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Hello all,
I've been playing a Paladin in PFS but with a limited amount of gear. A big chunk of my money early on was put to the side for Mithral Fullplate and I've gotten a few minor items since then. I'm stepping into the big boy league now though and I'm a bit worried that I'm going to run into some major problems soon with the gear I currently have.
My Paladin is a Sacred Servant / Oath of Vengeance archetype and has the Feather subdomain. Which means I have my Paladin, a 7th level animal companion (a Roc with Boon Companion feat), and sometimes a summoned Lesser Planar Ally (usually a Hound Archon that I request to stick near me to cast Aid and have his Menacing Aura and Magic Circle of Protection from Evil to debuff/buff those nearby).
Race: Elf
Level 9 Sacred Servant / Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Stats: 18str, 16dex, 12con, 10int, 8wis, 18cha.
Saves: +13 fort, +12 reflex, +11 will.
HP: 67
AC: 27 (touch 15) (flat footed 24)
Lay on Hands: 10 uses at 5d6+4 (or 4d6+4 if using a Mercy)
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, Greater Mercy, Boon Companion, Run (free from Elf racial), and 1 feat I haven't decided on yet since I just hit 9th level.
Traits: Fate's Favored & Helpful
Weapon: +1 Greenwood Longspear
Worn: +1 Mithral Fullplate, Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier, +1 Cloak of Resistance, Belt of Giant's Strength +2str, Headband of Charisma +2cha, Boots of the Cat, Ring of Protection +1, Heightened Caster Level 5 Continual Flame Wayfinder.
Animal Companion's Gear: Masterwork Studded Leather Barding.
Inventory: Potion of Fly, Silver Scimitar, Masterwork Lucerne Hammer.
My damage feels pretty solid compared to others I've seen between level 7-9. When power attacking I'm at +11/+6 and doing 1d8+16 without Smite. If I smite and use Litany of Righteousness I'm dealing upwards to 1d8 + 54dmg to evil creatures.
My character is built around reach and Combat Reflexes as I get 4 AoO's a round. My Roc animal companion just hit 7th level and is Large sized. I've been thinking of maybe looking for items/gear to go more flying mounted combat when possible (aka Lance and stuff). I have a +16 in Handle Animal and +6 in ride atm. Roc has a +8 in fly.
I currently have 14,729 gold to spend. Reading a few of the intro descriptions for some PFS games coming up within the next month it looks like I may possibly encounter some ghosts and constructs. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any advice on what I should upgrade or purchase.
EDIT: Figured I'd mention this but last couple scenarios I've gotten hit right on the dot with a few attacks with 27AC. I'm thinking I may need to improve my AC some more soon as it looks like I'm not ahead of the AC curve atm.
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Furious Focus is a great feat if you often only get single attacks. It eliminates the penalty to hit for power attack on your first attack in a round, if you are using two hands on your weapon.
Worldwound Walker, from Champions of Purity lets you decide if you count as Good or as Neutral for effects that are affected by alignment. For example, you can be Good for someone's Holy Smite spell in your area (and take nothing from it), or you could be Neutral for a fiendish creature's Smite Good ability, and not be affected by it. I love the feel and flavor of the feat.
For equipment, get yourself a ranged weapon of some kind, even if it is only a sling. Just in case. Also, a weapon of cold iron, in case you are beset by a horde of demons, such as a pack of babaus. Even with Oath of Vengeance, you only have enough Smites to deal with important enemies, and spell slots are rare and precious.
You will need an adamantine weapon of some sort, even if just masterwork. Smite doesn't work on elementals (and many others).
You might need to get a wand of Ant Haul, to help the Roc haul you around. I don't know what your encumbrance is like, but look at it.
I find that darkleaf cloth leather lamellar armor is 4 points of armor base, with no armor check penalty. It will cost somewhere around 1000 gold for a suit for a large quadruped, and it is pretty light.
Against incorporeals, you really need a ghost touch weapon (you can crit against them). Ghost salt weapon blanch (from Pathfinder Society Field Guide is very useful, but mostly on ammunition. it only gets one hit off on a melee weapon.
To up your armor class, in order of expense (considering you can't use a full shield):
Buckler of some sort.
Enchant the buckler for 1000 gold.
Amulet of Natural Armor 2000 gold.
Enchant your armor to +2 for 3000 gold.
Enchant your armor to +3 for another 5000 gold.
Dusty rose prism Ioun stone for 5000 gold.
Increase enchantment on the Ring of Protection to +2 for 6000 gold.
Increase enchantment on the Amulet of Natural Armor to +2 for 6000 gold.
