Okay, so the problem I have is the fact that I don't know if Barbarian's are allowed unusual mounts. I'm not sure if that's limited to Druid's only.
Either way, I've made my next character build with a huge focus on life, strength and natural armour (with Invulnerable Rager Archetype, a little Dex and weak armour, because hopefully life will be my key to survival here), but would like him to have the option of fighting in combat on a mount.
This is due to his back story I've got in mind and the animal I'd like is a Tiger.
I'm not entirely sure how much this would change my build because I'm actually pretty happy with what I've come up with (doubt it's optimised as I make characters to a story usually, but hopefully survival rates are high for this guy), but I'd just like to see how viable an option it is.
Human
Str: 18
Dex: 12
Con: 15
Wis: 10
Int: 10
Cha: 11
Favoured Class: Barbarian, +1 HP per level
Weapon: Great Sword
Armour: Leather
Skills:
Climb - 8
Perception - 4
Ride - 5
Survival - 4
Heart of the Fields: Humans born in rural areas are used to hard labor. They gain a bonus equal to half their character level to any one Craft or Profession skill, and once per day they may ignore an effect that would cause them to become fatigued or exhausted. This racial trait replaces the skilled racial trait.
Invulnerable Rager
Some barbarians learn to take whatever comes their way, shrugging off mortal wounds with ease. These barbarians invite their enemies to attack them, and use pain to fuel their rage. An invulnerable rager has the following class features.
Invulnerability (Ex): At 2nd level, the invulnerable rager gains DR/— equal to half her barbarian level. This damage reduction is doubled against nonlethal damage. This ability replaces uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, and damage reduction.
Extreme Endurance (Ex): At 3rd level, the invulnerable rager is inured to either hot or cold climate effects (choose one) as if using endure elements. In addition, the barbarian gains 1 point of fire or cold resistance for every three levels beyond 3rd. This ability replaces trap sense.
Rage Powers: The following rage powers complement the invulnerable rager archetype: come and get me, guarded life, increased damage reduction*, inspire ferocity, reckless abandon, and renewed vigor*.
Feats:
1. Power Attack, Extra Rage
3. Raging Vitality
5. Extra Rage Power
7. Extra Rage
9. Improved Bull Rush
11. Greater Bull Rush
13. Toughness
15. Raging Deathblow
17. Extra Rage
19. Extra Rage
Powers:
1. Fast Movement
2. Rage Power - Knockback
4. Rage Power - Guarded Life
5. Rage Power - Powerful Blow
6. Rage Power - Crippling Blow
8. Rage Power - Renewed Vigor
10. Rage Power - Regenerative Vigor
12. Rage Power - Mighty Swing
14. Rage Power - Renewed Life
16. Rage Power - Strength Surge
18. Rage Power - Increased Damage Reduction
20. Rage Power - Increased Damage Reduction
Consider:
Surprise Accuracy (Ex): The barbarian gains a +1 morale bonus on one attack roll. This bonus increases by +1 for every 4 levels the barbarian has attained. This power is used as a swift action before the roll to hit is made. This power can only be used once per rage.
Unexpected Strike (Ex): The barbarian can make an attack of opportunity against a foe that moves into any square threatened by the barbarian, regardless of whether or not that movement would normally provoke an attack of opportunity. This power can only be used once per rage. A barbarian must be at least 8th level before selecting this power.
Renewed Life (Ex): While raging, the barbarian ignores the effect of one temporary negative level per four barbarian levels she has (maximum 5). Once per day, when a barbarian with temporary negative levels ends her rage, she can attempt saving throws to remove a number of negative levels equal to the number of levels she could ignore while raging. A barbarian must have the renewed vitality rage power and be at least 6th level before selecting this rage power.
Renewed Vitality (Ex): While raging, the barbarian ignores the effect of 1 point of ability penalty or damage per two barbarian levels she has (maximum 10). Once per day, when a barbarian with ability penalties or damage ends her rage, she can reroll a saving throw, if any, against an effect that imposed an ability penalty or dealt her ability damage. If successful, she removes an amount of ability penalty or damage equal to the amount she can ignore while raging. A barbarian must have the renewed vigor rage power and be at least 4th level before selecting this rage power.
Knockdown (Ex): Once per rage, the barbarian can make a trip attack against one target in place of a melee attack. If successful, the target takes damage equal to the barbarian's Strength modifier and is knocked prone. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Guarded Stance (Ex): The barbarian gains a +1 dodge bonus to her Armor Class against melee attacks for a number of rounds equal to the barbarian's current Constitution modifier (minimum 1). This bonus increases by +1 for every 6 levels the barbarian has attained. Activating this ability is a move action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Feats to Consider:
Mounted Combat
Enforcer
Improved Unarmed Strike
Thanks very much for the help!
You could theoretically Handle Animal to train up one. It would not advance with you, but it is an option.
You could theoretically Handle Animal to train up one. It would not advance with you, but it is an option.
Hmm, so for a first appearance, if I have handle animal, would it be worth asking my GM if I could come in with a Dire Tiger if it's not going to grow with me?
I could get around that by putting ranks into Handle Animal and Ride at level 1, then just going back to whatever skills I want to focus in afterwards.
Without taking the barbarian archetype that gives you a mount this is really a what does the dm consider an appropriate mount issue.this is where your tiger idea runs into a wall.
