UberCharge feats, and Armor Spikes?

[UltimaGabe]

I have a couple questions regarding a character I'm going to be making soon.

First off, could someone please list for me the feats (and their sources) that enhance a charge attack? For example, there's the Powerful Charge feats from the Eberron campaign setting, but I know there's others that I just can't recall at the moment. Their benefits aren't necessary (though they would be appreciated ).

Second, what exactly are the mechanics on someone who wants to use Armor Spikes as their main weapon? Any special rules I should know beyond the typical rules of armed combat?

Thanks!

 

[UltimaGabe]

Beuler?

 

[s-dub]

Blood Spiked Charger

I think PHII has a tactical feat called Blood Spiked Charger. Should be relevant.

 

[Elemmakil]

The biggest problem I see is that spiked armor is light, and hence cannot benefit from PA. Most charger builds I know of are either mounted paladins or leap attackers, and you can take advantage of neither.

That being said, the bloodspike charger feat, if this source is correct, looks pretty good. You get 3 times your strength bonus to the spiked shield attack, and 2.5 times that to your spiked armor. It would be nice if someone could verify that my source is correct, because it's not always totally reliable.

Typically, pure strength bonus to damage is big, but not ubercharger level big. Keep in mind that a high level warrior with a two-handed weapon can manage 1.5*4=6 times their strength modifier to damage, if all attacks hit (which is pretty sketchy). Combining this with power attack (generally a lot of it), they can probably out damage a bloodspike charger every round. Not good.

We need other options. Valorous weapons? Rhino's Rush from SC? Even with those, the goal is probably to optimize Strength as much as possible. Polymorph, barbarian (not sure how you could combine that with Rhino's Rush, as it's a paladin spell. Paladin of Freedom, maybe).

Alternately, you could try to get Power Attack to both weapons, although I'm not sure how, and go the leap attack route.

You could try to combine the paladin with Runescarred Berserker (UE), using the Half-orc Paragon to meet the prerequisites. That way, you could get Rhino's Rush, Rage (Greater Rage, in fact), and Polymorph. I don't have my books, so I can't stat out a build for you. Sorry.

 

[s-dub]

It's not a feat, but there's a psychic warrior power called Psionic Lion's Charge that lets you make a full attack on a charge. Beats waiting for level 21.

EDIT***
It's in the XPH, level 2 power.

 

[Darklone]

Ranger3/Scout4 with Imp Skirmish, Imp Powerful Charge, Swift Hunter, TWF and ITWF and Two Weapon Pounce. 2 attacks with +6d6 damage on each attack. Not the maximum you can get, but it's not too bad. Multiclass with Psywar for that full attack thingy and you won't need the Two Weapon Pounce... But IIRC there are cheaper ways than 4 levels to get full attack actions on a charge. That wild feat ... why don't rangers get wildshape ?

Too bad Swift Hunter does not work with the UA druid variant. Hmm... though that might be the one where you give up wildshape... not useful.

 

[UltimaGabe]

I actually have a very specific build in mind- I'm not trying to maximize a charge build (if I wanted that, I could probably just look over at the WotC optimization boards- which, really, I should do anyway)- I'm just trying to make an interesting character that uses Armor Spikes as his main weapon, and I wanted him to have powerful charges. I was just wondering how many feats there were along the lines of the Powerful Charge feats from Eberron.

Thanks for the info so far, though!

 

[Archimedes314]

Powerful Charge is not a very good feat, to be honest. There are much more effective ways of boosting your charge (even without becoming a damage monster). If you can talk your DM into it/get a high enough jump modifier take Battle Jump (UE). The idea of a dude in spiked armor jumping fifteen feat into the air and dropping on his foes (hell, you should probably add falling object damage to your attack) is just too awesome. Valorous enchantment (also UE) is a must (it flat out doubles your damage on a charge, and if you're a half-orc there's a 3.0 feat [Headlong Rush I think] that doubles your damage on a charge as well). Blood-Spiked Charger is not bad, but it's not amazing either (but seeing as you are specializing is armor spikes, go for it). The Charging Smite paladin variant in the PHBII is pretty solid (double smite damage on charges), or if you can find some way to get a flying mount (leadership, Aglarondan Griffonrider) your jump rank problem is solved (plus flying mounts give you loads of tactical options). Psionic Lion's Charge on top of the other stuff will probably make your DM cry.

 

[Kat']

Check crystalkeep.com, the feats in the appropriate pdf document are sorted by theme.

 

[Darklone]

If skirmish isn't your way to go, Bo9S has some similar feats and strikes (Desert Wind IIRC).