Enchant your armor to +4 for 7000 gold...
You will probably want other enchantments long before then.
A silver smite bracelet for 16000 gold counts you as 4 levels higher for your Smite Evil ability, giving you another smite and +4 damage per hit.
Hope all of this helps some.
Hmm, i'd go with a ranged weapon, MW spiked gauntlets if you get grappled, a pearl of power 1, a potion of lesser restorattion, a golembane clasp, and a swarmbane clasp
After that, i find it useful to shop by slot. For example, you can fit another ring. So, what's good under rings?
You'll find it useful to be enlarged sometimes. Potions or a wand, your call.
I think your biggest priority is mobility. You're going to have trouble with even a simple pit trap. Spend there. I suspect you could lose the cloak of resistance, and get a cape of the mountebank. Paladin saves and immunities will carry the day.
If that makes you nervous, upgrade your shoes instead.
Never mind, the bird is big enough already. Instead, you want to protect it. Barding is a great idea, or a wand of mage armor for 2 pp. someone will be able to use it.
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Furious Focus is a great feat if you often only get single attacks. It eliminates the penalty to hit for power attack on your first attack in a round, if you are using two hands on your weapon.
Worldwound Walker, from Champions of Purity lets you decide if you count as Good or as Neutral for effects that are affected by alignment. For example, you can be Good for someone's Holy Smite spell in your area (and take nothing from it), or you could be Neutral for a fiendish creature's Smite Good ability, and not be affected by it. I love the feel and flavor of the feat.
For equipment, get yourself a ranged weapon of some kind, even if it is only a sling. Just in case. Also, a weapon of cold iron, in case you are beset by a horde of demons, such as a pack of babaus. Even with Oath of Vengeance, you only have enough Smites to deal with important enemies, and spell slots are rare and precious.
You will need an adamantine weapon of some sort, even if just masterwork. Smite doesn't work on elementals (and many others).
You might need to get a wand of Ant Haul, to help the Roc haul you around. I don't know what your encumbrance is like, but look at it.
I find that darkleaf cloth leather lamellar armor is 4 points of armor base, with no armor check penalty. It will cost somewhere around 1000 gold for a suit for a large quadruped, and it is pretty light.
Against incorporeals, you really need a ghost touch weapon (you can crit against them). Ghost salt weapon blanch (from Pathfinder Society Field Guide is very useful, but mostly on ammunition. it only gets one hit off on a melee weapon.
To up your armor class, in order of expense (considering you can't use a full shield):
Buckler of some sort.
Enchant the buckler for 1000 gold.
Amulet of Natural Armor 2000 gold.
Enchant your armor to +2 for 3000 gold.
Enchant your armor to +3 for another 5000 gold.
Dusty rose prism Ioun stone for 5000 gold.
Increase enchantment on the Ring of Protection to +2 for 6000 gold.
Increase enchantment on...
You brought up some great ideas. I was thinking of a backstory of my Paladin aiding in fighting the Worldwound and the Worldwound Walker would be a good touch.
I have roughly 7 smites a day if I convert all my Lay on Hands into Smites (which i want to keep some on hand though for Heroic Defiance). I was thinking that an Adamantine Weapon would probably be my next purchase as I bet that I'll be encountering Golem Constructs in the one of the next two scenarios I'll be playing.
My total weight with gear included is 219lbs (Body: 115lbs and Gear: 74, mithral fullplate is pretty light). Roc has 22str with light load of 346, large size doubles load ranges, so that shouldn't be a problem. That's a little over 100lbs for carrying extra stuff and AC's barding.
Great catch on Darkleaf Cloth, completely missed that but that's an easy +1ac for the Roc which should put it at 30ac.
I had a +1 scimitar and +1 buckler but sold them both. I had combat reflexes but really wasn't making use of it and finally decided to buy a reach weapon. I didn't want to dump more money into the scimitar and it wasn't cold iron or adamantine so I sold it. Sold the buckler also, it was helpful with a scimitar because it allowed me to have extra AC at times or I could lose the AC and 2hand the scimitar when I needed more damage but I was taking the -1atk penalty every time. I went ahead and sold it after switching to a longspear because I didn't want to deal with the -1atk on every attack and I'd lose the AC any round I'd swing at someone.
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If you don't want to use a buckler, just don't. The other steps in the list I gave are the cheapest AC increasers, until you get into really esoteric things.
I love reach weapons. If you have the feats (as a fighter does) you can get exotic weapons that work very well. But a paladin tends to not have enough feats to do many things.
