easiest build for newcommers for a paladin?

[Golden Boy]

is the paladin more tank or is it also smart to have two handed weapons on him?

[Golden Boy]

or is tank only not viable?

[MisterRed]

Paladins are very versatile as a martial class and can fulfill either or both roles. Their two biggest features are Lay on Hands, and Smite, meaning they have high damage potential, and healing capability, for both allies and themselves. My paladin currently is a tank, they have the sentinel feat, and chose to specialize with their shield. But it is equally possible to throw a greatsword or axe on them, because they get extra attack, and on crit, or even off crit they can throw Smite atop their successful attacks for bonus damage.

[CrazedOne]

Originally posted by Golden Boy:

or is tank only not viable?

It would all depend on the setup of your party. A Paladin will never have the DPS that a fighter or barbarian has, so depending on who you keep in your party, it might be better to go tank if no one else is a front line melee fighter. Which would mean take a feat in defence instead of two handed weapons/great weapon fighting for that extra +1 AC.

You can also think of what you plan to do in the future. Do you plan on multiclassing or going all the way to Max in Paladin levels? Or switch to a different class entirely after a few character levels in?