Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tommeh May 10, 2008 23:33:48	So I'm about to start playing in an epic campaign, starting at level 40 (crazy i know, but it should be fun) I'll be playing a mounted pally/cavalier build, and I'd like some insight on my ideas so far. RACE - Human most likely, unless I decide to drop a class level for Aasimar (haven't decided yet) CLASSES Pal 20 (taken from the rebalanced paladin thread) Cavalier 10 Knight of the Left Hand 5 (Ultimate Prestige Classes Vol1) Knight Lord 5 (Path of Faith) EQUIPMENT - keep in mind throughout all this I have 13.6 million gp to work with (standard issue for 40th level) - haven't decided exactly what I want for specific weapons/armor but that's not really an issue - I'm probably going to have 4 weapons, a mercurial longsword (mostly decked out with a high enhancement bonus, holy, evil+chaotic outsider bane, holy burst (MIC), and possibly others), a lance (again, high enhancement, charging (MIC), holy at least, probably others), a heavy mace (for undead-killing purposes only, probably will be +2 at best, with Disruption and Divine Wrath (MIC)), and a composite longbow (probably won't be that amazing either). As for armor, fullplate of course, adamantine, +5, heavy fortification, other enhancements probable. - As far as wondrous items go I need help: -- Belt of Magnificence is already set in stone (+6 to all stats, 200k gp) -- Ring of Universal Elemental Immunity if I can afford it at the end, I could do without it (2160k gp i think) -- Boots: 2 different kinds I'm looking in to - Riding Boots (MIC) (12k) (Free Ride By Attack and improved[+1] charge multiplier), and Boots of Battle Charger (MIC) (2k) - Obviously Riding Boots are the better pair, but since I'll be taking the Ride By Attack feat for Cavalier, it seems stupid to pay for an item and only be able to use half of it.. Also are there rules to modify these kinds of items? For instance, remove the RBA feat and instead increase the charge multiplier to +2? or even +3 or +4? How much would it cost? What if I wanted to add in the effects of the Boots of the Battle Charger (can travel through rough terrain and ally squares as part of a charge and can charge as a standard action) ? -- Horseshoes: Horseshoes of the Peerless Steed (ELH) (217k) - Grant the mount double movement speed, grant the rider +10 to ride checks, and the RBA, Trample, and Spirited Charge feats - I'll have to have the RBA and SC feats to qualify for Cavalier anyway, so I won't benefit from those, +10 to ride isn't really needed, it'll be high enough already I think... Trample and double movement speed isn't worth 217k gp. Are there rules for creating my own horseshoes, similar to these? -- Gauntlets: Gauntlets of War (CC) (4k) - These are good, but at 40th level? not so much. I'd like gauntlets similar to these, but MUCH more powerful... I have the cash to upgrade them, but I need rules for going about this. -- Helm: Angelhelm (MIC) (10k) - Again, I like this item a lot, but i would like to upgrade its power - perhaps a heal spell instead of CCW? Maybe all my weapons automatically overcome the DR for any evil creature? I know this upgrade would be expensive, but I think it would be worth it -- Throat: Unicorn Pendant (MIC) (6k) - Enhances my CHA in terms of Lay on Hands potency - Nice idea, but i'd like to enhance it a LOT (same idea as the last 2) -- Others: I'm open to suggestions and opinions FEATS -I receive 18 as a human, 17 as an Aasimar (The DM is substituting an ability in the rebalanced paladin build for a bonus feat) NEED: EWP (mercurial longsword) [for style], WF (longsword), Power Attack, Cleave [for KotLH], WF (lance), mounted combat, ride by attack, spirited charge [cavalier], Leadership [for Knight Lord] - total 9 needed others im thinking about: epic leadership, divine might, divine vigor, divine shield, avenging strike (ToB), trample, sacred healing, sacred vitality, cavalry charger, dire charge (ELH), great smiting (ELH), BATTLE BLESSING (probably a sure thing, simply amazing), mounted mobility (HoB), improved cohort (HoB), Heavy Armor Optimization (RoS), Dismount Attack (skill trick), Divine Paladin (DaD), Improved Crit (lance), Great Cleave - just an fyi, I'll receive the following feats for KotLH: an enhanced WF (longsword), WS (longsword), Improved Crit(longsword), and the holy enchantment Thanks in advance for the feedback
#2 phoenix00 May 10, 2008 23:54:30	books? is dragon allowed?
