I'm in a campaign where my previous character just died. He was a sword and board fighter (first time I had ever done one. Was a lot of fun!) So it came time to roll up a new character and I was stuck for a bit. And then it hit me, a dual-wielding paladin.
Thing is we still need a tank, but I wanted something different than just a sword and board or a two-handed fighter. So I figured a two-weapon fighter was just the thing. Add that to paladin and I'm liking he character concept (that of a wet works paladin. goes off doing the assassin-styled stuff for the church. still lawful good of course, just deals with evil outsiders and VERY evil people).
I'll be honest, I'm mostly set on this build. And race (human). I have a decent idea of how to go about it. What I wanted to see was what other people would do with this type of character, see what inspiration could be gleaned from the wonders of the internet. What would be some good feats? Traits? SKILLS? (i'm very curious about the skills. It's where I'm still really debating things) So I figured I'd ask and see what would appear.
The stats I rolled were 17, 17, 17, 15, 15, 11 (I KNOW. LOVE the stats). It's an 8th level character, pathfinder books only, standard gold for 8th level but can't spend more than 10,000gp on any single piece of equipment.
So yeah. How would YOU go about creating this character?
Run the concept by the GM just to make sure he'll let it fly. Some may be kind of a PITA about the assassin-esque stuff. If that's a problem the inquisitor fits the concept fully, although you did say that you need someone to soak damage.
i'm sure the GM will let it fly, but even if she doesn't its still a concept i'd like to play one day, so my curiosity still stands (tho i may not have those same awesome stats for that possible campaign). as such, still curious about how people would go about building such a character.
and yeah, the inquisitor does fit the concept better, but i like the idea of a paladin doing this more AND it does need to be someone who can soak up the damage
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Inquisitor is the usual class for people who do what you describe, and a really fun class to boot. I highly reccomend it.
That said, for a dual-wielding assassin Paladin, I'd go with the following:
Human Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) 8
Str 20 Dex 17 Con 15 Int 15 Wis 11 Cha 18
Feats: TWF, Double Slice, Improved TWF, Extra Lay on Hands, something else, maybe Mounted Combat if you grab a Mount.
Traits: Highlander (makes Stealth Class), Smooth Talker (Makes Bluff class),
Skills: Possibly put Favored Class bonuses here. Maxed ranks in Stealth, Bluff, Perception, and Sense Motive. Decent ranks in the Knowledge Skills available, as well as Diplomacy. Plus Ride and some Handle Animal if you go with a Mount.
Divine Bond's problematic, since the weapon version will only apply to one of your weapons, but a Mount may not be appropriate. See if you can get something sneakier than a Horse. A Roc would actually be extremely effective for an assassin, since the ability to fly over walls and just drop in is impressively cool, if requiring GM permission.
Equipment-wise you want a pair of short swords, probably, along with a Mithral Breastplate (to keep mobility up and reduce Armor Check penalties), a Str belt and a Cha headband.
Dat array.
A paladin who does assassinations can be doable. You just have to go about it in a way that is somewhat honorable. I had a paladin player in my Council of Thieves game whose character idea was similar.
As far as the actual build goes... To be honest, the best dual wield builds tend to also be sword and shield. You use a light shield and do shield bashes for your off-hand weapon. This lets you still have a nice shield bonus from your magic shield. The downside is that your weapon focus(longsword) doesn't apply to the shield's attacks. Otherwise, a weapon with a good crit range like kukris could work, if you're just going for damage. Don't use finesse. You should have good Str to maximize your damage per hit.
I'd put your 17s into Str, Dex, and Cha, giving Str a +2 from human, then your +1s from leveling into Str and Cha. You can raise your Dex at 12 or something. The 11 can go to Wis, since you don't really use that for anything as a paladin (unless I'm remembering the PF paladin all wrong). The +2 bonus to will might not be worth it if you need the skill points from int to be sneaky and stuff. Grab traits for a couple class skills that you normally don't have but need for your concept. Be a human unless you have a really good reason to be something else.
