here's what I got:
28 point buy
must be human
I'd prefur not to multiclass to much
I have access to all 3.5 books except for campain settings (exept for eberron, I have all of those)
I have some dragon mags so if you have an idea from there please mention it.
I want to be a protector
Lawful Good
levels 1-15
Please Character Op Boards... pimp my knight
I really don't know much about Knights, so I'll try to give a few general pointers.
Use a reach weapon and try to become Large. Get Combat Expertise & Improved Trip and Combat Reflexes. Either use a Guisarme and Armour Spikes with TWF (to attack inside your reach) or a Spiked Chain. Personally, I detest a Spiked Chain.
Improved Initiative might be a reasonable choice.
In general, try to get as much Battlefield Control as possible.
First thing, we heard you like Knights, so we're going to throw down an old school dragon / knight paint job over the hood - multi layered of course, giving it the deep rich colors that you've come to expect from Wizards of the Coast Customs.
Class: Knight (PHB II)
Stats (28 point buy):
Str 12 (4) <--- +1 at level 12
Dex 13 (5)
Con 14 (6)
Int 13 (5)
Wis 10 (2)
Cha 14 (6) <--- Add level stats here (4, 8, 16, 20)
Now that we got the exterior down, we gotta work on the engine. When you brought this class to us it was a 8 mile to the gallon diesel eco-destructive machine that we would expect to see on Capitan Planet as one of the arch-villains. Now we've tuned this baby up into a 6 cyl bio diesel machine.
Feats by level
Human: Dodge
Level 1: Combat Expertise
Level 2 (Automatic): Mounted Combat
Level 3: Defensive Strike
Level 5 (Bonus): Ride-By Attack
Level 6: Exotic Weapon Prof. (Broad blade Short sword)
Level 9: Shield specialization (Buckler)
Level 10 (Bonus): Spirited Charge
Level 12: Shield Ward
Level 15: Power Attack
Level 15 (Bonus): Weapon Focus (Lance)
Runnin' this set up you're a tank, through and through; making use of Knight's challenge to taunt then a total defense to amp up your next strike. Just make sure you make use of the Buckler's main ability: to hold a Broad blade short sword in your off hand for more armor when you use combat expertise.
Just some simple calculations:
Base 10
Full Plate 8 (max dex 1)
Dex 1
Buckler 1
Shield Specialization 1
Dodge 1
Shield Block 2
Total Defense 4
Broad Blade Short Sword 2
30 AC before magic items (32 with two Broad Blade Short Swords)
Now as we all know, a Knight ain't a knight if it don't have LCD monitors in the hub caps, mud flaps, trunk, and glove compartment, so just for you here's the icing on the cake:
Magic items to get:
Amulet of Natural armor (As much as you can)
Ring of Protection (As much as you can)
Enchant shield with Variable (From Magic Item Compendium)
Redflower leaves (non magical) - Sure it's a drug from the Book of Vile Darkness... but combined with Defensive strike you can hit the most ornery of high ac targets.
Anyway, you've just been pimped.
Then, you need Improved Buckler Defense if you want to benefit from the buckler's AC while using a Broadblade Short Sword in your offhand. (I'm guessing you're trying to grab the Dodge bonus from the Broadblade twice, once for the mainhand & once for the offhand.)
Problem is, you don't have anything from Power Attack with a shortsword. Unless you're reserving PA for use with the Lance.
Then, you need Improved Buckler Defense if you want to benefit from the buckler's AC while using a Broadblade Short Sword in your offhand. (I'm guessing you're trying to grab the Dodge bonus from the Broadblade twice, once for the mainhand & once for the offhand.)
Basically, reserve trying to deal real damage for when you're on the back of your horse. If you do want to use two broad blade short swords, then I would just enchant both with defensive surge, and only attack with one. Also the buckler defense rocks because it works with either two-handed weapons or dual wielding. You eat a -1 to hit in exchange for 8 ac.
Basically, reserve trying to deal real damage for when you're on the back of your horse. If you do want to use two broad blade short swords, then I would just enchant both with defensive surge, and only attack with one. Also the buckler defense rocks because it works with either two-handed weapons or dual wielding. You eat a -1 to hit in exchange for 8 ac.
First of all: Improved Buckler Defense doesn't work with Twohanded weapons, unless you willlfully misread the description.
Secondly, I agree on the two Broad Blades, but your build doesn't include Improved Buckler Defense.
That's why I mentioned it.First of all: Improved Buckler Defense doesn't work with Twohanded weapons, unless you willlfully misread the description.
Secondly, I agree on the two Broad Blades, but your build doesn't include Improved Buckler Defense.
