Fighter/Beastmaster w/ spirted charge [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fighter/Beastmaster w/ spirted charge [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MatteBlack
07-23-07, 11:37 AM I have fallen in love with using the natural bond and beastmaster class to give a full-level/HD pet to just about anything.

I was thinking a spirited charge fighter who evntually moves up to riding a nasty pet would be fairly formidable. You'd mostly be a standard mounted fighter or possibly fighter/ranger if you can make the races and classes work and avoid natural bond. Then at 6th level you move in the bad-***** pet.

What sort of pitfalls should I be looking out for or features should I be sure to include?

Lee
kjenks
07-23-07, 12:39 PM First, Natural Bond is not an Open feat, so you'll need access.

You'll want Spirited Charge and Shock Trooper for devastating lance charges.

Aim for a dire bat animal companion because the ability to hover over the battlefield and make flying charges really helps keep your charge path clear, enabling mounted combat in rough terrain. As your dire bat advances, consider the Flyby Attack feat for it.

To keep your mount's load down, consider playing a light-weight human female.

Don't buy the "extra damage dice" special ability upgrades for your lance since extra damage dice are not multiplied on a Spirited Charge. Just buy enhancement bonuses. Keen is fun, but not really necessary.

As your mount advances, teach your mount the "assist attack" and/or "assist defend" tricks. See my LG Open Tricks list at http://members.aol.com/kenjenks/lg/
clannagh
07-23-07, 07:38 PM Don't buy the "extra damage dice" special ability upgrades for your lance since extra damage dice are not multiplied on a Spirited Charge. Just buy enhancement bonuses. Keen is fun, but not really necessary.

Riding boots make a keen lance a bit more worthwhile.
Amnarii
07-23-07, 09:51 PM I like this concept too - what would be a good build to take advantage? My initial reaction is to use a small character so that in early stages (and later too), they can ride while indoors or in dungeons, etc... is that necessary?
bitznarf
07-23-07, 10:12 PM That depends, does your PC have a secondary role he can be good at if he cannot be mounted? For example, my mounted charger has mostly druid levels, making him a force to be reckoned with on and off the mount.
control freak
07-23-07, 10:17 PM i currently am in the process of creating my halfling (or gnome) charger and stats are shaping up to be

16
14
14
8
10
8

barb 1: ER
ftr 1: mounted combat
ftr 2: ride by, spirited charge
ftr 3:
ftr 4: power attack
ftr 5: imp bull rush?
ftr 6: shock troopers
ftr 7:
ftr 8: combat brute?? (does this work with it), (open feat)

so far it seems like it should work but the first level you a furious barbarian halfling/gnome? and have to play it like that, after that you get a dog and can rip em up and on 3rd you get all nasty and deal 21 +3d6 and get to ride by
clannagh
07-23-07, 10:19 PM I like this concept too - what would be a good build to take advantage? My initial reaction is to use a small character so that in early stages (and later too), they can ride while indoors or in dungeons, etc... is that necessary?

Whilst medium mounts are more practical indoors they are also more fragile. Then again there is no penalty when a small character rides a large mount and LG makes it relatively simple to change animal companions so you could just swap medium/large companion mounts depending on the mod.
Iswald
07-23-07, 10:30 PM Then again there is no penalty when a small character rides a large mount...

A small PC can't fast dismount from a large mount.

Taking druid levels so that you can change your mount's size is convenient.
bitznarf
07-23-07, 10:44 PM so far it seems like it should work but the first level you a furious barbarian halfling/gnome? and have to play it like that, after that you get a dog and can rip em up and on 3rd you get all nasty and deal 21 +3d6 and get to ride by
You still need a way to get a durable mount.
MatteBlack
07-23-07, 10:48 PM Beastmaster also gets additional smaller companions later on, presumably you could have one combat beast at your level's HD and a decent mount.
DuctShuiTengu
07-23-07, 11:39 PM Take a look at how low your effective druid level for those backups are. They aren't there to help you during the adventure. They're there as food for your real animal companion.
Dr.Cornelius
07-24-07, 04:38 AM Can anyone point me to the rules for mounts. For example, other than size, is there a practical limit on what can and cannot be ridden?
MatteBlack
07-24-07, 08:24 AM Take a look at how low your effective druid level for those backups are. They aren't there to help you during the adventure. They're there as food for your real animal companion.

