| Shalin |
HI there,
I'm playing PFS via PBP, I'm just about to go to 2nd lvl, meaning no more free rebuilds.
I've been playing a halfling cavalier charge build (thanks Fruian Thistlefoot for the advice). Having now had a bit more in-game experience i am again questioning a charge focused build...
s 14, d 16, c 12, i 10, w 11, ch 14.
I don't like dumping, and i like have Cha high for the social skills.
i have been running with an Emissary, Order of the flame.
feats - mounted combat, ride by attack.
lvl 2 - funny immediate move to set up charge ability
3 - spirited charge
5 wheeling charge
The thing is after 2.5 games i've only got one charge off. So, i'm back again at a more variable build.
Gendarme, order of the cockatrice.
feats - power attack, taunt
2 - dazzling display as a standard action
3 & 5th lvl feats open. could pick up mounted combat, ride-by and spirited charge. or something completely different.
charge build (at lvl 3)- 3d6+9 or 1d10+3 not charging
other build 2d6+12 or 1d10+6
The thing is i'm playing PBP meaning that it'll take a year or two to get up to 5th level. This makes the second build more attractive. It's also worth saying i'm about to play thornkeep, which i imagine isn't easy for charging!
| Drogos |
Problem with Cavs is that they don't get access to the full Druid list of potential Animal Companions/Mounts. Fruian addressed this with his own charging Halfling by being a Beast Master Ranger in order to open up the full list. This is great, because a Giant Gecko is the master of all charging mounts, save perhaps a Roc. The ability to use walls and ceilings as charge lanes makes charging extremely viable. He used gold from the first couple levels to purchase a mount out of Ultimate Equipment until he reached level 4 (costs 400 gp). This is honestly, one of the best ways to build a charge character. Having played my own Cavalier (gnome riding a boar) to 6th, it's incredibly difficult to get charges in a 2d space (even if you can get a lane, your allies are going to step into it, no matter how much cajoling you do).
Thornkeep is actually pretty good for mounted combat because the scale of the first level is 1 square = 10 ft. Make sure to point this out to your GM because it is often missed.
Now, if you decide to build a Gendarme, you're actually losing out on a very powerful ability in Tactician (I know you've already given it up, but it's still better than people understand). My Cav is a Gendarme and in hindsight, I would have preferred to just make him a fighter since giving up Tactician. Your truncated list of potential bonus feats make you trapped into forcing Mounted Combat to be useful while not actually giving you enough feats to make it work well. I would just stay APG Cavalier, which makes you a strong party buffer and gives your mount some purpose beyond just being your mount.
Or stick with Charging and become a Hunter with a Gecko.