So I am making a level 4 pouncing charger with access to two feats and roughly 1000 gp (though 4000 gp could be used if the option is important). It will gain feats as it levels up, and it is already pretty useful, so no rush.
What kind of feats, weapons, and items are good for a non-mounted charger? Since it doesn't even start with a proficiency, any weapon is allowed.
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Also, during a charge, can both you and your mount attack?
As in, a character that uses the pounce ability to charge and full attack stuff, not a specific class.
So basically, what kind of stuff is good for charging? (On foot, not mounted)
As in, a character that uses the pounce ability to charge and full attack stuff, not a specific class.
So basically, what kind of stuff is good for charging? (On foot, not mounted)
You have to be a bit more specific than that. AFAIK, no character gets pounce at level 4. There'd be no point, as player characters generally (emphasis on generally) only have one attack at that point, 2 if the are TWF. So, be a little more specific on your build.
Ah, it's a quadraped Eidolon with limbs and pounce evolutions, but I am investing enough that it can basically use anything a PC could use.
It has a buncha natural attacks along with a manufactured weapon, and haste only gives an extra attack after a full attack.
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If you're tight on evolution points (and if you use weapons you probably are) use the simple weapon proficiency feat rather than the evolution.
Morningstar for your main hand weapon (two handed) and cestuses for your off hand weapons. Cestuses have low base damage (unarmed strike) but an amulet of mighty fist or greater magic fang spell will help your both your cestus attacks and natural attacks ... which compensates.
Power attack is a given, maybe furious focus.
Simple weapon proficiency seems wasteful when the eidolon could take exotic weapon proficiency instead.
Also, a cestus is not an unarmed strike, so it would not benefit from an amulet of mighty fists.
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Also, during a charge, can both you and your mount attack?
Here are the rules on mounted combat: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/combat#TOC-Mounted-Combat
When you are mounted, both you and your mount get your own set of actions every round. If your mount charges, it gets a single attack at the end of its charge. Due to the fact that you and your mount take your actions at the same time and you have to wait for your mount to move before you can attack, your character also gets a single attack at the end of the charge.
If your mount has pounce, then it gets all of its attacks and you get one. If you have pounce, you still only get one attack, because your mount is the one charging, not you, although you do get the attack bonus & AC penalty from your mount's charge.
If you are looking for Eidolon builds, this is my suggestion. Get a pair of arms if you haven't already. I suggest getting Two set of claws, increase their damage and get reach as well rend. This will give you something better than rake, as the 2nd set of claws benefit from the improvement in damage and rend. I would also suggest purchasing the feat Improved Natural Attack
Also I suggest any of the evolutions that add effects and damage to your natural attacks such as Magic Attacks and Energy Attacks evolutions.
This with pounce will get you some really nice effects on multiple attacks at a range after a charge. It is expensive, but in my opinion well worth it.
P.S. Correct me if I am wrong, but Reach: Claws evolution does apply to all claw attacks correct?
You can choose to charge if your mount charges -- either way you still take the -2 penalty to AC and get the +2 bonus to hit. The difference is the full round action spent -- if you charge with your mount then you can't use cleave, vital strike, or whatever you have. If you don't charge then you can use those abilities, and still have your own move action left for the round (to get out a potion for example).
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Do you have a source for that last bit? I can see where you're coming from, but the text of feats like ride-by attack and spirited charge make it sound like you (the character) are also considered to be using the charge action, which makes me think you would get the full attack.
I think the text is pretty clear. First:
Your mount acts on your initiative count as you direct it. You move at its speed, but the mount uses its action to move.
So while you and your mount get your own sets of actions, when the two of you move, it uses its move action. You can still use your move and standard actions independently, or you could use a full-round action to case a spell with a 1 round casting time or making a full attack with a ranged weapon. The only reason you can't full attack with a melee weapon is because it then specifically says you can't:
If your mount moves more than 5 feet, you can only make a single melee attack.
But, the question here is about charging. I won't quote all of the rules for charging, but in the mounted combat section, it says:
If your mount charges, you also take the AC penalty associated with a charge. If you make an attack at the end of the charge, you receive the bonus gained from the charge.
Charging is a full-round action, and it's pretty explicit here that your mount is the one taking the action. If your mount takes that action, you get an AC penalty from it. If you attack -- note that it says if, so you don't even have to attack if your mount charges -- you also get the bonus. I will, however, go back and quote this from the section on charging:
You must move before your attack, not after. You must move at least 10 feet (2 squares) and may move up to double your speed directly toward the designated opponent.
Your character is not actually moving; his position is fixed with regard to the surface he's on (your mount). It's the same as if he was on top of, say, a Floating Disk that a wizard was directing to move.
If that wasn't the case, and your character was taking the charge action, that combined with the previous text about getting the penalty & bonus from your mount's charge would mean that your character would end up with a total of -4/+4, which would just be weird.
The rules don't explicitly mention it, but in addition, there's no reason why your mount couldn't charge and you could do a full attack with a ranged weapon at the same time. Getting +2 on all of your ranged attacks while your mount is charging seems a little silly, though, so I'd probably also tack on the -4 you'd also get from your mount taking a double move. Similarly, you'd be dealing with vigorous motion for the purpose of anything that required concentration (like casting a spell).
As for things like ride-by attack and spirited charge... I think that those are just poorly written. I've seen a lot of arguments about them.
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So can the mounted skirmisher feat be used to approximate a pounce, assuming you meet the conditions? I read older threads discussing it where they came to the conclusion that the character could not full attack with mounted skirmisher when the mount charges, but I don't understand the why unless the character is considered to be charging as well, and has thus is already using his actions.
Personally, I'd be fine with that. The feat has some pretty high prerequisites and you're still limited to only moving your mount's normal move speed, so you don't have as much range as a normal charge.
I can see how somebody could interpret that a different way, though, since it says "If your mount moves...", and charging is not a normal move action. It'd be nice to have an official statement as to the intent of that feat, though. (actually, I don't know if there is an official word, I've never felt the need to go look it up)