GM generated rolls (set in stone and cannot be switched) =
STR 14
INT 10
WIS 9
CON 16
CHR 16
DEX 18
Human.
The party needs a front line melee type. Other members unknown, but my role is clear- I realize he'd make a much better archer. We start at 1st level and go to about 12th. Magic items generally easy to buy, but wealth level a bit low in this campaign.
The challenge is to find traits, archetypes, and especially feats to make this work as well as possible. His defense would be hard to screw up. But with the low Strength, I'm concerned about his DPR.
All published Paizo ok including campaign stuff except no alternative class bonus.
You could try putting yourself into more of a support role with an Oradin build. As long as someone else is providing DPR it'll be pretty strong with those stats.
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Paladin of Sarenrae with Dervish Dance is the first thing that comes to mind. Could be combined with Enforcer + Blade of Mercy + Omen to pass out Intimidates left and right.
Since your STR is still decent, you could go with an Elven Branched Spear (using Human bonus feat, Half-Elf alternate racial, or Elf racial), rely on Power Attack to make up the difference in damage, and use Combat Reflexes to take advantage of its long reach.
This would work best if there was a daring champion-like archetype for the paladin. Sadly, I am not sure there is one.
Overall, I would go Dervish dance as it is slightly less feat-intensive than fencing/slashing grace (although they allow having a buckler in your off hand). Power attack is going to be handy either way.
Still, I think he will work a lot better as an archer with divine hunter. Is multiclassing okay? If so, I would definitely consider daring champion levels.
Go for a Weapon Finesse + Elven Curved Blade build. 14 Strength is enough for Power Attack, and you get the 1.5x damage for two-handing, so your DPR stays good.
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Always an Option to take 1 Level of Bard Dervish of the Dawn/Dawnflower Dervish.
You get Dervish Dance as a 1st level Bonus feat (Without the Pre-reqs), Skills, and the ability to use Bard Spell completion/Trigger items.
Another option is Slashing Grace Feat and just going straight Paladin. More feat intensive.
I like the Idea of Blade of Mercy + Enforcer Idea. "Repent or I'll keep hitting you!"
The Other Idea is what Rainy day ninja says and Grab up the Elven curved blade and 2 hand it.
Thanks everyone for the responses. You've given me a lot to think about. The simple solution of just two han power attack and don't worry is compelling. But, oddly,so are the feat intensive suggestions. I didn't even think of THF, which against evil guys & smite would be fun.
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With those stats, I'd say take a double weapon and get the best of both styles. Show evil just how much a humble quarterstaff can hurt in the right hands.
Edit: I've tried playing a paladin with 10 Str and the slashing grace feat chain to make up for it, but it's just too many feats to give up that could have been spent making lay on hands stronger.
The elven curved blade/finesse build is the best you can go for in my opinion for an heavy armor frontline type of character.
Here's a list of feat that would complement the build, it's not skill starved like TWF so you have space for neat little things :D
Power attack: pretty straightforward
Furious Focus: no penalty on first attack with power attack(more on that later)
Cornugon smash: free intimidate roll on a hit with power attack(you have good CHA remember)
Hurful: free attack on a successful intimidate roll as a swift action, YES PLEASE (not sure if vital strike apply but if it does it's brilliant)
Vital strike/improved/greater: double,tripple and quadruple damage on attack action(with power attack and forious focus you always hit with full BAB, you don't attack as often but better chance of hitting and you hurt people a lot when you do)
Devestating strike/improved: 2 skills worth considering if you went with the vital strike chain
Greater mercy/ultimate: extra dice on your LoH if there's no mercy applicable/ 10 LoHs for a raise dead, both are great
Reward of life: more healing YAY \o/
I'm gonna stop there cuz I'm a bit tired and need to go to sleep.
I hope this helped a bit :)
o/
You could take one level of Sohei Monk, and go Dervish Dance + Crusader's Flurry to make flurry-of-blows scimitar attacks while wearing mithral medium armor.
One level of Swashbuckler could easily grab the feats to wield two rapiers (ideally with Effortless Lace) with Fencing Grace and Dual Enhancement, using Panache for parry-and-riposte as well as a Swordmaster's Flair: Blue Scarf to give the rapiers +5ft reach.
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You could take one level of Sohei Monk, and go Dervish Dance + Crusader's Flurry to make flurry-of-blows scimitar attacks while wearing mithral medium armor.
One level of Swashbuckler could easily grab the feats to wield two rapiers (ideally with Effortless Lace) with Fencing Grace and Dual Enhancement, using Panache for parry-and-riposte as well as a Swordmaster's Flair: Blue Scarf to give the rapiers +5ft reach.
Swordmaster's Flair must be held in a hand to be used, so you'd need some means of extra arms to use it with dual rapiers. You also need a free hand to lay on hands as a paladin.
This is why I suggest a double weapon, you can grip them in 1 hand when not attacking, use your free hand to lay on hands or cast spells, then re-grip it with your other hand as a free action.
Swordmaster's Flair must be held in a hand to be used, so you'd need some means of extra arms to use it with dual rapiers. You also need a free hand to lay on hands as a paladin.
This is why I suggest a double weapon, you can grip them in 1 hand when not attacking, use your free hand to lay on hands or cast spells, then re-grip it with your other hand as a free action.
The Blue Scarf fortunately only needs a hand to activate, but you're right that hands are an issue for Lay on Hands. The problem with a double weapon is that you would have to be able to finesse it somehow.
Actually on the subject of the Blue Scarf, any Dervish Dance or Fencing Grace Paladin could take Amateur Swashbuckler and use one (along with maybe Dodging Panache). Throw in Combat Reflexes and they can use the heck out of it. Combat Reflexes + Blue Scarf reach + Dodging Panache + Flurry could make for one seriously busy swordsman.
I'd recommend against the two-weapon idea unless you think of a way to mitigate not having a hand free for "lay on hands."
2-handed weapon is a solid choice, but with process of elimination to buff yourself:
Can't do Barbarian, lawful. can't do Alchemist or Arcane, bad int. Can't do Divine, bad wis.
What about a Kineticist tank? Con as a casting stat, I've heard good things on the forums about them, could be a unique way to get around your stats.
Bloodrager dip? No Alignment restriction, give you basic rage to +4 that strength for emergencies, and you don't get spells until after 4th so no wisdom is no problem. 'course, you won't get your spells as a Paladin anyways...
Straight figher and Weapon Specialization? (Just putting it out there...)
I like the idea of the Swashbuckler parrying everything going after them.
Just my 2 cents.
Combat Reflexes is a very good idea.
Two weapon fighting may work, especially since you get smite on all attacks. Maintaining the full chain is a bit feat intensive for a paladin.
A double weapon would work better with a half-orc or dwarf. There are no martial double weapons except via racial weapons or exotic weapon proficiency. Instead I would probably look at wielding two light weapons.
I don't think I would go for Dex to Damage.
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A double weapon would work better with a half-orc or dwarf. There are no martial double weapons except via racial weapons or exotic weapon proficiency.
There is, however, a simple one: the quarterstaff. Since it's also a monk weapon, it got a boost in Weapon Master's Handbook with the Monk Weapon Skill trait that gives a +1 trait bonus on damage with one type of monk weapon. This helps its d6 damage dice keep up in damage with the exotic double weapons' d8 damage dice.
If you want to finesse dual wield and have a free hand too, then just use a cestus.
Tempered Champion is pretty bad. Even a Paladin's spellcasting still represents more power in combat, and more out-of-combat utility by a damn sight, than the minor combat boosts that Tempered Champion gives you.