Dwarven Cavalier idea

[Saldiven]

I have an old miniature of a Dwarven Ursine Cavalryman from back in the 1980's (it's an old Grenadier model). I've finally decided to make a Pathfinder character based on that model, and I'm looking for ideas to make him both flavorful and useful.

Taking the Beastrider Cavalier archetype will allow the character to have a riding bear at lvl 7. My plan was to go the typical 2hnd fighting route for the Cavalier. I was thinking about using the Dwarven Long Axe because the model is wielding a big ol' axe. I like the Cavalier for the Heavy Armor proficiency, since the model appears to be wearing plate, and for the Dwarven FCB to Cavalier.

Now, if the rider (medium sized) is on a large sized bear, is the reach for the weapon calculated from the bear's footprint on the grid, or is it otherwise?

I was considering pursuing the Dwarven Cleave feat chain; worth it? Seems decent since it mitigates the biggest limitations on Cleave, though it's Feat intensive.

After lvl 7, I was considering 3-4 levels in Hunter with the Divine Hunter and Primal Companion archetypes (it appears they mix since neither one replaces/modifies the same class ability). I just like the idea of a Celestial bear that can take some of the Eidolon mods like increasing the bite/claw damage, pounce, or heck even growing wings. (Heh...flying bear.)

Last notes: Our groups tend to play fairly long term campaigns, rarely ending before 10th level, and usually play with the intention of going to the mid teens.

Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.

[Drogos]

On the feat question; I wouldn't go through the whole of the cleave chain. The main reason is actually because of when you'll actually be getting the bear you ride. Animal companions are great early on, but around level 7 they start to lose their oomph. I would suggest you invest in mounted combat feats along with power attack. I know my cavalier in pfs is pretty feat starved, and I picked gendarme to get some extra bonus feats. I would also suggest looking at perhaps playing a hunter instead and just pick up heavy armor prof if it's that important. That way you get your bear from the get go and with pack flanking + outflank you'll be making up for the lack of full Bab.

Edit: (for some typos) Also, I should really read the whole thing before commenting. Yeah, I wouldn't bother with the cavalier levels, you're going to get much more out of just being a Hunter. There are a number of scaling level dependent things, and you get spells. I mean how awesome would it be to ride your bear on the freakin ceiling!!

[Cavall]

As much as I like the archtype, do not take divine hunter. You'll be trading away teamwork feats. Trust me, since hunter's give theirs to their mounts you will want those feats. Mounted are (of course) always beside someone with the feat, so you'll always benefit from them.

I'm playing a hunter and was going to go divine but the Mrs decided on a mounted inquisitor. It made sense for me to keep mine then (although I won't ride mine) because of that.

[Saldiven]

Well, one of the reasons I picked Beastrider Cavalier is that was the only way that jumped out at me to get a Bear Animal Companion that was Large sized so a Dwarf could ride it. (That happens at 7th level, which was why I picked that level as the point to start looking at other classes.)

The standard Bear animal companion starts as Small, and grows to Medium at 4th level. The Primal Companion ability could be used to make the Bear large enough to ride, but only a very limited duration per day.

[Drogos]

There's also Undersized Mount, though I had forgotten about the bear being medium as an AC (grumbles something about it making no damn sense bu whatevs).

[Tyophelis]

Have you had a look at the divine commander, Archetype of the warpriest?
You get a animal companion, teamwork feats that you can share with the whole group, cleric spells etc. I think the class is full of win.
If you re looking for a early companion to ride, the pony states dwarfs can ride it. It certainly is more apropriate for a dorf then a horse!!

[Saldiven]

The ultimate plan is to ride a bear; like I said, my goal was to make a character based on an old miniature that I have. I really want to model the bear mount after a Grizzly Bear from the Bestiary, which I can get pretty darn close to with the AC build rules.

However, I pretty much have to take 7 levels of Beastrider Cavalier to get a large Bear AC.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with that. At that point, he'll have 3 Challenges per day with a +3 dmg vs target of Challenge from the FCB, whatever benefit he gets from the Order I chose (haven't decided), a bonus Feat and a bonus Teamwork Feat that can be shared with all allies within 30' once per day, Cavalier's Charge, and the Banner, in addition to finally getting a large Bear.

I'm just trying to figure out the optimum direction to go thereafter.

I'm thinking that it's probably Hunter, with maybe the Primal Companion archetype.

[Imbicatus]

Hunter or Sacred Huntmaster Inquisitor are likely the best options. The Inquisitor will probably feel more "dwarven".

[Saldiven]

Imbicatus wrote:

Hunter or Sacred Huntmaster Inquisitor are likely the best options. The Inquisitor will probably feel more "dwarven".

Wooo.

I didn't think about Inquisitor. I'll have to look at that.