| elghinn velkyn MASTER |
In this 13th level adventure, i change one part of NPCs fighter or warrior class in cavalier class.
16 cavaliers :
lvl 3 , half-orc , order of cockatrice , oath of loyalty , S16 D13 C15 I12 W10 Ch8 , breastplate ( AC 17 , 20 w/ aid ally* ) and greataxe masterwork (+8 , *or +11 w/ aid ally ; 1d12+7 +1d6 w/ challenge ) , glaive , shortbow-20 arrows ; feats : weapon focus , power attack and mounted combat ; skills : climb 2 , intimidate 3 , perception 2 , survival 2 , ride 1, bluff 2 , diplomacy 2 , handle animal 1.
Underground : without mount (waiting outdoor) .Cav attack the PC in two different side (8 x2).
PC :dwarf Barbarian lvl :14 , elf Wizard (evocator) lvl :13 , human Cleric lvl :13.
8 cavaliers on the side of W and C ,8 on babarian 's side .
Initiative W-C-Ca-B
-round 1 : W :cone of frost : 6 cav freezed, 2 out of area. C: Summon monster V (2 hound archons fight with two Ca out of area ,one versus one close to close)
Ca : two move actions on B ( 4 teams of 2 , no adjacent between 4 teams). B :one move in close to close with one Ca , raging , attacks and rolls « 1 » (no « whirlwind attack » feat).
-rd2 : W: waiting w/ magic missile spell . C move to help B , but B say « no ,human . It's my fight versus my ancestral's ennemy ! » . HA / Ca (challenge on HA ) : fight .
Ca on B :one move , 4 in close no adjacent between them and on the opposite side , surrounder the B, and 4 w/ glaive on rear using aid ally ( 2 w/ AC bonus and 2 w/ to hit bonus ) , adjacent to the ally ,out of weapon's range of B (but in 5-foot step close to B) , attack : 4 challenges and 4 touch (dmg = 14 , 18 , 13 , 25 ). B touch : one Cav dies (each touch by B = one dead )
-rd3 : C moves into figth HA vs Ca : one HA and Cav (by C) are dead .
Ca on B : aid ally changes to hit bonus only and one rear Ca goes to close to B without « aid ally » support . 3 touch (14 , 17 and one critical : 58 )
B : touch
Rd4 : HA touch : Cav dead .
Ca on B : 3 touch ( 19 , 23 , 20 ) . B rolls « 1 » and « 1 » (homerule : lost all attacks ) Bad time for dwarf B , gods of orc are here !! It's their land .
Rd 5 – 10 : Two Ca move in one new team , now 3 teams of 2 Ca for rd5 . After Ca have one dead each round . Rear Ca changes glaive to greataxe when come to close to B (dmg = 13 , 25 , 17 , 14 ) . When Ca lost their +3 to hit bonus (aid ally) , it's more difficult to hit . B touch each rd .
At the end , 14 hits ( +14d6 with challenge ) on B . dmg on B = 290 . DR = 4 for B so hit point lost = 234 . B's total HP = 211 , save by HP bonus rage and by heal spell cast by C .
Some times later , same encounter with 16 Fighters lvl 3 ( AC = 18 ) , same tactic on B .
W cast two fireball spells and C cast divine power spell .
Fight duration = 9 rounds . F 4 hits on B , dmg = 48 (critical) , 10 , 19 , 12 = 89. B's HP lost = 73 .
Another day , indoor « new » encounter with 16 cavaliers lvl 3 . Use same tactic on B , but Ca don't use glaive , greataxe only . 4 Ca are close to B , two use « aid ally » to hit bonus , two are in fight versus B , other 4 Ca are at 5-feet step or one move action on rear waiting to remplace dead Ca .
C cast summon monster = one great air elemental goes on 8 Ca.
Fight duration = 9 rounds . B rolls one « 1 » , one hit = one dead .
Ca on B : one hit each round , except rd 4 , 5 and 6 : 2 hits . 12 hits ( and +12d6 of challenge ) on B , total dmg = 232 ( no critical hit , dmg range 13 to 21 , severals 17-19) , HP lost = 184 .
