Hey I'm planning on making a level 5 half-orc paladin and not sure which way to go on the shield. I have a pretty painful GM, all but one member of the party died, and now I'm looking towards the healing and AC. I was going along with a bastard sword as my primary with EWP, and i chose paladin because I foresee a lot more undead coming on the horizon.
So the question is, tower sheild prof. and power attack, or TWF and Improved Shield bash?
Or should I just focus on the good ol' greatsword/falchion?
Greetings, fellow traveller.
First of all it would be important to know the other player's character classes to give sound advice.
Independently, what I can tell you, there are some threads floating around on these boards where it is debated whether or not you are able to use your lay on hands ability while wielding a heavy shield in your off hand and a weapon in your main hand. And the general consensus is that you can't.
The same goes for casting spells.
You can swop your weapon from one hand to the other and back again as free actions, but only, if you are employing a light shield or buckler.
Please check the forums regarding these issues.
Ruyan.
If you do go with the tower shield I would suggest getting Weapon Focus instead of Power Attack. The -2 penalty to attacks from using a tower shield is bad enough without adding another -2 from Power Attack. If you're going for survivability might even pick up Dodge.
I love when DM's go, "Your AC is how high?"
Of course then monsters magically stop bothering to attack you, but that's a good thing right?
Thanks for the replys!
You can swop your weapon from one hand to the other and back again as free actions, but only, if you are employing a light shield or buckler.
Please check the forums regarding these issues.
I was going to spend the cash for a Bashing light shield, and I read some threads and it doesn't seem worth while, to my paladin abilities, to try this archetype if I don't have the amount of feats to pull it off.
I love when DM's go, "Your AC is how high?"Of course then monsters magically stop bothering to attack you, but that's a good thing right?
I do enjoy the DM's reaction. However, the more I think about it, the DM will probably find a way around my AC, he's ruthless. So perhaps my ability to heal in combat, although I know is not ideal, may be a good way to keep the rest of my party up and moving.
Remember that your smite bonus would be added to both your primary weapon damage and your shield bash damage, so that can be a good way to attack.
If you are allowing 3.5 material, there is a feat called travel devotion that allows you to move your speed as a swift action for 10 rounds. It's a great feat if you're going to be using a fighting style that requires full attacks to be most effective.
Remember that your smite bonus would be added to both your primary weapon damage and your shield bash damage, so that can be a good way to attack.
If you are allowing 3.5 material, there is a feat called travel devotion that allows you to move your speed as a swift action for 10 rounds. It's a great feat if you're going to be using a fighting style that requires full attacks to be most effective.
I didn't know smite went into both, I'll look into to that.
-Thanks
Hey I'm planning on making a level 5 half-orc paladin and not sure which way to go on the shield. I have a pretty painful GM, all but one member of the party died, and now I'm looking towards the healing and AC. I was going along with a bastard sword as my primary with EWP, and i chose paladin because I foresee a lot more undead coming on the horizon.
So the question is, tower sheild prof. and power attack, or TWF and Improved Shield bash?
Or should I just focus on the good ol' greatsword/falchion?
What are your stats/point-buy allowance?
This seriously impacts which choice is likely "best." You have to put a lot into DEX to be a good TWFer in the long haul, and it is REALLY feat intensive, which probably makes it a poor choice overall considering 1/2 Orc-i-ness, but that won't necessarily make it "bad" if you have a pretty good statline.
Either way, bastard sword is really a waste of a precious feat. +1 AD over the longsword is NOT worth a feat when you will have no bonus feats.
I think going with PA and a two-hander is probably strongest, and the least feat-intensive. I could even see advocating a "switch hitter" type character if your stats are strong: Get PA and use a 2-HW to leverage your damage, and focus the rest of your feats on Point-Blank >Rapid Shot >Deadly Aim/Manyshot. You will be a superb damage provider both at range and up close, and you have swift-healing to make up for the little bit of AC lost.
Either way, bastard sword is really a waste of a precious feat. +1 AD over the longsword is NOT worth a feat when you will have no bonus feats.I think going with PA and a two-hander is probably strongest, and the least feat-intensive. I could even see advocating a "switch hitter" type character if your stats are strong: Get PA and use a 2-HW to leverage your damage, and focus the rest of your feats on Point-Blank >Rapid Shot >Deadly Aim/Manyshot. You will be a superb damage provider both at range and up close, and you have swift-healing to make up for the little bit of AC lost.
Thats why I wasn't sure if the Bastard Sword was worth it. I am familiar with the swithch-hitter but with my 15 point buy, I don't know if the Dex will suffice.
I know ranger is the primary choice for switch hitting, but is the Paladin worth the feats? I'd probably need to pick up Quick Draw as well.
I know the Paladin adds a lot of nifty bonuses but maybe if comabat survivability is an issue then may I suggest a Human Cleric 1/Fighter 4? Get 2-3 healing spells and channel but focus stats and feats into fighter first. Do TWF with the heavy shield as primary and a short sword, kukri or rapier as secondary and make the shieled both the sheath and holy symbol. A shield feat to keep your AC when bashing and add some mithral breastplate and you are good to go, IMO.
If built right a twf or sword bashing paladin can be deadly. As was pointed out, the smite bonuses would apply to a shield bash as well. So when you open up on a smited enemy, it will hurt like holy hell. This actually increases damage at least against smited enemies, as the bonus damage from smite is static with level; thus getting more attacks greatly increases damage output.
I ran a campaign with a shield bashing paladin, and she was a terror against my more evil NPCs.
I'd note though that its probably not worth taking Imp and Grtr TWF, as the dex requirements are stiff, and you are low on feats anyways. I'd probably suggest going the greater bull rush route with the single shield bash attack. This can let you get a nasty full attack off, and then get the shield bash to bull rush the opponent away, and if the bull rush is good enough, the opponent with be too far away to get a full attack back on you.
I'm pretty sure one of the designers said that you could do the lay on hands on yourself with both hands full, but not sure about doing it to other people. You should be able to channel though with both hands occupied.
I'm pretty sure one of the designers said that you could do the lay on hands on yourself with both hands full, but not sure about doing it to other people. You should be able to channel though with both hands occupied.
I need a hand free for others. A light shield of bashing will be my best option for the build. I'll probably keep the Dex low so my Str and Cha are good enough to be an effective Paladin.
I need a hand free for others. A light shield of bashing will be my best option for the build. I'll probably keep the Dex low so my Str and Cha are good enough to be an effective Paladin.
If you are going to shield bash, you must get Two-Weapon Fighting. The penalties for not getting it are huge. So, you'll need at least a 15 in Dex. If that's "low" in your campaign, wow.
-Swiftbrook
If you are going to shield bash, you must get Two-Weapon Fighting. The penalties for not getting it are huge. So, you'll need at least a 15 in Dex. If that's "low" in your campaign, wow.-Swiftbrook
I was going to pick up TWF, improved shield bash, and something else. But does using a light shield allow a hand free? I know a buckler does, and a heavy shield definitely doesn't.