Small-Sized Charger Build

[isdestroyer]

So, my group will soon (as in probably next year) be starting a Pathfinder campaign. I have several ideas of what I want o play, but since I love halflings, and I love paladins, I thought to combine the two. I've heard that small characters make great mounted chargers, so I want to explore the idea, but I'm not that great at making an optimal build. So here's the rules:

Corebook, GM's Guide, and Beastiary 1 only. (My GM is not familiar with the system so he only wants the core material at first.) I thought about going gnome and taking Arcane Strike, but it won't scale with my level since I don't have arcane caster levels, and 1 extra point of dmg that takes a swift isn't worth a feat, in my opinion.

So, any advice? What feats should I take and at what levels, which divine bond do I take, if the animal, then what kind, etc.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

Yeah Halflings make Awesome Chargers and as Are Gnomes.

Your core feats will be: Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Ride By Attack, Spirited Charge, Wheeling Charge.

As a halfling you will want the feat: Risky Striker but it is not Core rule book.

Quote:

gnome and taking Arcane Strike, but it won't scale with my level since I don't have arcane caster levels, and 1 extra point of dmg that takes a swift isn't worth a feat, in my opinion.

Quote:

Gnome Magic: Gnomes add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against illusion spells that they cast. Gnomes with Charisma scores of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation, and speak with animals. The caster level for these effects is equal to the gnome's level.

It does scale thanks to the Almighty Increasing Caster level based on Gnome's actual Level.

Bond wise you will want it to be either the Mount or the weapon. You can buy mounts and ride them till they die or get 1 mount who can weather a fair beating. As a mounted type it is all about how much +damage you can get to multiply by 3 with spirited charge. Divine bonding a weapon isn't bad idea if you don't mind your mounts dying to every AoE spell.

[isdestroyer]

Huh, I missed that in Gnome Magic. Hero Lab doesn't add it in. Interesting, hopefully my GM will approve that.

Is wheeling charge in the core? I don't remember seeing that.