I'm wondering can a paladin get away without investing anything in offence and still be a good benefit to the party without feeling like dead weight?
The character concept I've been thinking of involves me taking the Divine Defender, Hospitaler (possibly Warrior of the Holy Light) archetypes.
Variant Channeling Luck to boost my allies' attacks and provide minor healing (flavoured as a guiding light type ability). Then going the Bodyguard route for further boosts to my ally's defences. (Divine bond with my armour and the benevolent armour ability make this an attractive concept)The problem is that paladins get so few feats that between combat reflexes, bodyguard, selective and maybe quick channel, and the half-drow drow nobility feat line I was thinking of going into (I like the idea of having both Light and Dark powers as a paladin) that I'm incredibly feat starved and can't even seem to afford power attack.
Do people think this will be a problem at higher levels? Any suggestions on how to improve the character other than just "ditch the drow nobility part"? Traits? Stats-wise would you favour strength or charisma? Any items you can think of I should look out for?
Thanks for any help. I don't have much experience with high level play.
If you are going to be a support character, then your only methods of dealing damage will be through helping other people or casting spells, not trying to go into melee combat and taking feats like Power Attack. Your supporting should also be dependant upon making sure the other guys aren't hurting or damaging you or your party. If you try anything else, you'll not only be feat starved, but be extremely ineffective at it and regret making the investment in the first place.
You should have 10 feats available for choice at level 19. Combat Reflexes, Bodyguard, and Swift Aid are the 3 main feats you'll need for your Aid Another methodology. You're welcome to take In Harm's Way if you can stomach it, making you able to absorb a hit to an incoming ally and take all of the bad stuff that comes with it, but with any luck you shouldn't have to.
Channeling should be used for CC (clearing out Undead/Negative Energy beings) or healing your entire party. Selective and Quick Channeling are 2 feats that you can interchange. I'd also recommend Combat Casting if you want to cast heal/buff spells in the heat of combat as well, but most times if your casting stat is your focus, it'll become irrelevant by mid to end game.
From here, you have 5 feats to spend. The Noble Drow line of feats takes 3, not including the Umbral Scion line of feats, leaving you 2 feats left to divvy up as you choose. You can also choose to have Noble Spell Resistance if you'd like the added defense, though it does come at a price (you can't really be buffed by subjects other than yourself).
You can take whatever 2 feats you want after that, whether it be Extra Lay on Hands or Extra Channel; however, taking Greater and Ultimate Mercy would be great as a Support, being able to heal for more with your Lay On Hands and essentially being able to revive somebody at the cost of 10 uses of Lay On Hands and a temporary negative level that fades over the course of 24 hours.
As far as statistics goes, as a Support; always, always, always choose Charisma over Strength. A lot of your supporting abilities and spells are derived from Charisma, and since you won't be dealing physical damage with Aid Another, you won't need much Strength. That isn't to say that Strength doesn't help you, but that it doesn't help you nearly as much as it should. Being a Paladin who has a full BAB, you should auto-succeed on Aid Another by 10th level, at the bare minimum.
When I read the thread title I really just thought, "You mean a cleric?"
If you want to focus on magicl support and such you can look like a paladin in some nice full plate and throw buffing spells all over the place.
|
Have you considered multiclassing Paladin with Life Oracle? There is a rather famous build for a character that actually makes healing in combat worthwhile and it is a multiclassed Life Oracle/Paladin. It basically seems to do exactly what you want: support, healing, Paladin levels and doesn't nessicarily need to focus on offense. If I can find the thread it's in I'll post it up later for you to take a look at but it seems to better fit what you want then a straight classed Paladin, as the latter has a lot of features devoted to combat.
If you plan to make a support-oriented divine caster, why not a Cleric or Oracle? Use your (far more numerous and powerful) spells and channeling to help out the party. Pick up Divine Interference to make enemies miss nearby allies. Make a Reach Cleric if you still want to hit things. If you want to specialize in healing, check out the Oradin.
I don't know how much you like Mercy skills, but replacing your 6th and 9th level Mercy powers for an extra feat might seem worth it, expecially for an offensive support Paladin.
Divine Fighting Style: Iomedae's Inspiring Sword allows you to use a Full Round Action to give bonuses, but what you really want is that second part. As part of a Standard Attack or Charge, you give all allies who can see your attack a +2 sacred bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 1 minute. It has to hit, but good looking into.
If you have it available, Order of the People's Counsel gives you Bardic Performance to help boost your allies w/out giving up much (Smite on a Support). Otherwise, Holy Light (Spellcasting) or Martyr (to much) gives you similat effects. Moral Bonus means they can easily be increased to.
3 levels in Oracle is almost mandatory if you want supportive, as you essensially heal everyone 5 each turn then heal yourself w/out interupting actions.
Hope this helps.
Just realised something: The attack just has to be successful, it doesn't have to damage them. So use the attack to decrease their AC for someone while giving everyone a Sacred Bonus. :D
Guess its moreso what you wanna do. You'll be bodyguarding for a lot, so the chances they take damage is lower. Be careful not to boost your AC to high, then things will start thinking that the squishy caster might be a better target.
Its really a preference between Hyper Defense or Balanced Offense. I prefer the Bardic Performance because of its out of combat effectiveness and giving my allies some good bonuses. (And the fact I can turn 1 round Bardic Performance into a 5 round moral bonus.)
Imo:
X levels Sacred Shield/Warrior of Holy Light
3 levels Oracle (Duel Cursed or Spirit)
Going Spirit gives you acess to Lifelink without being a Lige oracle.
Have fun!:D
Wow, a 3 year necro for giving advice. I doubt they still need any advice at this point for this character.