About smites, I have an Oath of Vengeance paladin, now at 11th level. You can't smite all the babaus in a crew that challenges your group, and DR can really suck. A backup cold iron weapon is very important, and, if not magic, is very cheap. My paladin's main weapon is an adamantine greatsword, +2 with evil outsider bane. Her backup is a masterwork cold iron greatsword. She has a composite longbow of strength, but that might be overkill for you. Get a sling, just in case.
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For AC I recommend a Dusty rose ioun stone. Then place it in your wayfinder.
This will give you: +1 insight to AC, 2 to CMB, and +2 to CMD.
The CMB is pretty worthless unless you invest in sundering. But the CMD is great to possibly avoid being tripped, disarmed, grappled, squandered, dirty tricked, repositioned, trampled, overrun, or bull rushed.
I made the list large so you can see it is another piece of the defense game.
Upgrading your armor another +1 is pretty cheap. Tho I prefer abilities on armor. Particularly spell storing. (Which like continual flame can carry between sessions)
A swarmbane or golembane amulet can be lifesaver.
I'd recommend the cracked pale green prism ioun stone for 4000 gp that gives a +1 competence bonus to attack rolls (so it doesn't stack with Inspire Courage, if you play with a lot of bards).
Swarmbane Clasp is a definite life-saver when it comes up, but you're giving up a slot that you could be using to boost AC. Unless you have UMD and some AoE blasting scrolls, I'd go with the Clasp.
Expanding your Str belt to Str/Con would also be good, since you're light on the hit points.
@Fruian: What spells would a Paladin put in spell-storing armor, other than relying on other casters in the party? I run with bestow curse on my melee oracle, but obviously Paladins can't do that.
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@ Joseph
He can UMD things into the armor if he has it. He can rely on a friend he plays with. He can luck out and pair with a spell caster. There are alot of options.
Easy one...wand of shield. UMD or hand it off to store it in the armor. +4 shield bonus and magic missle Negation. He can also do this at the end of sessions and get choice spells prepared and placed in it.
I said it was a favorite of mine. Not that he should 100% do it. There are other abilities like deathless, bolstering, or champion all come to mind.
@ Joseph
He can UMD things into the armor if he has it. He can rely on a friend he plays with. He can luck out and pair with a spell caster. There are alot of options.Easy one...wand of shield. UMD or hand it off to store it in the armor. +4 shield bonus and magic missle Negation. He can also do this at the end of sessions and get choice spells prepared and placed in it.
I said it was a favorite of mine. Not that he should 100% do it. There are other abilities like deathless, bolstering, or champion all come to mind.
Spell-storing armor only works on touch spells cast on the attacker, so shield is a no-go. I'm not sure Paladins have any good options that fit, so it would come down to either UMD or whoever you happen to adventure with that day.
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Well, so far I have listed out that I'm buying (but it's subject to change):
Upgrade +1 Mithral Fullplate to +2 (3,000)
Exotic Military Saddle (240)
+1 Darkleaf Leather Lamellar Barding (1,990)
+1 Adamantine Guisarme (5,309)
MW Cold Iron Lance (320)
Ghost Salt Weapon Blanch for 20 arrows (400)
Plain old Longbow (75)
MW Silver Spiked Gauntlets (325)
I have 3,528 gold left after these purchases.
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It's not final so I could remove or add some things. I currently have no means to fight swarms but I could pick up a swarmbane clasp if I swapped something out here or wait till I finish my next scenario.
I figured Guisarme would be a decent pick, it's not as good as a Bardiche but the damage is still decent, it has some visual flavor, and I can make trip attempts without provoking unless they have reach.
I think Rallying (5,000) may be a quality I put on my armor soon, but not right now. It extends my Aura of Courage an extra 20ft and bumps the save up to a +6 vs fear. Last two scenarios we fought some mummies and I was one of the few things blocking the door from the mummies and half my paralyzed party. Unfortunately a few of my allies were outside my Aura of Courage at the start as we had about 9 members in the party (myself being 3 of those with my Paladin, Roc animal companion, and my Hound Archon from lesser planar ally)
Not sure if I should go with the Amulet of Natural Armor though. It will tie up my Neck slot and there's a few other necklaces that look really like for 8,000. Necklace of Adaptation would make me immune to any gases or vapors, suffication, and etc. The other necklace that looks good is the Torc of Bloody Rage which gives me a 1/day Rage for up to 6 rounds. I have the Fatigued, Staggered, and Exhausted mercies so coming out of a rage in mid-fight wouldn't be a problem. I take it my Heroic Defiance spell wouldn't work during a rage though or my Lay on Hands? I dunno.
