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Hello!
I'm playing the "Jade Regent" campaign as a Paladin. The group I'm with are all experienced players and so; I'd like some advice to help me keep up with them.
Some campaign details:
-25 point buy
-medium advancement
I would greatly appreciated any general advice about feats/equipment/spells/strategy, etc.
My character is already at level 6.
I'm not sure about a lot of things like what feats/feat-chains to take.
The GM is not very strict and I'm sure he'd let me swap-out some already learned feats or spells.
I want my Paladin to be reliant on the use of a shield, and so that should factor-in when selecting feats. After awhile, I might want to use a tower shield and have the "shield master" feat to go with it.
My character's details:
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-Paladin of Iomedae, Lawful Good
-Level 6
-AC = 22 (10 + 6 chainmail + 3 enchanted shield + 2 Dex mod + 1 Shield Focus)
-Divine Bond with weapon (current weapon: +1 Warhammer; 1d8 + 5)
Abilities:
STR 18 (16 + 2, human racial ability)
DEX 14
CON 13
INT 10
WIS 10
CHA 16 (15 + 1, level4 attribute increase)
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Current Feats:
-Shield Focus (+1 AC)
-Fey Foundling (+2 to any healing done to me)
-Combat Reflexes (more AoOs = to my dex modifier)
-Power Attack (-2 roll, +4 damage)
Future Feats?:
-Cleave
-Greater Cleave
-Dodge (+1 AC)
-Exotic weapons proficiency: Bastard Sword
-Two weapon fighting (needed to be a "Shield Master")
-Improved shield bash
-Shield Slam
-Tower Shield Proficiency
-Shield Master
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Current Spells:
-Hero's Defiance (at 0 HP you automatically cast LayOnHands + 1d6) (this saved my character's life once :P)
-Protection from Evil
Future Spells?:
lvl 1 spells...
-Magic Weapon
-Divine Favor
-Unbreakable heart
lvl 2 spells...
-Bull's strength
-Resist Energy
-Shield Other
-Inheritor's Smite
-Zone of Truth
lvl 3 spells...
-Dispel Magic
-Good Hope
-Cure Moderate Wounds
-Discern Lies
lvl 4 spells...
-Break Enchantment
-Holy Sword
-Shield of the Dawnflower
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Current Mercies: Fatigued, Shaken
Future Mercies?...
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PS
I'm enjoying playing as the "goody-goody" of the group. I'm the only "Lawful" character, the other PCs are all chaotic-good which can make for some interesting tension during roleplay.
But I wonder...does anyone know if there is such a thing as a chaotic-good alignment for a Paladin?
Hi! I haven't played a paladin since 2e, but I'll give it my best shot. I think your build looks great. Only thing is, it's hard to give advice on the mercies without knowing the party makeup.
Under RAW, all paladins are LG, but of course rule 0; and on the other hand, it can be fun to have a little difference. There are cavaliers and low templars, but they're really not the same. Now for some theory!
7: Improved Shield Bash
8: Dex +1
9: Two-Weapon Fighting
11: Shield Slam
13: Shield Master
Alternatively, what use is ISB without TWF? And maybe you want Shield Master ASAP, period.
7 (Paladin 7): whatever
8 (Paladin 8): Dex +1
9 (Paladin 8 / Fighter 1): Improved Shield Bash, Two-Weapon Fighting (bonus), Tower Shield Proficiency (free)
10 (Paladin 9 / Fighter 1)
11 (Paladin 9 / Fighter 2): Shield Slam, Shield Master (bonus)
Just throwin' that out there. ;) I don't know your character, and it would definitely slow down your spell progression and paladin abilities. But if you're in a hurry to complete that feat chain, there's a way.
However, there are a few considerations. The whole point of that chain is to get good at bashing with your shield while hitting with your other weapon, and here's the thing: you can't do it with a tower shield, and a heavy shield is a one-handed weapon. Either you're spending a lot of feats to be good at bashing with a light shield, or your divine bond will be with a light weapon, or (even worse) you'll be spending a lot of feats that you won't use at all.
