So combat begins. Let's say that your 2h paladin rolls very well on his initiatve and goes first. What do you do now? Do you cast a good buff spell, or would it be better to simply engage smite protocol and charge in there so you'll have a chance at a full attack next round?
If you cast a spell, it may put you behind on your full attack schedule, or it might not. You still have have a move action, so you could close in with the enemy and then let them come to you, which has the additional benefit of saving you from being hit by a full attack by an enemy if you had instead chosen to charge them.
Thoughts? Experiences?
From very little experience, no knowledge of the fight this is taking place in (like whether the rest of the party is anywhere near you in the initiative line up), and only the most basic of assumptions about party make up, you might want to pick the latter option of casting and possible moving a bit forward to allow enemies to come towards you.
I am going with this approach as a general principle that it would be easier for other casters to do their work while everyone is somewhat still bunched up. Whether they are buffing you, or maybe laying some battlefield control/blasting on the enemy lines, it is generally better to not rush in without support.
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However you manage it, it's usually tactically superior to wait for foes to come to you, rather than you rushing the foes. Do you have an allied caster who might lay down a battlefield control spell? Does your 2h paladin get AoOs with reach? Are any of your allies positioned to possibly get reach AoOs? Do you expect any juicy buffs to start soon? If you answer 'yes' to any of these questions then you should probably not rush in.
In addition to the Cast and Move option, there's also the option to 'Ready an action to 5' step & attack the first foe who comes in range'. That way you let the enemy come to you, you don't disrupt your allies' actions, yet you still get your first round attack.
Depends on the level. I would probably only buff before combat, unless I cannot get into combat in one turn, in which case I would move and buff. Of course, things change once you get a lesser rod of quicken (metamagic).
So combat begins. Let's say that your 2h paladin rolls very well on his initiatve and goes first. What do you do now? Do you cast a good buff spell, or would it be better to simply engage smite protocol and charge in there so you'll have a chance at a full attack next round?
If you cast a spell, it may put you behind on your full attack schedule, or it might not. You still have have a move action, so you could close in with the enemy and then let them come to you, which has the additional benefit of saving you from being hit by a full attack by an enemy if you had instead chosen to charge them.
Thoughts? Experiences?
I'm very selective with my Paladin spells, but in almost every instance I choose either Swift action spells (like Heroic Defiance or Litany of Righteousness) , between combat spells (Restoration or Shield Other) or big buffs (like Deadly Juggernaut or Bloodsworn Retribution). I never take spells requiring a save and I never take spells intended to use up a combat action.