Newby to racial template class, playing a Centaur

[Blightersbane]

It's been quite some time since I have played a monster as a player character. My PC is to be a Centaur, 4th level racial template class. I am curious to know if any of you have any experience playing a Centaur or similar and tactics you commonly used.

I have several questions even more than the following so please be patient
I’m thinking of going with the two handed large warspear for its versatility and a large great bow, both seem to fit the Centaur picture of my mindseye. Which way would you prefer to attack? 1 large warspear and 2 hooves or 1 charge w/ warspear & trample. Would my hooves be considered an off hand attack? Which style is customary for the race? Which did you use? Sword & board, two handed, two wep, natural? Do the centaurs automatically get the mounted combat feats?

Blightersbane

 

[IcyCool]

If the warspear is a reach weapon, it probably can't be used to attack adjacent targets. Since the centaur is a large creature with a 5' reach, you won't be able to both attack with the warspear and hooves.

Honestly? The favored class for Centaurs is Ranger. That makes me think two-weapon combat. 4 on-hand, 3 off-hand, and 2 hoof attacks in a round is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Blightersbane]

How many attacks?

 

[IcyCool]

How many attacks?

That would be at ECL 20, of course. 4 from a BAB of +18 (+4 from Monstrous Humanoid hit dice, +14 from 14 levels of Ranger), 3 off-hand attacks from the two-weapon fighting tree, and then your two hoof attacks.

 

[Blightersbane]

If you are a racial template Centaur of 4th level what would your attacks be? 1 primary and 2 hooves?

Blightersbane

 

[IcyCool]

If you are a racial template Centaur of 4th level what would your attacks be? 1 primary and 2 hooves?

Blightersbane

Yes, assuming you were close enough to attack with your weapon and your hooves. If you were two weapon fighting, you'd get 1 on-hand attack, 1 off-hand attack, and your hooves.

 

[Blightersbane]

with a 26 str which do you feel is the "way" to go? two handed weapon feats chain or the two wep?

 

[IcyCool]

Well, are you the sort of person who like to get in a couple of devastating strikes, or more numerous average strikes?

 

[IcyCool]

Also, I'm not saying going with a reach weapon is bad. Your hooves provide a good protection against anyone who gets in under your reach.

 

[Zaruthustran]

with a 26 str which do you feel is the "way" to go? two handed weapon feats chain or the two wep?

I think your biggest asset is your size. Take a level of monk at character level 5 for Improved Unarmed Attack and choose Improved Grapple as the bonus feat. With your BAB, Str, Improved Grapple, and your size, you'll have a grapple modifier of +20 (+4, +8, +4, +4). Yikes!

Your hoof attacks count as light weapons, as do your unarmed attacks. So you'd initiate the grapple as the last attack in your attack routine (all it needs is a touch attack), then next round (it's likely the target won't be able to escape) you beat the crap out of the guy with 2 hooves (1d6+4 each) and a punch or headbutt (1d8+8). You'll take a -4 to each of those attacks, but you're so strong it probably doesn't matter. Heck, do a flurry of blows on him for a total potential damage of 2d8+16 + 2d6+8. Crunch!

Plus, whoever you grabbed can't attack with anything other than a light or natural weapon (bad news for Mr. Greatsword Guy), will have serious trouble casting spells (bad news for Mr. Spell Guy), and is denied his Dex bonus vs. outside attacks (good news for your friend Mr. Sneak Attack Guy).

Plus it's funny to imagine your centaur holding the guy up by the ankle while he stomps on his chest and punches him in the gut.

Keep progressing as Monk and you'll get Ki Strike Magic (which I think applies to your hooves as well), evasion, and eventually improved trip (again, handy for a Large creature). All while your unarmed damage improves at the Large rate. Good stuff.

Your Monstrous Humanoid levels give you access to Simple weapons, so carry around a Large longspear so you can have a crazy reach (and take Combat Reflexes as your bonus feat for monk level 2). Carry javelins if you want a ranged attack (1d8+8 damage, range increment 30). Or shuriken--you can flurry with them for 1d3+8 damage each.

For feats, go with Power Attack at first level (for use with the spear, or to smash down doors with the Large greatclub you'll carry in a Heward's Haversack, or to crush an opponent on the ground) and for 3rd take that feat that helps in a grapple--I think it's called Jotunbrud. Take Knockdown as your 6th level feat. It gives you a free trip attack every time you do more than 10 points of damage, a pretty easy condition to fill when your Str bonus is +8. And with Improved Trip, you'll get to follow up with another attack.

Have fun!

-z

PS: start saving for a cheap Monk's Belt. For a mere 13k, you improve your unarmed damage as if your monk level were 5 levels higher. So at character level 7 (monk level 3), your unarmed damage would be a base 2d6+8. And, with flurry, you can dish out that attack three times per round (not counting the two hooves). Ouch!