Need Some Help Building a Character


Advice

Silver Crusade

I'm prepping to play a Kingmaker Campaign and I'm going to go Sword & Board Paladin (we have no tanks). I'm not really concerned about optimizing, I just don't to cripple the character based on my decisions and put the rest of the party in danger. Plus this is my very first Paladin and I'm interested in how I should build to get the most fun RPing and Fighting.

STATS as Rolled:
17, 15, 13, 14, 12, 14

Race: Human

So my thoughts were as follows, but I'm willing to completely rebuild, we don't start playing for a week. The only requirement I have is that I can take 4 skill points per level

CLASS: Paladin (Willing to listen to Archetypes and potential multiclass dips)
ARRAY (STR 17, DEX 15, CON 13, INT 14, WIS 12, CHA (14+2) 16 )
STARTING FEATS: 2-Wep Fighting and Improved Shield Bash
TRAITS: Heirloom Weapon (Bastard Sword, though what about Falcata?), Hermean Paragon (+2 INIT)
GEAR: Bastard Sword and Quickdraw Light Metal Shield w/ spikes, Scale Mail

Basically, I'll wield the Bastard Sword as a 2-Hander until I run into someone I need a little more AC against, quick draw the shield and go two-weapon fighting against them. I would take Power Attack at 3 and Double Slice at 5 (I figure furious focus is a waste since my BAB will be pretty high).

Am I hand-cuffing myself with feat requirements?


I love threads like these...but one quick item:

Heirloom Weapon gives you proficiency with your chosen weapon, if you choose that option from among the three. But I'm not sure you can interpret that to mean it gives you EXOTIC weapon proficiency with a Bastard Sword, for wielding it in one hand with your shield out.

You might want to check with your GM on that.

Also, if you're looking to be a tank, take a look at the Sacred Shield archetype or the Oath of Loyalty. Either adds some nice flavor and mechanics for a tank/defender.

Silver Crusade

GM approved it as EWP for any weapon taken.


The Heirloom Weapon trait can be a bone of contention. Some people say that it gives you proficiency with THAT heirloom weapon and that one alone (see italics below). Meaning you start out being able to wield you grandfathers whatever, lets say battleaxe, but if you pick up a random loot battleaxe, you would not be able to use it proficiently by RAW, because it wasn't your heirloom weapon. I think this is a silly way to look at it, but RAW is and will be RAW.

Also,

PF SRD wrote:

You carry a non-masterwork simple or martial weapon that has been passed down from generation to generation in your family.

*Benefit: When you select this trait, choose one of the following benefits:

proficiency with that specific weapon
a +1 trait bonus on attacks of opportunity with that specific weapon
a +2 trait bonus on one kind of combat maneuver when using that specific weapon.

Bold emphasis mine. Only applies to simple or martial weapons. A bastard sword as a martial weapon must be wielded in two hands. So again, by RAW, you would still have to take EWP to wield a bastard sword in one hand, which would mean take a different trait, cause you can already wield it as a martial weapon via your class.

Now, in my opinion, all RAW aside, I would let the trait grant you 1) EWP and 2)with ALL bastard swords. You're going to gain +1 average damage, and it just makes sense. Not my definition of gamebreaking.

EDIT: Damnit, this is why you don't walk away for 20 minutes when writing a post

Silver Crusade

lol, I appreciate the breakdown Bearlock, sorry I should have posted the commentary about GM fiat in my first post.


Are you sold on sword and board? I ask because I don't particularly find the bastard sword trick that effective and in my experience with Paladins, their ability to Tank is all about immunities, auras, high saves and most especially the incredible power of Lay on Hands.

