Article-At-A-Glance
- The Ghostly General[1] is renowned for its masteries over fear and mounted combat, as we will explore in the guide.
- Explores an application Pathfinder 1E Cavalier Builds for character creation and development.
- Guide includes strategies for optimal character progression from levels 1 to 20.
- Discusses roleplaying components enhancing character’s presence in campaigns or sessions.
Click on the level for more information
At level 1, the Ghostly General[1] is a Human Cavalier adept at melee combat with a focus on Intimidation. With Power Attack and Mounted Combat feats, they are formidable and can demoralize foes easily. They prioritize strength and charisma to bolster combat and intimidation efforts.
Stat Block Level 1:
Ghostly General: male, human cavalier 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d10+1; hp 11; Init 0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +1; Grp +4; Atk longsword +4 (1d8+3/19-20) or Heavy Shield Bash +4 (1d4+3); Full Atk longsword +4 (1d8+3/19-20) or Heavy Shield Bash +4 (1d4+3); SA Power Attack; SQ Order of the Asp, Mount; AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 17, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Ride +4, Intimidate +6; Power Attack, Mounted Combat.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
As a Cavalier, the Ghostly General[1] calls upon a Phantom Mount (though not available at level 1).
Possessions: Longsword, Heavy Shield, Medium Armor, Saddle.
At level 5, the Ghostly General[1] Cavalier is an Intimidance-focused powerhouse, leveraging the Ghost Rider and Daring General archetypes. With a strong presence in battle, the character utilizes feats like Power Attack and Dazzling Display to demoralize foes, reduce their effectiveness, and potentially gain a tactical advantage. The phantom horse provides unique mobility options.
Stat Block Level 5:
Ghostly General: male, Human Cavalier 5 (Ghost Rider, Daring General); CR 5; Medium humanoid (human); HD 5d10+5; hp 42; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +5; Grp +8; Atk longsword +9 melee (1d8+7/19-20) or phantom horse bite +8 melee (1d6+5); Full Atk longsword +9 melee (1d8+7/19-20) or phantom horse bite +8 melee (1d6+5); SA Intimidation (Cornugon Smash); SQ Phantom Mount, Triple Leadership; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +3; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate +12, Ride +8, Sense Motive +4, Bluff +4, Diplomacy +4; Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Dazzling Display.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Frightful Gaze (1/day), Triple Leadership at level 6, immunity to fear.
Possessions: Longsword, heavy shield, best available armor, saddle.
The Ghostly General[1] at level 10 boasts impressive intimidation skills and battlefield control capitalizes on a unique combination of the Ghost Rider and Daring General archetypes. Utilizing high intimidation tactics and the Order of the Asp, it excels at debuffing foes with fear and commanding a powerful army through multiple Leaderships. With a strong focus on Charisma, the build leverages special attacks like Frightful Gaze and supports its mobility with a Phantom Horse.
Stat Block Level 10:
Ghostly General: male, human cavalier (Ghost Rider, Daring General) 10; CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 10d10+30; hp 85; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +10; Grp +14; Atk +15 melee (1d8+6, longsword) or +9 ranged; Full Atk +15/+10 melee (1d8+6, longsword) or +9 ranged; SA Cornugon Smash, Frightful Gaze (4/day), Dazzling Display; SQ Triple Leadership, immunity to fear, Phantom Mount; AL LN; SV Fort +10, Ref +4, Will +4; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Ride +13, Intimidate +18, Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Sense Motive +10; Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash, Furious Focus.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Intimidation tactics cause fear effects to escalate (Shaken to Cower), Triple Leadership allows three cohorts, Phantom Horse provides exceptional mobility (Walk on Water, Air Walk, Fly).
Possessions: Longsword, heavy shield, full plate armor, saddle.
