Heya Folks,
This is my first post on the boards. While I've done my research on this topic, I'm still finding it difficult to pick a feat which just became open for me. I'm currently playing a sword and board TWF human 1 fighter/6 paladin of Iomedae.
Somewhere around the divine bond (5 or 6ish) I was able to get a griffon as the mount. The DM allowed me to switch the build to the chevalier archetype. This opened up a feat, because I had taken mounted combat at level 5 and it then became a free feat added to my list. Here is what I have right now:
Str 20 (+2 belt)
Dex 20 (+4 from Book)
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 10
Cha 18 (+2 bump from Desna)
Feats:
1 Weapon Focus Longsword, TWF, Improved Shield Bash
3 Double Slice
5 ?????
7 Shield Slam
Chevalier free Feats:
Mounted Combat, Ride-by-Attack
The longsword the paladin carries is an object familiar. I've narrowed my feats down to three. I'm open to suggestion beyond that. I'm just trying to figure out one that will work best.
1. Focused Study: ARG was not out when the campaign started and the DM gave me permission to rework the character to add that in. It's a great story feat, because I'm playing the character similar to a witch hunter in Warhammer (yes I know Inquisitor would have worked better). It would allow me to put skill focus in Sense Motive and Intimidate or Perception or Diplomacy by next level.
2. Longsword Specialization: This gives me a +2 to damage with my main weapon, but I get nothing for the shield. Because of it being an object familiar I can take the specialization.
3. Power Attack: Everything I read says this feat is a "must have", but I'm not entirely convinced. By next level I'd be taking a -5 to hit with both weapons and gaining +6 to damage. It works REALLY well against creatures I smite and situationally when I just hit with the longsword, but isn't a -5 too huge a penalty to burden for normal full attack?
I'm just looking for any suggestions on what to take. I've bounceed it around and I just can't decide. If there is something else I should take, feel free to throw it out there as well. Thanks for all the help.