Help making a THF dhampir paladin for Carrion Crown

[BladeMaster0182]

Hi everyone,

I'm playing a two-handed dhampir paladin in the Carrion Crown AP (gothic horror based campaign). My DM was nice enough to hand-wave the healed by negative energy, hurt by positive. Now I heal like anyone else.

Problem is, I've never really PLAYED a THF for very long and I need help on what to take for feats and more.

Here's some background information: I'm currently a level 2 Undead Scourge Paladin wielding a greatsword. I have the Power Attack feat (since any melee fighter should have that). I see Istaban (my paladin) as an undead hunter. He absolutely hates the undead and wishes to see them laid to rest, either by their choice or his (he understands some undead are trapped, such as ghosts).

His stats are (with the rolled number in parentheses):

Str: 16 (16)
Dex: 12 (10)
Con: 14 (16)
Int: 12 (12)
Wis: 12 (12)
Cha: 16 (14)

I have his skills focused in Diplomacy, Knowledge (religion), and Sense Motive, with one rank in Heal to represent battlefield healing.

In our party we have a skill monkey rogue, healing oracle, sword and board fighter, and hexing/damaging witch.

As you might be able to tell, I'm not quite going for OP here, or I'd be a human or aasimar. I do want him to be effective in battle though which is why I need help.

I've also considered a few other options:

-Retconing as a archer paladin. I know from my experience as a DM, they are frighteningly good. However, I won't get precise shot until level 3 (and Divine Hunter removes aura of courage which is BAD in a horror-based campaign) and I want Aura of Courage and Divine Health ASAP, so multiclassing before that is unwise.
-Taking levels in ranger after level 5. I actually really like this idea. It will allow Istaban to focus more on the hunting aspect of undead hunter and the ranger levels will make up for a lot of the paladin's weaknesses (lack of skills, low reflex, etc), but it cuts down on my smiting power and lay on hands ability.

So here's what I need to know:

-What are good feats for a THF paladin and why are they good/how do I use them effectively.
-What are some good strategies for said paladin
-Should I be an archer paladin instead or take levels in Ranger (see my alternate options).

Thank you everyone for your help!

P.S. I have read both Cryptic's and Thallin's Guide to Paladins, but the don't address all of my concerns since I'm mostly ignorant to THF's.

[frostdracul]

Vital Strike once available is never a bad choice for a THF, lightning reflexes never hurts a melee character though i don't know how many reflex saves you'll be making. I've never been much for overrun, but the improved/greater overrun feats might be manipulate line of sight, or get you an AOO if knocked prone, so win/win. Bleeding critical will also probably be helpful, but thats much later on.

Then it just depends on if you want utility, there are feats in UM to adjust lay on hands, to do it at range, etc. so you can still get into melee and can throw an emergency heal if need be. But those are just general ideas, feel free to toss them out the window if you want too =P

Edit- Devastating Strike out of the UC is a great follow up to Vital Strike

[Mergy]

Furious Focus is a major one for you. I would make it your second feat. Depending on your character's religion, Saranrae's Blade of Mercy allows you to do non-lethal damage with edged weapons, which means you can stick with your greatsword even when fighting the odd humanoid.

Another option is the Accelerated Drinker trait. Go into every room clutching a potion of enlarge person in one hand and your greatsword in the other. Drink as a move action and thwack. Actually, even if you don't take that trait, potions of enlarge person is amazing for a THW warrior.

Consider bumping intelligence at level 4 or 8 to get it up to a 13; Unsanctioned Knowledge is THAT good. Being able to pick from the bard, wizard, and cleric spell list is amazing. Another option is Eldritch Heritage for the Abyssal or Orc bloodline, because free bumps to strength.

Another option instead of Undead Scourge is a regular paladin with Oath Against Undeath. Ghost Touch Aura is amazing, and Aura of Life will likely save someone's life, if not your own.

Considering the rest of your party, you will definitely be the damage king. You may want Extra Lay on Hands when the enemies focus on you first and foremost. Stay paladin all the way though. If you really want ranger, I would go max two levels for favoured enemy and Precise Shot or Rapid Shot.

[blackbloodtroll]

I've seen a lot of dhampir builds. What's the draw?

[BladeMaster0182]

Thank you everyone for your help so far!

blackbloodtroll wrote:

I've seen a lot of dhampir builds. What's the draw?

What do you mean by draw? Since I got the negative energy thing have-waved, the only drawbacks are the -2 to Con and no Str bonus, but like I said, I wasn't going for OP, I was going for story (Dhampir paladin of Sarenrae sounded fun)

[BladeMaster0182]

Mergy wrote:

Another option instead of Undead Scourge is a regular paladin with Oath Against Undeath. Ghost Touch Aura is amazing, and Aura of Life will likely save someone's life, if not your own.

