Hey, thanks for looking.
I am needing help with building an Archer Paladin. I am going to be playing in a weekend long game, where we will be level 10. The person who is GM'ing is very much an optimizer, and has stated he will be making the encounters very tough.
I was originally thinking straight Paladin, and even ignoring the Divine Hunter Archetype (I've read people saying it's a trap, and I'm inclined to agree). It will be a 25 point buy, and I will be playing an Aasimar (Azata). He is allowing the swap of the spell-like ability for the stat bonus as well.
So, as you can see, this is all a little munchkin-y.
Tentatively, My stats are:
STR - 13 (probably one of the bumps)
DEX - 18 (+2 racial mod)
CON - 12
INT - 10
WIS - 10
CHA - 20 (+4 racial mod)
I still have the bonuses to assign from lvl 4 & 8, and I could switch Dex and Cha.
Now, the main issue I'm having is that this build seems a bit feat starved. So, one thing I am considering, is going Divine Hunter, and Oath of Vengeance Archetypes, as well as adding in 2 levels of Ranger.
The Divine Hunter, gives me Point-Blank for free, which frees up a feat slot for something more fun.
The 2 levels of Ranger, do a number of things. One, since I have no Int bonus, they will provide a lot more skill points. Second, I would get a favored enemy, (evil outsider probably, meh.) and the combat style feat, probably taking Rapid shot there. Third, I get better reflex saves, (I know my saves are good already, but this helps avoid that fireball) and I would now have access to wands on the Ranger spell list. Namely, Gravity Bow. I know I could take UMD, but it'd be hard to keep it up with minimal skills through Paladin.
Oath of Vengeance allows me to use 2 LoH, to get extra smite. So, I don't really miss the extra use of smite that I would have gotten with straight Paladin, and I should have plenty of LoH since I have a very high CHA.
Feat selections so far:
lvl 1. Deadly Aim - Character 1
lvl 2. Rapid Shot - Ranger 2
lvl 3. Precise Shot - Paladin (DH)
lvl 3. Weapon Focus - Longbow
lvl 5. Weapon Specialization
lvl 7. Many Shot
Lvl 9. Point Blank Master
How is this looking?
I am also thinking of breaking down and taking Point-blank shot at 3, and manyshot @ 5, and then weapon focus @ 7, and Snapshot @ 9, but being able to take AoO's doesn't seem to make as much sense if you are going to provoke.
Also, outside of items of CHA and DEX, I don't really know what to go for with equipment.
So, sorry for being so detailed, but I wanted to get it all out there, and see what you rockstars can do with this. Thanks!
Here's my thought on mutli-classing to Ranger (and I love both classes), Since both of the classes have to be level 4 to cast spells, why would you multiclass? I realize you are getting some benefit, but you are pushing back some of the really good class features.
The other thing is this, you really need to go PBS and Precise shot at the very first chance you get. So level 1 if you are human. Why? Because Point Blank Shot is required for Precise Shot and that -4 to shooting into melee is a huge issue.
You might check out the paladin guide in the guide of guides. In addition check out the archer section of the ranger guide.
Equipment--Adaptive Composite Longbow. Different sets of arrows made from different materials and/or blanches. Handy Haversack and Efficient Quiver for sure.
@ Max Smithson: I can get around needing to have Point-Blank-Shot, because I get Precise shot for free if I go divine hunter archetype for Paladin. Also, on the topic of spells. I really figure I can use wands most of the time, and I will barely miss out on 3rd level Paladin spells. I will still have a strong complement of 1st and 2nd level.
@ rerednaw: I forgot weapon specialization is fighter only. I guess that clarifies my next step. Also, I won't be able to take arcane strike, as you have to be able to cast arcane spells.
I did see the bracers of Falcon's aim. Pretty Wild, but it'll work for the build for sure.
Well don't discount Point Blank Shot anyway.
I should probably add, that I'm not sure if this will be a character that I use for more than 1-2 full Saturday sessions. That's why I'm not worried about delaying features that would normally progress.
Hmm. I'll have to give that some thought XMorsX. I'm not sure that I see the extra smite, and the one extra mercy at tenth level being much better.
