Author Topic: Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger  (Read 2228 times)

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Rooster

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Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger
« on: December 14, 2009, 08:59:03 PM »
The Knight-Magus

I've more or less got the build done, but I'm looking for input on anything I might have missed, especially since one of my feats is pretty free.

I have access to all books, including third party and dragon. We use either core, pathfinder or beta pathfinder of classes by which is least dumb. Pathfinder races. 3.5 actual rules. (An example of the beta pathfinder being better is the Fighter armor boosts)

We get standard feats at first and every even level (same pattern as a fighter) instead of standard plus every three.

A number of stupid tricks are banned (such as druid cheese, or persistent cheese).

The concept of this build: I was looking to take two powerful single class builds (the mounted charger and the battlefield control wizard) and, in gestalt, meld them together and find synergy. It would be a bit more difficult with standard feat progression, but the build is using classes that frequently require a feat and then give one back within a few levels so it's not horribad. You'd probably lose cleave and my loose feat.

In actually making this build, it was kind of disturbing how well it flowed together. The target wasn't to do record damage in one hit, but to have a variety of ways to hurt things in any situation, and in some situations be able to stack them for more hurting. Putting Spellsword in is obvious, and means I can put a spell in my lance for an even more ruinous charge (generally the first one every fight). Wraithstrike means I don't worry about hitting. And hilariously, I found Thunderlance in the Spell Compendium to be perfect for this build. Otherwise, thanks to Tsuyu and Treantmonk for their work.

In combat, this build is designed to throw down whatever the most effective battlefield control spell it can muster on the main group of foes. The second turn it wraithstrike power attack charges and causes death in it's wake. After that, it's deciding whether to charge the stragglers or to battlefield control some more, depending how the party is doing. It's still viable even if it runs out of spells, but since I didn't ban evocation, I can blast if needs be. (Heresy! Sometimes it IS better to just set the enemy on fire instead of dancing with debuffs, I know!) And hey, I'm not screwed if there's no room for charging.

Anyway, here's the build:

Ability Score Priority: Int, Str, Con, Dex (Sadly, not enough points to be decent with rays... but I can live without this)

Pathfinder Human (Feat: Spell Focus Conjuration) (Ideally becoming a ToN Sword Wraith or Necropolitan or some such when possible... if you're immune to your own battlefield control spells, well... :D)

Level 1 - Pathfinder Wizard 1, Stoneboned template (1/2): War Wizard variant, Conjuration specialist, Hummingbird familiar (10 foot teleports that don't include my mount? Not useful here), Feats: Mounted Combat (Replaces Scribe Scroll), Collegiate Wizard (I could ditch this, but the feat gives me a lot more spells known for free and that saves money I can spend on gear, also it gives me enough spells so I don't feel cramped)
Level 2 - Pathfinder Wizard 2, Stoneboned template (2/2): +Str, +Con, -Dex, Powerful Build, Feat: Cooperative Spell
Level 3 - Pathfinder Wizard 3, Pathfinder Fighter 1: Feat: Power Attack
Level 4 - Master Specialist 1, Pathfinder Fighter 2: Dungeoncrasher Variant, Bravery, Feat: Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Extend Spell
Level 5 - Spellsword 1, Pathfinder Fighter 3: Ignore ASF 10%, Armor Training

Early in his career, he starts as a sturdier wizard who has no trouble carrying his spellbook. He initially relies on Mage Armor and Shield for his AC, switching to heavier pieces of physical armor as he gets the money to afford it properly. Especially since earlier in his career he CAN just walk up and stab something with a longsword if he feels so inclined (generally after running out of spells)

Level 6 - Mage of the Arcane Order 1, Pathfinder Fighter 4: Guild Member, Spellpool I, Feat: Spirited Charge, Improved Bull Rush
Level 7 - Mage of the Arcane Order 2, Pathfinder Fighter 5: Maximize Spell, Weapon Training (Spears)
Level 8 - Mage of the Arcane Order 3, Spellsword 2: Bonus Language, Feats: Ride-By Attack, Weapon Focus (Lance)
Level 9 - Pathfinder Fighter 6, Spellsword 3: Dungeoncrasher II, Ignore ASF 15%
Level 10 - Mage of the Arcane Order 4, Spellsword 4: Spellpool II, Channel Spell 3/day, Feat: Knockback

At this point, his build should be coming together. At L7, he can start casting Thunderlance. His combo for charging people is complete. He can charge someone into trees or other foes and watch the damage pour out of their ears. He is on a decent mount now (some sort of undead monstrosity, although I do wish I could have fit Aglarondan Griffon Rider into this build... it is a useful mounted caster PRC for this but it wasn't full progression on casting.) He should in fact be the knight in shining armor (color is your option), charging faces and dropping spells on people. Also, his Spellpool is caught up with his highest level spells and he's able to channel spells into his lance.