All that is my personal opinion, and isn't checked for total optimization. Just be sure to stick with your concept, whatever that may be.
Asigning those stats:
Str 17, Dex17, Con15, Cha17 (TWF really needs this when smiting), Int/Wis 15/11 (either way you want, personally I'd go Int 15, Wis 11). I would place the human bonus in strength (19). Level 4 and 8 bonuses into strength (20 now) and charisma (18 now).
Weapon Choices: Short Swords (or other light weapons) are the most accurate and least feat intensive. However, if you spend an exotic weapon proficency you can choose the Falcata which has excellent critical properties or the Sawtooth Sabre which counts as a light weapon (unfortunately it may not be RP appropriate as it is a red-mantis weapon).
Feats:
1st: TWF and Weapon Focus or Exotic Weapon Prof (depending on weapon style).
3rd: Double Slice or Weapon Focus
5th: ? or Double Slice
7th: Improved TWF
9th: Craft Arms and Armor?
11th: Greater TWF (needs 19dex)
Im a firm believer in crafting and if you are using 2 weapons crafting arms and armor is a good way to mitigate the costs involved. (Others have differing opinions.) However, it depends on the nature of the campaign.
- Gauss
So here's what I have so far:
Human Paladin
STR 20
DEX 17
CON 15
INT 15
WIS 12
CHA 17
Feats: TWF, Double-Slice, POwer Attack, Two-Weapon Defense, Weapon Focus (Kukri), Improved TWF
The two traits I chose would make Stealth and Survival a class skill (chose survival over bluff or perception mainly because this way he can track his targets, tho i'm still on the fence on that)
Divine Bond's problematic, since the weapon version will only apply to one of your weapons, but a Mount may not be appropriate. See if you can get something sneakier than a Horse. A Roc would actually be extremely effective for an assassin, since the ability to fly over walls and just drop in is impressively cool, if requiring GM permission.
yeah I had come to the same conclusion about Divine bond. i figured i'd just have one weapon that was my divine bond and not the other and just deal it. but i do like the Roc idea (or if not the Roc, something that follows those lines) but yeah, thats something to talk to my GM about
Im a firm believer in crafting and if you are using 2 weapons crafting arms and armor is a good way to mitigate the costs involved. (Others have differing opinions.) However, it depends on the nature of the campaign.
- Gauss
hrm...I've always been curious to try my hand at crafting. last campaign i tried that there wasn't really any downtime to have a chance to craft anything so i'm hesitant to select something that might not come into play. then again, this is a different GM so who knows?
Run it by your GM to see if you will have time. Even if you do not have time you can always get 2hours (effective) in per day. With the ring of sustenance technique you can get 6hours in per day if you have a distraction-free environment to work in (some think Rope Trick works but interpretations on that vary).
If limited to the 2hours effective per day that will work at low levels and become unusuable by mid-high levels. The ring of sustenance technique will be effective at all levels IF your GM is ok with it.
Just remember, as a paladin you will be at -3caster levels and that will somewhat affect your crafting. However, that still halves the cost of the arms and armor you are buying.
- Gauss
Regarding bumping your wisdom up to 12 instead of charisma up to 18. I would suggest you bump charisma instead.
Wisdom affects: +1 will save, +1 wisdom skills.
Charisma affects: +1 ALL saves, +1attack/AC while smiting, +1 charisma skills.
- Gauss
I'd go with Craft Magic Arms & Armour instead of Two Weapon Defence. TWD isn't that hot, you'd be better off with Dodge in any event.
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So here's what I have so far:
Oath of Vengeance while by no means required, seems eminently appropriate for this character.
The two traits I chose would make Stealth and Survival a class skill (chose survival over bluff or perception mainly because this way he can track his targets, tho i'm still on the fence on that)
If you're willing to skip Weapon Focus (or Two Weapon Defense) for now, you could grab Cosmopolitan and have all four (Bluff, Perception, Stealth, and Survival).
And I agree with Gauss on the Wis/Cha decision. Cha is just flat out better for you as a Paladin.