Cavalier Tips?

[CrescentMouse]

Any advice for making a cavalier, it's my first time playing (though not my first time playing Pathfinder, however I never played a cavalier in pathfinder)

So far I'm strength based with a Sword n Board setup (Longsword, and Shield) with Longsword Weapon Focus, Mounted Combat, and the Leader Background.

[Vae Victis]

mythic charge and spirited charge

[GunStarX]

Spirited charge with cleaving finish applies your double damage to the free cleave attack. I think it works better with a reach weapon.

Also, order of the cockatrice gets you free aoo from party member critics in range, so you can go bonkers on mobs.

[HaleMary]

Some suggestions below. The spoiler info is about equipment you'll find in game - not sure if you consider that a spoiler or not.

1. While mounted, enemies attack your mount rather than you. That means your AC is less important than your mount's. For that reason I'd recommend going with a two-handed weapon instead of sword & board - you'll benefit more from the extra damage than the AC. If you're doing a pure cavalier go with a longspear since you'll get extra damage at level 20 (it's the only weapon that counts as a "lance" for supreme charge) and there are some longspears in the game that give mounted bonuses . Also, buff your mount rather than yourself with all the AC buffs.

2. Max your mobility skill, since it's used for mounted combat. There's a tradeoff here with your armor - heavier armor gives you personally higher AC but brings down your mobility skill which affects your mounted combat check. Again, your AC is less important than your mount's.

3. You might also want to max athletics , since there's some boots in the game that add your athletics rank to damage when you charge.

[CrescentMouse]

Originally posted by HaleMary:

Some suggestions below. The spoiler info is about equipment you'll find in game - not sure if you consider that a spoiler or not.

1. While mounted, enemies attack your mount rather than you. That means your AC is less important than your mount's. For that reason I'd recommend going with a two-handed weapon instead of sword & board - you'll benefit more from the extra damage than the AC. If you're doing a pure cavalier go with a longspear since you'll get extra damage at level 20 (it's the only weapon that counts as a "lance" for supreme charge) and there are some longspears in the game that give mounted bonuses . Also, buff your mount rather than yourself with all the AC buffs.

2. Max your mobility skill, since it's used for mounted combat. There's a tradeoff here with your armor - heavier armor gives you personally higher AC but brings down your mobility skill which affects your mounted combat check. Again, your AC is less important than your mount's.

3. You might also want to max athletics , since there's some boots in the game that add your athletics rank to damage when you charge.

Oh thanks for telling me about that first tip. Although I really really like Sword N' Board. Is going Standard Bearer any good?

[HaleMary]

Originally posted by CrescentMouse:

Originally posted by HaleMary:

Some suggestions below. The spoiler info is about equipment you'll find in game - not sure if you consider that a spoiler or not.

1. While mounted, enemies attack your mount rather than you. That means your AC is less important than your mount's. For that reason I'd recommend going with a two-handed weapon instead of sword & board - you'll benefit more from the extra damage than the AC. If you're doing a pure cavalier go with a longspear since you'll get extra damage at level 20 (it's the only weapon that counts as a "lance" for supreme charge) and there are some longspears in the game that give mounted bonuses . Also, buff your mount rather than yourself with all the AC buffs.

2. Max your mobility skill, since it's used for mounted combat. There's a tradeoff here with your armor - heavier armor gives you personally higher AC but brings down your mobility skill which affects your mounted combat check. Again, your AC is less important than your mount's.

3. You might also want to max athletics , since there's some boots in the game that add your athletics rank to damage when you charge.

Oh thanks for telling me about that first tip. Although I really really like Sword N' Board. Is going Standard Bearer any good?

Originally posted by CrescentMouse:

Originally posted by HaleMary:

Some suggestions below. The spoiler info is about equipment you'll find in game - not sure if you consider that a spoiler or not.

1. While mounted, enemies attack your mount rather than you. That means your AC is less important than your mount's. For that reason I'd recommend going with a two-handed weapon instead of sword & board - you'll benefit more from the extra damage than the AC. If you're doing a pure cavalier go with a longspear since you'll get extra damage at level 20 (it's the only weapon that counts as a "lance" for supreme charge) and there are some longspears in the game that give mounted bonuses . Also, buff your mount rather than yourself with all the AC buffs.

2. Max your mobility skill, since it's used for mounted combat. There's a tradeoff here with your armor - heavier armor gives you personally higher AC but brings down your mobility skill which affects your mounted combat check. Again, your AC is less important than your mount's.

3. You might also want to max athletics , since there's some boots in the game that add your athletics rank to damage when you charge.

Oh thanks for telling me about that first tip. Although I really really like Sword N' Board. Is going Standard Bearer any good?

I haven't played Standard Bearer, but it doesn't look very good to me. Banner of Solace, if I'm reading it right, gives your party members a bonus to a single damage roll once per day - that's really weak. And Awesome Pennon seems worse than Supreme Charge. By the time you get to level 20 you'll have lots of other methods of giving yourself a much bigger morale bonus to attacks. But hey, depending on the difficulty you're playing you don't always have to choose the most optimized build if Standard Bearer speaks to you from a role-playing perspective.

[CrescentMouse]

Originally posted by 76561198253410949:

Originally posted by CrescentMouse:

Oh thanks for telling me about that first tip. Although I really really like Sword N' Board. Is going Standard Bearer any good?

Originally posted by CrescentMouse:

Oh thanks for telling me about that first tip. Although I really really like Sword N' Board. Is going Standard Bearer any good?

I haven't played Standard Bearer, but it doesn't look very good to me. Banner of Solace, if I'm reading it right, gives your party members a bonus to a single damage roll once per day - that's really weak. And Awesome Pennon seems worse than Supreme Charge. By the time you get to level 20 you'll have lots of other methods of giving yourself a much bigger morale bonus to attacks. But hey, depending on the difficulty you're playing you don't always have to choose the most optimized build if Standard Bearer speaks to you from a role-playing perspective.

Yeah I really want a commander esque character that defends allies in the front lines and uses lots of teamwork feats/abilities. And I'm not a fan of magic, so that seems like the best choice.