I didn't even realize all that until I worked it all out just now, and... now I see that I need to go revisit my plans for one of my own characters. <scurries off>
I'm enjoying playing as the "goody-goody" of the group. I'm the only "Lawful" character, the other PCs are all chaotic-good which can make for some interesting tension during roleplay.
But I wonder...does anyone know if there is such a thing as a chaotic-good alignment for a Paladin?
3.5 had rules for it in Unearthed Arcana: The Paladin of Freedom.
Wouldn't be hard at all to port to Pathfinder, since it's pretty much exactly like the normal Paladin, except that they got Bluff as a class skill, replaced the Law-aligned spells in their list with Chaos-aligned equivalents, and have a different code of conduct that replaces respecting legitimate authority with respecting individual liberty.
Well, that and they got Aura of Resolve instead of Aura of Courage, but PF Paladins get both of those, so that's a non-issue.
I'll second what Fredrik said on the matter of feats.
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The Shield Master Chain:
Let's assume that you want to get Shield Master ASAP while staying Paladin all the way.
7: Improved Shield Bash
8: Dex +1
9: Two-Weapon Fighting
11: Shield Slam
13: Shield MasterAlternatively, what use is ISB without TWF? And maybe you want Shield Master ASAP, period.
7 (Paladin 7): whatever
8 (Paladin 8): Dex +1
9 (Paladin 8 / Fighter 1): Improved Shield Bash, Two-Weapon Fighting (bonus), Tower Shield Proficiency (free)
10 (Paladin 9 / Fighter 1)
11 (Paladin 9 / Fighter 2): Shield Slam, Shield Master (bonus)Just throwin' that out there. ;) I don't know your character, and it would definitely slow down your spell progression and paladin abilities. But if you're in a hurry to complete that feat chain, there's a way.
The whole point of that chain is to get good at bashing with your shield while hitting with your other weapon, and here's the thing: you can't do it with a tower shield, and a heavy shield is a one-handed weapon. Either you're spending a lot of feats to be good at bashing with a light shield, or your divine bond will be with a light weapon, or (even worse) you'll be spending a lot of feats that you won't use at all.
I didn't even realize all that until I worked it all out just now, and... now I see that I need to go revisit my plans for one of my own characters. <scurries off>
Thanks Fred.
I was considering multi-classing Fighter/Paladin so that I could get the free Tower Shield Proficiency, but it seems that might beedoozle-hurt the Paladin abilities.
That first option you mentioned looks good to me. I guess I'll be a shield master at level 13 then, if I survive.
It sucks that I can't use a Tower Shield to bash. I thought bashing with a Tower Shield would be pretty sweet. Oh well.
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I'm enjoying playing as the "goody-goody" of the group. I'm the only "Lawful" character, the other PCs are all chaotic-good which can make for some interesting tension during roleplay.
But I wonder...does anyone know if there is such a thing as a chaotic-good alignment for a Paladin?3.5 had rules for it in Unearthed Arcana: The Paladin of Freedom.
That's good to know Mr. Qordath.
The "Paladin of Freedom" looks interesting...I think I'll stick to my Lawful Good Paladin for now though ;)
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There is a guide for Paladins. I suggest you read it if you have not already.
Probably not best to dump the stats quite that hard though!
Thanks Lightbulb.
That guide will come in handy.I'm not sure what you mean by "dump the stats".
It's a reference to how the guide's stat recommendations are seriously min/maxed, heavily dumping Wis and Int. I'm with Lightbulb, I wouldn't go that far myself. I don't even like having any stats under 10, let alone under 8! I just read it for the first time just now, and it's a good guide, but your stats are fine.
For spells, look at Bless. It's a buff for your whole party. Everyone can use a 5% increase in to hit chances.