For ages, raising creatures as pets and companions has been a tradition held by druids, rangers, and, to a lesser degree, other divine and arcane spellcasters. Most acquire the services of domesticated animals, while some dedicate their time to more exotic beings. But, for all their knowledge; for all their skill in the art of handling animals and lesser beings, these groups still fail to understand the bond shared between a trainer and his monsters.

Monster trainers have learned how to tap into the natural well of arcane power that lives within all sentient beings. It is the same power from which sorcerers manifest their bloodlines and with which summoners bond to their strange, beautiful creations. This power grants trainers the unique ability to tether the essence of monsters to their souls.

Each trainer is different because few trainers bond with the same creatures that others might. It is this perceived individuality that sets monster trainers apart, even from their own peers.

Role: Monster trainers are self–sufficient heroes who capture and use monsters to achieve greater success in all walks of life. How versatile a trainer can be depends on his choice of active monster. The trainer may use a powerful animal or magical beast that grants him few spells and instead offers him more physical options during battle. Or, he can call forth a tiny fey and use its spells to confuse his enemies while he fights them in closer quarters. At higher levels, it can be expected that a trainer will usually have some option available to him in any situation, even if that choice isn’t the most optimal.

Alignment: Any; see trainer aura.

Hit Die: d8

Starting Wealth: 4d6 × 10 gp (average 140 gp.) In addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth 10 gp or less.

Class Skills

The monster trainer's class skills are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Fly (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Survival (Wis).

Skill Ranks Per Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the monster trainer.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Monster trainers are proficient with all simple weapons, all bows and the whip. They are proficient with light armor, but not with shields. A trainer can cast trainer spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a trainer wearing medium or heavy armor, or using a shield, incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has any somatic components. A multiclass trainer still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Spells

A monster trainer casts arcane spells that he gains from the monsters he captures. When a trainer controls a monster that grants him spells in some way, the trainer gains the ability to cast those spells as a sorcerer of his same level. He also gains the ability to cast that monster’s 0-level spells (cantrips) at will, if it provides any.

A monster trainer can cast any spell he has access to without preparing it ahead of time. To gain access to or cast a spell, a trainer must have an active monster that grants the spell and a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a trainer’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the trainer’s Charisma modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a monster trainer can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Monster Trainer. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).

The trainer can cast his spells through his active monster, using its space as the point of origin for line of sight and effect. This does not grant the trainer any special senses the monster may have to detect hidden or invisible creatures. When casting a spell in this way, the trainer’s monster draws any attacks of opportunity, not the trainer himself. The trainer can still cast defensively, and must still make a concentration check if damaged while casting as though he were hit.

The monster trainer spell list provides a full list of spells that can be granted by monsters. It also acts as a reference for class or archetype abilities that grant specific spells beyond those granted by monsters. Alternatively, the trainer spells by monster list offers a fast way to learn what a trainer would need to capture to gain access to a particular spell.

Monster Training

Every monster trainer knows and can cast the capture monster spell at will. A 1st level monster trainer has already either captured his first monster or been given one by a mentor such as a Monster researcher.

Once a monster has been captured, it can be called upon during battle. Calling upon a monster requires a move action identical to drawing a weapon, except that the trainer doesn’t need a +1 Base Attack to call upon his monster while moving. A monster trainer with the Quick Draw feat and at least a +1 base attack can call upon a monster as a free action instead. Calling the monster back is also a move action equivalent to sheathing a weapon. You cannot call upon a monster with a higher CR than your level.

Calling upon a monster is a strenuous act that prevents an inexperienced monster trainer from calling upon more than one while in combat. Trainers with the monster companion feat can circumvent this since their monster does not return to their essence while inactive.

Unlike a Wizard’s familiar or a Druid’s animal companion, the trainer’s monster does not gain its own actions during combat. When first called into battle, the monster appears within 10 ft. of its trainer. The monster can then either finish its move action less the distance already moved by its trainer or use any other actions its trainer still has available for the round. On subsequent rounds, the trainer must use his own actions to direct his monster on a one-for-one basis.

When he calls his active monster back into his essence, any damage it was dealt while active is transferred to the trainer and the monster is healed. This works as the heal spell, but the monster’s hit points are restored to full. If his monster is ever reduced to 0 hit points, it returns to the trainer's essence as a free action. Damage dealt to the trainer in this way cannot reduce his hit points to less than –1. If the trainer is ever reduced to 0 or fewer hit points while his monster is active it can continue to act until combat ends or it is reduced to 0 hit points, at which point it returns to his essence. If the trainer dies, his monsters remain bound to his soul, and only the strongest of spells (miracle, wish, etc...) can free them.

