Dwarven Starter Paladin (a build by request)

[sigtrent]

This build is from Sigtrent's build request thread (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=117232)

Build Name: Dwarven Holy Defender
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Snogrot
Last Updated: 06/30/10

Key Words [Paladin, 28pts, Defender of Siberys]

Objectives
The request was for a 28pt dwarven paladin with an open door for multi classing which used axes and had some healing ability. Since a lot of that all kind of falls into place with race and class, there wasn’t a strong direction.

Design
After trying a few variations I settled in on this very defensive tank build using Defender of Siberys with a bit of two handed axe focus thrown in. The two handed feats dovetail nicely with the dwarven axe which can deliver glancing blows when using a as shield. It gives the build a nice offensive tactic for pure hate tanking or just doing DPS when actual tanking is moot.

The character is designed to operate in very heavy armor with little dex allowance and a tower shield. Taking your dex up as high as you can with items should just fill out dragontouched armor. A fairly hefty pile of hit points and decent if not astounding saves help round out the defenses. There isn’t a lot of healing here, but lay on hands and sovereignty provide some sizable heals to doll out in emergencies.

The character has full intimidate but not much to boost it very high. For trash mobs and the like it should do fine, but for boss tanking you will want to go with hate based agro control which you have plenty of tools for.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(2 Fighter \ 18 Paladin)
Hit Points: 372
Spell Points: 205
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 23
Reflex: 11
Will: 11

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(28 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 14 18
Dexterity 10 10
Constitution 16 18
Intelligence 14 14
Wisdom 10 10
Charisma 12 12

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 2 15
Bluff 1 1
Concentration 3 7
Diplomacy 1 1
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 1 1
Heal 0 0
Hide 0 0
Intimidate 5 25
Jump 6 11
Listen 0 0
Move Silently 0 0
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 2 2
Search 2 4
Spot 0 0
Swim 2 4
Tumble 2 11
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Fighter)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Intimidate (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+2)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Combat Expertise
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Fighter Intimidate I


Level 2 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I


Level 3 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Paladin Focus of Good I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I


Level 5 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Item Defense I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II


Level 6 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II


Level 7 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Defender of Siberys I


Level 8 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty


Level 9 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Righteousness I
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I


Level 10 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil III


Level 11 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite II


Level 12 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good III
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands II


Level 13 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Dwarven Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Paladin Defender of Siberys II


Level 14 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good III


Level 15 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice II


Level 16 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: CON
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness III


Level 17 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good IV


Level 18 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil IV


Level 19 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite III
Enhancement: Paladin Defender of Siberys III


Level 20 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Shield Bash
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility I
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite IV




Play
Playing the build is pretty easy, although raid tanking will take some skill. For hate tanking you want to start with the great axe. Get a hit in to get initial attention, then throw a smite, then fall into defensive stance and hit the retribution. Now that all the agro bonuses are on, lay in with repeated smites and divine sacrifices. Once you have hit a few, switch to shield and axe and continue throwing smites until they are exhausted and invite others to join in. If you lose agro just bring back the great axe.

If you can hit the intim then that is the safest way to tank and blocking you should be nearly indestructible. I’m not sure how much agro you can pull with hate bonuses and shield bash but its worth a try between intims. If blocking isn’t needed you can throw smites with your dwarven axe between intims.

Variations
32pts and tomes can open up a lot of doors for the build, although enhancements are already tight so not a lot should change there. Extra points can go to con or str. You could start at a lower int with tomes available or just pick up extra skills as desired.

[snogrot]

thanks for the reply sig. I was just going to post the same question on this forum. I really appreciate your help.

[Roaringdragon]

Sigtrent, could you post a possible AC number? Also, how does it exactly "use" spells when it has a wis of 10...though you probably can use some items and such to buff it up enough. I wonder, if you go sword and board, would it be a tower shield + DA axes or a parrying item? Other then that, good build. Just finally adding is it possible to lower int to 12 and up wis to 12? Thx for the build Sigtrent :D

[AylinIsAwesome]

Sigtrent, could you post a possible AC number? Also, how does it exactly "use" spells when it has a wis of 10...though you probably can use some items and such to buff it up enough. I wonder, if you go sword and board, would it be a tower shield + DA axes or a parrying item? Other then that, good build. Just finally adding is it possible to lower int to 12 and up wis to 12? Thx for the build Sigtrent :D

To be honest...I wouldn't roll the build. It's 3 years old, and while that doesn't necessarily make it bad, at the current time I think going pure Paladin for the capstone is the better option.

Also I wouldn't roll Dwarf since D-Axes don't give a lot of benefit to Paladin Smite and Divine Sacrifices (those abilities like wide crit ranges).

Casting is done with a +6 WIS item (gives you the 14 you need to cast).

As far as a parrying item, you can craft one onto a Shroud weapon (+4 Insight bonus to saves/AC) or also onto that new Epic Swashbuckler.

[Roaringdragon]

Wish the OP or Sigtrent would update this once in a while. :(

[Roaringdragon]

To be honest...I wouldn't roll the build. It's 3 years old, and while that doesn't necessarily make it bad, at the current time I think going pure Paladin for the capstone is the better option.

Also I wouldn't roll Dwarf since D-Axes don't give a lot of benefit to Paladin Smite and Divine Sacrifices (those abilities like wide crit ranges).