Cracked Pale Green ioun stone is too expensive at 30k. I'd like to get the Rallying quality on my armor, improve my +1 Adamantine Guisarme to have Holy or Outsider Bane on it, and get a Spectral Shroud for the 10rounds of incorporeal and the always constant See Invisibility.
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I really like the Worldwound Walker feat. It says "when affected by spells or effects that behave differently according to alignment, you can choose whether you are considered good or neutral" It lists a few examples like Unholy Word and Protection from Good. Does this include things like Smite Good and etc? Seems there's no limit to uses per day, but do I have to identify the creature or what spell or effect it used for me to alter my alignment against those effects? Or do I just get an automatic choice when affected even if my character isn't aware or doesn't know what is used against him? Just wanting to make sure I know how this is in PFS because I'd REALLY like to take this feat.
In addition to the excellent options provided by previous posters, consider these if you don't feel like you need the Silver Smite Bracers:
Bracers of the Merciful Knight
Source Ultimate Equipment pg. 272
Aura moderate conjuration; CL 9th
Slot wrist; Price 15,600 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description:
These golden bracers are engraved with images of celestial creatures. When worn by a paladin, he is considered four levels higher for the purposes of determining the uses per day and healing provided by his lay on hands class feature. Additionally, once per day, the wearer can infuse a use of lay on hands with additional power, providing relief as a lesser restoration spell.
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In addition to the excellent options provided by previous posters, consider these if you don't feel like you need the Silver Smite Bracers:
Bracers of the Merciful Knight
Actually, if I do end up buying bracers it will be those. I'm geared towards Lay on Hands with currently 10 uses per day at 5d6+4 (Greater Mercy & Favored Class Bonuses added) per use. I usually have two Heroic Defiances memorized to bring me back up if I drop below zero.
I think I really need to cover up some of my weak points first though. I'm not immune to gases, vapors, or suffication and for 8k that's on my list for the near future. The Rallying property would benefit my party more as it seems I'll be going up against more creatures with fear auras than in the lower levels. The Spectral Shroud helps with See Invis as there's very few ways to combat Invisible creatures, plus the 10rounds of incorporeal per day could allow me to get "unswallowed", "ungrappled", or falling to my death off a cliff/etc.
Appreciate the suggestion though. I'm just thinking my gold pool is going to be a bit tight between now and when I hit 12th level. I'm guessing I'll probably earn another 45k before he hits 12th level.
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*bellyrubs the bird*
What are his feats.. her feats...." looks underneath
Gwaer's (a he) feats are Toughness, Power Attack, and Narrow Frame. Next level I'm currently planning on picking up Combat Reflexes since he has 19dex and reach now. He's 7th level since the Sacred Servant and Cleric negatives stack for the Feather (Animal) domain. I took the Boon Companion feat already at 7th level to help him be combat effective.
He's got 1 rank in Perception, 1 in Escape Artist (for Narrow Frame), and 4 in Fly (for a total of +9).
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The Cracked Pale Green Prism Ioun Stone is only 4,000 gold, not 30,000. You're looking at the flawless/standard version. The cracked stone gives a +1 to either attack rolls or saves. The standard stone gives a +1 to several things. I'd strongly recommend the cracked stone, as a +11 to hit with your main attack is low for 9th level. Granted, when you're using Smite, you've got a significantly better attack bonus. But cold iron or silver weapons aren't going to do any good when you can't smite if you don't hit.
EDIT: HERE is a link to an old thread about power level and what to expect.
With a +11 to hit against a CR 9, you'll hit on a 12 or better on average. 13 or better against a CR 10, and 14 or better against a CR 11. So against constructs, elementals, and neutral animals, your main attack will hit less than half the time.
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With a +11 to hit against a CR 9, you'll hit on a 12 or better on average. 13 or better against a CR 10, and 14 or better against a CR 11. So against constructs, elementals, and neutral animals, your main attack will hit less than half the time.
Thanks, yeah I was looking at the wrong ioun stone. Looks like I need to pick one of those up
Any suggestions on enhancing my main weapon, +1 Adamantine Guisarme? I was thinking either adding Holy or Bane to it but maybe I'd be better off upping it to a +2 first and then picking a Bane? I'm assuming Evil Outsider Bane is probably my best bet, is there any others that are great candidates?
Depends on what your character has been encountering. Played in lots of scenarios with undead? Undead bane can be handy. Seen lots of demons/daemons/devils? Evil Outside bane probably will help out.
