I have a cavalier/hunter character I'm trying to plan out and realized that one of the feats I was planning on getting Pack Flanking, will largely be redundant because my character will have mythic tiers. Specifically, he will be getting the mythic ability Mounted Marshal
So, Now I'm looking for a replacement feat. The bonus feat is coming from the first mother's fang cavalier archetype and it has the following limitations.
At 1st level, he gains Combat Expertise as a bonus feat, and if his Intelligence score is less than 13, it counts as 13 for the sole purpose of meeting the prerequisites of combat feats that require Combat Expertise as a prerequisite.
At 2nd, 8th, and 15th levels, the first mother’s fang gains a vigilante social talent and a bonus combat feat. ... When selecting his bonus combat feat, he can choose from only combat feats that list Combat Expertise as a prerequisite.
A teamwork feat would be ideal, but it doesn't have to be. I've been looking at feats like My blade is yours and mirror move but I don't know how much mileage I'm likely to get out of those.
I was looking at using a butchering axe since the character has a 20 str (after mods). But I could swap to any other exotic melee weapon if it's going to make more sense in the long run.
what would you recommend for swordplay style? Elven Curve Blade?
Swift aid works too. If you're not using your swift may as well get something out of it.
I'll probably have more things that I can do with swift actions then swift actions I can use. Since I'm planning on getting Snapping Flank at 9th level and most of the mythic abilities are worded "You can spend a mythic point as a swift action to do X"
Let's not be too hasty to put away the Butchering Axe... any time someone is going to use it, everyone should encourage them to do so.
Improved Trip isn't terrible for having Combat Experience as a prerequisite.
And since you already will be taking Mounted Marshal, you can use the Teamwork Feat Topple Foe for some silly fun as you ride around on a giant snake with a Butchering Axe.
Technically you could grab 2H Weapon Trick for Warding Weapon, which has Combat Expertise as a prerequisite.
Gang Up
Since you are already mounted, you will get flanking if another character threatens your opponent.
Given that pack flanking is redundant, doubt gang up will be of use.Gang Up
Since you are already mounted, you will get flanking if another character threatens your opponent.
Either way opens up Paired Opportunist and Outflank
Gang Up is less selfish, it lets other party members in on the fun if they want to take the feats.
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I did a Cavalier build (Sister-in-arms) who was all about sponging hits and retaliating/giving allies the chance to retaliate. Building up Archon Style was a really fun way to do that, and it's a Combat Expertise prereq. Though it also needs Combat Reflexes. Also requires a shield, so you'd need a Buckler with your axe (I think that would count for Archon Diversion?).
Quite possibly, the most versatile feat with Combat Expertise as a prerequisite is Improved Dirty Trick. Of course, you need to be a quick thinker on describing how you are imposing the condition (blinded, dazzled, deafened, entangled, shaken, or sickened) on your opponent and a GM that is willing to go along.
The one time I truly considered this archetype was to gain access to the Fauchard...
Abuse Imp. Trip/Great Trip/Pack Flanking/Topple Foe for the sake of shenanigans outlined by my required bonus feats...
Ride around on a giant snake with a reach weapon, tripping and constricting everything in our path.
I greatly appreciate and respect your choice of the Butchering Axe... always my favorite!
But playing the right part in both melee and battlefield control as the @$$#073 riding a freaking snake with the Fauchard...? This was the Mother's Fang Cavalier that I built!
Your mileage may vary...
Let's not be too hasty to put away the Butchering Axe... any time someone is going to use it, everyone should encourage them to do so.
Technically you could grab 2H Weapon Trick for Warding Weapon, which has Combat Expertise as a prerequisite.
heh, yeah I chose it just because I was getting a free exotic wp and figured it would be a good choice even if I wasn't able to invest very many feats into it. 2H Weapon Trick has some possibilities. It makes Combat Expertise more useful while also giving me the option to pursue the cleaving smash option via feats and/or magic weapon enchantments. Something like I could grab power attack and vital strike and use a mighty cleaving training[imp. vital strike] weapon. Definitely something to consider.
Either way opens up Paired Opportunist and Outflank
Gang Up is less selfish, it lets other party members in on the fun if they want to take the feats.
I was looking at Gang Up and I eventually decided against it since it wasn't a teamwork feat (meaning my animal companions don't get it for free) and otherwise seemed to do the same thing as pack flanking. I already get Outflank for free thanks to my levels in hunter. Paired Opportunists might be a reason to go for imp. trip and g. trip though.
I did a Cavalier build (Sister-in-arms) who was all about sponging hits and retaliating/giving allies the chance to retaliate. Building up Archon Style was a really fun way to do that, and it's a Combat Expertise prereq. Though it also needs Combat Reflexes. Also requires a shield, so you'd need a Buckler with your axe (I think that would count for Archon Diversion?).
The Archon style chain, again could work nicely with paired opportunists. It's a bit heavy on the feat investment but I could probably make it work if I don't mind delaying other parts of my build until after 11th level.
Quite possibly, the most versatile feat with Combat Expertise as a prerequisite is Improved Dirty Trick. Of course, you need to be a quick thinker on describing how you are imposing the condition (blinded, dazzled, deafened, entangled, shaken, or sickened) on your opponent and a GM that is willing to go along.
It's something to consider. I think my primary hesitation is that unless I'm beating their CMD by a large margin (or have other ways to extend the length of the condition), at best I'm giving up my attacks for one round to prevent an enemy from doing anything for one round. If I'm able to attempt a dirty trick as part of an attack or trigger an attack off of a dirty trick it suddenly seems like less of an investment (in terms of my actions) for the round.
Abuse Imp. Trip/Great Trip/Pack Flanking/Topple Foe for the sake of shenanigans outlined by my required bonus feats...
I'm not sure about topple foe, to start with they have to be bigger then me for it to even work. Its unlikely anyone else in my party will have the feat and I don't plan on having more then 2 animal companions, meaning I'll only get a +2 on the initial trip attempt. It only becomes more useful then that if I have to trip an enemy multiple times or if things have gone south and I've been failing to trip them in the first place. I'll put it on my list of things to consider but since my animal companion isn't going the tripping route it would only really benefit myself.