I'm fairly certain it does. The use of a buckler is explained in the PHB:
Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a -1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so because of the extra weight on your arm. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don't get the buckler's AC bonus for the rest of the round.
You can't bash someone with a buckler.
And the Feat states:
When you attack with a weapon in your off hand, you may still apply your bucker's shield bonus to your Armor Class.
I don't believe I'm miss reading it at all. I think you are.
Anyway, with all this, the poor squire has his Knight. Just need one more feat slot for Improved Buckler Defense.
I would consider trading in Dodge for something else, unless it's a prereq for something. Improved Toughness could be a candidate.
"A weapon in your offhand." That's a seperate weapon. A Twohanded weapon is only partly wielded in the offhand. The "Normal" part of the feat reads "...who attacks with an off-hand weapon loses the buckler's shield bonus..." The rules about TWF clearly state the off-hand weapon as a seperate weapon. You really can't interpret this feat in any other way.
Anyway, with all this, the poor squire has his Knight. Just need one more feat slot for Improved Buckler Defense.
I would consider trading in Dodge for something else, unless it's a prereq for something. Improved Toughness could be a candidate.
I really don't think you're reading the description of the rules of the Buckler and applying them properly here, this has nothing to do with the rules of Two-weapon fighting, it has to do with the rules regarding a buckler. As far as using a Buckler is concerned, USING YOUR OFF HAND AT ALL counts as attacking with your off hand:
You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon)
and
In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don't get the buckler's AC bonus for the rest of the round.
Please note that they say, in any case, meaning both cases, two weapon fighting, and fighting with a two handed weapon apply - both count as making an attack with your off hand, whether you choose to believe it or not (which, for some reason, you don't, even though it's clearly stated)
Further, while I know it has no rules-value, the shorthand description at the start of the feats section describes the feat as "...while using an off-hand weapon." It goes a long way to point out the intent.
If we follow your reasoning, using a greatsword would count as TWF...
Further, while I know it has no rules-value, the shorthand description at the start of the feats section describes the feat as "...while using an off-hand weapon." It goes a long way to point out the intent.
First, short hand for imp buckler defense:
Apply bucker's shield bonus to AC while using off-hand weapon.
So, to determine under which circumstances to apply this to we must look at the definition of an off hand weapon when using a buckler. Why not look at the rules from the PHB, where the buckler is:
Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a -1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so because of the extra weight on your arm. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don't get the buckler's AC bonus for the rest of the round.
You can't bash someone with a buckler.
I've posted this like, what? Three times now? Why do you think I'm doing that? Because you aren't reading it. If you read it JUST ONCE you would stop arguing. I will do this piece by piece so you can get it through your head that it does work:
You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a -1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so because of the extra weight on your arm. - Nothing new, you haven't read it before, but now might be a good time to.
This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don't get the buckler's AC bonus for the rest of the round. - I didn't bold this last time, but this time it's of even more key importance: Note what it says CAREFULLY.
Now read this line again: This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons.
It's almost as if, in the case of using a buckler on your arm, you lose your shield bonus to AC when you make an attack, WHETHER IT IS ASSISTING THE MAIN HAND OR NOT, if you use the arm on which the buckler is attached to.
The buckler imposes it's -1 to attack rolls, regardless of if it's TWF or 2HWs being used. The feat lets you keep your shield bonus to AC, REGARDLESS of if it is TWF of 2HWs.
I need to stress this, because you don't understand: This has absolutely nothing to do with the rules of Two-weapon fighting and has EVERYTHING to do with the rules of using a Buckler. Believe it or don't, which I know you won't because nobody on the internet will change their mind, no matter how much evidence is presented that proves them wrong.
Oh, and by YOUR logic, because using a Two-handed weapon isn't attacking with your off-hand, you can, without any feats, wield a two-handed weapon and a buckler and keep your shield bonus to AC, because attacking with both of your hands in one attack isn't "an attack with your off-hand weapon".
Str: 16 ( 10 points) (all points in here)
dex : 12 (4 points)
Con: 12 (4 points)
Int: 10 (2 points)
Wis: 10 (2 points)
Cha: 14 (6 points)
Human: Combat Reflexes
Level 1: Power Attack
Level 2 (Automatic): Mounted Combat
Level 3: Stand Still
Level 5 (Bonus): Ride-By Attack
Level 6: Improved toughness
Level 9: Mage Slayer (or something else)
Level 10 (Bonus): Spirited Charge
Level 12: Robilar's Gambit
Level 15: Pierce Magical Protection.
Level 15 (Bonus): Weapon Focus (Lance)
You could go knight 11/Fighter 4 for more feats, and get the weapon specialisation/melee weapon mastery route.
Get Dexterity and bracers of opportunity.