Feats for Cavalier?

[Twoswords]

My group has very recently started a Kingmaker campaign and I decided to go into completely unknown waters and make a Cavalier. The idea of a figure charging ahead on her steed while in combat, but also being able to hold her ground within the realm of social interaction felt like the way to go.

Creating a human I placed my highest stat, as well as the stat bonus, into charisma and now have a very high value there, and she can still hold her own in a fight.

While I enjoy her high values in social interaction I have one area where I am still not certain what route to go and that is her feats. Does anyone have any good and logical suggestions? And yes, she will be using her mount a great deal.

[Indrajit]

How do the rest of your stats look?
Are you opposed to multiclassing/prestiging?
How are you planning on contributing in combat (what sort of weapon style)?
Which Order?
Did you choose any archetypes?

[Twoswords]

Indrajit wrote:

How do the rest of your stats look?

Are you opposed to multiclassing/prestiging?
How are you planning on contributing in combat (what sort of weapon style)?
Which Order?
Did you choose any archetypes?

Good questions.

1. Overall my stats are very solid due to the way we were told to roll up the characters (encounters are often beefed up while magic items run slightly lower to average it out).

2. I prefer not to multi-class/prestiging UNLESS it can be explained logically. For example: going from cavalier to fighter makes sense, but cavalier to suddenly take a level of wizard is just weird.

3. My contribution to combat will mainly be depending on where we fight. Outside encounters she will utilize her horse and her lance primarily, while in tighter quarters she will go with longsword and shield and try to position herself to support the party, especially through her teamwork feat Pack attack.

4. She belongs to the Order of the Sword as that was the one that was closest to her character concept.

5. No archetype chosen, she is straight from the book.

Oh, we are also only allowed Core, APG, UC, and UM for now, but we might be allowed other books as the campaign progresses and we gain more experience. Her traits give her +2 initiative and +1 will save (I know, somewhat boring but the more RP'ish traits I was after were in books not allowed :) ).

[Pendagast]

have you thought about battle herald PrC? with the high charisma this would be a natural extension for the character, get you some more versatility, and would require some feats to get into it.

Just an idea for future development.

[Twoswords]

The class does seem to have some merit towards how my character would be played, but it would also require a dip into Bard to gain "inspire courage" as far as I understand. It would feel a bit odd to suddenly gain specific abilities and spells without a good story to it. Hmm...may have to think about that one for a while and see if I want to work towards it.

However, does anyone have suggestions towards suitable feats as a cavalier?

[Pendagast]

are you going to two weapon fight?

[Rickmeister]

Mounted Combat > Keeps your horse alive
Combat expertise > Keeps you alive

These sound like the first I would take :)

[Pendagast]

Trick Riding, Mounted Combat, CE isnt bad, Combat reflexes, and eventually at level 14 take mounted skirmisher.
quick draw so you can drop your lance and attack with a sword if need be;
Having a quick draw shield would be interesting too, if you were going to do any switch hitting, a mounted archer could be very versatile.
Weapon focus and dazzling display are fun.

AS your Cavalier processes, some of the natural traits of the bard might just appear, prior to actually taking the level.
How do you explain a first level character suddenly getting the powers of a bard? Study, tutelage, practice.
Slow develop the abilities, practice with your face skills, learn as you go. Tell stories at the inn when the team is resting. Eventually when you need to, take the bard level and it will seem natural, because the only thing 'different' about your character would be the bard spell, which could come from simple study as well.
"hey guys look I got it right!"
Then the transition into battle herald is organic as well (which is where you character has always been heading anyway)
You dont even have to acknowledge you ARE a bard. As it's level simply represents your slow transformation into battle herald.
I would suggest Arcane Duelist as the best version of bard to take.
Emissary would have been the best cavalier archetype, IMO, but you would have needed to take that at level 1. but you could always talk to your GM...

Anyway, by taking the right feats and investing in and practicing certain skills as you level in cavalier, the bard level won't seem "poof".
Your character has always been rinding the battle field, coming up with tactical plans, shouting encouragement to teammates and vile threats upon the enemy, just now they are actually having a mechanical effect.

Weapon focus scimitar (cavalry saber!) and dazzling display would be awesome feats if you were going in this direction.

Mounted skirmisher is way cool.

Just remember if you do go Battle herald you will need 4th level cavalier and whatever that feat is I cant recall the name of that requires expert trainer to get your mount = character level.

Also if your going to do a lot of mounted charges, you might consider taking improved unarmed strike and panther style (at least two of them) in addition to combat reflexes and mobility. AS you will provoke a bunch of AoO's from movement, you might as well be hard to hit and dish it back out.

[dunebugg]

Don't forget that Cavalier4 qualifies you for taking Horse Master at level 7. Your horse will be behind from levels 5-7 (unless your GM will allow you to take Boon Companion at 5 and then swap to this feat later), but it will progress with you forever.

Honestly, with such a high Cha bardic traits would come naturally. Inspiring your comrades, wooing ladies, giving great oral performances (not the sexual kind).

Mounted Combat, Spirited Charge are the basic mounted feats. Expand from there depending on party needs.

There is also a human-specific feat if you want a super badass horse, Huntmaster - your horse always is at +1 level (beyond normal limitations).

Put a point into your horses intelligence ASAP. Combat Reflexes -> Bodyguard -> In Harms Way. You and your horse will do amazing things to protect each other.

[Rickmeister]

Is there a "This is what a INT 3 can understand" kind of thread around on these forum parts here? :)

Been having a 'discussion' with one of my players :)

[dunebugg]

There are a few places its been discussed but I've not seen a dedicated thread.

Intelligence 1 or 2 is that of an animal; anything higher is humanoid-level intelligence. At my table, they are able to understand a single language (usually common) in completeness. In example..
A horse could understand something like "run home and don't stop!" And could like, nod in understanding. He however could not take some chalk into his mouth and write "GOT IT!" On his special communication chalkboard. He's smart for a horse, but he's still reeeeaaally dumb compared to a human (effectively illiterate).

[Pendagast]

'basically' a 3 int animal can do anything a human can do, as long as they qualify for it physically and/or via attributes (I.e. your horse can't pick locks, or use combat expertise because it doesnt have hands and isn't smart enough...int 13 required, for CE)