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

[Thanee]

Here's a little idea for magic toys.

Cover the dragon with an illusion (or better yet, transmutation effect, like alter self) that changes the color (i.e. from red to white)!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pax]

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.

If you go with a Kobold, you can go with a smaller dragon than horse-sized. And regardless - flying mount, small rider ... that screams "mounted archery" in a BIG way.

One suggestion is: if you have or can borrow a copy of Unearthed Arcana, consider going with a VARIANT paladin (there's an LE and a CE version in there). A LE Paladin of Tyranny, mounted on his (bonded) Dragon cohort/mount and accopanied by another dragon ... *shudder* ...

Windrider, though a 3.0 product, is a good place to look for ANY mounted archetype.

If you weren't set on the "horse-sized dragon" schtick, I'd suggest a Ranger - withthe Archery combat style, and an ever-increasingly-tough mount ... but since you are stuck on it, I can't add too much more to what's already been said, sad to say.

I strongly suggest, though, that you get the Draconomicon - if those are horse-sized SHADOW dragons, the PC's are in for a HECK of a fight, just based on THEM. Heh (their breath weapon inflicts negative levels, bwahaha).

 

[Darklone]

I would go paladin/blackguard mounted archer. Just too much cheesy goodness for the dragon mount...

Some not real core ideas:
- Divine Might boosts your archery damage high enough.(CW) Get Extra Turning and a Bow of Speed&Seeking plus that nifty enhancement that allows variable strength mods to damage, get as many different arrows as you want... with humanbane, unholy and other nice properties.
- The prestige paladin class in UA adds to cleric levels for Divine Favour goodness, so build something similar for Blackguards... Righteous Might/Divine Power on yourself and via share spells (does this work?) and the mount rocks in grapples even against munchkinized druids.
- Level 17 might be a good idea for BAB 16 and 5 arrows per round.
- Oathbows anyone?

Then give that dragon mount the look of a scrawny vulture with a hunchback (River of Blood has a carrion dragon) and give the kobold some stylish hun clothes, you know, these funny felt caps, weird boots, a big belly and some nice bells.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Given that you're considering a Fighter or Sorceror - how about combining the two - possibly an Eldritch Knight or Spellsword?

Possibly consider using 'arcane preparation' feat so the little guy can use quicken... so a spell and a charge each round... A spellstoring lance might be useful? Mix in the usual mounted combat feats?

I like the idea of the crazed little guy delivering all manner of grizzly spells via lance attacks... Certainly a new one to me?

An idle thought: I think it was a 2nd ed item, but not sure where from... there was this 'McGuffin' that raised your mount back up if it died - think it became either a ghost or like the thing from the 'mount' spell. Could provide a nice suprise if someone manages to kill the mini dragon?

Either way, I'd be tempted to make his 11th level sorceror sidekick an illusionist of some talent - just to muddy the waters somewhat...


Edit: Really like desks/paperwork. Sounds like an excellent place for a fight. Think I might be using that soon!

 

[Piratecat]

Some great ideas here. Shilsen, I had missed your post because we posted at the same time -- thanks for the stat block!

I might just go with a smaller, medium-sized dragon since the kobold is small. The fight is taking place inside, so small is good. Darklone, what's River of Blood? The idea of a carrion dragon would fit in perfectly. I'm a little scared by the idea of Pax's shadow dragons.

Oh, man -- imagine facing a flock of horse-sized shadow dragons, all wheeling and swooping around you. I'll need to use that some time.

The illusionist and the marshall might be essential. Good call; they can be low enough level to be sword-fodder, but still be useful in the fight. I'll need to keep evocation for the sorcerer cohort, though; I have this image in my head of a sonic lightning bolt blasting over row after row of desks, and the paperwork rising up into the air like a snowstorm. . .

 

[Darklone]

River of Blood: AEG 08506

I love the adventure though it has it's weaknesses.

If you go with a smaller dragon, give it some sorcerer levels

Sniff... no kobold archer with a repeating crossbow... sniff...

 

[CCamfield]

Windrider, though a 3.0 product, is a good place to look for ANY mounted archetype.

If you weren't set on the "horse-sized dragon" schtick, I'd suggest a Ranger - withthe Archery combat style, and an ever-increasingly-tough mount ... but since you are stuck on it, I can't add too much more to what's already been said, sad to say.
.

Well, why not go with Ranger? With the Mounted Archery feat and a flying mount, he won't have to engage in hand-to-hand combat at all. Of course, a fighter would get more feats.

I'm playing a Ranger 6/Windrider 1 at the moment, and the PrC is fun. From a power point of view, even 1 level is very handy, since it gives +2 hit dice and other bonuses to your mount. Which could still be a dragon, I believe.

(The windrider is in Masters of the Wild.)

 

[borc killer]

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 think the Cavalier has to have a BAB of +8 in CW. Maybe I looked at the wrong thing and I don't have my book with me right this sec but you might triple check that. 'corse you can always change it

Borc Killer

 

[CRGreathouse]

If the kobold is riding the dragon it doesn't matter... but if it's riding a more conventional mount, keeping it alive is key. I wrote a prestige class for one of my mounted combat characters (a PC), and you, or someone else reading this thread, might be able to make use of it:

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75854

This is my "Keldrian Horselord", a mounted warrior from the plains of Keldria, where horses are nearly as important as people and are protected as such in combat. With a few tweaks (as outlined in the thread!) it becomes a generic prestige class, useable by evil DMs everywhere.

 

[shilsen]

Some great ideas here. Shilsen, I had missed your post because we posted at the same time -- thanks for the stat block!

Glad to help.

A lot of different classes have been suggested here, so here's one more - have you considered a single-classed kobold cleric (or cleric with a couple Ftr levels for proficiency in the lance and any extra feats you want him to have)? A cleric who has the right spells up on himself and his mount should be a real handful in a fight. Charge using a lance two-handed, doing horrible amounts of damage, and then cast spells while the mount is getting in position for another charge, and then charge again. Take time out for maniacal laughter while spells bounce off the Spell Resistance and Unholy Aura. Heal self when necessary. Let the PC's Greater Dispel Magic bounce off your Ring of Counterspells. Use Luck domain (Kurtulmak, the kobold deity, has it) to make that essential saving throw. Come to think of it, this would probably end up being way more powerful than that Ftr/Cavalier combo.