If I were going to make a Human Paladin (I have a Tiefling Paladin I love), it would be something like this:
.
.
Human Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)

STR - 17 (+1 at 4th)
DEX - 14
CON - 13 (+1 at 8th)
INT - 14
WIS - 12
CHA - 15 (+2 racial bonus, +1 at 12th, 16th and 20th)

Feats:
1st - Fey Foundling
1st - Power Attack
3rd - Deadly Aim
5th - Extra Lay on Hands
7th - Extra Lay on Hands
9th - Extra Lay on Hands
11th - Extra Lay on Hands
13th - Extra Lay on Hands
15th - Extra Lay on Hands
17th - Extra Lay on Hands
19th - Extra Lay on Hands

Remember that LoH allows you to self-heal as a swift action AND removes conditions - with Oath of Vengeance you can also use them to fuel additional Smites, so really its Smite at will.

With this build you can Smite at range while using Deadly Aim, Smite in melee while using Power Attack and will be pretty much unkillable due to high AC, high saves and the ability to self-heal as a swift action many times a day. It works for sword and board'ers, but I find its best with a greatsword, a falchion, or if you want to be a true tank, a fauchard.

Just my two cents.

Silver Crusade

The Swordlords of Restov are sponsoring the PC's expedition in Kingmaker.

One of the campaign traits, perfect for a warrior in this AP, is called Sword Scion. Among other things, it gives you a +1 trait bonus to attack rolls with longswords.

My advice is to take this trait and use a longsword instead of a bastard sword. Why?

• a +1 to attack (longsword) is better than +1 damage (average of 1d10 bastard sword over 1d8 longsword)
• no need to waste a feat or trait in being proficient with your weapon, since longsword is a martial weapon
• no dodgy DM rulings to change Heirloom Weapon to applying to all bastard swords
• both can be used one or two handed equally well
• as a more common weapon you're more likely to discover magical longswords


Only other thought I can offer might be to drop your Wis to 10 and allocate those points to Con. If you want to tank, more hp is better than less. And have you thought about how you want to spend your level stat bonuses? boni? whatever. If you want to go any further up the TWF tree you will need a 17 Dex.

I would also agree with Malachi, depending on how you DM does loot, it is generally easier to find magic longswords than bastard swords, but if he's a nice guy and willing to help you out roll on. I realize that the bastard sword is a sub-optimal feat investment, but I've always liked them and have been plenty happy to burn a feat on EWP. Even when I'm not playing a FIGHTER! /gasp for dramatic effect.

Silver Crusade

I like your strat wiggz.

I've got a plan for later game, especially when the Paladin can cast spells, I'm going to slowly save up for a Ring of Continuation so that I can cast one of those awesome upper level Pali spells and keep it going for 24 hours.

Holy Weapon anyone? How about Blessings of Fervor. Just seems like a good use of 54k


P33J wrote:

I like your strat wiggz.

I've got a plan for later game, especially when the Paladin can cast spells, I'm going to slowly save up for a Ring of Continuation so that I can cast one of those awesome upper level Pali spells and keep it going for 24 hours.

Holy Weapon anyone? How about Blessings of Fervor. Just seems like a good use of 54k

Blessing of Fervor is only available to Oath of Vengeance Paladins I believe.

As for spells, never leave home without at least one Heroic Defiance, and there aren't too many 2nd level spells better than Litany of Righteousness. Bloodsworn Retribution is also a key go-to 4th level spell.


I wonder about the sword and board, and then 2Weap, especially when you are buffing your shield so much, oh, ok I see... 2Weap for bash... need to be careful with armour and max dex bonus, too. Why not just start with the shield out? Almost sounds like you wanting to go damage tank. Though is your char... have a friend making a ranged halfling din, so...Enjoy


If you're going to take Extra LoH so many times, you may want to consider swapping out 1 or 2 for Radiant Charge as an offense nova option or Greater Mercy.

Greater Mercy would be best taken at low levels while Radiant Charge at later levels.

Even though you don't have a lot of magic options, The Magical knack trait can serve a Paladin well.

I play a Angel-Blooded Aasimar for the favorable stat array but I went the 2 handed route. Human is of course a good choice.


Wiggz,

Isnt a fauchard an exotic weapon which would require him to burn a feat to use? Or am I confused? Just wondering.

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