Eschew Materials

A monster trainer gains Eschew Materials as a bonus feat at 1st level.

Trainer Aura (Ex)

The alignment displayed by the monster trainer’s aura can be misleading because it is affected by the monsters he has captured. A creature observing the trainer’s aura will see a muddled mix of alignments, though often one will stand out more prominently, such as when a trainer captures a majority of evil monsters. Anybody attempting to detect a trainer’s alignment requires a number of additional rounds equal to one-half the trainer’s level (minimum 1) to do so.

The trainer determines the exact visual nature of his aura. For example, the trainer’s aura can appear to be a swirl of energy around his head or a pouch of orbs at his waist containing each monster he’s captured. The trainer can make his aura visible, though it provides no mechanical benefit to do so.

Favored Enemy (Ex)

After the monster trainer has captured a monster of a particular type (see Table: Ranger Favored Enemies), he gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against creatures of that type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against them. A trainer may make Knowledge skill checks untrained when attempting to identify these creatures. The monster trainer’s favored enemy bonus never increases without a trainer perk or levels in another class that gains this feature.

Monster Growth (Ex)

Starting at 2nd level, when he gains a new trainer level, the monster trainer can improve one of the monsters he has already captured. This process, called growth, allows the trainer to keep his monsters relevant for longer periods of time. Not every monster is able to grow in this way. If the trainer doesn’t have a monster that can grow at a given level, he can hold onto this ability until he captures a compatible monster or reaches a high enough level to help one or more of his monsters grow.

Monster growth allows a trainer to choose a monster with a similar heritage to a monster he captured previously and begin using that monster instead. This change is generally permanent, so trainer's are always encouraged to think carefully before making such a decision.

Monsters that grow include:

• Monsters that share a name (formian, gremlin, water dog)
• Demons can become other demons of a higher CR (but not higher than your level).
• Devils can become other devils of a higher CR (but not higher than your level).
• Dragons do not grow into each other; but they can age (wyrmling through great wyrm).

Spell Familiarity

At 2nd level, a monster trainer chooses one spell granted to him by a monster he has captured. He can now cast that spell regardless of the monster he has active. At the time he gains these new spells, the monster trainer can also swap a previous spell gained with Spell Familiarity for another of the same level. He gains a new spell familiarity at 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, and 19th level.

Empathy (Ex)

A monster trainer can improve the attitude of any monster type he counts as a favored enemy. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check made to improve the attitude of a person. The trainer rolls 1d20 and adds his monster trainer level and his Charisma modifier to determine the empathy check result.

The typical monster has a starting attitude of indifferent, while more feral monsters are usually unfriendly at best.

To use empathy, the trainer and the monster must be able to study each other, which means that they must be within 30 feet of one another under normal conditions. Generally, influencing a monster in this way takes 1 minute but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.

Talented Trainer

The trainer is able to use the special attacks, defenses, and abilities of his active monster, provided those abilities have an immediate effect on combat. Most afflictions, curses, diseases, and poisons are not gained with talented trainer.

At 3rd level, the trainer gains access to the spell-like abilities of his active monster. At 7th level, he can use its supernatural abilities as well. Finally, at 11th level, he gains the monster’s extraordinary abilities.

The trainer and his monster share any limitations of abilities. For example, if the trainer uses his dragon’s breath weapon, he and the monster must both wait 1d4 rounds before one of them can use it again. Self only abilities on a monster can only be used by the monster and only while it is active.

Trainer Perk

At 4th level, the trainer gains a perk that he can use whenever he has any monster active. When the trainer gains a new perk, choose from the following list. Some perks are better while specific monsters are active, but all should be usable at any time. He gains a new trainer perk at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level.

A complete listing of trainer perks can be found here: Trainer Perks

Shared Senses

Starting at 5th level, the monster trainer and his active monster share their senses, including blindsight, darkvision, low-light vision, scent, tremorsense, and true seeing.

Great Trainer (Ex)

A 9th level monster trainer gains a +2 bonus to the save DC of his capture monster spell.

Temporary Control (Sp)

Beginning at 10th level, the monster trainer can cast charm monster as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. The spell only works on creatures he can capture and lasts only up to 1 round per level. The trainer cannot have another monster active when using temporary control.