This Cavalier, known as the Ghostly General[1], specializes in intimidation and terrifying enemies. With a focus on spreading fear through demoralization, it uses feats like Dazzling Display and Cornugon Smash to intimidate foes. The Ghost Rider archetype provides an intelligent Phantom Horse that can fly, walk on water, and more, ensuring exceptional mobility. The Daring General archetype grants a powerful Triple Leadership ability, commanding an army alongside up to three Cohorts, creating a strategic advantage.
Stat Block Level 15:
Ghostly General: male, Human Cavalier 15; CR 15; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 15d10; hp 150; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 25, touch 13, flat-footed 23; Base Atk +15; Grp +18; Atk +20 Longsword (1d8+5) or +18 Shield; Full Atk +20/+15/+10 Longsword (1d8+5) or +18 Shield; SA Demoralize (Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash); SQ Triple Leadership, Phantom Horse (fly, water walk), Immunity to Fear, Frightful Gaze; AL Lawful Evil; SV Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +9; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 16.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidation +23, Ride +20, Sense Motive +15, Bluff +14, Diplomacy +14; Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash, Furious Focus, Dreadful Carnage, Shatter Defenses, Disheartening Display, Frightening Ambush, Hurtful.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Demoralize enemies and allies for strategic advantage; lead an army with Cohorts, Phantom Horse for ultimate mobility.
Possessions: Masterwork Longsword, Heavy Shield, Full Plate Armor, Saddle.
The Ghostly General[1] is a powerhouse in battlefield control, leveraging fear to cripple foes and empower allies. This build thrives on its exceptional Intimidation abilities. With the interplay between Ghost Rider and Daring General archetypes, you wield an army bolstered by Triple Leadership. Your phantom mount provides mobility across difficult terrain and serves as an additional source of fear inducing attacks.
Stat Block Level 20:
Ghostly-General: male, human cavalier 20; CR 20; Medium humanoid (human); HD 20d10+60; hp 180; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 25, touch 11, flat-footed 25; Base Atk +20; Grp +29; Atk Longsword +29/+24/+19/+14 melee (1d8+11/19-20) or Frightful Gaze; Full Atk Longsword +29/+24/+19/+14 melee (1d8+11/19-20); SA Cornugon Smash, Dreadful Carnage, Hurtful; SQ Ghost Rider, Order of the Asp, Triple Leadership, Phantom Mount, Immunity to Fear; AL CN; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 16.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Ride +23, Intimidate +30, Sense Motive +20, Bluff +20, Diplomacy +20; Power Attack, Mounted Combat, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash, Furious Focus, Dreadful Carnage, Shatter Defenses, Disheartening Display, Frightening Ambush, Hurtful.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Frightful Gaze (paralyzes targets), Ectoplasmic Phantom Mount (intelligent with increased Str), Walking on Water, Air Walk, Fly.
Possessions: Longsword, Heavy Shield, Full Plate Armor, Masterwork Saddle.
Milestones Of Character Development
- Levels 1-5: At these levels, the Cavalier begins to harness their intimidating presence, taking feats like Power Attack and Dazzling Display to set the stage for their Intimidancer role. Mount and melee tactics become core, using their feats to direct intense pressure on the battlefield.
- Levels 6-10: The Daring General Archetype shines through with the introduction of Triple Leadership at level 6, enabling the player to command a veritable army. The Ghost Rider Archetype enhances their fearsome reputation further with Frightful Gaze, adding more strategic layers to encounters.
- Levels 11-15: Intimidation and battlefield control reach new heights as they gain feats like Dreadful Carnage, allowing for free demoralization when enemies fall. Shatter Defenses ensures demoralized foes become flat-footed, increasing hit opportunities and battlefield dominance.
- Levels 16-20: In the final stretch, the Cavalier’s fear and intimidation tactics are maximized. Feats such as Frightening Ambush and Hurtful solidify their role as a terror on the field, coordinating their army, and capitalizing on each demoralized foe with swift additional attacks.