Casting is done with a +6 WIS item (gives you the 14 you need to cast).

As far as a parrying item, you can craft one onto a Shroud weapon (+4 Insight bonus to saves/AC) or also onto that new Epic Swashbuckler.

Then what other race would you recommend? I just saw a lvl 10 drow twf pally today...so maybe drow? Though their base con is a 6... I would probably think about human, since you can get better enhance, maybe not axe but still kopesh with the bonus feat will be better.

Also AylinIsAwesome , I just rolled Sigtrent's pseudo shaman cleric. Frankly I'm quite happy with it, since in the beginning, you can get in the top #3 of kill list with a thf. Then, on top of that you can heal others when needed and buff. Though...I really still wonder even though its a good start build, at the end all its going to function is prob heal/casting, so I know the capstone on cleric is better for that. Though...the fighter levels make this build a ∫Lot∫ more easier to play then just healing the other party members. Since you basically can solo korthos and harbor and possibly marketplace (haven't tried) without much effort and maybe with a hireling. Though I probably should post this in that thread... xD :D

[Ralmeth]

Human is the best race on a Pally because you get the extra feat and the human adaptability line will let you best take advantage of whatever tomes / gear you have so you can round off your three primary stats: strength, con and charisma.

As for an updated 28 point Pally DoS build, I would probably go with something such as the following. Please note that going 32 point build and a full set of +2 tomes will really help, and are all available in the store.

28 Point Human Pally DoS
Pure Pally 20
Str: 15 (8 points) - All level ups to Strength
Dex: 8 (0) - Shooting for DT Plate as the final armor...this is a starter build
Con: 14 (6 points)
Int: 12 (4 points) - +1 tome needed for CE, +2 tome for 20 more skill points
Wis: 8 (0) - With a +6 wisdom item you can cast all Pally spells
Char: 16 (10 points) - Divine Might 2 at a minimum, +2 tome for DM3

Feats:
The minimum recommended feats are power attack, toughness, combat expertise and IC-slashing. With the remaining feats, viable options are extend, khopesh, the THF line, tower shield, Improved shield bash (assuming the change in update 9 will be worth it)
1st - Power Attack
Human - Toughness
3rd - Option
6th - Combat Expertise
9th - Improved Crit Slashing
12th - Extend
15th - Option
18th - Option

I've listed three optional feats above and I think there are two main directions one could go:

Option #1 - Full THF line
This will give you better splash DPS, which is helpful against the endless hordes of bad guys you will be fighting. Take THF, ITHF and GTHF in these slots. You should be using a THF weapon and power attack most of the time whichever option you go so this option will help you the majority of the time. When things get rough, turn CE on, pull out the shield and tank away.

Option #2 - Better Tanking
Instead of THF, go for Improved Shield Bash, Khopesh and Tower Shield. This assumes that improved shield bash will be cool come update 9. This option will make you better at hate tanking (more survivable and being able to dish out more damage via khopesh to one big, nasty red named). To all you vets out there...this is a starter build and tower shield is taken with the assumption that this person hasn't run epics or the event to get an epic shield. Nothing that a LR couldn't change later on if needed.

Skills:
Max out Intimidate & UMD. Extra points to concentration, balance and tumble.

Enhancements:
These can change, but take as much divine might, divine sacrifice and exalted smite that you can afford.

I hope this helps.

[sigtrent]

Sigtrent, could you post a possible AC number? Also, how does it exactly "use" spells when it has a wis of 10...though you probably can use some items and such to buff it up enough. I wonder, if you go sword and board, would it be a tower shield + DA axes or a parrying item? Other then that, good build. Just finally adding is it possible to lower int to 12 and up wis to 12? Thx for the build Sigtrent :D

The thing with AC numbers is it varies wildly based on what gear you get together. End game this build can get into the 70s possibly 80s. New gear is always coming into the game and changing the optimal dex or gear sets. But any decent build can adjust gear to best fit the build.

I can say this build does most of what any build can do to have a good armor class and is at least within 5% of any given tank you can make.

It is assumed you will have an item adding at least 4 wisdom by high level, preferably 6 and that will let you cast spells. Most paladin builds by experienced players will start with 8 or 10 wisdom. For a starter build I like 10 as its less demanding that you have the highest wisdom item possible at your level.

This build would use a tower shield, preferably a mithral one along with a dwarven axe, ideally greensteel with a +4 insight bonus for the large power.

You need Int 13 to take combat expertise so unless you have a tome I wouldn't recommended lowering it. You would also need to take it at a later level (which is probably fine for the build).

Your welcome, this one is definitely a starter build and its focused on tanking rather than doing lots of damage. Just keep that in mind.

[sigtrent]

To be honest...I wouldn't roll the build. It's 3 years old, and while that doesn't necessarily make it bad, at the current time I think going pure Paladin for the capstone is the better option.

Actually its only 6 months old, I updated all of them last year.

The paladin capstone is nice, but this is a tank and not a DPS character, it's not that concerned with maximizing damage so much as being durable and hard to hit.


Also I wouldn't roll Dwarf since D-Axes don't give a lot of benefit to Paladin Smite and Divine Sacrifices (those abilities like wide crit ranges).


True, but dwarves get additional defensive bonuses such as improved saves and more hit point potential. They also get racial armor mastery to increase AC in very heavy plate. For a 28pt tank I like dwaves quite a bit. Human is still very good though.