Channel Monster (Ex)

In addition to the spells he can cast with spell familiarity, a 13th level monster trainer has mastered the ability to retain a small selection of spells even while he has no active monster. To use channel monster, the trainer must first rest for 8 hours. The same rules that apply to a wizard preparing spells (rest and recent casting limit/rest interruptions) apply to the trainer in this regard.

After resting, the trainer can choose a single monster he has captured. He gains the ability to cast all spells that monster grants him, even if he has another monster active. The trainer cannot cast these spells through his active monster.

Swap Monster (Ex)

Starting at 15th level, the monster trainer can exchange his active monster for another he has captured during battle. The active monster must be within 30 ft. of the trainer for him to use this ability.

The new monster appears within the trainer’s usual range of 10 ft. (or 30 ft. with the right perk). The trainer then decides if he will suffer the damage dealt to his previous monster or apply it to his new active monster instead. For example, if the trainer calls a monster back that has been dealt 40 damage during battle, he can either take 40 damage or deal 40 damage to his new monster. This damage is dealt all at once and cannot be prevented, but it can be healed either naturally or with magic after the fact.

Master Trainer (Ex)

When the monster trainer reaches 17th level, he learns a special secret that has eluded most trainers their entire lives. He can now capture a single monster without any saves or checks. He can do this once, and the monster must still be one he is able to capture.

Each time the trainer gains a new trainer level beyond 17th, he gains a new charge of master trainer. To use this charge, the trainer must first set free the monster he captured with the ability previously. He is then free to seek out another monster to capture instead. If able, the dismissed monster returns to the location from which it was captured, traversing planes to do so if it must. If it is unable to return, the monster instead appears in a space adjacent to the trainer and is free to do as it wishes.

Cunning monsters previously captured with master trainer may sometimes seek the trainer out once more in order to punish him for capturing them in the first place.

The Monster Within (Ex)

Rather than summon a monster at 20th level, a monster trainer can transform himself into a version of that monster instead. This ability works in all ways like the shapechange spell, except as noted here.

• The trainer can only become a monster he has captured.
• The trainer counts as his own active monster for the purpose of available spells, other effects, and abilities.

The trainer can use this ability 3 times per day, and he cannot have a monster active while doing so.

Favored Class Bonuses

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, some races have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored classes. The following options are available to the listed race who have monster trainer as their favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the listed favored class reward.

Archetypes & Alternate Class Features

When a character selects a class, he must choose to use the standard class features found or those listed in one of the archetypes presented here. Each alternate class feature replaces a specific class feature from its parent class. For example, the elemental fist class feature of the monk of the four winds replaces the stunning fist class feature of the monk. When an archetype includes multiple class features, a character must take all of them—often blocking the character from ever gaining certain familiar class features, but replacing them with equally powerful options. All of the other class features found in the core class and not mentioned among the alternate class features remain unchanged and are acquired normally when the character reaches the appropriate level (unless noted otherwise). A character who takes an alternate class feature does not count as having the class feature that was replaced when meeting any requirements or prerequisites.

A character can take more than one archetype and garner additional alternate class features, but none of the alternate class features can replace or alter the same class feature from the core class as another alternate class feature. For example, a paladin could not be both a hospitaler and an undead scourge since they both modify the smite evil class feature and both replace the aura of justice class feature. A paladin could, however, be both an undead scourge and a warrior of the holy light, since none of their new class features replace the same core class feature.

Archetypes are a quick and easy way to specialize characters of a given class, adding fun and flavorful new abilities to already established adventurers. The monster trainer class has several sub-categories of archetypes.

Table: Archetypes / Alternate Class Features

Archetype / Alternate Class Feature	Class Features Changed or Replaced
	HD/ BAB	Weapon & Armor	Spells										Monster Training	Eschew Materials	Favored Enemy	Monster Growth	Spell Familiarity	Trainer Perks	Great Trainer	Temporary Control	Channel Monster	Master Trainer	The Monster Within
			0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Paizo
-
3rd Party Publishers
Northwinter Press
Monster Auror																	X		X			X	X
Monster Breeder													C			C	X		X		X
Monster Gambler															C		X		X
Monster Performer										X	X	X						X
Monster Researcher	C	C															C				C
Monster Scout	C	C	X					X	X	X	X	X					C
X=replaced, (X)=optionally replaced, C=changed, 1=archetype package 1, 2=archetype package 2