Is it worth giving up detect evil for? Because I love detect evil.

[Umbranus]

BladeMaster0182 wrote:

I'm playing a two-handed dhampir paladin in the Carrion Crown AP (gothic horror based campaign). My DM was nice enough to hand-wave the healed by negative energy, hurt by positive. Now I heal like anyone else.

Why do you play a dhampir if you don't want to play a dhampir?

[BladeMaster0182]

Umbranus wrote:

BladeMaster0182 wrote:

I'm playing a two-handed dhampir paladin in the Carrion Crown AP (gothic horror based campaign). My DM was nice enough to hand-wave the healed by negative energy, hurt by positive. Now I heal like anyone else.

Why do you play a dhampir if you don't want to play a dhampir?

Well I liked the flavor of a half-vampire paladin of the healing goddess, but I knew that practically I wasn't going to last long if I couldn't be healed by the party oracle or lay on hands. It was a flavor vs. crunch decision.

[Mergy]

BladeMaster0182 wrote:

Mergy wrote:

Another option instead of Undead Scourge is a regular paladin with Oath Against Undeath. Ghost Touch Aura is amazing, and Aura of Life will likely save someone's life, if not your own.

Is it worth giving up detect evil for? Because I love detect evil.

You will still have access to it as a first level spell, not that it's very good as a first level spell. Detect undead at will is not as helpful, but I would say ghost touch aura might be worth it if you knew you were going into a campaign where a lot of enemies might be incorporeal.

The question is, do you want your shiny full plate to stand up to shadows?

[Umbranus]

Mergy wrote:

BladeMaster0182 wrote:

Mergy wrote:

Another option instead of Undead Scourge is a regular paladin with Oath Against Undeath. Ghost Touch Aura is amazing, and Aura of Life will likely save someone's life, if not your own.

Is it worth giving up detect evil for? Because I love detect evil.

You will still have access to it as a first level spell, not that it's very good as a first level spell. Detect undead at will is not as helpful, but I would say ghost touch aura might be worth it if you knew you were going into a campaign where a lot of enemies might be incorporeal.

The question is, do you want your shiny full plate to stand up to shadows?

I think there is a feat to upgrade your detect undead back to detect evil if that is an issue.

[ashern]

I just finished playing a THW paladin through the first 4 adventures of Rise of the Runelords, a couple of suggestions.

First, those stats are fine. The great thing about THF is that it takes 1. Power attack, 2. Furious focus, and 3. The cleave line, if you want to go there. Very few feats are required, so I would pick up toughness and then do whatever you want. Also, with a THF build, the bigger the weapon, the better. My personal favorite my paladin got a lot of use out of was the Lucerne hammer. 1d12 enlarges to 3d6 base damage, and it has reach. One enlarge person spell later you can AoO stuff coming to get you. Also, undead bane weapon property. I've run around RotRL with a+1 giant bane Lucerne hammer from level 6-11, and never needed anything else. When buffed it's 5d6 base damage. ( vital strike is a trap, still not worth it, I tried)

Also, I know the archetype seems cool, but I would honestly go with vanilla paladin. Aura of Justice is the single best buff in all of pathfinder if your campaign will reach that level.

Finally, on the archer paladin front, I would suggest vanilla pally, maybe oath of vengeance, with a dip in Fighter to get the extra feats you need plus weapon training.

Hope that helps.

[Charlie Bell]

Furious Focus is very good. I would avoid trying to go the archery route. Archery takes a lot of feats and you will never have a lot of feats.

Even a 1-level dip of ranger will get you favored enemy, which if you pick undead works about 50% of the time in Carrion Crown. It also gives you the ability to use ranger wands, for instance, the 750 gp wand of lead blades that will kick up your base greatsword damage to 3d6 for 1 minute per charge. A second level of ranger will give you a combat style feat, and you can select Two-Handed Style to get some of the good THF feats. I'd consider ranger a very worthwhile dip for you. OTOH, you could work just as well as an undead-fighting THF ranger with a 2 or 3 level paladin dip up front :)

[Paladin of Baha-who?]

Unsanctioned knowledge at level 5should will get you inflict *wounds to heal yourself

[Mergy]

Paladin of Baha-who? wrote:

Unsanctioned knowledge at level 5should will get you inflict *wounds to heal yourself

He doesn't need it; his GM has waived that part.

I would not recommend Cleave. I'm playing with a paladin who has it currently, and he uses it once maybe every two games.