Knightly Charger (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Author: Ghostwheel (talk) Date Created: April 3rd, 2009 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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File:Death knight.jpg

"CHAAAAAAAAARGE!"

Introduction

Charge for massive damage, and once in the thick of things use excellent zone control to keep enemies in place.

References

• Flaws (Unearthed Arcana)
• Player's Handbook II
• Complete Warrior
• Complete Divine
• Complete Adventurer
• Expanded Psionics Handbook
• Spell Compendium
• Tome of Battle

Game Rule Components

Spells

• Rhino's Rush and Find the Gap (both in Spell Compendium) in wand form after entering Pious Templar both make charges far more effective.

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): (Assuming 32 Point Buy) 18 14 16 8 8 8

Race (Templates): Human

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Knight 1	+1	+0	+0	+2	Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Weapon Focus: Lance, True Believer	Fighting Challenge +1, Knight's Challenge, Knight's Code
2nd	Knight 2	+2	+0	+0	+3	Mounted Combat	Shield Block +1
3rd	Knight 3	+3	+1	+1	+3	Stand Still	Bulwark of Defense
4th	Knight 4	+4	+1	+1	+4		Armor Mastery (Medium), Test of Mettle
5th	Knight 5	+5	+1	+1	+4	Ride-By Attack	Vigilant Defender
6th	Fighter 1	+6	+3	+1	+4	Spirited Charge, Leap Attack
7th	Pious Templar 1	+7	+5	+1	+6		Mettle
8th	Pious Templar 2	+8	+6	+1	+7		Smite 1/day
9th	Pious Templar 3	+9	+6	+2	+7	Weapon Specialization: Lance, Melee Weapon Mastery	Damage Reduction 1/--
10th	Pious Templar 4	+10	+7	+3	+8	Shock Trooper
11th	Cavalier 1	+11	+9	+3	+10		Special Mount, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Lance) +1, Ride Bonus +2, Courtly Knowledge
12th	Cavalier 2	+12	+10	+3	+11	Improved Sunder	Deadly Charge 1/day, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Sword) +1
13th	Cavalier 3	+13	+10	+4	+11		Burst of Speed
14th	Cavalier 4	+14	+11	+4	+12		Deadly Charge 2/day, Ride Bonus +4
15th	Cavalier 5	+15	+11	+4	+12	Combat Brute	Mounted Weapon Bonus (Lance) +2
16th	Cavalier 6	+16	+12	+5	+13		Deadly Charge 3/day, Full Mounted Attack, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Sword) +2
17th	Cavalier 7	+17	+12	+5	+13		Ride Bonus +6
18th	Cavalier 8	+18	+13	+5	+14	Improved Buckler Defense	Deadly Charge 4/day
19th	Cavalier 9	+19	+13	+6	+14		Mounted Weapon Bonus (Lance) +3, Ride Bonus +8
20th	Cavalier 10	+20	+14	+6	+15		Unstoppable Charge 5/day, Mounted Weapon Bonus (Sword) +3

At level 20: Knight 5 / Fighter 1 / Pious Templar 4 / Cavalier 10

Items of Note

• Lance with your favorite enhancements.
• Boots of the Battle Charger will let you charge as a standard action 2/day
• Martial Script of Pouncing Charge
• Psionic Tattoos of Psionic Lion's Charge

Highlights

• Assumed stats at level 20:
  • Str: 18 (Base) + 5 (Level) + 6 (Item) + 5 (Tome) = 34 (+12)
  • Attack Bonus: 20 (BAB) + 12 (Str) + 5 (Magic) + 1 (Weapon Focus) + 2 (Melee Weapon Mastery) + 3 (Mounted Weapon Bonus) = +43 (+2 when charging)
  • Damage: 1d8 (Lance) + 5d6+5 (Magic) + 2 (Weapon Specialization) + 2 (Melee Weapon Mastery) + 18 (Two-Handed Strength) = 1d8+5d6+27
  • Attacks on a charge when combined with Shock Trooper (Power Attack for 20, add on Leap Attack), Unstoppable Charge, and Rhino's Rush: (Assuming +5 Lance with enhancements adding up to +5d6 damage): +45 ((1d8+5d6+107) x6 (stacking multipliers))
  • Total damage comes out to 1d8+5d6+107 x6 or (on average) 816.

Combat Sequence

• First round of combat charge for massive damage (activate Pouncing Charge for a full attack).
• Second round, full attack (with the goodness of Combat Brute) while keeping foes where they are through your lance and armor spikes so you threaten all nearby spaces with the combination of Bulwark of Defense and the Stand Still feat.

Further Optimization

• Add to your lance the Valorous enchantment from Unapproachable East for even more damage.
• Be enlarged, or snag a Psionic Tattoo of (augmented) Expansion to have a bigger threatening area for bigger zone control.
• A Psionic Tattoo of Dimensional Hop (Complete Psionic) or a potion of Dimension Hop (Player's Handbook 2) might allow you to teleport 10' as a swift action so you can charge once more.
• Be a Silverbrow Human and pick up the Dragonscale Husk alternate class feature found in Dragon Magic.

Limitations

• A mount often doesn't fit within the confines of a dungeon.

DM Counters

• Difficult terrain.
• Teleporting foes.
• Defenses apart from AC (illusions, concealment, etc).

Miscellaneous

• Must worship a diety whose favored weapon is a lance.

Variants

• Instead of Improved Buckler Defense, take Deft Opportunist (CV) for better crowd control or Close-Quarters Fighting (CW) for a good defense against grapplers. A level of fighter, or more of Psychic Warrior can substitute levels in Cavalier for these feats.
• Another option is to take Powerful Charge (ECS) and Greater Powerful Charge (ECS) to add even more damage.
  • With Greater Powerful Charge and while under the effects of Enlarge Person or Expansion, you can add 3d6 (10.5 on average) damage on a charge. This can add up an additional 63 damage after multipliers.
• At levels 4 and 5, take levels of Psychic Warrior instead of Knight and Fighter for the feats to pick up a few powers, Force Screen being a prominent one.

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