Lizardfolk fighter (Shield blocker, mounted, intimidation build)

[Podgs]

Hello.

I'm a local spellcaster player trying a fighter for the first time in pathfinder 2e.

My idea is to be a menacing steel wall mounted in a gigantic dinosaur. We have a druid, a wizard, a gunslinger, a rogue and a psychic. All the characters are mythic except mine. The mount (including the exception to the special rule for animal companion) has been approved by the DM. The mount is a tyrannosaurus.

The idea is to pick mammoth lord for the gigantic mount (planning on taking scion transformation), feats for shields and intimidation, and heavy armor.

Also, I'm playing with free archetype. Any recommendation will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[YuriP]

My first suggestion since you mentioned wanting to be a "menacing steel wall" would be to be a justice champion and not a fighter, because his reaction, in addition to protecting the mount, allows him to easily counterattack effectively using his reaction. Also Cha is the default secondary attribute for champions improving their damage a bit too. Once that you want to Intimidate make sense this investment too.

Your free archetype will already allow you to cover the large number of feats that a companion requires; the rest is basically investing in the class or taking a parallel archetype that you want to cover some point where the class does not provide you.

[OrochiFuror]

Dual weapon warrior to strike with shield and weapon.
Cavalier for mounted abilities.

Fighter feats, quick shield block, shatter defenses, shield warden, agile grace, dazzling display, fearsome brute, mirror shield, tactical reflexes, any one or more stances that fit your play style.

Don't forget to get a dread rune on your armor.
Try to pick up a way to deal with flying creatures, throwing weapon and Felling strike will be alright.

[YuriP]

OrochiFuror wrote:

Cavalier for mounted abilities.

Doesn't need for Cavalier because it already take Mammoth Lord archetype.

[OrochiFuror]

Mammoth lord isn't a very good AT, basically only taking it for the huge size so when they become large they can still ride. Cavalier at least has some good feats for protecting your mount, though shield warden and improved reflexive shield might fill that role.

Your basically losing a level two feat since mammoth lord requires level four. So even beast master would be better.
You could get a companion earlier and grab mammoth lord later for the size increase and take one of the skill feats to get out of it faster.
Beast master always effects all your companions from any source so would be helpful, they also added some nice companion focused attacks to it.
You would have a mature companion two levels earlier compared to mammoth lord. Beast master would also let you have your mount and smaller companion out at the same time eventually if that's of interest.

[Podgs]

For context. We are using the suggestion for the free archetype rules.

"If the group all has the same archetype or draws from a limited list, you might want to ignore the free archetype’s normal restriction of selecting a certain number of feats before taking a new archetype. That way a character can still pursue another archetype that also fits their character."

The build I made is with lances (for the jousting) with beast master at lvl 2 and mammoth lord at lvl 4. The big dinosaur is non-negotiable. The point is to mount a megafauna as big as I can, with I being large. (If I can make the dinosaur huge without mammoth lord and with cavalier make me know)

I looked into champion, but the religious stuff doesn't fit with the character. He is a warrior of Droon, a mercenary who vows to protect the megafauna.

Quick shield block, shatter defenses, dazzling display, fearsome brute are feats that I looked into it. Also, aggressive block and quick reflexive shield are on the list. I'm aiming at being a shield blocker.

It is too much, or I can make it feasible? I change weapons or free archetypes?. What do you think?

PS "You could get a companion earlier and grab mammoth lord later for the size increase and take one of the skill feats to get out of it faster." That's what I've done with the build I have at the moment but with the suggestion I don't need to pick two feats to "get out" of mammoth lord.

[Claxon]

The thing that stands out to me, is that all the characters are mythic except yours.

That isn't going to be fun.

I hope your character will become mythic (quickly) during the course of play. If your character will never get to be mythic, I would reconsider playing at all with this table as there will be a power gap you will never overcome.

[Podgs]

I chose to be a non-mythic character. Because I like to be a normal Iruxi, a mortal among gods and because free archetype goes better with the theme (apocalipse rider doesn't catch with the character).

[Claxon]

All I can say is, best of luck.

[Podgs]

Thank you. Fortunately my DM knows how to compensate underpowered or overpowered characters through the narrative. Believe me, if he sees me struggling he will give me something.

PS: My DM allows me to make my mount huge at lvl 12 without mammoth lord. So cavalier it is.

[Maya Coleman]

Saw this before the weekend and came to second the Cavalier choice! Glad you ended up making it! I'm thinking Trampling Charge would be perfect for your tyrannosaurus, so please update on how it goes!

[Podgs]

Thank you. Trampling charge is interesting and 3 actions for a bunch of people off-guard, but is not a tyrannosaurus, is a Spinosaurus (it's a "pirate" adventure, lots of water). It has mount because I'm a dinosaur rider from Droon and it makes sense for the DM.

[Maya Coleman]

Podgs wrote:

Thank you. Trampling charge is interesting and 3 actions for a bunch of people off-guard, but is not a tyrannosaurus, is a Spinosaurus (it's a "pirate" adventure, lots of water). It has mount because I'm a dinosaur rider from Droon and it makes sense for the DM.

Oh, nice! A spinosaurus instead is awesome, and a smart choice considering the water!