Good point. Those additional companions were not as high level as i thought they might. Even with Natural Bond (which I don't want to assume I will find access to), the best you can do is a secondary creature that is equal to your beastmaster levels which would be 5 levels lower at the minimum. Potentially a valid mount but, only with the feat.
kjenks
07-24-07, 09:13 AM Can anyone point me to the rules for mounts. For example, other than size, is there a practical limit on what can and cannot be ridden?

There are some guidelines in the DMG. Sorry, I don't have a page number for your right now.
Iswald
07-24-07, 09:25 AM Can anyone point me to the rules for mounts. For example, other than size, is there a practical limit on what can and cannot be ridden?

Sadly, no. It appears that any creature can be ridden no matter how ridiculous (DMG pg 204) it might appear. The only requirement is having enough strength to carry the rider. There is only a -5 penalty to your ride check for inappropriate mounts. A suitable mount should be one size category larger than the rider. An unsuitable one may be the same size or smaller.

Mounts are supposed to be willing to carry the rider but, it's difficult for a judge to enforce this when the mount is an animal companion.

Good point. Those additional companions were not as high level as i thought they might. Even with Natural Bond (which I don't want to assume I will find access to), the best you can do is a secondary creature that is equal to your beastmaster levels which would be 5 levels lower at the minimum. Potentially a valid mount but, only with the feat.

There is also the question of whether or not you'd need to take natural bond once for each additional companion (though that might be moot as you probably can't take natural bond more than once).
Amnarii
07-24-07, 09:25 AM It is page 204...under "Unusual Mounts"... basically gives guidelines but leaves it up to the DM.
MatteBlack
07-24-07, 10:05 AM There is also the question of whether or not you'd need to take natural bond once for each additional companion (though that might be moot as you probably can't take natural bond more than once).