Now that they have Holy Weapon Balm (30g in the Advanced Class Guide), ghost touch weapons aren't that needed.
Don't forget that you can use your Divine Weapon Bond (not sure if you still have that) to make your weapon better as well (banes are +1 equivalent, so if you know what you are fighting, you can do an as needed bane with the bond).
If you have over 10 LoH/day you could think about getting the Feat Ultimate Mercy. Basically it gives the party free raise deads at the end of any scenario.
I also love the Deathless enhancement for Armor, Resist Energy 10 for any positive or negative energy damage to harm you, 25% chance to ignore any negative levels from an attack.
I didn't respond to the weapon question, because I don't really know the best answer. You'll be able to use Holy a lot more often, but it's an extra +1 enchantment over Bane, which is not an insignificant cost. I'd rather have a Holy weapon, if the cost isn't an issue.
I'd rather have a holy weapon as well. The bane thing I would only do if my PC was running into a specific type of enemy over and over and developed a hatred. A +3 Holy Adamantine [Weapon] overcomes any DR other than non DR/Good alignments.
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I didn't respond to the weapon question, because I don't really know the best answer. You'll be able to use Holy a lot more often, but it's an extra +1 enchantment over Bane, which is not an insignificant cost. I'd rather have a Holy weapon, if the cost isn't an issue.I'd rather have a holy weapon as well. The bane thing I would only do if my PC was running into a specific type of enemy over and over and developed a hatred. A +3 Holy Adamantine [Weapon] overcomes any DR other than non DR/Good alignments.
A +3 Holy Adamantine weapon is about 53 000 gold pieces. That is in no way a trivial sum. My own paladin, at level 11.0 is rocking a +2 evil-outsider bane adamantine greatsword. I use her divine bond for Holy if she really needs a Good-aligned weapon, which is when there are so many with DR/Good that her smites don't cut it. There's also bless weapon if the situation happens a second or third time.
So, Kysus, since you don't have Divine Bond for your weapon any more, you really need to figure out what it is you are going to fight. Smite Evil will cover you for boss fights, and so, perhaps straight enhancement bonuses could be best for you. At +3 you are covering cold iron and silver DR's, and at +4, you cover adamantine. Alignments require a +5 enhancement bonus to overcome, but the bless weapon spell covers that.
If you really like a particular enchantment, go with that.
A +3 Holy Adamantine weapon is about 53 000 gold pieces.
Yeah, 53000gp of Awesome. Plus he is Oath of Vengance, that screams Holy Weapon (to me). He could easily not go to +3 (stay at +1 maybe), and just use smite evil or hope power attack helps get damage through DR. His weapon is already Adamantine so he doesn't need to worry about DR/adamantine or Hardness 20 or less. But
With his Dex/Reach build, combat reflexes would be a great investment. He could even go for Fortuitous enhancement (+1 equiv.) from the Advanced Class Guide to make it so he can take a 2nd AoO on a target at a -5 to hit.
If you want to upgrade your Roc's armor more you could go with +1 Mithral Kikko Armor (for a large creature that is 5120g). Will give +6 armor bonus, +6 max dex, 0 armor penalty - so you don't ever need to spend feats on armor proficiency.
The +1 Darkleaf Lamellar Leather is nice and cheap too tho.
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A +3 Holy Adamantine weapon is about 53 000 gold pieces.Yeah, 53000gp of Awesome. Plus he is Oath of Vengance, that screams Holy Weapon (to me). He could easily not go to +3 (stay at +1 maybe), and just use smite evil or hope power attack helps get damage through DR. His weapon is already Adamantine so he doesn't need to worry about DR/adamantine or Hardness 20 or less. But
With his Dex/Reach build, combat reflexes would be a great investment. He could even go for Fortuitous enhancement (+1 equiv.) from the Advanced Class Guide to make it so he can take a 2nd AoO on a target at a -5 to hit.
I agree that I feel my Paladin is more inclined to have a Holy weapon. I do have access to Weapons against Evil, Bless Weapon, and Light Lance though. The Fortuitous enhancement does look nice, I think I'll go for that. If I'm not mistaken, I can spend my first AoO doing a combat maneuver Trip and if it succeeds then my 2nd attack I can make an attack, or vice-versa.
So maybe I should aim for a +3 Fortuitous Adamantine Guisarme.
Since it's PFS, the creatures I encounter vary at times.
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On a side note - What Ride check should I be aiming for on my Paladin and what Fly check should I be aiming for on my Roc?
My Paladin has a +9 Ride check
My Roc has a +9 Fly check
