Spelltouch (Ex): At 5th level, your mount can absorb and focus the ambient magical energy of your spellshaping power, and follow your lead in lashing out at your enemies. If you successfully strike a target with a melee attack affected by a formula through your spellstrike blade ability, and you are riding your favored mount, it can shape a major formula or spellshape attack on your behalf. Because using this ability still expends the formula as if you'd shaped it, you must have it prepared and available to shape.
Your mount does not produce a beam of magical power, but instead channels that power through its own amorphous form. If the formula includes a spellshape attack, it makes the attack as a melee attack (in the case of a spellshape attack that would normally be made as a ranged attack) or as a melee touch attack (in the case of a spellshape attack that would normally be made as a ranged touch attack). This is still a spellshape attack, so it benefits from abilities or effects that specifically affect them. Otherwise, in order to affect a creature with the formula, your mount must succeed at a melee touch attack against the target, which then affects that target as if it were targeted by the formula (if the formula is targeted) or is centered on the target's current space instead of the formula's normal area (if the formula has an area of effect).
Your mount must spend the same action as you would to shape the formula in question, and it makes the attack roll (if any) on your behalf, but it otherwise functions exactly as if you had shaped it yourself, except as noted here. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) is based on your own ability scores, and it benefits from any abilities you possess that might improve that formula. Your mount does not provoke an attack of opportunity for shaping a formula, or for making a ranged touch attack, in this way, and you and your mount are immune to the negative effects of any formula shaped in this way.
This ability is similar to a metashaping feat. The level of the formula your mount shapes, plus the degree of any metashaping feats affecting it, plus 2, cannot exceed ½ your shaper level (rounded up).
Fluid Knowledge (Ex): At 9th level, your mind becomes able to shift and adapt to new situations at an amazing speed. Each day, you can choose two skills in which to be considered trained for the rest of that day, even if you have no ranks in them. You can make checks with these skills as if you had ranks in them equal to ½ your character level.
Spellgorge (Ex): At 14th level, your mount can discharge spell energy into the creatures it consumes. You can use your spelltouch ability whenever your mount is grappling a creature or has engulfed one, without needing to first strike a creature with an attack modified by a formula. If the formula had targets, it targets each creature in the mount's space. If it affected an area, it affects the mount's space. Each target is affected separately, but your mount makes a single damage roll (if applicable), to be used for all of the targets. No attack rolls are necessary, and the targets automatically fail any Reflex saves the formula might allow, though they may still make Fortitude and Will saves as normal. You and your mount are immune to the negative effects of any formula shaped in this way.
Transdimensional Flow (Su): At 20th level, your mount becomes so closely attuned to magical power that its very body begins to blur the lines between creature, spirit, and spell. Your mount gains the benefits of the incorporeal subtype, as its body blends seamlessly into a variety of hidden dimensions, except that it has no difficulty affecting creatures and objects on the Material Plane when it wishes to do so. For instance, you can still ride it without any special equipment, and it may still make attacks or grapple checks against other creatures as normal (rather than as incorporeal touch attacks). Notably, while it may make incorporeal touch attacks, these have no particular effect on other creatures (such as the damage normally associated with such attacks).
Plant Mount Spellseed (Ex): At 5th level, You can draw from your mount's inner life force to shape your magic into a stored form that can blossom forth at a later moment. If you successfully strike a target with a melee attack affected by a formula through your spellstrike blade ability, and you are riding your favored mount, it can shape a major formula or spellshape attack on your behalf. Because using this ability still expends the formula as if you'd shaped it, you must have it prepared and available to shape.
Your mount does not produce a beam of magical power, as spellshapers typically do, but instead channels that power into a spellseed. Your mount targets a creature within the normal range of the spellshape attack associated with the circle of the formula your mount shapes.. The next time that creature successfully strikes a creature with an attack, the spellseed sprouts, affecting the struck creature as if it had been struck or affected by the formula in question, including by any spellshape attacks that might be made as part of the formula. No additional attack roll is necessary, but the target is allowed any saving throws the formula would ordinarily allow, and still benefits from its spell resistance (if any) if the formula would ordinarily allow it. The spellseed remains until discharged by affecting an enemy, until the same weapon is the target of another spellseed, or until 3 rounds have passed, whichever occurs first.
Your mount must spend the same action as you would to shape the formula in question, but it otherwise functions exactly as if you had shaped it yourself, except as noted here. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) is based on your own ability scores, and it benefits from any abilities you possess that might improve that formula. Your mount does not provoke an attack of opportunity for shaping a formula, or for making a ranged touch attack, in this way, and you and your mount are immune to the negative effects of any formula shaped in this way.
This ability essentially replaces the normal target, range, and area portions of a formula. In particular, if an effect's target is “You”, the target of the attack becomes the new target. Similarly, its range becomes equal to the range of the attack that triggers it, and its area (if any) becomes centered on the target's square for a formula that is centered a space, or on the target itself for a formula whose area is centered on a particular creature.
A spellseed's effects are fixed at the time your mount shapes it, so it won't benefit from effects that alter your formula that are used or applied later. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) won't increase (or decrease, for that matter) if the ability modifier you use to determine it changes afterward.