I don't have the book with me here at work but, what language in the feat leads you to believe it only applies to one companion? My recollection was that it effected your effective druid level for companion purposes. Then again, table variation is often based on things other than the RAW.
Iswald
07-26-07, 11:28 AM Natural bond always refers to animal companion in the singular form even though it is from the same book as Beastmaster which has multiple companions.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MatteBlack 07-23-07, 11:37 AM	I have fallen in love with using the natural bond and beastmaster class to give a full-level/HD pet to just about anything. I was thinking a spirited charge fighter who evntually moves up to riding a nasty pet would be fairly formidable. You'd mostly be a standard mounted fighter or possibly fighter/ranger if you can make the races and classes work and avoid natural bond. Then at 6th level you move in the bad-***** pet. What sort of pitfalls should I be looking out for or features should I be sure to include? Lee
kjenks 07-23-07, 12:39 PM	First, Natural Bond is not an Open feat, so you'll need access. You'll want Spirited Charge and Shock Trooper for devastating lance charges. Aim for a dire bat animal companion because the ability to hover over the battlefield and make flying charges really helps keep your charge path clear, enabling mounted combat in rough terrain. As your dire bat advances, consider the Flyby Attack feat for it. To keep your mount's load down, consider playing a light-weight human female. Don't buy the "extra damage dice" special ability upgrades for your lance since extra damage dice are not multiplied on a Spirited Charge. Just buy enhancement bonuses. Keen is fun, but not really necessary. As your mount advances, teach your mount the "assist attack" and/or "assist defend" tricks. See my LG Open Tricks list at http://members.aol.com/kenjenks/lg/
clannagh 07-23-07, 07:38 PM	Don't buy the "extra damage dice" special ability upgrades for your lance since extra damage dice are not multiplied on a Spirited Charge. Just buy enhancement bonuses. Keen is fun, but not really necessary. Riding boots make a keen lance a bit more worthwhile.
Amnarii 07-23-07, 09:51 PM	I like this concept too - what would be a good build to take advantage? My initial reaction is to use a small character so that in early stages (and later too), they can ride while indoors or in dungeons, etc... is that necessary?
bitznarf 07-23-07, 10:12 PM	That depends, does your PC have a secondary role he can be good at if he cannot be mounted? For example, my mounted charger has mostly druid levels, making him a force to be reckoned with on and off the mount.
control freak 07-23-07, 10:17 PM	i currently am in the process of creating my halfling (or gnome) charger and stats are shaping up to be 16 14 14 8 10 8 barb 1: ER ftr 1: mounted combat ftr 2: ride by, spirited charge ftr 3: ftr 4: power attack ftr 5: imp bull rush? ftr 6: shock troopers ftr 7: ftr 8: combat brute?? (does this work with it), (open feat) so far it seems like it should work but the first level you a furious barbarian halfling/gnome? and have to play it like that, after that you get a dog and can rip em up and on 3rd you get all nasty and deal 21 +3d6 and get to ride by
clannagh 07-23-07, 10:19 PM	I like this concept too - what would be a good build to take advantage? My initial reaction is to use a small character so that in early stages (and later too), they can ride while indoors or in dungeons, etc... is that necessary? Whilst medium mounts are more practical indoors they are also more fragile. Then again there is no penalty when a small character rides a large mount and LG makes it relatively simple to change animal companions so you could just swap medium/large companion mounts depending on the mod.
Iswald 07-23-07, 10:30 PM	Then again there is no penalty when a small character rides a large mount... A small PC can't fast dismount from a large mount. Taking druid levels so that you can change your mount's size is convenient.
bitznarf 07-23-07, 10:44 PM	so far it seems like it should work but the first level you a furious barbarian halfling/gnome? and have to play it like that, after that you get a dog and can rip em up and on 3rd you get all nasty and deal 21 +3d6 and get to ride by You still need a way to get a durable mount.
MatteBlack 07-23-07, 10:48 PM	Beastmaster also gets additional smaller companions later on, presumably you could have one combat beast at your level's HD and a decent mount.
DuctShuiTengu 07-23-07, 11:39 PM	Take a look at how low your effective druid level for those backups are. They aren't there to help you during the adventure. They're there as food for your real animal companion.
Dr.Cornelius 07-24-07, 04:38 AM	Can anyone point me to the rules for mounts. For example, other than size, is there a practical limit on what can and cannot be ridden?
MatteBlack 07-24-07, 08:24 AM	Take a look at how low your effective druid level for those backups are. They aren't there to help you during the adventure. They're there as food for your real animal companion. Good point. Those additional companions were not as high level as i thought they might. Even with Natural Bond (which I don't want to assume I will find access to), the best you can do is a secondary creature that is equal to your beastmaster levels which would be 5 levels lower at the minimum. Potentially a valid mount but, only with the feat.
kjenks 07-24-07, 09:13 AM	Can anyone point me to the rules for mounts. For example, other than size, is there a practical limit on what can and cannot be ridden? There are some guidelines in the DMG. Sorry, I don't have a page number for your right now.
Iswald 07-24-07, 09:25 AM	Can anyone point me to the rules for mounts. For example, other than size, is there a practical limit on what can and cannot be ridden? Sadly, no. It appears that any creature can be ridden no matter how ridiculous (DMG pg 204) it might appear. The only requirement is having enough strength to carry the rider. There is only a -5 penalty to your ride check for inappropriate mounts. A suitable mount should be one size category larger than the rider. An unsuitable one may be the same size or smaller. Mounts are supposed to be willing to carry the rider but, it's difficult for a judge to enforce this when the mount is an animal companion. Good point. Those additional companions were not as high level as i thought they might. Even with Natural Bond (which I don't want to assume I will find access to), the best you can do is a secondary creature that is equal to your beastmaster levels which would be 5 levels lower at the minimum. Potentially a valid mount but, only with the feat. There is also the question of whether or not you'd need to take natural bond once for each additional companion (though that might be moot as you probably can't take natural bond more than once).
Amnarii 07-24-07, 09:25 AM	It is page 204...under "Unusual Mounts"... basically gives guidelines but leaves it up to the DM.
MatteBlack 07-24-07, 10:05 AM	There is also the question of whether or not you'd need to take natural bond once for each additional companion (though that might be moot as you probably can't take natural bond more than once). I don't have the book with me here at work but, what language in the feat leads you to believe it only applies to one companion? My recollection was that it effected your effective druid level for companion purposes. Then again, table variation is often based on things other than the RAW.
Iswald 07-26-07, 11:28 AM	Natural bond always refers to animal companion in the singular form even though it is from the same book as Beastmaster which has multiple companions.