So, I'm starting to play in a Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign that we intend to keep going for a while, and I decided I wanted to play a character going into the Hellknight PrC, found here http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/e-h/hellknight
As I'm the only heavy frontline combatant (the rest of the party consisting of a magus, an archery ranger, a ninja, a healing cleric, and a transmuter wizard), I figured I'd be best served to do some sort of sword and board build, to be a better 'tank'.
Unfortunately, most of the fighter guides I've read through assume going straight fighter, with the massive feat advantage that brings. As I'll only be going 5 levels of fighter, at least till level 15, I need to come up with an effective build.
30 point buy, human fighter, open to pretty much anything on the SRD, and 1 trait to play with (the other being a story trait.)
Most of the sword and board guides advocate TWF with a sword and a light spiked shield (since heavy spiked shield give large hit penalties). But is there any reason I can't reverse that, instead using a heavy spiked shield and a light melee weapon (essentially exchanging +1 average damage for +1 AC, if I assume using shortsword over longsword)? Also, I'd like to make some utilization of Intimidate, for obvious RP reasons. Cornugon Smash is an awesome feat, but would I be able to support TWF as well as a Dazzling Display and/or Cornugon Smash chain with my more limited feats available? Antagonize also strikes me as a potent feat, to encourage enemies to go after me instead of the squishies.
Thoughts or suggestions?
Don't focus on being a fighter?
Variouse Hellknight class features work off Charisma, either for the DC to resist or determine the number of times per day.
Look at a paladin optimization guide to better have an idea for stat spreads. If you still plan on going the fighter route, then you might have some miss-matched stats until you hit lvl6 and take your first level in Hellknight, but with 30 point buy, you should do fine with a smart stat spread.
Another suggestion I would have (and had some pretty good success with) would be to go Paladin. Taking the Warrior of the Holy Light Subclass so your neutered spell progression becomes less of a big deal, and if your DM allows for multiples the Oath of Vengeance to increase the number of Smite Evils you get (and share with the party). You also get the option of smiting on two different axises, Chaos or Evil, which is neat.
However, playing a Paladin isn't everyone's cup of tea, if that's the case I'll have to think on it a little more. Hellknights are cool, and if your DM gets in on the fluff, can have some great out of combat things happen as well.
The downside to Paladin is the strict Lawful Good alignment requirement, while a Hellknight (at least how I'm imagining it) is much more Lawful Neutral, but with the same zeal as a paladin. I chose Hellknight specifically for the roleplaying challenge of a character utterly devoted to law.
My stat spread thus far:
Str 18
Dex 16
Con 14
Int 8
Wis 14
Cha 12
I'm figuring for feats I'll go Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Shield Bash, and Intimidating Prowess at level 1, Power Attack at 2, Double Slice at 3, Iron Will at 4, Antagonize at 5, and possibly delay Hellknight so I can pick up a feat at Fighter 6 for Cornugon Smash. Not sure where else to go from there.
Stat spread looks fine. may be swith Cha with Wis to have a better smite, but Will is important, and for whatever reason Hellknight has poor will progression.
Talk to your DM about antagonize at length. As written it can totally ruin their day, and the last thing you want is a knee-jerk rulling that potentially neuters the feat. Especially since it sounds like you'll be focusing on the intimidate version of the feat. Depending on how they rule, you may change your mind on wanting it in your build.
Cornugon Smash is great, and adds nice flavor to your soon to be hell knight, I'd suggest getting it before Iron will actually, but that's my personal preference.
Also, which order abilities will you be taking?
nitpick:
Lawful Good is not a downside
/nitpick
I was contemplating switching Wisdom and Charisma, because with Bravery, Iron Will, and the Hellknight bonuses to certain will saves, I should be fine. I'm going Order of the Nail, but Onslaught is a decent ability, if highly situational. I'd take Cornugon Smash earlier if I could, but it requires 6 ranks in Intimidate. It also synergizes well with the Fearsome ability that allows me to render an enemy frightened instead of shaken when I intimidate. With the way fear effects stack, I can render an enemy panicked in two hits. I'll have to talk to him about Antagonize, but if I can't take it, Combat Reflexes would be a good one to pick up, considering my 16 dex, and panicked enemies wanting to run away from me and provoking AoO's in the process. I wish I had the feats to fit in Dazzling Display, if only for the AoE intimidate. I may end up building up to it, but it'll be a late-comer in levels.
Wait Wut? I thought the Order of the Nail in CoCT was a bad idea for the adventure path because of events that occur in the AP. The warning was in either the first or second book.
I could be confusing it with Council of Theives though.
If I'm wrong, Onslought sounds great, since the incrased STR also boost intimidate, making you an even scarier dude.
If I'm right, Censor, Pentamic Faith(Picking Magic), and Shackle are pretty nice alternatives, even if they don't synergize as well with the rest how your building your hellknight
Also, intimidate induced fear effects do no progress, they only incrase the durration of the effect. At least that's the way I understand it.
Dazzling Display + Fearsomeness would break the game, in the best way possible. That idea is just too deliciouse not do.
I haven't actually read the AP, so I wouldn't know. I just know that the Order of the Nail is the local Hellknight order in Korvosa, so I figured it made the most sense. All the order abilities are decent, if situational. I wish I could pick up Fearsomeness earlier. And even if I don't panic enemies, making them all frightened is still pretty potent. Dazzling Display is awesome, but sadly I wouldn't be able to get up to Deadly Stroke, because it requires Greater Weapon Focus, which requires Fighter 8. At that point, I might just go as far as Dazzling Display, and not bother with Shatter Defenses, as making enemies flat footed to me has no real benefit beyond slightly lower AC.
Sounds like you've got a good hold on how this Hellknight will play out then.
I wish you the best of luck in your adventures.
There's a warning in the Council of Thieves APPG about not playing one of a particular order, but I didn't see one for Curse of the Crimson Throne.
Hell knight is now a 10 level class in the new book.
I think it in Inner see guild.
Yeah, I noticed the class update as I flipped through the Inner Sea World Guide. It means that I'll have 5 more levels of fighter to play around with at some point in my progression, which is nice.
I don't think anyone addressed it, but yes you can wield a heavy shield and a light weapon with no additional two weapon penalties. The light weapon would be your offhand.