You basically need high handle animal and to convince your dm, you likely wont be doing it til having a tiger as a mount is appropriate.
The easiest rout is leadership, the mount is your cohort. Other than that not sure.
I doubt that a GM would allow a Dire Tiger at level 1. >.>
Ah, well he's a back-up character for Kingmaker, so if my level 3 guy does, he'll be replacing him. Not sure what to do about the mount though. I'd like him to come in with it, but if it costs the character too much, I'll just come in myself and focus on Handle Animal and Ride to make the most of it.
Thanks. :)
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Having thought about just how many horses have been killed in the exploration part of my Kingmaker hybrid campaign, I have an idea that might work.
Check with the DM to see if you could take Leadership at 7th level and have the Cohort be a mount. Then, you level the mount up with character levels. Your charisma's not in the tank and in a Kingmaker campaign, you should expect Great Renown and Base of Operations bonuses to your leadership score so you should reasonably expect to have a Level-2 cohort.
Thus:
A plain tiger is CR4 so to make a CR5 cohort, make him awakened (or not and house rule that an animal cohort can take character levels) and give him fighter or barbarian 1.
If you want to ditch the followers part of the feat, have them be part of the town guard or something specific to your character's kingdom role. The nice part about Kingmaker is you can handwave a bunch of this stuff.
At earlier levels, you could do handle animal etc., perhaps using the Young template to keep him in reasonable power-level ranges. It would take some work but I'd probably allow it and would probably allow the feat to be spent earlier to fit the character idea.
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You really don't need that much Extra Rage. Like really.
Short of using a cohort, four levels of cavalier would allow you to get a full hit die mount at level 7 with Horse Master.
Bar 1 Power Attack, Raging Vitality
Bar 2
Bar 3 Furious Focus
Cav 4
Cav 5 Extra Rage Power: Ferocious Mount
Cav 6
Cav 7 Horse Master
Actually, if you went with Order of the Sword and eight levels of cavalier, you would be able to add your mount's strength to your own while charging. Head up the Spirited Charge line and enjoy your raging lancer.
Cavaliers *can* ride animals other than horses with GM permission; see if your GM will let you ride a smilodon from the Glenebon Uplands once you pick up Horse Master.
Hmm, okay. Well, if I focused heavily in Handle Animal, could I instead have an Animal Companion that I may ride casually, but not in combat?
I don't really know how that would work and also, if I don't need a grand total of 34 rounds of Rage, I'm wondering what I should do instead? I've got pretty much all of the Rage Powers I feel will hugely benefit me, so would instead prefer to have stuff that ups my damage or AC.
Cavaliers *can* ride animals other than horses with GM permission; see if your GM will let you ride a smilodon from the Glenebon Uplands once you pick up Horse Master.
There's always the Beast Rider archetype, which really expands your mount selection.
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Cavaliers *can* ride animals other than horses with GM permission; see if your GM will let you ride a smilodon from the Glenebon Uplands once you pick up Horse Master.There's always the Beast Rider archetype, which really expands your mount selection.
Beast riders lose access to Expert Trainer, so they can't qualify for Horse Master.
Beast riders lose access to Expert Trainer, so they can't qualify for Horse Master.Cavaliers *can* ride animals other than horses with GM permission; see if your GM will let you ride a smilodon from the Glenebon Uplands once you pick up Horse Master.There's always the Beast Rider archetype, which really expands your mount selection.
They can still get Boon Companion, though, which is frequently good enough.
They can still get Boon Companion, though, which is frequently good enough.Beast riders lose access to Expert Trainer, so they can't qualify for Horse Master.Cavaliers *can* ride animals other than horses with GM permission; see if your GM will let you ride a smilodon from the Glenebon Uplands once you pick up Horse Master.There's always the Beast Rider archetype, which really expands your mount selection.
Depends on the build obviously, but yeah.
Besides, T-Rex as mount option. No further discussion is necessary.
Besides, T-Rex as mount option. No further discussion is necessary.
I thought only Druid's could have such high levelled creatures as mounts? :/
Hmm, sticking with my build as it is with Invulnerable Rager, if I spent two feats for mounted combat, what could I do to get such creatures as mounts I could easily handle? :/
I know you couldn't get a Smilodon (Dire Tiger) or T-Rex at level 1, but still, that's awesome. I wouldn't mind too much if it cost me two feats and Handle Animal, although that wouldn't be a class skill and I'd have no bonus in Charisma.
Trait: Savannah Child.
Problem solved. That trait is worth +4 to Handle Animal to you if you're single-classing Barbarian.
Besides, T-Rex as mount option. No further discussion is necessary.I thought only Druid's could have such high levelled creatures as mounts? :/
To quote the Beast Rider archetype:
"At 4th level, a Medium beast rider can also choose an allosaurus, ankylosaurus, arsinoitherium, aurochs, bison, brachiosaurus, elephant, glyptodon, hippopotamus, lion, mastodon, megaloceros, snapping turtle (giant), tiger, triceratops, or tyrannosaurus as his mount."
Trait: Savannah Child.
Problem solved. That trait is worth +4 to Handle Animal to you if you're single-classing Barbarian.
Sounds good, but is it worth it in Comparison to the Barbarian of the Society trait I've chosen as well as the fact that I'll be Barbarian only. I don't want to multi-class this guy at all and really need him to be an Invulnerable Rager for the concept I'm going for. :)