Level 11 - Mage of the Arcane Order 5, Cavalier 1: New Spell, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Lance), Ride Bonus +2, Courtly Knowledge
Level 12 - Mage of the Arcane Order 6, Cavalier 2: Bonus Language, Deadly Charge 1/day, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Sword), Feat: Evolved (This removes the -4 Dex penalty from Stoneboned)
Level 13 - Mage of the Arcane Order 7, Cavalier 3: Spellpool III, Burst of Speed
Level 14 - Master Specialist 2, Cavalier 4: Expanded Spellbook, Deadly Charge 2/day, Ride bonus +4, Feat: Spell Focus (Evocation or Transmutation are both valid options here)
Level 15 - Master Specialist 3, Cavalier 5: Mounted Weapon Bonus (Lance) +2, Greater Spell Focus (Conjuration)

Not much has changed since L10, you're just better at it in ways that improve your numbers. My sadness is that reflex saves for this build are made of the horrible, but there's not much to do for it. The classes aren't good reflex and dex isn't a high priority. My only hope is to stay a bit separate from the party so the AOEs don't splash me (or if the GM targets my poor reflex save, my team doesn't suffer for it). On the plus side, Deadly Charge'd Wraithstriked Channel Spell'd Power Attack'd charges ruin lives and make widows.

Level 16 - Archmage 1, Cavalier 6: Mastery of Shaping, Deadly Charge 3/day, Full Mounted Attack, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Sword) +2, Feat: Cleave
Level 17 - Archmage 2, Cavalier 7: Mastery of Elements, Ride +6
Level 18 - Archmage 3, Cavalier 8: Spell Like Ability, Deadly Charge 4/day, Feat: Shock Trooper
Level 19 - Archmage 4, Cavalier 9: Spell Power, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Lance) +3
Level 20 - Archmage 5, Cavalier 10: Arcane Reach, Unstoppable Charge 5/day, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Sword) +3, Feat: Great Cleave

Things I'd do in epic: Ag. Griffon Rider, some classes with good reflex saves, nonsense with templates, dipping Barbarian, dipping Sacred Exorcist, dipping Pious Templar. Taking Tremendous Charge (a feat from Dragonlance that lets me use my mount's strength on the damage of my attacks).

Things I'd do with my mount: Make it big. Make it undead or constructed. Make it have good movement speed. There's other posts elsewhere that give plenty of ideas for me to play with here for optimizing mounts.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2009, 01:55:18 AM »
What are you using for a mount? And the absolutely perfect PrC for this is the Zhentarim Skymage, from Lords of Darkness.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

bearsarebrown

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Re: Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2009, 02:24:33 AM »
What are you using for a mount? And the absolutely perfect PrC for this is the Zhentarim Skymage, from Lords of Darkness.
:smirk Pit Fiend mount? Solar Archon? Cronotryms? Yes please!

Rooster

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Re: Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 11:05:43 PM »
Actually, I'm not sure what high level chargers use, just seen other charger builds talk about various stuff I was going to poke at and see what I could manage to build as I levelled it when I actually play it.

Zentarim Skymage looks like a pretty good class other than the mount's HD being off my charisma, which means it won't get very high, unfortunately... :|

bearsarebrown

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Re: Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2009, 03:07:29 PM »
Actually, I'm not sure what high level chargers use, just seen other charger builds talk about various stuff I was going to poke at and see what I could manage to build as I levelled it when I actually play it.

Zentarim Skymage looks like a pretty good class other than the mount's HD being off my charisma, which means it won't get very high, unfortunately... :|

Buy a +6 item and a +5 tome. It's surprisingly not hard to get it really high. Just don't dump Cha.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Looking For Finishing Touches On Gestalt Mounted Caster/Charger
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2009, 03:17:45 PM »
Actually, I'm not sure what high level chargers use, just seen other charger builds talk about various stuff I was going to poke at and see what I could manage to build as I levelled it when I actually play it.

Zentarim Skymage looks like a pretty good class other than the mount's HD being off my charisma, which means it won't get very high, unfortunately... :|

Buy a +6 item and a +5 tome. It's surprisingly not hard to get it really high. Just don't dump Cha.
There is also the Magic Blooded template that gives IIRC -2 Wis and +2 Cha, for LA +0.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]