Scars's page

Ok, Worked out a sword and board build that looks really fun. Built using the human race for the extra feat. Only slower as a build using other races.
Feats- 1st- Two weapon fighting, Improved shield bash, Power Attack
2nd- Shield Focus
3rd- Free slot (see below for a few alt builds using this slot)
4th- Double Slice (plus weapon training in main hand)
5th- Free Slot
6th- Improved two weapon fighting (BAB TWF- +5/+4/0/-1)
7th- Shield Slam (Free bull rush with shield hits)
8th- Greater Shield focus
9th- Free Slot (Weapon training Main hand +2 and Close for Shield)
10th- Hammer the Gap (+1 dam/hit- +0/+1/+2/+3/+4= +10 if all hit)
11th- Shield Master (BAB TWF- +11/+12/+6/+7/+3)
12th- Greater Two weapon fighting (+12/+13/+7/+8/+3/+4)
13th- Two Weapon Rend (adds 1d10 + 1 1/2 str once/round)
14th- Weapon Focus (Main Hand weapon)
15th- Iron Will
16th- Weapon Focus (Shield of choice)
17th- Improved Iron Will
18th- Weapon Specialization (Main hand)
19th- Weapon Specialization (Shield)
20th- Free Slot/ Penetrating Strike (ignores 5 DR)
at 20th level your unadjusted BAB will be- +23/+24/+18/+19/+13/+14/+10
Every other attack will allow a free bull rush using your attack roll as your CMB giving great battle field control.

Using your free slots you have huge versatility for customization to your tastes, for instance-
Alt #1- go at least for a non-penalizing charisma
3rd- Antagonize [Standard action Diplomacy/Intimidate check to draw opponents to you. using Diplomacy (take Ease of Faith or World Traveler traits to make diplomacy +1 and a class skill) gives a 10% failure chance to opponents spells if they don't target you, with a one minute duration makes them suck or save for once!]
5th- Fast Learner (Advanced Races gives two of +1 HP, +1 Skill point or +1 CMD bonus vs two combat maneuvers- target trip and disarm. Falling in combat can be lethal, as well as loosing your weapons. This will stack quickly)
9th- Improvisation (+2 on skill checks with zero ranks, can use all skills untrained. Suddenly not a lump outside of combat lol)
13th- Greater Improvisation (+4 on skill checks with zero ranks, and 1/2 penalty for non proficient weapons which will probably never be used)
14th-20th, feats are simply bumped down the line.

Why? Always think battle field control. Keeping the bosses focused on you is your job, making them hurt if they don't is gravy. That disintegrate spell that just failed? wow from a level 3 feat lol. Maybe- maybe not but could help in a pinch.

Alt #2
alternatively you can chase DR from Stalwart. a Half Orc build can net you Endurance and Die Hard for free, but you loose the human bonus feat at first- which I'd suggest pushing power attack until a bit later
1st- Combat expertise instead of power attack
3rd- endurance
5th- diehard (don't use in combat! can be a death trap)
9th- Stalwart (using combat expertise trade dodge bonus for DR, stacks with other class abilities such as from the Armor Master Archtype- however you loose all Weapon Training as a trade. DR 3/- at 5th, using Stalwart at 9th- BAB- +9/+4; TWF- +7/+7/+2/+2; TWF and Combat Expertise= =+4/+4/-1/-1 gives DR 6/-; TWF, Combat Expertise, and Fight Defensively-+2/+2/-3/-3 giving DR 9/-. Hurts to give up so many bonuses but can save you in a pinch)

Obviously with a bunch of free slots you can customize as you like. Adding Critical focus, using rapier/scimitar and improved crit (crit on 15+), adding bleeding critical (an extra 2d6 damage) with two weapon rend (1d10 + 1 1/2 str)can net a lot of free damage. Remember base damage dice is unimportant. You want those crits. For instance at 13th level grab Improved crit vs two weapon rend netting you +14/+15/+9/+10+/+4/+5 with your main hand attacks having a crit chance at 25% of the time and the other half of your attacks free bull rushing you'll dominate!

Using Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack with Improved Trip lets you make a trip attack in place of a melee attack- potentially sweeping a crowd of adjacent enemies giving that lovely +4 to attack a prone enemy. Greater Trip with Combat reflexes gives you an attack of opportunity against each opponent tripped. Drop a feat into Viscous Stomp and you can hit them a second time for dropping prone. Great way to stack hits on boss types. You'll be loosing a ton of attacks of opportunity due to not enough dex bonus lol.

Anyway, fighters are super versatile if you keep battle field control in mind when building a character- have fun!

Ok, Basics. Lets use the KISS Principle, Keep It Simple Stupid (tut tut, that's Lawful Good, not Lawful Nice, lol)

There are two options available-

Option One- a basic horse from bestiary one using the Advanced Simple Template rebuild rules, then using the table 3-8 in the druid class to level it up.

Option Two- use the basic horse starting statistics of a druid companion and level it up normally without the advanced template.

For both options I will add the 4th level additional ability modifier to dexterity.

Option One
Str 21 Dex 20 Con 21 Int 6 Wis 17 Cha 11

Natural Armor bonus +4, BAB +3, HD 5d8+25, Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +4

Unarmored AC 18, Basic Attack- hoof/hoof/bite (1d6+5/1d6+5/1d4+5), total hit bonus +8/+8/+8

Option Two
Str 19 Dex 15 Con 17 Int 6 Wis 12 Cha 6

Natural Armor bonus +6, BAB +3, HD 5d8+15, For +7, Ref +6, Will +2

Unarmored AC 17, Basic Attack- hoof/hoof/bite (1d6+4/1d6+4/1d4+4), total hit bonus +7/+7/+7

As you can see by the basics the saves are quite a bit higher with option one, 10 more hit points and an additional +1 attack and damage bonus. But the natural armor bonus is better for option two, considering most Paladins are indeed in the thick of the fighting as the Tank in a party, armoring up your horse is a good idea, especially considering the 30 day mourning period.
Really, there isn't a need to get all worked up over which option you use, nor is there a need to create another errata to solve the problem. Talk it over with your group, I'm sure either one will be fine. It boils down to more hit points vs more AC. You decide!