So i've been looking at the "Order of the Eastern Star" order for the cavalier, and i've noticed how focused the class is around fighting defensively and combat expertise.
So i have a build idea for a Daring Champion Cavalier with the Order of the Eastern star as a halfling and I thought i'd get a few critiques.
We're starting at level 8 in this campaign as well.
Class: Cavalier
Archetype: Daring Champion
Order: Order of the eastern star
Starting gold: 24,750 (before anything is bought; DM chose 75% of 8th level wealth)
Armor: +1 Mithral Kikko Armor
Shield: +1 Mithral Buckler
Weapon: +1 Longsword
Belt: Incredible Dex +2
Feats:
1.Weapon Focus(longsword)
3.Slashing Grace(longsword)
5. Cautious Fighter
6. Power Attack?
7. Chain Challenge?
Not 100% certain what to do for the 6th level bonus feat at 7th level feat.
So at 8th level with the basic equipment so far (which i haven't used all my gold yet so i may change stuff). I chose craft armor and pumped it to 10 so i could make the mithral kikko/buckler by just taking 10 and always succeeding the DC 20 craft check for the masterwork item so i can at least get/make those at 1/3 cost.
So right now assuming i put 18 into Dex as its basically my everything stat. Add in +2 from being halfling and another +2 from the headband.
So 6 dex + 6 Armor + 2 shield + 1 size + 2 from nimble fighter.
Thats about 27 AC. Fighting defensively with 3 acrobatics and cautious fighter will boost it to 32 (35 for total defense).
Add 3 extra to the target of the challenge as the order gives a +1 insight bonus that increases for every 4 levels against the target. (so we're looking at 30, 35, or 37 depending on nothing/defensive/total)
I'm also debating on using halfling luck or adaptable luck as i'll have fair saves (once again bonus vs challenge because of order), as fort is strong for cavalier and reflex will be high because of all the dex.
So assuming i have a 22 dex between score + racial + belt i'll be around a +17 to hit at 8th level (8 + 6 + size(1) + enhancement(1) + weapon focus(1)) I'll also have a 2nd attack of 12.
Slashing grace will also grant me dex to damage. So small longsword would be 1d6+enhancment(1)+dex(6) and then precise strike will add +8. From there if its my challenge we're looking at another +8 damage.
So no challenge: 1d6+15
With challenge: 1d6+23
So right now i'm not sure what to do feat-wise/trait-wise.
I was going to go for crane style but Order of the Eastern star negates the -4 penalty for fighting defensively for the 1st attack each round kind of like furious focus for power attacks. So while i would be able to reduce the penalty to -2 for the remaining attacks it felt like too many feats as Dodge was just 1 more AC on top of a fairly decent number and improved unarmed strike is just a dead-weight feat just to meet the prerequisites.
Power attack i considered as while my other attacks will be taking a -4 the main attack is going to be going strong at +17, meaning a power attack is just -3 atk for +6 damage. making the damage look closer to +14 to hit and +21 damage no challenge and with challenge +29. Which if i went the power attack route it seemed like it would be in my best interest just to do vital strikes as i'd basically doom my 2nd attack to be at a +5 (+12 -4 for defensive and -3 for power attack).
Chain challenge seems like a good feat as my 7th level feat because i'll be able to challenge 3/day and spreading around the defense boost +damage each time i down something seems good (not to mention if i down something i get panache back so i can also boost precise strike by spending a point and get another +8 where needed).
So i guess any assistance with this to help fill in the gaps on this or correct any issues as I feel like i have a decent concept here i just need to figure out what to do with a few pieces of it.