Mounted combat build

[Cranthis]

I am helping a player choose his feats as he levels, and he is a dragon rider.

He has mounted combat, power attack, ride by attack, spirited charge, and is deciding a feat since we took level 6. I recommended powerful charge. What do you recommend?

[Saskia]

Cavalry Charger is really good. Mounted Archery and Ranged Sunder are helpful for a mounted warrior with a flying mount but Ranged Sunder has two prerequisite feats and that's a pretty steep investment for what amounts to a situational combat trick.

Tremendous Charge lets you use your steed's strength for charge attacks, and Shield Slam is good if there's somebody to take advantage of dazed opponents or for dropping flying opponents out of the sky (unless they have perfect maneouverability and can automatically hover) but it has two prerequisites (it's also from Complete Warrior). Dodge and Mobility are good choices for avoiding AoO hits while charging but they're not really must-have.

Personally I would take Trample as a segue to Cavalry Charger since it has two useful options and the third option makes Trample viable.

[Malak'ai]

I am helping a player choose his feats as he levels, and he is a dragon rider.

He has mounted combat, power attack, ride by attack, spirited charge, and is deciding a feat since we took level 6. I recommended powerful charge. What do you recommend?

Powerful Charge doesn't work while mounted.

[Cranthis]

Where does it say this?

[Malak'ai]

Where does it say this?

Well on D&DTools.eu there are 5 different listings for Powerful Charge (Eberron Campaign Setting (http://dndtools.eu/feats/eberron-campaign-setting--12/powerful-charge--2222/), Miniatures Hand Book (http://dndtools.eu/feats/miniatures-handbook--75/powerful-charge--2223/), Monster Manual III (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-iii--76/powerful-charge--2224/), IV (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-iv--77/powerful-charge--2221/) and V (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-v--78/powerful-charge--2225/)).
All say that you can't use it while mounted.

[Gwendol]

Trample is an obvious choice for a dragon-rider. Other than that it might be better to branch out a bit feat-wise (demoralize for example, to complement the dragon's frightful presence ability).
If the player is really mounted charge focused then Cavalier (CW) offers some enhancement to mounted charge and mounted combat. In Oriental Adventure you find two more PrC's that more or less offers similar abilities (Kishi charger and Battlemaiden).

[Magnera]

Lance
Rhinos rush
Valorous enchantment
Spirited Charge
Get all of these and you have x5 to damage when you charge. Go leap attack/shock trouper/pounce for x15 PA damage to all attacks which are all super easy to make.
There are a few other ways to get more damage to yor charges but idk about them. Oh yeah Riding boots will make yor crits x4

[Gwendol]

You don't get the benefit from leap attack when mounted, unless it's the mount doing the leaping and attacking. Not sure you can shock-trooper charge either since, again, it's the mount charging. Bull rush? Maybe? Overrun/trample seems more appropriate though.

[Magnera]

True,maybe they can both get the feats! Also pounce might not work unless the mount has it too, now that i think about it

[Gwendol]

Well, that's what the mounted PrC's are for since they allow "pounce light": full attacks as long as the mount moves its speed or less.

[Firest Kathon]

Well on D&DTools.eu there are 5 different listings for Powerful Charge (Eberron Campaign Setting (http://dndtools.eu/feats/eberron-campaign-setting--12/powerful-charge--2222/), Miniatures Hand Book (http://dndtools.eu/feats/miniatures-handbook--75/powerful-charge--2223/), Monster Manual III (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-iii--76/powerful-charge--2224/), IV (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-iv--77/powerful-charge--2221/) and V (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-v--78/powerful-charge--2225/)).
All say that you can't use it while mounted.

I would give the Feat to the mount. The SRD says:

If your mount charges, you also take the AC penalty associated with a charge. If you make an attack at the end of the charge, you receive the bonus gained from the charge.
So arguably, you as the rider get the same bonus to Attack/AC as your mount when it (not you) charges.