Dragoon building, need some advice

[holyplankton]

In my current campaign I am playing a psion, but the Dragoon archetype for Fighter is looking more and more fun the more I look at it. My GM said be will allow me to switch characters, so long as i can roleplay the psion's death, which wouldn't be an issue. I would like to get some advice on the best feats to take, and possibly whether it would be better to dip into either Ranger or Cavalier, or just go straight fighter.

The character wiill be 12th level, so I do have some room to work. Here is what i have come up with myself, not sure if I missed omething here somewhere.

Leel 1: Power Attack, Mounted Combat and Skill Focus (Ride) from archetype, Weapon Focus (Lance) for human bonus
Level 2: Ride-by Attack
Level 3: Spirited Charge
Level 4: Furious Focus (not zure if this works on a charge or not)
Level 5: Combat Expertise
Level 6: Vital Strike (does the extra damage multiply on a charge too?)
Level 7: Animal Affinity
Level 8: Shield of Swings
Level 9: Trick Riding
Level 10: Weapon Specialization (Lance)
Level 11: Impfoved Vital Strike
Level 12: Dreadful Carnage

Those are my choices so far, and that is pure fighter. Any suggestions?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Where are you getting your mount from? A horse or even low end monster like a Griffin just dies horribly by 12th level, you need a special mount.

Since UC is open since you're using the Dragoon archetype, if you cannot get a strong mount via Handle Animal or Leadership, I suggest dipping Cavalier 1 and Sohei Monk 1 (or 2, 2nd level is just as good). Sohei lets you take mounted feats and ignore the prerequisites. UC has a feat, "Horse Master" iirc, that requires Expert Trainer (a 4th level Cavalier class feature) and lets you stack non-Cavalier levels for your mount's progression. Using Sohei to ignore that pre-req, you can get a powerful mount with a minimum of dipping out of Fighter. I also suggest you use the Beast Rider archetype for Cavalier, so you can ride something awesome like a dinosaur instead of just a horsie.

Also, did you see the Roughrider Fighter archetype from APG? I personally like it slightly more than Dragoon, personally.

EDIT: You cannot use Vital Strike with a charge. It might still be useful for skirmishing on your mount, but not for helping with charges. And yes, you can use Furious Focus anytime you Power Attack.

 

[Dingo333]

Leel 1: Power Attack, Mounted Combat and Skill Focus (Ride) from archetype, Weapon Focus (Lance) for human bonus
Level 2: Ride-by Attack
Level 3: Spirited Charge
Level 4: Furious Focus (not zure if this works on a charge or not)
Level 5: Combat Expertise
Level 6: Vital Strike (does the extra damage multiply on a charge too?)
Level 7: Animal Affinity
Level 8: Shield of Swings
Level 9: Trick Riding
Level 10: Weapon Specialization (Lance)
Level 11: Impfoved Vital Strike
Level 12: Dreadful Carnage

Those are my choices so far, and that is pure fighter. Any suggestions?

Going through this list, there are a few problems

First, you have 1 too many feats at 1st level (SF ride replaces the 1st level bonus)

Power attack, Furious Focus, Dreadful Carnage and Shield of Swings are mostly useless to you. Power attack is the only feat even slightly useful to you. Lance are 1 handed weapons while mounted.

Combat expertise: is there a reason for this feat? yeah some AC is handy but the penalty to your to hit is high for the amount you get

Animal Affinaty: +4 to handle animal and ride can be nice but this one is kinda wasted as your ride check should already be +25 (12 ranks, 3 class, 6 SF, 2 saddle and 2 Dex) and handle animal could be +15 (12 ranks, 3 class, 0 Cha)

So, here is the feat list I would suggest

Level 1: WF lance, SF Ride, Mounted Combat
Level 2: Ride By Attack
Level 3: Spirited Charge
Level 4: WS Lance
Level 5: Trick Riding
Level 6: Vital Strike
Level 7: Dodge
Level 8: Improved Critical Lance
Level 9: GWF Lance
Level 10: Mobility
Level 11: Improved Vital Strike
Level 12: GWS Lance

With this, your charge should be something like 18+Str+weapon enhancement and damage should be 9d8+6+str+weapon enhance (I believe on a critical you would do 15d8+18+3xstr+3xweapon enhancement)

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

First, you have 1 too many feats at 1st level (SF ride replaces the 1st level bonus)

No. For the Dragoon archetype, you lose tower shield proficiency and the 1st level bonus feat in return for Skill Focus (Ride) AND Mounted Combat. He had it correct. I agree with you on the wasted feats, though.