Core Abilities & Features
At the heart of the Ghostly General[1] build is the Cavalier class, an iconic fighter mounted on their spectral steed. The combination of the Ghost Rider and Daring General archetypes creates a formidable force. The choice to play as a Human allows access to extra Feats, essential for this complex build. The strategic placements of ability scores prioritize Strength and Charisma, tailoring the character for both physical prowess and commanding influence.
The Ghost Rider archetype is pivotal, transforming the Cavalier into an intimidating figure. With Frightful Gaze, the Ghostly General[1] can paralyze foes within sight, using their Charisma score to determine usability. The Phantom Horse further enhances mobility, capable of walking on air and water, effectively making the Cavalier a master of the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Daring General archetype grants Triple Leadership by level six, allowing the player to command an expansive army with up to three Cohorts, elevating leadership to unprecedented levels.
Feats shape this build’s Intimidation focus. From Power Attack and Cornugon Smash to Dreadful Carnage and Shatter Defenses, each weaponizes Intimidation, turning it into a unique combat strategy. As enemies cower, the Cavalier becomes more adept at exploiting these weaknesses, making opponents flat-footed. The Ghostly General[1] converts the battlefield into a debuff extravaganza, every swing of their weapon driving terror into the hearts of enemies, while also bolstering their own ranks.
Equipment Progression
| Level Range | Equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| L1-5 | Masterwork Longsword | Provides a +1 enhancement to hit and serves as a baseline weapon. |
| L6-10 | +1 Breastplate | Improves AC and offers a balance between protection and mobility. |
| L11-15 | +2 Ghost Touch Longsword | Allows striking incorporeal creatures without miss chance. |
| L16-20 | +3 Heavy Fortification Full Plate | Offers a 75% chance to negate critical hits and sneak attacks. |
Combat Scenarios
- Dungeon Crawls:
- In tight corridors, use the Ghost Rider’s Phantom Horse to phase through obstacles for unbeatable positioning. Leverage Frightful Gaze to paralyze enemies, turning cramped spaces into traps for opponents. Intimidation keeps threats at bay, while the army follows closely, ready to overwhelm foes with numbers.
- Open Fields:
- Capitalize on open terrain by utilizing the Ghostly General[1]’s Phantom Horse for superior mobility. Ride circles around enemies to keep them off balance. Clear sight lines make Frightful Gaze more effective. Use the army to flank and harass opponents, with the Daring General’s buffs turning minions into formidable allies.
- Ambushes:
- Pre-empt potential ambushes by sending cohorts ahead. As soon as enemies strike, retaliate with a coordinated attack, using Frightful Gaze to neutralize key threats. Dazzling Display and Cornugon Smash quickly demoralize foes, turning the battle in your favor before it even begins.
- Defensive Stands:
- Hold key positions by using the Phantom Horse to gain high ground or choke points. Intimidate advancing enemies to reduce their morale and effectiveness. With triple Leadership, your army forms a solid wall, with fear-struck foes struggling to penetrate your defenses.
- Urban Encounters:
- Navigate the complex urban environment using Air Walk on your Phantom Horse to maneuver across rooftops. Initiate attacks from varied heights. Use Bluff and Diplomacy to de-escalate conflicts or align neutral parties to your side, while the Ghostly General[1]’s intimidating presence keeps unruly mobs in check.
