3.5 Low level mounted fighting, any suggestions?

[Alexei]

We are going to have a new player, and he likes the idea of riding a velociraptor, so I took on charge to help him build his concept.
So far I have a Strongheart halfling with a Warbeast Fleshraker mount, but I can't decide between ACFs...

As we are level 4, we have these levels to play, all books allowed except campaign specific ones (Luckily I got the strongheart halfling allowed).

I was toying with either a Warblade or a standard Fighter, what would you do? -No magebred, that's ECS only, haha-
There was a pounce Barbarian ACF if I'm not mistaken, where can I find it? and... does it work when mounted and charging? 

I think, using the standard gp per HD rules from (I think) MM2, means 900gp for a 8+1 HD Large Fleshraker (8 race, 1 template), so I think we could work with human race too.

Ideas?

[sirpercival]

You could make it a supermount build...?

[Alexei]

You could make it a supermount build...?

Could you please elaborate on this a bit? although I'd think he would enjoy it more if it was a shared build, with a dangerous mount + dangerous fighter, not a passive guy over a laser-shooting godzilla (I love the idea though)

I'm reading ToB right now to see if I find something fun for mounted combat

[linklord231]

The classic Supermount build used a couple levels of Paladin, a level of Beastmaster, and fill the rest up with Halfling Outrider, Wild Plains Outrider, and Cavalier.  Take the feat Devoted Tracker to count your Special Mount as your Animal Companion, take Natural Bond for a couple bonus effective Druid levels. 
Most Supermounts use the feat from Draconomicon that lets you have a Dragon as a special mount, but that kind of kills the idea of riding a velociraptor.

Edit*
I should probably explain the results of this.  Paladin gives you a Special Mount.  Beastmaster gives you an animal companion at your druid level +3.  Devoted Tracker lets these two be the same animal.  Halfling Outrider advances both at the same time, letting you double dip for your mount's bonuses.  WPO advances either your AC or your Special Mount abilities, but not both.  Cavalier advances Special Mount only.

So you end up with this:
Effective Druid Level = 3 (Beastmaster) + 3 (Natural Bond) + 10 (Halfling Outrider) + 3 (Wild Plains Outrider) = 19
Effective Paladin Level = 5 (Paladin) + 10 (Halfling Outrider) + 1 (Cavalier) = 16
Then you look at the tables for Animal Companion bonuses and Special Mount Bonuses, and apply all of those to the same creature - in your case, a warbeast Fleshraker.  Totals are 20 bonus Hit Dice (and all the BAB, feats, and skill points that entails), +22 natural armor, +10 Str, +6 Dex, a real Int score (so the bonus tricks are unnecessary), and a whole slew of special abilities. 
Oh, and ask the DM what happens when an animal advances to Epic levels, because you now have over 20 hit dice.

[Bearchucks]

Feat/gear-wise, damage goes real fast when you throw around lances and a few enchantments.

Off the top of my head, a level in marshal for cha to charge damage would help.  You're taking Paladin levels (presumably)
  A Valorous weapon (lance, ideally) http://www.realmshelps.org/cgi-bin/magweapdesc.pl?power=Valorous&src=mweapontype gives double damage on a charge.  The Rhino's Rush spell doubles charge damage for a round. (http://therafimrpg.wikidot.com/rhinos-rush)

Feats: Mounted Combat opens the door to Spirited Charge (feat-based double damage)...this gets you up to 4x charge damage.  Then there's leap attack, shock trooper, all the power attack silliness.  If you're in CWar anyway, you have worse options than the Cavalry Charger tactical feat, if just for the Ride check damage bonus (which multiplies through).  Any static damage bonuses you can get your hands on will multiply through (Power Attack, Shock Trooper, Leap Attack, etc.).  That's what you want on the delivery end.

Incidentally, he might consider seeing what he can do about picking of From Smite to Song to give himself a full-combat-duration morale bonus to damage.

[kitep]

There was a pounce Barbarian ACF if I'm not mistaken, where can I find it? and... does it work when mounted and charging? 

Not sure if this is what you wanted, or even if you still want it after reading the above, but Complete Champion, pg 46, under Barbarian - Spiritual Totem - Lion Totem.

Don't know if it works while mounted.

[linklord231]

The third level of Wild Plains Outrider lets you make a full attack as long as your mount only takes a single move action.  Better than Pounce in some ways, because you don't have to move in a straight line.  I'm pretty sure you can still do a "partial charge" like a zombie does if you wanted to though.

[Alexei]

There was a pounce Barbarian ACF if I'm not mistaken, where can I find it? and... does it work when mounted and charging? 

Not sure if this is what you wanted, or even if you still want it after reading the above, but Complete Champion, pg 46, under Barbarian - Spiritual Totem - Lion Totem.

Don't know if it works while mounted.

That's the one, thanks! I couldn't find where it was

@Bearchucks: nice help so far, so far I have these ideas roughly put into a word document (I will pass them to an actual sheet when the concept is done):

Human Lion Totem Barbarian 1/Warblade 2-3 (maneuvers are funnier than typical combat, I'll have to work with a martial class, because he likes them, and... they are cool  )
Mount: Large Warbeast Fleshraker (9HD) with medium barding
Ride skill maxed out, always. Is that right?
A Valorous Lance when he can afford it, a normal Lance for now and a few other weapons just in case of DR/piercing-whatever. Suggestions for this?

Feats by levels so far
1, human, flaw, flaw, 3. So we have 5 feats to work. Mounted combat, Ride-by attack, Spirited charge, Improved Initiative and Power Attack

He can't play a Paladin, he would FALL (is there any way to make letters bigger?) in mere seconds because he can't help it... thanks for the idea though...

Any more suggestions? MoPerfect Mind, WR Tactics already noted