Wight Knight

[Kazaan]

I'm running a little thought experiment for a character with the following parameters:

1) Primarily a melee-centric character.
2) "Knightly", so heavy armor is very desirable, as is a mount.
3) Has an "Undeath" flavor, but not Evil nor actually Undead (so he's a living character that "resembles" an Undead, but doesn't actively "use" them).
4) Focuses on fighting against Undead, particularly using powers normally associated with them.

He'll be called the Wight Knight and, essentially, he's a bit of a heroic character (or maybe anti-hero) who focuses on fighting Undead by using their own power against them. He has access to the Undead Sorcerer (or Bloodrager) bloodline so he looks like and has probably been persecuted in the past as if he were an undead and decides to take the high-road and fight against that stigma (or, if anti-heroic, he's taking out his frustration against Undead and using fear effects to keep normal people away from him). Maybe also a bit of self-loathing in there for good measure. Also, there will be a bit of a running joke of people speaking about him and someone misunderstands his title as "White Knight" and later has their mental image of a handsome knight in shining armor shattered when finally meeting him in person.

Some ideas for how to pull this off:

A) Cavalier with Eldritch Heritage (Undead) feat line or, alternatively, VMC Sorcerer with Undead bloodline.
- Pros: Satisfies Heavy Armor, Mount, Some Undead flavor/powers from EH/VMC(Sorc)
- Cons: Doesn't get One Of Us that lets him seriously abuse unintelligent undead, no spells (like Chill Touch) that can be used against Undead.

B) Steelblood Bloodrager with Undead bloodline.
-Pros: Satisfies Heavy Armor, Significant Undead flavor/powers through Bloodline and spells, and gets One Foot in the Grave (equivalent to One Of Us).
- Cons: No scaling mount, so must rely on mundane mount. Not a strong "Knightly" image for the class unless going more for of a free-lancer (in the original sense of an unsworn mercenary lancer).

C) Bloodrider Bloodrager with Undead bloodline.
- Pros: Satisfies Mount, Significant Undead Flavor/powers through Bloodline and spells, and gets One Foot in the Grave.
- Cons: No Heavy Armor proficiency and no casting w/out ASF (unless using Mithral Heavy Armor), better "Knightly" image as compared to Steelblood option.

C) Undead Scourge Paladin with Eldritch Heritage or VMC Sorcerer.
- Pros: Satisfies Mount, Heavy Armor, Undead Flavor/powers through Bloodline and more holy spells (focusing on anti-undead ones) through Paladin spell list.
- Cons: no real Undead-themed spells, and a bit too heavy on the "holy warrior" image which ruins the image of a frightful, undead-looking, anti-undead champion.

Are there any other options I'm not considering? Also, any tips or advise on how to go about building the character? I'm already looking at some spells like Chill Touch, Cause Fear, etc. if I go with a spellcasting option.

[MageHunter]

The Ghostrider archetype seems pretty thematic and fitting. Magic Items can help out I think, and you could probably neogotiate a magic item that functions as a constant hide from undead.

[Bloodrealm]

Spiritualist? They have 3/4 BAB, no Somatic component to their spells, tons of ghost/undead powers and spells, and proficiency with Scythes for a decent and thematic two-handed weapon. The Phantom has no problem with non-summoned companions like mounts (though Spiritualist doesn't really benefit from mounted combat), and you could take feats or a level dip for heavy armour. Some of the emotional focus options make your Phantom good for pair/flanking combat with you. If you want, the Onmyoji archetype makes it a divine caster (removing the Thought component but not incurring ASF).

The Id Rager Bloodrager archetype makes you cast psychic spells (so no somatic component) and gives you cool Spiritualist Phantom powers. The downside is that it replaces Bloodline, so you wouldn't get the actual Undead Bloodline, it's incompatible with Bloodrider, and Hatred is the only focus that (as far as I can tell) allows you to use all of the Emotional Focus powers (you can totally justify the Hatred focus as hatred of undead, though, which works decently well for the concept).

[Bloodrealm]

MageHunter wrote:

The Ghostrider archetype seems pretty thematic and fitting. Magic Items can help out I think, and you could probably neogotiate a magic item that functions as a constant hide from undead.

That archetype is pretty poorly written, though, so nobody can quite figure out what actually works with it.

[MageHunter]

Bloodrealm wrote:

MageHunter wrote:

The Ghostrider archetype seems pretty thematic and fitting. Magic Items can help out I think, and you could probably neogotiate a magic item that functions as a constant hide from undead.