Like I mentioned in the initial post, taking Oath of Vengeance allows me to expend 2 LoH for an extra smite. Since I will have approx. 9-10 uses of LoH, I feel this likely overcomes the one loss of smite. (which seems the most valuable part).
Now the +1 divine bond, if we level to 11, that would bite to miss out on. I would still feel decent though if I took the dip, because that would be level 9 of Pally, and give 3rd lvl spells.
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If you're willing to multi-class, might I suggest that instead of 2 levels of Ranger, you take 3 levels of Zen Archer? This gives you:
+3 to all saves
4 skill points vs 2 per level
2 bonus feats which can be used to select from Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Dodge, Far Shot, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Shot.
Perfect Strike feat with Bows usable 4/day
Weapon Focus feat with your Bow
Point Blank Master feat
Unarmed Combat (able to make AOOs while wielding a bow)'
NOW, keep in mind that there's a cost to this in that you lose 3 levels of Paladin, or 1 additional level of Paladin if you're comparing this to a 2 level dip in Ranger.
You can give up your Channeling by taking Oath Of Vengeance to get more Smite Evils per day.
You can even go Paladin 4, Zen Archer 6 to pick up Weapon Specialization and Improved Precise Shot, and a Ki Pool. This would hurt your Smite Evil damage more, but if you're mainly going for DR penetration, then between this and Oath of Vengeance you should be fine.
I never use paladin spells and ALWAYS take the warrior of holy light archetype when playing a paladin, which actually dovetails nicely into oath of vengeance since you can use the extra lay on hands it provides to fuel even more smite evils than normal.
As for divine hunter, to me it's not really worth it unless the whole party is ranged focused, especially not in your situation as its coolest abilities kick in after 10th lvl.
EDIT: oh, and I just looked up Bracers of Falcon's Aim...WTF were they thinking? Talk about making Bracers of Archery (lesser & greater) completely obsolete.
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First I wanted you to repick race but you seem to have a great agreement with your GM, otherwise these races make interesting paladins:
Races:
DrowNoble
Catfolk
Fetchling
Ifrit
Vishkanya
Drow
Dhampir
Human
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As u've selected Race: you should consult your GM as how your stats effect your character as role-played (low int=stupid, etc)
You should try getting your stat errays something like:
Str 14
Dex 16->18->20
Con 12
Int 7
Wis 12
Cha 16->20
Or if you buy a revolver, you can hit 5times/round (includes haste) VS touch AC.
Feats:
Firearm proficiency - through some trait?
Rapid reload
Point Blank shot
Rapid Shot
Precise shot
Deadly Aim
Stats:
Str10
Dex18->20->22
con12
Int7
Wis10
Cha16->20
Revolvers have 95%hit rate when you smite
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Items:
-Get some sort of Spell Resistance (around 20000)
-Get armor with fortification made of Adamantine/mithral (vs critts and sneak attack and grants DR2-3) (around 20000)
-Get a bow/revolver with the "seeker" ability (won't miss due to concealment).
-If you have a gun; get the "reduce misshapen ability" on your gun. (below 20000)
-get a cloak of minor displacement (grants minor concealment) - can be enough to sneak and will make enemies attacks automaticly miss 20% of the time. (Below 25000)
-and get spiked guntlets (below 20gp)
Well since we will probably have 2 barbarians that will be grunting and pointing to communicate it is really up to him if he wants to be the dudley doright of paladins it is really up to him
(I will be the gm in said game haha)
Shut up Dax!
anyone else have any input?
I am going to take this as nobody cares about your stupid build
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I've always liked the righteous paladin. The class which stands for more than their own selfishness, unlike all the other classes :)
You asked what the build looks like; I like the build, but I'd advice you to reconsider 3 feats. "Weapon specialization", "Weapon focus" and "Manyshot" could be repicked into something which adds more flavour and strength.
1. The gunner - firearm proficiency+rapid reload
2. The holy rider - Combat mount+Mounted skirmisher
3. The Teamfighter - "Lookout" or any other teamwork feat.
Anyone with "Lookout" is allowed to act in the surprise round if an allie with the same feat can act. Also, if both may act (noticed the foe or similar) then both get a full round action instead of the standard/move action most characters get in the surprise round.
If you can convince an allie wizard with the divination school to take this feat, then you'll never be completely surprised again!
GL!