This ability is similar to a metashaping feat. The level of the formula your mount shapes, plus the degree of any metashaping feats affecting it, plus 2, cannot exceed ½ your shaper level (rounded up).
Natural Bond (Ex): At 9th level, you gain a keen insight into nature and the plants of the wilds. You gain an insight bonus on Knowledge (nature) checks and Survival checks equal to ½ your class level. These class skills are always class skills for you.
Spellflower (Ex): At 14th level, when your spellseeds sprout, they unleash a brilliant cascade of energy around them. Whenever a spellseed sprouts, as described above, you can make up to 1 spellshape attack per 5 shaper levels you possess, of the kind associated with the circle of the formula stored in the spellseed. Each attack is made at your highest base attack bonus, minus 2. These attacks are made from the space occupied by the creature affected by the spellseed, so you determine range penalties and whether a target has cover from that square, but because you have no special sensory abilities through this power, you still determine concealment from your actual square. These attacks cannot target the creature affected by the spellseed, nor can more than one of them affect a single target. Any attacks that can't have a legal target are wasted.
These spellshape attacks are also diminished through their weaker connection to your spirit, and so do not benefit from any formulae, and their damage dice are 1 size smaller than they otherwise would be. Using this ability does not require an action; it's simply a choice you can make once a spellseed is discharged.
Rootbound Regeneration (Ex): At 20th level, your mount becomes capable of regrowing from even the most devastating attacks. If your mount spends at least 8 hours in contact with the ground, your mount gains regeneration equal to your spellshaping ability modifier for 1 day.
Undead Mount Spellcurse (Ex): At 5th level, you learn to channel your spellshaping powers through the unnatural power animating your mount and tie them to the life force of another, allowing you to place them as curses upon your foes or as unexpected boons for your allies. If you successfully strike a target with a melee attack affected by a formula through your spellstrike blade ability, and you are riding your favored mount, it can shape a major formula or spellshape attack on your behalf. Because using this ability still expends the formula as if you'd shaped it, you must have it prepared and available to shape.
Your mount does not produce a beam of magical power, as spellshapers typically do, but instead channels that power into a spellcurse. Your mount targets a creature within the normal range of the spellshape attack associated with the circle of the formula your mount shapes. The next time that creature takes a strenuous action (any action that would cause a disabled creature to take 1 point of damage after completing the action), the curse is triggered, affecting that creature as if it had been struck or affected by the formula in question, including by any spellshape attacks that might be made as part of the formula . A creature is allowed to use its spell resistance (if any) to avoid being cursed by this ability, whether or not the formula allows spell resistance normally. If the formula required an attack roll, the target may make a Reflex save for half damage instead. The target is allowed any other saving throws the formula would ordinarily allow, but its spell resistance (if any) does not apply after it has already been cursed. The spellcurse remains until discharged by affecting an enemy, until the same creature is the target of another spellcurse, or until 3 rounds have passed, whichever occurs first.
Your mount must spend the same action as you would to shape the formula in question, but it otherwise functions exactly as if you had shaped it yourself, except as noted here. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) is based on your own ability scores, and it benefits from any abilities you possess that might improve that formula. Your mount does not provoke an attack of opportunity for shaping a formula, or for making a ranged touch attack, in this way, and you and your mount are immune to the negative effects of any formula shaped in this way.
This ability essentially replaces the normal target, range, and area portions of a formula. In particular, if an effect's target is “You”, the target of the attack becomes the new target. Similarly, its range becomes equal to the range of the attack that triggers it, and its area (if any) becomes centered on the target's square for a formula that is centered a space, or on the target itself for a formula whose area is centered on a particular creature.
A spellcurse's effects are fixed at the time your mount shapes it, so it won't benefit from effects that alter your formulae or spellshape attacks that are used or applied later. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) won't increase (or decrease, for that matter) if the ability modifier you use to determine it changes afterward.
This ability is similar to a metashaping feat. The level of the formula your mount shapes, plus the degree of any metashaping feats affecting it, plus 2, cannot exceed ½ your shaper level (rounded up).
Forbidden Knowledge (Ex): At 9th level, your study of unlife and the dark knowledge that accompanies it grants you superb mastery over the lore of these subjects, as well as an insight into the forces that oppose them. You gain an insight bonus on Knowledge (religion) checks and Knowledge (the planes) checks equal to ½ your class level. These class skills are always class skills for you.
Spelldoom (Ex): By 14th level, your magical curses choke the life out of even creatures that try to resist them. Any time a creature affected by one of your spellcurses ends its turn without having discharged that spellcurse, it takes damage as if you had struck it with the spellshape attack associated with the circle to which the formula in the spellcurse belongs. Like your spellcurse, this ability doesn't benefit from effects that alter your spellshape attack after your mount initially shapes it.
