Paladin Help

[GreenBob]

Im thinking about restarting the game and rolling a paladin, i was thinking along the lines of a ret paladin if anyone knows what im saying, a two hander in heavy armor that takes a beating and gives it back double. is that doable i guess is what im asking.

[lemartes]

Originally posted by Carsomyr +6:

As a tabletop vet, Pathfinder Paladin is really, REALLY good. So few enemies in this campaign aren't evil, and your smite evil and power attack damage are multiplied on crit.

1) Use a high crit weapon - Falcata is ideal - and be sure to get Keen or the Improved Critical feat. You can use a Falcata two handed for 1.5 Str damage - if you really want to instead just use greatsword, you can, there's a really, really good one in chapter 4.
2) Activate smite evil and power attack.
3) Watch your enemies explode.

People downplaying paladin don't know what the hell they're talking about or are doing it wrong.

so just go for str char, and 1h+board, use 1h only if you want the extra dmg?

[TEMPIEST]

Here I present :

Retribution Paladin

Race & Abilities
Angelkin Aasimar (+2 Str, +2 Cha)
Lawful Good

STR: 19 (add 1 at level 4)
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 9 (add 1: level 20)
CHA: 15 (add 3 : level 8,12,16)

18 Paladin - 2 Fighter

Levels & Feats
1st Paladin: Power Attack
3rd Paladin: Precise Strike (add same feat to other of your Companions)
5th Paladin: Outflank (add same feat to other of your Companions)
7th Paladin: Cleave
9th Paladin: Cleaving Finish
10th Fighter : Wings
11th Fighter : Great Cleave
11th Fighter : Sunder Armor
13th Paladin: Improve Cleaving Finish
15th Paladin: Toughness
17th Paladin: Metamagic (Maximize Spell)
19th Paladin: Armor Focus (Heavy)

Skills
Put points in Mobility every level. Then you chose the other 2, I recomend Persuasion. Also Knowledge Wold (for cooking) or if you dont have religion in group then Lore (religion is good)

Make sure you and you Team-feat companion are attacking same target to get the bonus. Remember you are not a Tank, dont go first, is ok if one maybe 2 are attacking you too, positioning is key. Keep Keen as much as you can in harder fights. Use charge in the first attack after the tank get flanked or give tank distance so both things happen at the same time.

[dfedwards2001]

Single class paladin is very viable and many of its good abilities are unlocked late. Take two-hander for damage and a heavy shield for a tankier build.

You do need to be choosy about your feats, particularly what you take weapon focus/improved critical in.

[Dalaule]

I play an Elf Hospitaler, and use myself as a party healer. I also use the Elven Curve Blade together with Seize the moment for all my martials and have her enable all the attacks of opportunities from whomever is my frontline. It works real well. I am very reliant on good fire support from rangers/sorcerers/wizards, as well as buffs, but I'm very satisfied with the result. I focused on high strength and charisma during character creation, somewhat flubbing it because elves don't get high stats in either, but I manage.

[Bijat]

Pure pala is good, take awhile to become good tho. But you will not be better then other builds, but simply accept and make the most of it!. Spells & auras can be rly useful. At lev 8 (when they can cast lev 2 spells) they can cast aura of greater courage that makes all allies within 10y immune to fear etc. They can also give ther wep enchantments like flaming or axiomatic. Woud suggest using a 2h reach wep but 1h & shield works aswell but you will hardly come close to same dmg.

[Polasun]

lol

[Slap Happy Pappy]

Try it with a bow >:)

[(ง ͡ʘ ͜ʖ ͡ʘ)งBonesMcSpook]

I'd say take a 2 handed weapon, crusader for extra martial feats (if you want that is)
Extra smite maybe, go for powerattack > cleave > cleaving finish.

Very standard paladin build.

[Indure]

One of my custom companions is a pure paladin (currently level 6) and she does fine. She's not OP in any regard, but she has good AC allowing her to off tank and has my highest BAB score. Her utility spells are pretty limited though. She can cast a little bit of healing and has access to restoration which is great so my cleric doesn't need to waste a slot on it. I gave her remove fatigue as her mercy which is great for random encounters on the road when some of party is winded.

[Bijat]

Originally posted by ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)Bones McSpook:

I'd say take a 2 handed weapon, crusader for extra martial feats (if you want that is)
Extra smite maybe, go for powerattack > cleave > cleaving finish.

Very standard paladin build.

