Forums: Advice: Good class for a Centaur? (2024)

Hey all, I'm going to be participating in a 1-2 shot that a player in my IRL group wants to run in place of our regular game. The catch is he wants us to be "monstrous" races for it. I know that atm, there is at least-
one drow noble
one Android(with both +RP traits taken)
one Ghoran
one Gargoyle
Me, who will be playing a Centaur.

we rolled stats, and I got-
18
16
15
14
11
10

I was debating the following,
Barbarian
Ranger
Fighter
Cleric
Bard
Cavalier/Samurai
Paladin.

Just curious to hear ideas at the moment really as I'm deciding on things as making a Centaur PC is not something I have the opportunity to do often.

Barbarian and Fighter are good, because they get a +4 to Str, +2 to Dex and +2 to Con
Ranger can be good, depending on build.
Cleric with the +2 to Wis is also nice.

Bard, Paladin and Cavalier all get hampered a bit by the lack of CHA bonus but make for some interesting RP styles and choices. Don't know enough about Samurai to speak on how good that would be.

Hunter might also make a good choice. All good stats for a Hunter, plus the Animal Companion makes them solid. Warpriest is also good, as you are boosting the heck out of all their main stats.

You will definitely be a powerful party with those races.

Cavalier Charger (Centaur archtype !)
Go for a lance build with overrun and trample, perhaps dip Siege Breaker Fighter to enhance overrun.

Edit: Ninjaed

Yes, there is an archetype of Cavalier just for Centaurs... but then you're a Cavalier... one good save, crappy skills... ew. Focusing too much on charging will turn you into a one trick pony (see what I did there?)

You could be an Evangelist Cleric with a Longspear, Flagbearer, Banner of Ancient Kings... now you're not a Cavalier, and everyone loves you because you are the Bard/buffer and the healer/condition removal expert.

A paladin (ghoran)
A warpriest
And the other two are ify

I'm actually thinking I don't want to focus too heavily on charging. I can keep a lance around and do fairly okay just from that.

I'm thinking of a switch hitter, with a composite longbow and a couple feats I can be scary with a bow with a 50ft move speed as a barb.

Or I could go something with spells and use longstrider or expeditious retreat.

Ok. I'm thinking, barbarian+cleric

1 level of barbarian, x cleric of cayden Cailean with the travel/strength domains.

Or I could focus on barbarian levels more, and just take a couple level dip into cleric for 2nd level spells, channel and spell completion.

rorek55 wrote:

Or I could focus on barbarian levels more, and just take a couple level dip into cleric for 2nd level spells, channel and spell completion.

What level character are you talking about here?

Meirril wrote:

rorek55 wrote:

Or I could focus on barbarian levels more, and just take a couple level dip into cleric for 2nd level spells, channel and spell completion.

What level character are you talking about here?

Level 5.

that would be funny, but here is something I've thought up-

Barbarian 2/Cleric 3

Deity: Desna or Cayden Cailean

Domains- Travel and either Liberation (desna) or Strength(ferocity) CC.

Gives me- +4 BaB, 2nd level divine spells, 60ft Movement, 2d6 Channel, Cantrips, 3 rounds/day of unimpeded movement(if desna, which I am leaning towards)

Final stats look like- (sets are tied to feat sets)
Set 1
Str: 20
Dex: 20
Con: 16
Int: 11
Wis: 16
Cha: 10

Set 2
Str: 22
Dex: 18
Con: 16
Int: 11
Wis: 16
Cha: 10

for feats, I'm debating between (we're using elephant feat tax)
set 1
1- Rapid shot
3- Weapon focus (bow)
5- Mounted Archery

set 2.
1- Ride-by-attack
3- Spirited charge
5- Iron will

I've also considered warpriest, I would gain- two extra feats, but lose 2nd level spells and 10ft of movement. Not a terrible trade.

I would probably do Set 1, personally... although Set 2 seems to fit the whole Barbarian thing better.

I had brought up 5 levels of Bolt Ace with a PelletBow because you said these are probably going to be a couple one shot games... meaning you wouldn't have to play multiple levels of Gunslinger. Lol. But you would get to mess around with a 19-20/×4 bludgeoning crossbow targeting Touch AC with Dex-to-DMG.

If you got to play again at a higher level, you can ditch Gunslinger entirely, pick up Improved Crit for 17-20/×4, and just enjoy that because it really is something special.

Your rage prophet build is much more useful than a Gunslinger, though.

WagnerSika wrote:

Why mounted archery? What are you going to ride if you are a centaur? If you want to move and shoot you need Shot on the Run or something similar.

because my brain just automatically says "you want this for archery with horse"

Strictly speaking, centaur archer is actually a downgrade in this respect to a regular mounted archery, particularly a samurai, who can move 150ft in a turn and only take a -3 to his shot(s).

Don't really need shot on the run either, unless I'm running in then back out.

The Charger Cavalier archetype is a pretty good single level dip. You can move onto scout rogue to maximize your charge damage. You can go twohanded fighter for double strength to damage. You can even go barbarian and work towards rage lance pouncing. Granted, the natural jouster feat accomplishes the same thing.

I know its not on your list but I have always thought that a gunslinger centaur just has a really high cool factor. Throw dual wielding into the mix and you have the coolest monster on the field.

Monk centaur... THAT would be fun!
And find a class that grants you wings...!

More seriously: Your large size could give you some problems inddoor. Ask you GM if you can take the animal companion feat Narrow Frame.

And while I like switch hitters, i think you should build something unik that use the size and speed of a centaur or you could pick any other race.

If the battlefield is crowded then wear a saddle and let the paladin wield the lance.

You take two levels of barbarian if you have a rage power you're after (auspicious mark or reckless abandon maybe?) Otherwise barb 1 / cleric 4 has the same BAB with better spellcasting and +1 will save, and just one less HP on average assuming cleric is your favored class. BTW dunno if it fits your setting/concept but the savage technologist archetype is the best barbarian archetype for archery.

If you have a free feat there then ranged trip or ranged disarm would be a fun trick for a centaur archer.