Unholy Persistence (Ex): At 20th level, your mount becomes an all-but-unstoppable blight upon the living. Even complete destruction becomes but a minor setback. Your mount gains bonus hit points for each of its hit dice equal to your Charisma modifier, and fast healing equal to your Charisma modifier. If your mount is destroyed, its fast healing continues to apply; keep track of its hit points, no matter how far below 0 they may go. Once its fast healing heals it to positive hit points, it becomes a creature again, just as if it had never been destroyed. An effect that simply destroys your mount reduces it to -50 hit points, instead. Damage dealt to the body left behind is applied to this hit point total, so it can be reduced to further negative hit points by continuing to attack the remains. Even if your mount's body is totally destroyed, it knits itself together from dust as it reaches positive hit points.
Vermin Mount Spellvenom (Ex): At 5th level, you can focus your magical energy into your mount's poison, creating a lethal combination of alchemy and magic. If you successfully strike a target with a melee attack affected by a formula through your spellstrike blade ability, and you are riding your favored mount, it can shape a major formula or spellshape attack on your behalf. Because using this ability still expends the formula as if you'd shaped it, you must have it prepared and available to shape.
Your mount does not produce a beam of magical power, but instead channels that power through its venom. The formula does not have an area of effect, nor does it require an attack roll. Instead, a single creature that would be affected by the mount's poison during that round is affected as if struck by, targeted by, or within the area of the formula shaped. If the creature succeeds at its Fortitude save against the poison, it takes half damage (if any). The formula still allows any saving throws it normally allows, except for a Reflex save for half damage, and the creature's spell resistance (if any) applies. Immunity or resistance to poison provides no defense against this ability, and a creature with either makes a save regardless, ignoring the benefits of that ability for the purposes of this effect (but not for resisting the poison's normal effects). Thus, an elemental would make a Fortitude save, which could halve the damage from the formula if it succeeds, but would not risk taking ability damage from the poison itself. Since this ability doesn't affect objects, constructs and undead creatures are normally immune to it. The creature suffers no additional effect on its secondary saving throw.
Your mount must spend the same action as you would to shape the formula in question, but it otherwise functions exactly as if you had shaped it yourself, except as noted here. For instance, the saving throw DC (if any) is based on your own ability scores, and it benefits from any abilities you possess that might improve that formula. Your mount does not provoke an attack of opportunity for shaping a formula, or for making a ranged touch attack, in this way, and you and your mount are immune to the negative effects of any formula shaped in this way.
This ability is similar to a metashaping feat. The level of the formula your mount shapes, plus the degree of any metashaping feats affecting it, plus 2, cannot exceed ½ your shaper level (rounded up).
Underworld Study (Ex): At 9th level, your study of the underground world and the countless poisons and chemical substances found within it has taught you things no other course of education can. You gain an insight bonus on Craft (Alchemy) checks and Knowledge (dungeoneering) checks equal to ½ your class level. These class skills are always class skills for you.
Spelltoxin (Ex): At 14th level, your mount's toxins grow increasingly lethal. If a creature is affected by your spellvenom ability, then until it is cured of the poison (or until it runs its course and the victim makes its secondary saving throw), that any attempt to heal hit point damage to that creature requires a caster level check against a DC of 10 + your shaper level. An ability that has no caster level or effective caster level uses ½ its user's hit dice in place of a caster level for the purposes of this ability. If the check is failed, no damage is healed, but any other effects of that ability happen normally.
Larval Rebirth (Ex): At 20th level, your mount is devoured from within by its own larval offspring, which obey your commands as faithfully as their parent and protect themselves with pieces of its leftover exoskeleton. Your mount gains most of the benefits of the swarm subtype, as if it were composed of Tiny creatures, but none of the normal drawbacks. For instance, it takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons, but takes no extra damage from attacks that affect an area. Your mount is still reduced to negative hit points normally, and never breaks up into its constituent creatures, although it is merely unconscious (never dying or disabled) until killed. Your mount also does not gain a swarm attack or the Distraction ability, but instead retains its normal attack options and ability to threaten squares.
Improved Mounted Combat (Ex): At 6th level, you gain the ability to maneuver your mount with uncanny skill and dexterity. You can use your Mounted Combat feat to negate a hit against your favored mount once per round for every attack granted you by virtue of your base attack bonus, instead of simply once per round. Additional attacks from fighting with multiple weapons or natural weapons or from other class abilities or feats do not count toward this value.
Cavalry Master (Ex): At 7th level, you master the art of controlling your mount of choice in combat. You gain all of the following benefits when riding your favored mount:
*You need never make a Ride check to guide your favored mount with your knees, stay in the saddle, stay on the mount if it leaps, spur it, or mount or dismount it quickly.
*If your favored mount has natural attacks, you need not make a Ride check to allow it to use them.
*You don't need to make a Concentration check to perform an action that requires concentration, such as casting a spell, if that check would have been caused by simply riding your favored mount while it moves. Other situations, including riding a running mount, still require such checks.
*When riding your favored mount, you can command it to take actions normally reserved for creatures with an intelligence score, such as complicated maneuvers like tripping or overrunning an opponent.
*Whenever you need to make a Ride check, you can roll twice and take the better result.
Surefooted Charge (Ex): At 12th level, you can guide your mount's steps with the ease and skill of a calm walk, even under the most stressful situations. When you make a charge attack while mounted on your favored mount, your mount needn't move in a straight line.