Woud hardly suggest agenst crusader, you loose one of thet things that make pala worth it. There aint that meny good feats for a 2h str pala anyway that make big diffrence but you loose some personal spells that will increase dmg, tankyness, healing, cc, support for maby 1-2ac and +1-2 attack

It´s way better going 2-3 lev pala then rest fighter if thats your goal (only melee dmg)

[lemartes]

Originally posted by TEMPIEST:

Here I present :

Retribution Paladin

Race & Abilities
Angelkin Aasimar (+2 Str, +2 Cha)
Lawful Good

STR: 19 (add 1 at level 4)
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 9 (add 1: level 20)
CHA: 15 (add 3 : level 8,12,16)

18 Paladin - 2 Fighter

Levels & Feats
1st Paladin: Power Attack
3rd Paladin: Precise Strike (add same feat to other of your Companions)
5th Paladin: Outflank (add same feat to other of your Companions)
7th Paladin: Cleave
9th Paladin: Cleaving Finish
10th Fighter : Wings
11th Fighter : Great Cleave
11th Fighter : Sunder Armor
13th Paladin: Improve Cleaving Finish
15th Paladin: Toughness
17th Paladin: Metamagic (Maximize Spell)
19th Paladin: Armor Focus (Heavy)

Skills
Put points in Mobility every level. Then you chose the other 2, I recomend Persuasion. Also Knowledge Wold (for cooking) or if you dont have religion in group then Lore (religion is good)

Make sure you and you Team-feat companion are attacking same target to get the bonus. Remember you are not a Tank, dont go first, is ok if one maybe 2 are attacking you too, positioning is key. Keep Keen as much as you can in harder fights. Use charge in the first attack after the tank get flanked or give tank distance so both things happen at the same time.

going for high crit wep or just 2h greatsword?

[Rattenstein]

Originally posted by Darkfireslide:

Pure Paladin is pretty strong. Between Smite Evil, a free animal companion or weapon enchantment at 5th level, Divine Grace, Channeling, Lay on Hands + Graces, and Spells that allow for intense self-buffs... The Paladin is force to be reckoned with that will keep the party fighting longer and harder.

Wait, Paladins get animal companions in this game? Since when? I don't see that as an option anywhere. Also, graces? Don't you mean mercies?

[Rattenstein]

Originally posted by TEMPIEST:

Here I present :

Retribution Paladin

Race & Abilities
Angelkin Aasimar (+2 Str, +2 Cha)
Lawful Good

STR: 19 (add 1 at level 4)
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 9 (add 1: level 20)
CHA: 15 (add 3 : level 8,12,16)

18 Paladin - 2 Fighter

Levels & Feats
1st Paladin: Power Attack
3rd Paladin: Precise Strike (add same feat to other of your Companions)
5th Paladin: Outflank (add same feat to other of your Companions)
7th Paladin: Cleave
9th Paladin: Cleaving Finish
10th Fighter : Wings
11th Fighter : Great Cleave
11th Fighter : Sunder Armor
13th Paladin: Improve Cleaving Finish
15th Paladin: Toughness
17th Paladin: Metamagic (Maximize Spell)
19th Paladin: Armor Focus (Heavy)

Skills
Put points in Mobility every level. Then you chose the other 2, I recomend Persuasion. Also Knowledge Wold (for cooking) or if you dont have religion in group then Lore (religion is good)

Make sure you and you Team-feat companion are attacking same target to get the bonus. Remember you are not a Tank, dont go first, is ok if one maybe 2 are attacking you too, positioning is key. Keep Keen as much as you can in harder fights. Use charge in the first attack after the tank get flanked or give tank distance so both things happen at the same time.

Is cleave really that good to justify using four feats for it? I could see it on a 2H warrior, but Paladins are feat starved as it is.

Also, is it really worth getting those two fighter levels of great cleave and sunder armour? You'll lose out on an extra smite per day, a +1 enhancement bonus to your weapon, the level 20 capstone (5 more DR vs anyone that isn't evil and heals are rolled to their maximum). All your spells/heals/smites/etc scale to Paladin level, so they'll be a bit weaker. I think it's better not dipping at all tbh if you're going that far with a Paladin.

[TEMPIEST]

Originally posted by Jerme Lenister:

Originally posted by TEMPIEST:

Here I present :

Retribution Paladin

Race & Abilities
Angelkin Aasimar (+2 Str, +2 Cha)
Lawful Good

STR: 19 (add 1 at level 4)
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 9 (add 1: level 20)
CHA: 15 (add 3 : level 8,12,16)

18 Paladin - 2 Fighter

Levels & Feats
1st Paladin: Power Attack
3rd Paladin: Precise Strike (add same feat to other of your Companions)
5th Paladin: Outflank (add same feat to other of your Companions)
7th Paladin: Cleave
9th Paladin: Cleaving Finish
10th Fighter : Wings
11th Fighter : Great Cleave
11th Fighter : Sunder Armor
13th Paladin: Improve Cleaving Finish
15th Paladin: Toughness
17th Paladin: Metamagic (Maximize Spell)
19th Paladin: Armor Focus (Heavy)