That archetype is pretty poorly written, though, so nobody can quite figure out what actually works with it.

Could you give an example? Not to be snarky but the mount seems to function as a phantom sans abilities listed at the bottom of the class features.

[Bloodrealm]

MageHunter wrote:

Bloodrealm wrote:

MageHunter wrote:

The Ghostrider archetype seems pretty thematic and fitting. Magic Items can help out I think, and you could probably neogotiate a magic item that functions as a constant hide from undead.

That archetype is pretty poorly written, though, so nobody can quite figure out what actually works with it.

Could you give an example? Not to be snarky but the mount seems to function as a phantom sans abilities listed at the bottom of the class features.

There's a thread somewhere discussing it, but in short it neglects to mention how many of the features interact with being a cavalier mount and how the phantom works in regards to animal rules. It's a bigger problem with RAW than with RAI, but the issues are there.

Also, if you're small, your wolf mount has hooves.

[Java Man]

Is the dhampir race a possibility?

[Kazaan]

Java Man wrote:

Is the dhampir race a possibility?

I wouldn't exactly say it's "ruled out", but I feel it skirts a bit too close to being Undead and that somewhat compromises the flavor of, "Not undead, but easily mistaken for one." So, I guess I'll say that Dhampir will be a last-resort for race if I really need some aspect of it and no other race will really do or has something better to offer.

[Java Man]

If the archetype wasn't so clunky I would say eldritch scion with undead bloodline. My preference would be steel blooded rager, maybe with a split into cav for the mount.

Edit: order of the shroud for cav levels.

[Ryan Freire]

Kazaan wrote:

Java Man wrote:

Is the dhampir race a possibility?

I wouldn't exactly say it's "ruled out", but I feel it skirts a bit too close to being Undead and that somewhat compromises the flavor of, "Not undead, but easily mistaken for one." So, I guess I'll say that Dhampir will be a last-resort for race if I really need some aspect of it and no other race will really do or has something better to offer.

No dhampir is too bad, because outside of mount (Which you can get via feat choice) the Kinslayer is a pretty baller anti-undead archetype http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-dhampir/kinsla yer-inquisitor-dhampir

[Anonymous Warrior]

I suggest the Necrooccultist:

+ 3/4 BA
+ Proficient with Martial Weapons, Medium Armor
+ Gains a Wizard's Necromancy Spell per Level
+ Creepy Special Abilities, though somewhat limited, as they require Mental Focus

While it doesn't come with a mount, this archetype leaves you with a couple of options.

You can create an Undead Familiar that serves you for 10 minutes/level. It is of tiny or small size. Not great for travel, but if you selected a Small race, or chose the feat Undersized Mount, you could arguably create a familiar with the Mauler Archetype, giving you a mount as early as 3rd level.

[Firebug]

Any particular reason you went with Undead bloodline? I personal like the Ghoul Bloodline better for this.

If you go the eldritch heritage route, you get the ghoulish claws, the leathery skin, and maybe the haste eventually.

I like the ghoul claws over the touch attack from undead. It has a stronger "iconic undead attack" feel to it. Wights level drain, but a paralyzing touch isn't bad by any means.

[Kazaan]

Firebug wrote:

Any particular reason you went with Undead bloodline? I personal like the Ghoul Bloodline better for this.

If you go the eldritch heritage route, you get the ghoulish claws, the leathery skin, and maybe the haste eventually.

I like the ghoul claws over the touch attack from undead. It has a stronger "iconic undead attack" feel to it. Wights level drain, but a paralyzing touch isn't bad by any means.

I felt the fear touch better jived with the whole "I scare people" motif and incorporeal form would be very good for fighting the incorporeal undead. Paralyzing isn't useful against Undead and neither is bleed and he'd be a Knightly type character wielding a weapon so claws, in and of themselves, aren't going to be a primary weapon. If he were going to be more of an evil character that gave in to his undead aspects, then Ghoul bloodline would undoubtedly be better, but this character is trying to walk a razor's edge, skirting as close to being a monster as he can without fully giving into it.

[CWheezy]

This actually sounds like a prestige class to me

[Mysterious Stranger]

Another option would be to go for a Dhampir (Ancient Born) Kinslayer Inquisitor and take the Chivalry Inquisition. The only thing this lacks is the heavy armor, but you could always spend a feat on it. The Ancient Born are often a result of arcane experiments rather that breeding. This may make it easier to accept.