What would you say is a good way to make a Knight-like character who can also hand out a buff or two in PFS? I currently have a Gnome Cavalier and I am having quite a bit of fun riding into the fray on the back of a valiant steed. I also have a flag bearing Bard and enjoy passing out the buffs. However, what I really want is something in between, A mounted Knight who can buff. Obviously I'm not expecting the best melee fighter in the world if they are also concentrating on buffing their pals, but is it possible to make a passable build?
I know that a Paladin may fit the bill, but I don't want to be tied to the code of conduct. I have also considered the Battle Herald, but it seems a little confused to me. Are there any other classes, archetypes, or feats that might fit the bill?
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An inquisitor with the chivalry inquisition seems like a good place to start. Any of the preacher, ravener hunter and tactical leader archetypes aid in buffs. You might want a one-level dip in cavalier to get weapon/armor proficiencies and the ability to ignore armor penalties to the ride skill though.
A cleric with the crusader archetype and the animal domain doesn't need to multiclass for your concept, though they may be a bit feat-starved. With cleric casting you should have plenty of buffs without needing other class features for the job.
I'm not sure what you mean by the battle herald being confused? It's certainly possible to make a useful battle herald.
Wow, I have never seen that Inquisition before, it looks perfect! Thank you! I'll look into it further and perhaps the Tactical Leader archetype (which is also brand new to me) if I can justify buying two new books :)
About the Battle Herald, perhaps I should have said it leaves me confused, having to remember the difference between inspire command and performance rounds. Plus there are so many commands to choose from... Anywho, all of your suggestions are fantastic! I now have somewhere to start from. Thanks again!
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How do you want to define knight?
Do you mean a character that rides on horseback and is in full plate?
If that's what you're after and want that character to also buff then you're simplest options are any of the divine casters.
A Cleric (especially with evangelist) works very well. Take a dip in fighter to get armor proficiency. Use animal domain to get a mount. Plus the cleric spell list has some good party buffs on it.
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...Take a dip in fighter to get armor proficiency. Use animal domain to get a mount....
Fighter[Dragoon] grants both Mounted Combat and Skill Focus:Ride at 1st. Gives up tower shields, but nothing else.
Alternatively, Cavalier[Gendarme] as the 1st-level dip (before Cleric[Animal{Fur?}]) grants a feat (take Mounted Combat), a free horse (counts as a druid animal companion that stacks when the cleric side gets it too), and 4 skills instead of 2, with Diplomacy and Sense Motive on the list (gives up Survival).
...the latter option is probably better, especially if you plan on more than one level in the non-casting class. (Gendarme4 grants two Cavalier Challenges/day, and Expert Tactician -- which is required for the Horse Lord feat that makes your companion full character level in this case. Chose "Order of the Dragon" at 2nd.
Cavaliers can already buff a bit (Banner, Order of the Dragon, Order of the Lion, and maybe a couple of other Orders that I missed, as well as their Tactician ability). Battle Herald can make it better. Battle Herald guide -- this covers ways to get into the prestige class without investing into abilities (such as spellcasting) that are going to get truncated (unless you actually have a good use for them). For instance, if you are okay with delaying entry by 2 levels, you could go Cavalier VMC Bard and enter Battle Herald at level 9, thus getting your 8th level Order ability and getting quite a bit of Bardic Performance rounds, while remaining 100% full BAB and not having any arcane spellcasting that is going to be truncated at low levels and impaired by Heavy Armor (and also not impairing your acquisition of Favored Class Bonus by multiclassing before you go into Battle Herald); get the Horse Master feat at 9th level so that all your levels count as Cavalier levels for progressing your mount. An alternative to the last few levels of Cavalier is to dip 3 levels of Holy Tactician Paladin (just be sure to keep 4 levels of Cavalier so that you qualify for Horse Master) -- Holy Tactician gives you basically unlimited uses of Tactician (Battlefield Presence -- this probably needs to be Errata'd, but for now it isn't), and handing out Teamwork Feats is a pretty good buff (if you need more than 1 at a time, THEN use your limited times per day abilities from the other classes).
Excellent suggestions everybody. Thank you!
How do you want to define knight?
For the purposes of this build, a Knight is a Gnome who rides on wolfback in full plate (or probably medium armour because of weight issues).
@Scott Wilhelm: Thank you for the off-beat suggestions, Scott. I did briefly look into Ranger, but they didn't seem to be any better at buffing than a standard Cavalier. Infusions would be quite fun, but I think the Alchemist levels required to pull it off well might hit the Knightly aspect of the build too hard.
@The Dandy Lion: Hehe, Contageous Zeal does look like it would be both fun and very useful. It has been added to my wishlist, thanks.