Skills
Put points in Mobility every level. Then you chose the other 2, I recomend Persuasion. Also Knowledge Wold (for cooking) or if you dont have religion in group then Lore (religion is good)

Make sure you and you Team-feat companion are attacking same target to get the bonus. Remember you are not a Tank, dont go first, is ok if one maybe 2 are attacking you too, positioning is key. Keep Keen as much as you can in harder fights. Use charge in the first attack after the tank get flanked or give tank distance so both things happen at the same time.

Is cleave really that good to justify using four feats for it? I could see it on a 2H warrior, but Paladins are feat starved as it is.

Also, is it really worth getting those two fighter levels of great cleave and sunder armour? You'll lose out on an extra smite per day, a +1 enhancement bonus to your weapon, the level 20 capstone (5 more DR vs anyone that isn't evil and heals are rolled to their maximum). All your spells/heals/smites/etc scale to Paladin level, so they'll be a bit weaker. I think it's better not dipping at all tbh if you're going that far with a Paladin.

You could Change the Cleave Finish and Improve Cleaving for more Crit if want to change it. But I have to say that in higer level the amount of mobs increase, you will be fighting more than one at a time. Also you can eliminate the cleave finish ones and go full pally, But the DR is only agains evil, the maximize spell compensate some of the heal, the enhancement and smite is a trade-off.

Plus this is a Retri Paladin, not a fighter, so as a Paladin you are half fighter, hallf support. Meaning that Cleave will let you clean trash very fast, then when you deal with a big boss you will do a average dmg and some sunder. These is a team oriented build, you not going alone. If you want to do a high crit one hit attack that is another build. Paladins have only few feats, so you can go either good crit one target or clean trash, try both and will get feat starving.


Edit note: Retribution Paladin is an old archetype (is like going in a righteous frenzy, trying to kill all in its pass) , is good angaist multiple mobs and suport the group with some buff and debuff. Now full single dmg Paladin is a Avenging/Avenger Paladin, this one do alot of damge to single target (Good for soloing).

[kurnorock]

I'm running a standard pally using 2h weapons and I'm doing tons of damage at level 8. Average single hits are 20 to 30 dmg, crits are 50 to 80, with the highest being 95 so far. I'm using the trollslayer great axe currently. I'm hoping to get a +2 or +3 greatsword soon, preferably with a similar extra damage enchantment. Keep in mind that you can't use your "flaming sword" ability on a weapon that already has a flame /acid/cold/electricity enchantment. So you can still add extra damage that way if your weapon doesn't already include it. But getting a greatsword will increase the crit range and I might even take the improved crit feat. There is also another feat that makes crits auto confirm if I'm not mistaken.

I make use of cleave and cleaving finish regularly since at least 3/4 of the enemies fall in one hit. That means I'm hitting 3 to 4 times per round, 4 to 5 if I'm hasted. And I'm considering getting greater cleaving finish as well.

Also, don't ignore the team feats. Outflank is amazing and there is one (can't remember the name) that gives you an extra 1d6 damage from each character just for flanking the same creature.

Just buff your str and cha as high as you can. Have your casters load up on haste and blur spells, then go wreck everything. And don't be afraid to use lay on hands (only use it on your paladin) when you do take a hit. Leave party healing to Tristian. He can channel energy more often and with those phylactery of channel energy head bands he heals far more than you can. Also cook shepherds pie when you camp, that will give him another 1d6 to his channel energy. At level 8 instead of 4d6, he's channeling 7d6 for me.

So in all, this build is great for clearing out hordes of lackeys, surviving tougher encounters, and dealing moderate damage to single enemies. If you want to do more damage to single enemies, you can build a crit machine with the build mentioned above with the falcata. You could also dip a few levels of rogue for some sneak attack damage, since you'll basically always be flanking.

On a side note, it's too bad this game doesn't include more feats. In my last pencile and paper game I ran a paladin that had the fey foundling feat, greatly increasing his healing ability, along with feats like leap attack, the spell rhino's rush, a feat that doubles damage on all charges, powerful build, and another feat that waives the attack roll penalty to power attack. At level 14 I was hitting for something like 2d12+180 normally, on a crit, forget about it.

Granted, we were playing with both D&D and Pathfinder rules. My paladin joined an elite military and underwent special training, granting him the ability to basically take the best aspects of either rule set. (lay on hands is much better in Pathfinder than D&D while the special mount is much better in D&D than Pathfinder, etc)