The Knight: Merging the Fighter and the Cavalier

[lonewolf23k]

As far as I'm concerned, there's enough overlap between the Fighter and the Cavalier, that it should be possible to merge the two classes into a single class. Especially seeing as both classes are heavily-armored warriors with access to all Martial Weapons. The only major difference between the two classes is a matter of focus: the Cavalier is focused on mounted combat and "seizing aggro", while the Fighter is more of a general fighting machine and weapons master.

Since the Fighter has access to Bonus Feats, how difficult could it be to replace some of those with the appropriate-level Cavalier class ability? Or perhaps turn those abilities into Feats?

[j b 200]

why don't you try a write up then we can help to refine it. It's your idea, so why don't you do some of the leg work.

[phantom1592]

Honestly... I don't see the need.

Like you said, the fighter gets the bonuses to heavy armor... they get the ride class skill... they get all the weapon a knight needs...

Unless you see the 'seizing Aggro' as INTEGRAL to the 'knight' concept... I'd say just use the Fighter.

Plate mail + sword/shield/lance... = knight.

At MOST I would say try to work up some kind of archtype for a few riding bonuses.. but I'm pretty sure all the Feats they get let them focus however they want ANYway...

[mem0ri]

The cavalier IS the knight. Knights generally rode on horseback. Knights had codes like the cavalier has a code.

You can easily build a knight with a fighter class ... but the cavalier class is specifically tailored to be a knight.

[ArgentumLupus]

"Knight" is a honorific, to be given for service or for swearing fealty to a lord or a cause. I would restrict any class with the word "Knight" in it to a prestige class, Like the Hell Knights or Eagle Knights. Being called a Knight should be something the players work for, not just get at first level.

[Puna'chong]

ArgentumLupus wrote:

"Knight" is a honorific, to be given for service or for swearing fealty to a lord or a cause. I would restrict any class with the word "Knight" in it to a prestige class, Like the Hell Knights or Eagle Knights. Being called a Knight should be something the players work for, not just get at first level.

I dunno, not every player starts out at level one as a bright-eyed young lad/lass ready to explore the world. Some of them can already be grizzled veterans. I know in the Eberron campaign setting almost every player has some kind of history in the Last War; the only difference between PCs and common soldiers is their luck and skill, and who's to say one of them hadn't been knighted from a 1st level warrior to then switch into ranks of fighter or cavalier?

[Thorkull]

Cavaliers are knights.

[ArgentumLupus]

Puna'chong wrote:

ArgentumLupus wrote:

"Knight" is a honorific, to be given for service or for swearing fealty to a lord or a cause. I would restrict any class with the word "Knight" in it to a prestige class, Like the Hell Knights or Eagle Knights. Being called a Knight should be something the players work for, not just get at first level.

I dunno, not every player starts out at level one as a bright-eyed young lad/lass ready to explore the world. Some of them can already be grizzled veterans. I know in the Eberron campaign setting almost every player has some kind of history in the Last War; the only difference between PCs and common soldiers is their luck and skill, and who's to say one of them hadn't been knighted from a 1st level warrior to then switch into ranks of fighter or cavalier?

The player should still work for it. Even if s/he's already Knighted at first level, then they need to put some work into a back story to make it happen. Either way, make them earn their supp... I mean, Knighting.

[ArgentumLupus]

Thorkull wrote:

Cavaliers are knights.

So is Sir Patrick Stewert and Sir Ian McKellen. :)

[Tim4488]

Well now I know my next two character concepts.

[karlbadmanners]

Cavalier comes from the French word Chevalier, which translates into English as: Knight.

[Orthos]

lonewolf23k wrote:

Since the Fighter has access to Bonus Feats, how difficult could it be to replace some of those with the appropriate-level Cavalier class ability? Or perhaps turn those abilities into Feats?

Everything else aside, this pretty much covers it. Let the fighter trade his Bonus Feats for appropriate-level Cavalier abilities. He loses out on the versatility of Fighters getting all the feats (all of them!) but gets the Cavalier's "paint a bullseye on my forehead" tanking abilities and other tricks while keeping the Fighter's Bravery, Weapon and Armor Training, etc. Problem solved. =)