@Claxon: I had never really considered a Cleric before because they always seemed a little boring to me. However an Evangelist with a mount may be worth another look! I am a little concerned that they would have difficulties holding their own in combat though. I will definitely look into it though, thank you.
@Sir Thugsalot: Thank you.
@UnArcaneElection: A Cavalier VMC Bard would probably be perfect for me, but alas, this is for PFS so that is unfortunately out of the question. I like the thought of handing out teamwork feats instead of the usual buffs, but Cavaliers have so few uses of Tactician. Holy Tactician may be an answer to that... Hmm, I may have to rethink my aversion for Paladins. Thank you.
Thank you again everybody! I will look more closely at the divine casters (especially Evangelist Cleric) and see what I can come up with.
Well remember with a cleric who's focusing on buffing you don't need more than around 14-16 Wisdom to start with. This means you can invest more in str/con to keep yourself capable in combat. You'll never be the main front line threat, but with a reach weapon you will be enough of a threat to give enemies pause.
Okay, so here's what I have so far for a Cleric based build. I went for a base cleric rather than evangelist because I wanted the good domain and I need the chivalry inquisition if I want to keep my mount at full levels... I think.
Gnome Cavalier (order of the lion) 2 \ Cleric 9
Cavalier gives:
A mount (bodyguard archetype) without ACP on ride checks and light armour proficiency.
The ability to grant Escape Route (or other teamwork feat?) to allies once a day.
Poor man's inspire courage unlimited times a day (order ability).
Cleric gives:
Good domain for some lovely buffs (the added mobility from a mount may make this even better)
Chivalry inquisition for full level advancement of mount
Cleric spells up to level 5 (only miss out on 1 level 6 spell by multiclassing which I think is alright.
Buff specific feats:
Flag bearer: always grant +1 to hit and damage to nearby allies (or would a wand of bless be better?)
Lookout: for both mount and rider to always get the opportunity to buff allies in a surprise round.
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I quite like the abilities, but I think I need to work on the stat array a little more. The -2 to Str really hurts now. I may have to lower Cha to try and bolster the combat stats.
What weapon are you thinking of using? Cause with those stats you aren't doing str based melee.
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The animal Cleric domain will also work as long as you get the boon companion feat.
Archery could suit those stats decently but that might detract from the knightly feel.
If you're sticking with the 15 charisma, Getting 14 str + 12 dex might not look impressive, but it would let you chip in with a lance or polearm occasionally, and you only really need a +1 dex mod if you're in plate anyway.
Woops, I forgot say I was considering going the weapon finesse route, but that would have been a bad idea if I wanted to wear any decent armour *face palms*
Anywho, I like the looks of 14 str + 12 dex. That would be a +3 (or +4 with flagbearer) to hit at first level, which isn't awful. And if I don't plan on doing to much trick riding, I won't need too high a dex for the ride skill anyway.
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Use the 15,14,12,12,12,12 stat array. -- It's the most bonus-dense array possible with 20 point-buy, and perfectly suits a gnome jack-of-many-trades.
A suggestion: don't be a (in-)battle-caster; instead, lightly cast pre-battle, then apply band-aids afterward. During battle? Full kickass mode....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
STR-13 (all bumps)
DEX:12
CON+16 (15,14,12,12,12,12 array)
INT:12
WIS:12
CHA+14 (pre-racial 15,14,12,12,12,12 20pt array)
Traits: Berserker of the Society, Dangerously Curious
Racial: Eternal Hope; Affinity: Lastwall
01 barb1 [Mounted Fury][mount's move+10], Raging Vitality
02 cava1 [Gendarme][Mounted Combat][Challenge 1/day]
03 barb2 [Uncanny Dodge][Reckless Abandon+1], Boon Companion
04 cava2 STR>14, [Order:Dragon:Aid Allies+3]
05 barb3 Ride-by Attack
06 barb4 [Reckless Abandon+2][Strength Surge]
07 cava3 Indomitable Mount (sub Ride for mount save once/rnd)
08 cava4 STR>15, [Challenge 2/day]
09 cava5 [Spirited Charge], Skill Focus:Ride (+6 bonus)
10 cava6 this level of Gendarme is really boring
11 cava7 [Challenge 3/day], Wheeling Charge
12 cava8 STR>16, [Order:Dragon:Aid+4,Strategy][Power Attack]
Armor: full-plate
Weapons: lance, composite longbow
...low-level equipment: military saddle, anything else granting a bonus to Ride.
-- This build would be very effective in PFS, because your mount will be with you 90% of the time. While raging, you have 55hp at 4th level.
Mount: badger (wolf before 4th), which also rages in combat. These ornery guys don't do the most damage and aren't the fastest, but can climb, swim, burrow, and have the scent ability. Neither cliff, ship, nor dungeon inhibits your ability to bring along your mount.