[NPC Optimization] How best to make a mounted combatant? (My players stay out!)

I need to design a NPC for the next game who is a mounted combat specialist, and I'd love suggestions for base and prestige class options. I would normally think paladin, of course, but there is extenuating circumstances.




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Here's the scoop. I'm looking for a small-sized (kobold?) neutral or evil riding specialist. He's going to be roughly 16th lvl and mounted on a fairly stupid horse-sized dragon. (He'll also be accompanied by an intelligent horse-sized dragon, but not as a mount; that's a little too cheesy when it comes to using the ride skill.) I'd like to mine whatever synergies I can out of the pairing.

I'm okay with the base class being a sorcerer (for a mobile spellcasting platform) or a fighter-type. I just don't know enough about mounted prestige classes to do a good job at design. Any fun ideas?

Thanks!

For a fighter-type, go with a lance specialist. Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Trample, Power Attack, Weapon Focus/Specialization. Cavalier PrC is awesome.

Or a ranged missile specialist. Mounted Archery, Improved Mounted Archery. Full attack while moving. Pretty wicked, especially on a fast mount. They could stay out of range of short range spells, and with evasion they could survive the long-range evocation spells.

Nothing too special about a mounted spellcaster, except of course, that he's more mobile. Ride skill is usually cross-class for them though.

Cavalier - check. Complete Warrior, I assume?

I need to buy it. I keep borrowing a friend's, and he's getting annoyed.

Piratecat said:

I need to design a NPC for the next game who is a mounted combat specialist, and I'd love suggestions for base and prestige class options. I would normally think paladin, of course, but there is extenuating circumstances.

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First: BORC DO NOT READ THIS!!!



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Ok now that I have that said… I am planning on running a mounted combat battle here very soon as well. The main Knight that will be facing off the PCs is a Kobold with the half blue dragon template with 8 levels in fighter and 5 in Cavalier. His mount is a low Gorgon out of the Creature Collection with the half blue dragon template (guess what he main bad guy is going to be at the end…).

Feats are going to be something like this: mounted combat, weapon focus lance, ride by attack, spirited charge, improved crit lance, weapon spec lance, power attack, cleave, weapon focus longsword (small), weapon spec longsword (small).

He is going to have two other Knights with him and some foot solders… will be one hell of a hard fight.

But then I don’t have the name I have for no reason at all


Borc Killer

Piratecat said:

I'm looking for a small-sized (kobold?) neutral or evil riding specialist. He's going to be roughly 16th lvl and mounted on a fairly stupid horse-sized dragon. (He'll also be accompanied by an intelligent horse-sized dragon, but not as a mount; that's a little too cheesy when it comes to using the ride skill.) I'd like to mine whatever synergies I can out of the pairing.

I'm okay with the base class being a sorcerer (for a mobile spellcasting platform) or a fighter-type. I just don't know enough about mounted prestige classes to do a good job at design. Any fun ideas?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

I had some free time, so here's a partial stat-block for a fairly generic kobold cavalier of the level you asked for. It's not really twinked out (other than the human-bane lance), so it's nowhere near as tough as could be, but it's a starting point.

Due to the low Str and small weapon, it doesn't do that much damage even with the Deadly Charge ability. Simplest way to increase that would be to find ways to raise the BAB so that it can shave pts off with Power Attack (which will give +4 dmg for -1 to hit, or +6 to -1 on a crit). Depending on how you interpret the lance used on horseback under the +2 dmg for -1 to hit and two-handed weapons rule, that can go up very quickly. I gave it some generic equipment, but it has about 20k gp left over for what a 16th lvl NPC should have, so an oil of Greater Magic Weapon would help (as would potions of Barkskin and Shield of Faith with the low AC). Or just take out two a level of Cavalier and replace that with one of Sorcerer for some real cheese, i.e. the True Strike + Power Attack (which, for a Sor1/Ftr8/Cavalier7, could produce a Deadly Charge doing at least +30 to hit and damage starting at an average of 100 pts on a non-crit).

Hope it helps.

Kobold Ftr8/Cavalier8; small humanoid (reptilian); HD 16d10+32; 155 hp; Init +3; Speed 20 ft; AC 25 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +6 armor, +3 shield, +1 natural, +1 deflection), touch 15, flatfooted 22; BAB/Grp +16/+15; Attack +1 Human-bane Lance +22 melee (1d6+6/19-20/x3); Full Attack +1 Human-bane Lance +22/17/12 melee (1d6+6/18-20/x3); SV Fort +18, Ref +11, Will +12; AL LE; Str 15 (+2), Dex 14 (+2), Con 12 (+1), Int 13 (+1), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 8 (-1) [Str 17 (+3), Dex 16 (+3), Con 14 (+2) w. magic items]

Skills: Ride +30 (19 ranks +3 Dex +2 synergy +6 PrC)

Feats (5 Normal, 5 Fighter): Weapon Focus (Lance), Weapon Specialization (Lance), Improved Critical (Lance), Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Greater Weapon Focus (Lance), Power Attack + 2 feats

Special Abilities/Qualities: Kobold racial abilities, special mount, mounted weapon bonus (lance, sword) +2, Ride bonus +6, courtly knowledge, deadly charge 4/day, burst of speed, full mounted attack

Equipment (77k gp worth): Human-bane Lance +1 (8.31k), Breastplate of Moderate Fortification +1 (16.35k), Heavy Shield +1 (1.17k), Belt of Strength +2 (4k), Gloves of Dexterity +2 (4k), Bracers of Health +2 (4k), Cloak of Resistance +4 (16k), Amulet of Natural Armor +1 (2k), Ring of Protection +1 (2k) + 19.17k gp

Using Deadly Charge - +24 to hit, doing 4d6+24 (6d6+36 on a critical), or +26 to hit, doing 6d6+32 (8d6+48 on a critical) vs. humans.

That's a great setup. I really like it.

I think I'll end up using a kobold fighter with a temporarily boosted strength. 6 levels of fighter, 10 of cavalier, and a lance that does knockback. I'm combining the attack with some generic lackeys, an 11th lvl sorcerer, the assassin linked above and a high level maedar wilder. It ought to make for a fun encounter! The mounted attack is coming in the middle of a huge auditorium-sized mass of bureaucratic desks, paperwork and people waiting in lines (the Hall of Records in Sigil), so there will be lots of chaos and scattered paperwork.

If you don't interpret the lance as a two-handed weapon when wielded with a shield, just drop the shield and wield it two-handed for the extra strength and power attack damage. Cheesy, but hey. (I think a lance IRL would do some pretty massive damage, so I personally treat the lance as a two-handed weapon). Oh, and don't forget massive damage saves! (And I know you won't, hehe. ) You could also add 2d6 with Rhino Hide Armor.

Just one more idea, you said he would have at least one cohort? Marshals, even at low levels, help out mounted combat a lot, one minor aura to add his CHA bonus to all damage while charging in 60', then he can grant move actions so you might be able to hit them before they can see you : )

I Deeply love the mounted druid. As a mounted combatant they have no equal. A conventional horse is simply dog meat against characters past 4th level. After round 1 your mounted specialist is generally a pedestrian. Druid animal companions have the HP and special abilites to survive.

The Share spells ability allows the rider to buff his mount while buffing himself...

Well the horse is a dragon after all...

Bye
Thanee