Weaknesses & Counters
| Weakness | Counter |
|---|---|
| Feats Dependency | Select Human for extra feats. Use traits like Unnatural Presence to gain additional benefits and optimize build. |
| Low Dexterity | Invest in heavy armor for better protection. Focus on improving AC through equipment like Amulet of Natural Armor and Ring of Protection. |
| Initiative Penalty | Use the Reactionary trait to gain a boost to initiative. Equip items like the Reactionary Gloves, granting a bonus to initiative rolls. |
| High Resource Demand | Efficiently manage resources by focusing on core skills: Intimidation, Ride, Bluff. Equip items that enhance skill checks, such as Circlet of Persuasion. |
| Risk of Demoralizing Allies | Coordinate with team members to ensure the Order of the Asp benefits everyone. Communicate the strategy during session preparation to avoid misunderstandings. |
Roleplaying the Ghostly General
The Ghostly General[1] is a master of the battlefield, where fear becomes a weapon. Due to your Cavalier archetypes and extraordinary Intimidation abilities, you create chaos among enemies and rally allies. Your ghostly presence allows you to exploit weaknesses, turning the tide in your favor. Embrace the role of a calculating strategist, weaving fearsome tactics to keep foes on their toes.
Embrace the Myth
Channel the essence of ghostly legends, becoming a terror on horseback. Utilize your Phantom Horse to traverse realms others can’t. Narrate your character’s spectral origins, letting the eerie aura inspire others. As you ride into battle, let your character’s spectral vengeance and commanding presence be the stuff of legend, intimidating not only through action but with the mere mention of their name.
Rally the Troops
With Triple Leadership, you lead an army, making your role pivotal in group dynamics. Act as a guiding force, maintaining morale through direct and indirect intimidation. Let the respect and fear you inspire in your allies and minions reflect your strategic brilliance. Position yourself as the grand orchestrator, each move calculated to maximize your army’s potential.
Navigate Power and Fear
Balance the power of leadership and the fine line between fear and respect. Your role as a Daring General involves understanding when to push boundaries and when to retreat. Allow roleplaying moments to explore the complexities of authority. Intimidation can be a double-edged sword; wield it wisely to facilitate memorable interactions on and off the battlefield, ensuring respect fosters loyalty rather than fear-induced compliance.
FAQ
What makes the Ghostly General[1] a unique Cavalier build?
The Ghostly-General excels at blending command and direct combat prowess. With phantasmal minions and tactical acumen, you control the battlefield. You are both a spectral commander and a skilled rider. The build combines leadership feats with ghostly enhancements. This synergy makes your cavalry charges and spell-like abilities devastating.
How can the Ghostly General[1]’s abilities be optimized in a campaign?
To optimize, pair with characters who bolster mobility and defensive tactics. Focus on feats enhancing your ghostly and command abilities. Items like a Ring of Ghostly Grace can improve effectiveness. Prioritize spells that manipulate enemy positioning to advantage. Regularly update tactics based on enemy types faced.
How does a Ghostly General synergize with different party compositions?
This build complements parties with strong spellcasters and swift strikers. Collaborate with illusionists to create battlefield confusion. Support front-liners with tactical directions, maintaining formation cohesion. Healers who enhance endurance allow risky maneuvers. Adjust tactics to optimize each ally’s strength.
How does the Ghostly General[1] fare in different combat environments?
This build excels in urban and open-field combat due to leadership skills. Utilize narrow spaces to funnel enemies. Exploit open fields with mounted charges and ghostly maneuvers. Adapt defensive tactics in forests or cramped dungeons. Each environment requires distinct tactical adjustments for efficiency.
What can new players expect while experimenting with this build?
New players will enjoy balancing command and combat duties. Expect a mix of strategic planning and dynamic combat. Focus on understanding synergies between ghostly powers and cavalry tactics. Leverage leadership abilities for party coordination. Patience aids in refining this build’s dual-role potential over time.
Join us at Stellar Dragons with the Ghostly General!
Explore the intricacies of this build in your next Pathfinder 1E game. Will the Ghostly General[1] become the quintessential Cavalier? Join discussions at the Stellar Dragons Discord: https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7. Debate its prominence as a top-tier build among Pathfinder’s myriad options.
Authors
Terms definitions
1. ↑ Cavalier – The Ghostly General – Pathfinder 1E ( The Ghostly General )
The Ghostly General
Okay. So, this build started as a joke take on Ghost Rider via the…well…Ghost Rider Archetype for the Cavalier. And then I discovered the Daring General Archetype and the fact that you can take both at the same time…And thus came this absolute bull build.