Same tactics ( don't use glaive ) with 8 F3 on B . Duration = 8 rounds . 10 hits on B , dmg = 160 , HP lost = 120 .
My thought :
Challenge and order ability make the difference .Level 3 cavalier , in feet (without mount) , is better than fighter .
Challenge is too powerfull like this and stack with order ability . It should be scale like « weapon 's training » ( fighter's ability ) or use = 1 / 4 lvl or limit (lvl/2) challenge / day or no challenge at lower level or damage +1/3lvl and lvl/2 / day .
No bonus for ride checks when cavalier is mounted !!
I think that a bonus to attack roll when cavalier is mounted , will welcome , too . (And bonus to damage and AC scaled with level , cavalier training ability ??? ).
Some cavalier's abities should be :
- « take 10 » for ride checks .
- Bonus diplomacy chek = ½ lvl or +1 (at lvl 1 ) and +1/4 lvl .
- Reduce attack roll penality when mounted and fired with ranged weapons .
- Aerial mount accepted
Because no great difference between another class with mounted feat and cavalier .
New encounter : outdoor .16 cavaliers lvl 3 and 2 cavaliers lvl 9 , all mounted on giant wolf .
Lion's order, oath of vengeance : elf , dwarf , orc . Race : Hobgoblin.
Cav lvl9 : S16 D14 C15 I10 W9 Ch14 ; feats : weapon focus (longspear) , power attack , cleave , mounted combat , mounted archery , ride-by-attack , spirited charge .
Same equipment cavalier lvl3 except : +1 longspear , masterwork longsword (no greataxe and glaive) , masterwork Str+3 composite shortbow , +1 shield light wooden , +1 breastplate .
Initiative = W , Ca , B , C .
Range = 20 meters
rd 1 : W cast fireball spell on cohort , Ca save = failed (9 Ca lvl 3 burned ).Ca move action to PCs and Lion's call ( for Ca lvl 9 ) , firing with shortbow (cohort). B move action and waiting . C one move to Ca , cast divine power spell .
Rd 2 : W cast chain lightning spell on cohort ( 7 lvl 3 toasted .) One Ca charge on B(dwarf) + challenge (dmg = 48 +12 ) and other Ca charge on W (elf) ( dmg = 33 +12 ) . B and C no AO , no strike back ( C : out of range , B : no readying an action - forget).
rd 3 : W cast maximized magic missile spell on giant wolf (dmg = 25 ) . Ca , who charged B , charge W + For the King , no challenge ( dmg = 54 ) , and Ca , who charged W , charge C + For the King , no challenge ( dmg = 57 ) . B out of range , readying an attack action , move to C . C too late , readying an attack for the next round and move to close with B .
Rd 4 : W (HP = 15 ) dimensionnal door and drink cure potion , out of range for attack weapon and charge . Ca charges B , challenge + Lion's call effect ( dmg = 42 +10 ), other Ca charges C ( W out of range , no challenge on C) (dmg = 36 ) . B hits the wolf , Ca failed ride check = no dodge (dmg = 25 + 32 (2nd attack) , wolf is dead : 56 hp) . C hits the wolf , but first hit is dodged , (dmg = 16 + 13 ) .
rd 5 : W delay action . Ca , without mount , delay action . Ca with mount flees to inform his king . W cast magic missile on the wolf (dmg = 12 ). B move on Ca in feet , Ca hits B (dmg = 11+14 challenge) , B makes critical hit on the longspear (dmg = 66 ) , Cav 's AO (dmg = 13+9 challenge) .
C :no action .
Rd6 : W move to C . Ca firing arrows on C : failed and after out of sight . Ca use his sword (dmg = 10 + 17 challenge) + shield .B : 3 hits on Ca = dead .
Should be « expert trainer » changes into « expert rider » .
In the end of february , i shall playtest Cavalier lvl 14 mounted on wyvern , order of dragon .