| Unruly |
I'm currently playing in a PbP campaign that's following the Hollow's Last Hope and Crown/Revenge of the Kobold King modules before continuing in a homebrew direction. In this campaign I'm playing a Honor Guard Cavalier(Order of the Dragon) who's the son of a Falcon's Hollow lumberjack, and who has made it his mission to turn the abandoned monastery into a fortress that houses a forest patrol and to greatly diminish the influence of the Lumber Consortium in the town. Basically, my character is the fairly classic story of the wayward son who returns to town in a time of crisis and then sticks around to right the injustices against his family and friends. Thematically, everything has been going well. My character is respected and welcomed by the common folk for deeds he's done in service to the town, while the wealthy, exploitative folks only begrudgingly tolerate him because he's currently keeping people happy.
Mechanically, though, things have been a bit different. Since much of this has been dungeon-delving, I haven't been able to take my mount into combat frequently, and have been basically running around as a fighter. It's been working so far, since at the core I'm still a full BAB class, but I'm trying to find ways to improve my utility in combat to make up for the lack of a mount. Part of that was switching to the Honor Guard archetype and a reach weapon, and now I'm thinking that at level 7 I'll start taking levels in the Chevalier prestige class.
Here's my current stats -
Michael Stamford
Male Human Cavalier (Honor Guard) 4
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +7
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+6 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 43 (4d10+15)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +1
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee heavy shield bash +7 (1d4+3) and
. . cestus +7 (1d4+3/19-20) and
. . cold iron morningstar +7 (1d8+3) and
. . masterwork lucerne hammer +8 (1d12+4) and
. . silver longsword +7 (1d8+2/19-20)
Ranged longbow +6 (1d8/×3)
Special Attacks challenge
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Statistics
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Str 17, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 12
Base Atk +4; CMB +7; CMD 19
Feats Bodyguard, Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, Precise Strike, Toughness
Traits beast bond, tactician
Skills Bluff +7, Craft (carpentry) +7, Diplomacy +7, Handle Animal +8, Intimidate +7, Linguistics +3, Perception +7, Ride +5, Sense Motive +6; Racial Modifiers ride mount, dragon's skills
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven
SQ aid allies, expert trainer, intercept, orders (order of the dragon), sworn defense, tactician
Combat Gear potion of barkskin +2, potion of bull's strength; Other Gear masterwork chainmail, heavy wooden shield, arrows (19), cestus, cold iron morningstar, longbow, masterwork lucerne hammer, silver longsword, artisan's tools, masterwork, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, blanket, everburning torch, flint and steel, rope, shield sconce, torch (4), trail rations (5), waterskin, waterskin, weapon cord, 1005 GP, 1 SP
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Special Abilities
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+4 Ride while riding your bonded mount. (Ex) Cancel your armor check penalty of -4 while riding your mount.
Aid Allies +3 (Ex) Aid Another grants +3
Animal Companion Link (Ex) You have a link with your Animal Companion.
Bodyguard Use an AoO to use aid another to improve an ally's AC.
Combat Reflexes (3 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.
Dragon's Challenge +4 (2/day) (Ex) +4 to damage target, -2 AC vs. others when used, allies gain +2 to hit the target of your challenge.
Dragon's Skills +2 (Ex) +2 to Survival checks for allies.
Expert Trainer +2 (Ex) +2 to train mounts, reduced training time option.
Intercept Increase AC bonus granted to ally from aid another by +1.
Power Attack -2/+4 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Precise Strike +1d6 precision damage for melee attacks if you and an ally with this feat flank the same target.
Sworn Defense (Ex) Select a ward during a challange, sacrificing AC to grant bonus to ward's AC.
Tactician (1/day) Gain a +2 trait bonus on an attack of opportunity.
Tactician (Precise Strike) 5 rds (1/day) (Ex) Grant the use of your Tactical feats to your allies within 30'.
Weapon cord Attached weapon can be recovered as a swift action.
My planned future progression is -
Level 5 - Cavalier, In Harm's Way
Level 6 - Cavalier, Furious Focus
Level 7 - Chevalier, Leadership*
Level 8 - Chevalier, +1 Str
Level 9 - Chevalier, Vital Strike or Iron Will(?)
Do you guys think that Chevalier makes a decent 3-level Prestige Class, or would I be better off sticking with Cavalier the whole way through?
*I've already talked with the GM about this, and he's allowing it given certain concessions on my part. My cohort is to stay and manage my fortress while I'm out adventuring, and is most likely going to be either one of the kobolds that joined our side while fighting the Kobold King, or a member of a Dwarf clan that I've been making a concerted effort to get on the good side of. I've also promised not to abuse it as a money-making or item-crafting cheese machine. General followers will be in the same situation. It's basically a feat I'm taking for roleplay purposes, with all of the benefit going to helping run my buildings.