I'm building a human noble character for an upcoming kingmaker campaign. He was initially conceived as a cavalier, but I'm imagining him as a rather irresponsible/lackadaisical character with a solid education as well as decent combat training. I think bard is a better fit for him.
I'm more concerned with martial ability than spellcasting, but CHA needs to be high for his role in the kingdom (and to fit his character concept). I'm leaning toward multiclassing to get lance/longbow/breastplate proficiencies and possibly 4 levels of Dragon Disciple to beef up his martial prowess. He's not taking paladin levels because it just doesn't fit the concept.
I'm currently thinking of the following build:
20 point buy:
Str: 17 (7) (includes +2 racial mod)
Dex: 12 (2)
Con: 12 (2)
Int: 13 (3)
Wis: 7 (-4)
Cha: 16 (10)
Bard 2/Fighter 1/Bard 4/Dragon Disciple 4/Bard 15. (Yes, taking fighter first is optimal for max HP, but I want him to start with more skills to reflect his education. It's an RP choice.)
Feats:
1: Mounted Combat, Ride-by Attack
3: Spirited Charge, Arcane Strike (Fighter bonus feat)
5: Power Attack
7: Leadership, Improved Initiative (Bloodline bonus feat)
9: Vital Strike
11: Weapon Focus (Lance)
13: Dazzling Display
15: Improved Vital Strike
17: Intimidating Prowess
19: ?
Level Stat ups: 4 Str, 8 Int, 12 Wis, 16 Cha, 20 Cha
Unmodified stats at 20: 22 Str, 12 Con, 12 Dex, 14 Int, 8 Wis, 18 Cha.
Any comments/suggestions/improvements? Also, should I burn my cohort on a mount or stick with mundane, then phantom steeds?
I'm playing a combat bard now - it is GREAT!
I would drop the Int or even Cha down a little, and get that wisdom up to at least an 8. Taking the fighter level is great, and you might want to consider Eldritch knight as well.
You could also stay mobile with Expeditious Retreat and Dodge and Mobility at the lower levels, then add the mounted stuff as you advance and better mounts become available.
Heroism is a 2nd level bard spell.
I'm playing a combat bard now - it is GREAT!
I would drop the Int or even Cha down a little, and get that wisdom up to at least an 8. Taking the fighter level is great, and you might want to consider Eldritch knight as well.
You could also stay mobile with Expeditious Retreat and Dodge and Mobility at the lower levels, then add the mounted stuff as you advance and better mounts become available.
Heroism is a 2nd level bard spell.
My big issue with EK for this build is the lack of skill points. Higher level bardic powers aren't that big of a draw, but passing up on 6 skill points per level would be really painful.
My thought was to replace DD with EK. Same skill points, and you get full BAB, a bonus feat, and you could qualify for all kinds of fighter only feats that might grant more benefit then the Str increase from DD.
The more I think about it, your best option is to take a couple of fighter levels, then go straight bard.
Have you checked out the Pathfinder Chronicler prestige class? 8 Skill points per level, and lots of synergy with the bard.
Alternately, ditch the lance, go with a whip. You got proficiency in it, after all. Learn phantom steed to serve as your mount. Ride around the battle field just out of reach, whipping enemies around the legs and happy birthday to the ground. Taunting them while he does it, at that.
DD works well, but avoid Pathfinder Chronicler at all costs. It's a terrible trap.
Alternately, ditch the lance, go with a whip. You got proficiency in it, after all. Learn phantom steed to serve as your mount. Ride around the battle field just out of reach, whipping enemies around the legs and happy birthday to the ground. Taunting them while he does it, at that.
DD works well, but avoid Pathfinder Chronicler at all costs. It's a terrible trap.
Not going to have a terribly good CMB with all the MAD. Also, I want his melee combat to be more traditional. I envision him as a classically trained and educated noble. He's going to still be skirmishing across the battlefield with his ride-by attacks and using his spells for control on the sidelines.
I've read treantmonk's guide, but I'm looking to do things slightly different.
Anyone have any ideas on cohorts and thoughts on whether phantom steed is good enough for a primarily mounted combat build?
I don't think that Phantom Steed is that great of an idea, honestly.
It might only be my impression of the spell entry, but according to the line:
"It does not fight, but animals shun it and refuse to attack it."
I get the impression that it may not be considered to be combat-trained. Of course, if it is considered combat-trained, then I'd go for it, certainly. You also don't gain access to it until Bard 7, so if you want to use a normal horse to start with until you get to that point, then heed the following advice:
Just remember that you're going to have to deal with that annoying ACP on Ride all the time now, so depending on what level you wanted to start fighting on horseback at, you might even face negative modifiers to Ride at ~1st-2nd level depending on your gear.
A Shield + Medium armor may do a fair job of screwing over your Ride check to make it very difficult to have a decent modifier for awhile.
I won't be using medium armor until I can get a mithral breastplate for no casting penalties. A mithral breastplate has a ACP of -1 or 0 depending on whether you think the masterwork quality stacks or not. Mithral heavy shield also has no penalty. The fighter level gives me Ride as a class skill so at third level the -3 from a chain shirt and light shield are effectively negated. That said, maybe dropping int and strength by a point and upping dex to 14 is in order.
As far as the phantom steed spell, I'm thinking the "it doesn't fight" line means it gets no attacks. It's not a real animal, it's a conjuration creation spell. That means you make the thing, it's not some shadowy creature you just summon. That makes me think you've got complete control over it and it doesn't need tricks to take you into combat. My biggest worry about the steed is it's lack of hitpoints.