The Flying Pincushion : Builds: Mighty Halfling

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Builds: Mighty Halfling

Mighty Halfling

There’s no denying that Cavaliers are best astride a mount, but the big problem is mounted combat doesn't address the typical dungeon crawl. Order of the Paw helps this somewhat but leaves us with the less than optimal halflings… but with a barbarian dip suddenly the weaknesses become strengths.

Build Core:

The goals of this are to circumvent the weaknesses of being small with a barbarian dip and match and maximize our wolf companion’s tripping ability. We’ll use a flail and select a few choice rage powers to elevate the concept further.

Feats/Class Features of note

Halfling is the only choice for Order of the Paw.

1: Halfling Order of the Paw Strategist Cavalier 1: Challenge, Tactician- Tandem Trip*, Improved Trip

2: Cavalier 2: Danger Ward

3: Cavalier 3: Cavalier’s Charge, Mounted Combat

4: Mounted Fury Barbarian 1: Rage, Fast Rider

5: MF Barb: Ferocious Mount, Ride By Attack

6: Cavalier 4: Drill Instructor- Paired Opportunists

7: MF Barb: Trap Sense, Boon Companion- Wolf upgrades

8: MF Barb: Knockdown

9: MF Barb: Beastial Mount**, Combat Reflexes

10: Cavalier 5: Banner

11: Cavalier 6: Spirited Charge, Power Attack

12: Cavalier 7: Challenge 3/day

13: Cavalier 8: Canine Ferocity, Trample, Flag Bearer

14: MF Barb 6: Strength Surge***, Trap Sense 2

15: Cavalier 9: Greater Tactician- Coordinated Charge or Coordinated Maneuvers depending on party make up****, Cleave

16: Cavalier 10: Banner bonus increases, Challenge 4/day

17: Cavalier 11: Mighty Charge*****, Great Cleave

18: Cavalier 12: Demanding Challenge, Cleaving Finish

19: Cavalier 13: Challenge 5/day, Improved Cleaving Finish

20: Cavalier 14: Tactical Advantage

*You don’t bother yet but this gives your wolf the best of 2 trip rolls.

**At this point you likely keep the rage on yourself and stop using Ferocious Mount as the mount still gets a +2 to strength loses no class levels and has a23+ stre

***Use this in tandem with Knockdown and Tandem Trip for a huge bonus to trip with 2 rolls take the better!

****If there’s another charger (druid AC or Eidolon with pounce for example) take the coordinated charge if not take another +2 to trip for your mount or you when you want on maneuvers.

*****Peak Tripping power BAB+STR=CMB 20 +2 (trait bonus) +5 str surge, +4 cavalier's charge, +2 banner, +1 flag bearer, +2 coordinated maneuvers +36 to trip and roll twice take the better in addition to dealing double damage from your flail. You can possibly add flanking to this and yes I factored in a -1 for being small.

Traits

Helpful Aid another action is now a +4, for when you really want your wolf to trip that dwarf…

Heirloom Weapon go with a flail as it has the trip property and this will grant an additional trip

Skills

Max Ride, Handle Animal, possibly stealth, definitely disable device.

20 point buy

Str 14 (with -2 points from Racial)

Dex 12 (with +2 from racial)

Con 15

Int 10

Wis 10

Cha 14 (with 2 points form Racial)

Stat Adds- all in CON

Tactics at level

1- use your flail, your mount, and tandem trip to keep your enemies down

3- see level 1 but charge if you want.

5- share rage when you desire

7- your mount just upgraded into a real threat, also you can flank trip and get the most out of it when enemies try to stand

9- extra AOOs whoot, always having a stronger mount without splitting your rage pool=bonus

To Hit: BAB +8, Str bonus (not counting equip) +4 Challenge + 2 (swift), +4 from Cavalier

11- 1st round charge up for a big hit, use move action to switch to flail then trip them down

12+ gets you better at what you already do… you are pretty versitile as you can deliver big hits with charge and ride by, or pull a flanking trip cycle to shut something down, overrun, eventually trip off of a charge, use tactician drill sergeant, and master tactician to provide TW feats, banner and flag bearer give static bonuses, Danger ward is a great way to boost saves, and you can provide anyone with a +4 bonus thru aid another actions.

Possible Variants