Class
Cavalier (Ghost Rider, Daring General) 20
Race:
Human, we are extremely feats starved and we will need as many as we can. Add that floating bonus to Strength.
Ability Scores:
Round up that Constitution, then everything in Charisma.
15Point-Buy
Str 17/Dex 10/Con 13/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 14
20Point-Buy
Str 18/Dex 10/Con 13/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 15
25Point-Buy
Str 18/Dex 10/Con 13/Int 10/Wis 12/Cha 16
Traits:
Unnatural Presence to allow us to intimidate animals and vermin, and Reactionary to help our non-existant Initiative bonus.
Favored Class Bonus:
Hit Points, duh.
Skills
We actually do not need Handle Animal with this build, as our mount is not an animal. Ride, Intimidation are our go to skills, followed by Sense Motive, Bluff and Diplomacy.
Order
So…We are going for the Order of the Asp, which would suck if we were a regular Cavalier in a regular team as we want to Demoralize our allies.
Except we are not a regular Cavalier, we are a Daring General. This makes the Order of the Asp absolutely ridiculously strong based on intimidating your allies.
Feats by Level
1-Power Attack
Human Bonus-Mounted Combat
3-Weapon Focus(Longsword)
5-Dazzling Display
7-Cornugon Smash
9-Furious Focus
11-Dreadful Carnage
13-Shatter Defenses
15-Disheartening Display
17-Frightening Ambush
19-Hurtful
We are an Intimidancer build through and through. Cornugon Smash gives us a free Intimidation roll whenever we hit a target with Power Attack, and Dreadful Carnage essentially allows us to Free Action Dazzling Display whenever we down someone. Shatter Defense makes every target we demoralize Flat-Footed, and Disheartening Display makes our fear effects increase with each intimidation from Shaken all the way to Cower.
Frightening Ambush allows us to keep demoralized opponents demoralized and Hurtful gives us a Swift Action attack whenever we demoralize someone. Considering we are demoralizing everyone with pretty much everything we do…
Daring General
At level six…we get Triple Leadership.
Do you have ANY IDEA JUST HOW BROKEN THIS IS???.
This means we are going around with a massive army and eventually up to three Cohorts. This is Pathfinder’s single most broken ability by a margin of several magnitudes.
Ghost Rider
So, we get Frightful Gaze a number of time per day equal to our Charisma modifier, which allow us to paralyze people as a standard action, gaze attack. Which in itself is already very strong, and we also eventually get Immunity to Fear. But what the true call of this Archetype is the fact that we summon a Phantom Horse.
It works a bit like the Spiritualist‘s Phantom ability, but we can only summon our horse in ectoplasmic form. We can ride it very well though and it is an outsider and intelligent, making it way more versatile than a regular mount. Eventually the mount can Walk on Water, Air Walk and Fly, so we can do that too allowing for crazy mobility. All Abolity Scores Increase of our Ghost Mount will be going into Strength. We will put it’s Skill Points into Perception and Intimidation.
Ghost Mount Feats
1-Power Attack
Bonus-Endurance
3-Intimidating Prowess
6-Weapon Focus(Bite)
9-Dazzling Display
11-Cornugon Smash
14-Shatter Defenses
17-Disheartening Display
19-Hurtful
Essentially the same idea as the Cavalier’s build.
Equipment
A Longsword, Heavy Shield and the best armor you can afford. Also a saddle.
Final Thoughts on this Build
We are dealing a fairly large amount of damage in melee and are quite tanky, but our main attraction is our Intimidation factor, the fact that by demoralizing our enemies we are debuffing them, buffing ourselves via intimidating our massive army of minions. Also, we are the friggin Ghost Rider so that’a cool too.
Oh yeah, we also have triple Leadership wtfomgbbqIlosethegame…
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