#3 tommeh May 11, 2008 0:07:37	all books... even 3rd party sources (Dragon, legends and lairs, green ronin, etc.) , but anything and everything has to be cleared with the dm first.
#4 deschain_of_gilead May 11, 2008 0:30:52	Eons ago I helped a friend of mine build something akin to this, though lower level and a bit simpler. If you can, you should fit in a level of Marshal, taking I think it's called Mastery of Tactics. He did, and was completely untrippable, and took the feat from CW that lets you attack when grappled (close quarters fighting?), so he was impossible to grapple as well. I think Elemental Immunity is overpriced, evasion and high enough saves or spell turning should do the trick and then some. Also, is there some way to get pounce? Or, do you plan on ride by attacking, which w/ a high enough speed could be really impressive! The standard barbarian pounce trick obviously won't work, which is a shame, unless you can swing some interesting alignment changes. Hope that little bit helps, 40th level is a bit out of my ken, even though I'm playing a sporadic 30th level character later this month. Gauntlets of War are in Complete Champion, btw, and thanks for drawing attention to the Rebalanced Paladin thread, I'm interested to take a look at it. Nowadays I've just been using Crusaders ...
#5 phoenix00 May 11, 2008 0:30:59	First an epic spellcaster can do everything better. Second, grab these feats Obtain Familar (so all arcane spellcasting classes advance familar) Theurgic Bond (Dragon 325, animal companion and familar benefits stack with classes that advance either) Theurgic Mount (Dragon 325, your mount benefits from paladin levels as well as levels in any arcane spellcasting class) The paladin 5 subsitution levels in the Web Enhancement of Champions of Valor (combine familar with mount for benefits) Enspell Familar (so you can share spells up to a mile away with your familiar) Dragon Mount feat from Dracomicon The feat from Complete Adventurer that stacks your mount and animal companion. Together you are an epic spellcaster, who can share spells with his mount, as well as a dragon mount with way too many dragon hit dice and that dragon can assume any form up to 25 hit dice due to shapechange.
#6 tommeh May 11, 2008 0:50:14	Deschain of Gilead: Good point about the elemental ring... my saves should be high enough with divine grace, and if i really need to, ill buy a ring of evasion or something. As for pounce, I'm not sure if that's up my alley, and with Dire Charge, I'll be able to use a full attack at the end of a charge, so it would be somewhat redundant. As for the Marshal, I don't know much about what it can do, I'll give it a look. Phoenix00: In my party there is going to be a Wizard/Red Wizard/Archmage, a Rogue/Sorc/Prince of Rogues/Master of Masks, and some form of an Arcane Archer. So, there really isn't much point in dipping into an arcane class, and as for the dragon mount, I'd actually prefer a celestial warhorse. I'm sure it is much less powerful, but it has style, and thats what I'm going for.
#7 phoenix00 May 11, 2008 7:45:48	If you don't want a normal dragon, at least get a dragonnel. (A winged dragon horse) Doesn't look celestial horsey enough for you, well redescribe it as a celestial horse. Flavor is changeable d12 instead of d10 both have fighter bab 6 skill points vs 2 skill points plus int good will, reflex, and fort, vs good fort and reflex immune to paralysis that is a big improvement for your mount. Also your mount can now fly. Normal dragons are sicker, but who cares really. ---- And you may not play as the "arcane character", but there is little reason not to have 30 or so levels of an arcane class for those feats advance the relevant parts. Play as a gish, a person who never casts a single spell in combat, instead using his spells only for buffing, wraithstrike, and arcane channeling. This avenue is far better than the one you described.
#8 tommeh May 11, 2008 16:03:21	Sounds very interesting, I'll look into the dragonnel Anyone have an ideas on how to upgrade my equipment?