Knight thread - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Knight thread

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dsivis
May 13, 2011 22:27:10 Hey, trying to create a Knight (PHB2) optimized for damage. Any suggestions besides power attack and improved critical?
I'm kinda new to this whole char-op thing.
#2
Tempest_Stormwind
May 14, 2011 12:58:13 Knight is a defensive class and has no particular synergy with damage dealers.you can try but it will be an uphill battle. Anything it can do for damage will also show up on the NPC warrior - meaning it doesn't bring much new to he table. It's also kind of bad at its defensive role too, except for a few abilities that are unique but replaceable.

Instead, try the Crusader (Tome of Battle). It is everything the Knight should have been and more, and is a blast to play. On the optimization front it is usually hard to make a bad martial adept, too... they tend to.be forgiving on choices you make. Making a very good one takes finesse but in general even poorly built ones are solid.
#3
Krusk
May 14, 2011 15:28:34
The knight has 2 things going for them. 1- bulwark of defense. AoO's more frequently. 2- that thing where your challenges are finally useful because you don't die.

Damage optimization tips-
-take power attack. Use a two handed weapon. (animated shield)
-Don't take improved crit. If you must have it, buy a keen weapon. Money < Feats.
- Take a level of lion totem barbarian. Get pounce on a full attack and uber-charge. (google it). Do an alignment dance with your DM.
-Make use of mounted combat, and buy a nice mount. Use a lance. Mounted ubercharging.

You might have some luck with a spiked chain tripper, but you won't deal loads of damage.
#4
Tempest_Stormwind
May 14, 2011 17:51:48

The knight has 2 things going for them. 1- bulwark of defense. AoO's more frequently. 2- that thing where your challenges are finally useful because you don't die.

Damage optimization tips-
-take power attack. Use a two handed weapon. (animated shield)
-Don't take improved crit. If you must have it, buy a keen weapon. Money < Feats.
- Take a level of lion totem barbarian. Get pounce on a full attack and uber-charge. (google it). Do an alignment dance with your DM.
-Make use of mounted combat, and buy a nice mount. Use a lance. Mounted ubercharging.

You might have some luck with a spiked chain tripper, but you won't deal loads of damage.

There are many other ways to get Pounce. Lion Totem just happens to be the easiest and one of the best ones. For instance, it's expensive, but you can make a set of bracers of Psionic Lion's Charge that trigger whenever you charge.

At one point I maintained a compendium of ways to pounce, but Complete Champion made just about all of it obsolete, the big book of concentrated cheese that it is.

Btw, Bulwark of Defense << Thicket of Blades. There's MANY reasons why the knight sucks at its job; one of them is that even its high points are doable by Crusaders, either earlier, better, or both. Everything that isn't unique about the knight could be done similarly well by fighters or paladins. The knight was an attempt to make defense a bit more active through Knight's Challenge, but most of its iconic use can be handled by the already-existing Goad feat. The Crusader was a revision of that and it does its job far, far better, and remains fun to boot.
#5
dsivis
May 20, 2011 14:55:23 Thanks folks.
Will see what I can do with all this...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dsivis May 13, 2011 22:27:10	Hey, trying to create a Knight (PHB2) optimized for damage. Any suggestions besides power attack and improved critical? I'm kinda new to this whole char-op thing.
#2 Tempest_Stormwind May 14, 2011 12:58:13	Knight is a defensive class and has no particular synergy with damage dealers.you can try but it will be an uphill battle. Anything it can do for damage will also show up on the NPC warrior - meaning it doesn't bring much new to he table. It's also kind of bad at its defensive role too, except for a few abilities that are unique but replaceable. Instead, try the Crusader (Tome of Battle). It is everything the Knight should have been and more, and is a blast to play. On the optimization front it is usually hard to make a bad martial adept, too... they tend to.be forgiving on choices you make. Making a very good one takes finesse but in general even poorly built ones are solid.
#3 Krusk May 14, 2011 15:28:34	The knight has 2 things going for them. 1- bulwark of defense. AoO's more frequently. 2- that thing where your challenges are finally useful because you don't die. Damage optimization tips- -take power attack. Use a two handed weapon. (animated shield) -Don't take improved crit. If you must have it, buy a keen weapon. Money < Feats. - Take a level of lion totem barbarian. Get pounce on a full attack and uber-charge. (google it). Do an alignment dance with your DM. -Make use of mounted combat, and buy a nice mount. Use a lance. Mounted ubercharging. You might have some luck with a spiked chain tripper, but you won't deal loads of damage.
#4 Tempest_Stormwind May 14, 2011 17:51:48	The knight has 2 things going for them. 1- bulwark of defense. AoO's more frequently. 2- that thing where your challenges are finally useful because you don't die. Damage optimization tips- -take power attack. Use a two handed weapon. (animated shield) -Don't take improved crit. If you must have it, buy a keen weapon. Money < Feats. - Take a level of lion totem barbarian. Get pounce on a full attack and uber-charge. (google it). Do an alignment dance with your DM. -Make use of mounted combat, and buy a nice mount. Use a lance. Mounted ubercharging. You might have some luck with a spiked chain tripper, but you won't deal loads of damage. There are many other ways to get Pounce. Lion Totem just happens to be the easiest and one of the best ones. For instance, it's expensive, but you can make a set of bracers of Psionic Lion's Charge that trigger whenever you charge. At one point I maintained a compendium of ways to pounce, but Complete Champion made just about all of it obsolete, the big book of concentrated cheese that it is. Btw, Bulwark of Defense << Thicket of Blades. There's MANY reasons why the knight sucks at its job; one of them is that even its high points are doable by Crusaders, either earlier, better, or both. Everything that isn't unique about the knight could be done similarly well by fighters or paladins. The knight was an attempt to make defense a bit more active through Knight's Challenge, but most of its iconic use can be handled by the already-existing Goad feat. The Crusader was a revision of that and it does its job far, far better, and remains fun to boot.
#5 dsivis May 20, 2011 14:55:23	Thanks folks. Will see what I can do with all this...