Big charge damage ideas?

[NewJeffCT]

You give up your paladin special mount class feature; it has no restrictions on it saying you don't get its advantages if you're doing a mounted charge.

Also, strength improves the damage linearly, just with a large multiplier - if it increased exponentially, it would multiply with itself.


Doesn't power attack exchange 2-for-1 with two-handed weapons? If so, that's +26.

PMing you the details of my paladin, btw.

Thanks for the math correction to both of you - Runestar & Elethiomel.

 

[Dross]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but......

Doesn't power attack exchange 2-for-1 with two-handed weapons? If so, that's +26.

There was some talk (actually a lot of talk if I remember correctly) about a lance + PA combo, since you could use a lance 1-handed when mounted.

the arguments:
(I believe this the RAW interp): PA is x2 with a two handed weapon, lance is a two handed weapon (with special case), PA is always x2

(I believe this the RAI interp): PA is x2 with a two handed weapon used 2-handed, if lance is used in one hand PA = x1

Personally I agree with both, the RAW is how it would run, the RAI is how it should run (we use RAI). I don't know if it was actually cleared up in to FAQ.

There is nothing stopping you using the lance it two hands anyway, but extra AC from a shield isn't a bad thing.

 

[Dross]

A couple of thoughts.
Powerful Build for a 1-size bump to your weapon. Races of Faerun has Jotunbrud which is basically a Powerful Build (regional) feat.
Strongarm Bracers in the MIC allows you to wield a weapon 1 size larger than normal. the bracers don't stack with Powerful Build, but RAW wise Jotundrud should stack with the bracers (again, I'd lean to RAI and deny the coupling if it came up).

Mini HB has a feat for extra dice damage on charges, and another one to act as a larger size.

 

[Elethiomel]

There is nothing stopping you using the lance it two hands anyway, but extra AC from a shield isn't a bad thing.

Unfortunately, DnD eliminates this quandary by supplying the Animated Shield in the DMG, enabling you to use both a shield and a weapon in two hands.

 

[Runestar]

There is nothing stopping you using the lance it two hands anyway, but extra AC from a shield isn't a bad thing.

Thanks to shock trooper and charging, your AC is likely to be very low. If you are going to be hit on a 2 or more, the extra AC from a shield isn't going to make a difference.

You give up your paladin special mount class feature; it has no restrictions on it saying you don't get its advantages if you're doing a mounted charge.

My point was actually to clarify if you could do a charging smite while mounted. But on re-reading the PHB2, nothing seems to prohibit it.

And I forgot to factor in the smite damage from smite itself.

So that is [1d8+54(smite)+36(PA)+9(str)+enhancement]x4. You are looking at 400+ damage minimum.

I thought you weren't looking to replicate the experiences your party had with your frenzied berserker npc?

 

[Elethiomel]

Thanks to shock trooper and charging, your AC is likely to be very low. If you are going to be hit on a 2 or more, the extra AC from a shield isn't going to make a difference.

With Find the Gap, STR, CHA, enhancement bonus, and charge bonus to hit, you're looking (at level 18) at a +20 or more to hit on a melee touch attack, so Find the Gap (paladin spell from Spell Compendium) lets you not take Shock Trooper; this means shield AC can matter if you choose this. The build is already very feat heavy as the charging feats take up a bunch of slots.

 

[NewJeffCT]

I thought you weren't looking to replicate the experiences your party had with your frenzied berserker npc?

True, but the frenzied berserker was insane because he got multiple attacks - 4 attacks for being level 16+ overall and then another attack for Frenzy. Plus, with Cleave, he ended up with a 6th attack in the round he dropped two PCs.

the charging paladin mounted on a nightmare or similar is going to be doing 1 attack with a charge and then riding by to re-charge the next round. With 4 spellcasters, the party should be able to disable/delay the paladin and his charge (Maze spell, Otto's Irresistible Dance, heightened Holy Word, etc)

 

[NewJeffCT]

With Find the Gap, STR, CHA, enhancement bonus, and charge bonus to hit, you're looking (at level 18) at a +20 or more to hit on a melee touch attack, so Find the Gap (paladin spell from Spell Compendium) lets you not take Shock Trooper; this means shield AC can matter if you choose this. The build is already very feat heavy as the charging feats take up a bunch of slots.

Thanks - great spell to take, and thanks for the PM. I'll comment more when I get a chance to look at it.

 

[NewJeffCT]

OK, this is what I'm looking at now.

level 18 paladin (can you put a paladin of tyranny into Heroforge?)
Mounted on a nightmare, though not the paladin's special mount...
Lance+3 = d8+4 damage from magic, +9 from STR of 22, so d8+13
Charging Smite+Regular Smite= +54
Full Power Attack damage= -18 to hit, +36 to damage for 2 handed.

Double damage on the lance, would be tripled with Spirited Charge.
So, 3d8+39 from the lance
Is the smite damage also tripled? +162
How about the power attack damage? +108
Make the lance a valorous weapon and the +108 is now +144?
So, 3d8+345

Thanks

 

[Elethiomel]

General rules for multiplying damage in DnD 3.5 says that all flat bonuses (including power attack, smite, etc.) are multiplied, while dice bonuses (sneak attack, divine sacrifice, etc.) are not. So yeah, multiply everything