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I won't waste too much time with the fluff or details, but the gist is I've had a character in my head for some time I've been wanting to try out: A Gnome Cavalier with a Paladin dip. (I really want to use that CHA bonus and Cavaliers sort of waste it unless you're playing to really high levels). Well a friend finally invited me to play in a game he's running that would be a perfect fit for my diminutive hero so I've set about building him.
We'll be rolling stats, but I've set it up with a 25 point-buy to mimic the typical allocation of stats:
Ser Humphrey
Level 4 LG Gnome Order of the Sword Cavalier (Gendarme)
STR: 16 (17-2, 4th level increase)
DEX: 10
CON: 14 (12+2)
INT: 10
WIS: 14
CHA: 16 (14+2)
Fort: +6 Ref: +1 Will: +5 <---(Order of the Sword +2 as long as LG)
AC: 20 (+0 Dex, +9 Armor, +1 Size) T: 11 FF: 20
Melee: Lance +9 (1d6+5) OR Lance +8 w/ P.A. (1d6+8) OR Lance +14 (2d6+15) when charging.
Ranged: +3 Composite Longbow +4 (1d8+3)
Feats: Power Attack, Ride-By-Attack, Mounted Combat
Gear: +1 Lance, +3 Masterwork Composite Longbow, Masterwork Full-Plate Armor, Potion of CLW, Potion of CMW, adventuring gear
Rover
N Medium Animal (Dog)
STR: 18
DEX: 16
CON: 17
INT: 2
WIS: 12
CHA: 6
AC: 21 (+4 Armor, +4 Natural, +3 Dex) FF: 18 T: 13
Melee: Bite (1d6+6)
SQ: Low-light vision, scent
Feats: Combat Trained, Light Armor Proficiency
The goal, obviously, is for the gnome to be the melee beast and have the dog function entirely as a mount and companion. (I'm aware there are stronger options if I want the beasty doing all the damage.) In particular, I want to keep the mount medium so that I can have use of it indoors and during dungeon crawls. We already have a Ranger/Paladin in our party who has gone almost entirely ranged, so I am trying to avoid putting too much stock into that.
Two questions: When would be the best time to multiclass into Paladin?
and
Any other suggestions on how to get my melee damage up? Obviously I'll be investing in a Belt of Giant Strength as soon as I have the gold, but I'm wondering if there are some less obvious tricks or trinkets I'm missing. I'm in love with the concept of this character, but I'm very aware he's going to be a one trick pony. That being the case, I want it to be the best trick possible.
power attack + furious focus (?)
otherwise you got the good stuff, like two handing the lance, prioritizing +1 lance over the belt, etc.
funny thing is, I'm actually building a Halfling Cavalier (order of the lion) 6/Low Templar 2 just for fun. Not really going for damage, but he has ridiculous will saves, and lots of bonuses from his order ability's and the banner, plus his teamwork feat is shake it off. his damage isn't terrible one-handing a scimitar for 1d4+9 damage (+a bunch of other stuff from challenge and such), attempting to crit fish for the low Templar ability two (I'm giving him NPC gear, so doesn't have enough money for keen yet :()
Well it might take awhile, but by the end of levels 4,5,6 you get big jumps in saves, and the expert trainer, challenges 2/day, banner, and bonus feat stuff, so if your planning to dip more than a level or two I would think something like
Cavalier 6/paladin 1,2, or 3/ cavalier x
You may want to dip earlier if your only dipping for one level