Aerenal Temple Guardian (A whirling steel paladin build)

[sigtrent]

Build Name: Aerenal Temple Guardian
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: None
Last Updated: 05/28/10

Key Words [Monk, Paladin, Healing, DPS, TWF]

Objectives
I wanted to play around with whirling steel and create a focused longsword using character that would use heailing ki, while maintaining a good DPS with the longswords. My going theory is that whirling steel is better for adding utility than it is for adding to DPS. Longswords come in more variety than hand wraps and the larger crit range gives you more effect options to play with.

Design
Elf was a given as was monk 3 for healing ki. I went with Paladin for many reasons. They could amp up the healing ki with devotion enhancements, they are full bab, they have a faith line that bumps longs swords a bit, their smites make good use of the larger crit range to add dps, they get a 10% melee speed boost (although it comes late in character levels), and they have additional built in healing and defenses. What you get is a solid second tier DPS character that can constantly spam out healing or buffs with no resource expenditure.

While it looks similar to my Phoenix Champion build there are some key differences. That build was focused on healing amplification as where this one is more focused on healing others. This build really narrows in on longswords while the other has 3 distinct "modes" each with some specilization. Finally the Phoenix Champion was built to be an intim tank in one of its modes as where this build has no agro control or AC stance. This build also has support for more mana and longer buffs so that it can better aid the party rather than simply buffing and healing itself.


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

Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Female
(2 Fighter \ 15 Paladin \ 3 Monk)
Hit Points: 321
Spell Points: 377
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 22
Reflex: 17
Will: 16

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 15 23
Dexterity 16 19
Constitution 12 14
Intelligence 8 10
Wisdom 14 17
Charisma 14 17

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 7 13.5
Bluff 2 3
Concentration 5 26
Diplomacy 2 3
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 2 3
Heal 2 3
Hide 3 4
Intimidate 2 3
Jump 6 14
Listen 2 5
Move Silently 3 4
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair -1 0
Search -1 2
Spot 2 5
Swim 2 6
Tumble n/a n/a
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage I


Level 2 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 4 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Paladin Devotion I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I


Level 5 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I


Level 6 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: Whirling Steel
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 7 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Paladin Devotion II
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar I


Level 8 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might I


Level 9 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice I


Level 10 (Fighter)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty


Level 11 (Fighter)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage II


Level 12 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil III


Level 13 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 14 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Devotion III
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II


Level 15 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might II


Level 16 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar II


Level 17 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice II
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice II


Level 18 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil IV


Level 19 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite III


Level 20 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands III
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I





Play
I can say from experience this is a hot bar intensive character. You really want to have your smite and divine sacrifice on there, as well as your ki moves and finishers and various backup healing spells/powers/items. If you are not using your ki moves you are wasting a good part of what they build is designed to do.

Variations
You could run with lower wisdom and str to make a 28pt version or you could lower wisdom to raise str or offset the need for tomes. The only tome really required is a +1 dex tome by level 10, but I used the supreme +2 tome at 7 since thats more or less my standard for a non-basic build these days.

[maddmatt70]

The obvious question is why 16 paladin? I would go with 14 paladin or 18 paladin. A 14 paladin 6 monk is an interesting class spread for instance.

[sigtrent]

The obvious question is why 16 paladin? I would go with 14 paladin or 18 paladin. A 14 paladin 6 monk is an interesting class spread for instance.

It's what I had left over after Monk 3/fighter 1...
One of those cases where you get into a mode of thinking and it leads to certain choices. I was mostly making a paladin with a splash of monk primarily for healing Ki.
Paladin 15 is decent, an extra smite and a second 4th level spell (virtue & holy sword/cure serious)

16 isn't so exciting... I suppose I just figured a bit more mana and no down side and I didn't have another feat in mind for fighter 2 and enhancements were tight and the next str bump is an odd number.

I don't have a really good case against Monk 6 but the above are how I came to Paladin 16.

[cforce]

I didn't have another feat in mind for fighter 2 ...


Power Attack?

[sigtrent]

Power Attack?

Oh my.... bad sig... not sure how I missed that but its a doozy isn't it?

Time to adjust build...

Thanks for the catch!

[unbongwah]

A few random comments:

I think I would go STR 16 WIS 12: this isn't really an AC build AFAICT and STR 16 + 5 lvl-ups + 1 ftr + 2 tome = 24 unbuffed; while WIS 12 + 2 tome is enough for lvl 4 spells.

You don't appear to have a feat at lvl 6.

I would probably take ftr 1 at lvl 8 to pick up ITWF sooner.

Debating whether human or elf works better: elf would have higher DEX & DPS; human would have more HPs, +1 STR, 1 more feat, and perhaps most importantly better self-heals (30% amp). I think I'm leaning human: since this isn't really a high-AC or max-DPS build, I would want the extra healing amp for better survivability.

[sigtrent]

I think I would go STR 16 WIS 12: this isn't really an AC build AFAICT and STR 16 + 5 lvl-ups + 1 ftr + 2 tome = 24 unbuffed; while WIS 12 + 2 tome is enough for lvl 4 spells.

A good suggestion, it's not a big difference so either can work out well.


You don't appear to have a feat at lvl 6.

Fixed, thanks. Thats where whirling steel goes which is not in the character planner, forgot to add it in when I corrected for the missing power attack feat.


Debating whether human or elf works better: elf would have higher DEX & DPS; human would have more HPs, +1 STR, 1 more feat, and perhaps most importantly better self-heals (30% amp). I think I'm leaning human: since this isn't really a high-AC or max-DPS build, I would want the extra healing amp for better survivability.

They both work. My idea on this one was to focus on long sword. I have a healing amp build which is human and similar in many ways. Its really a joy to play. After getting some new dragon touched armor I went out to the battlegrounds and just strolled around killing things using nothing but healing curse and healing ki to heal myself and was able to just keep killing pretty much indefinitely at full hit points. Those rock things with the symbols where you sit and waste time? Who needs em? Potions, wands? Why waste your gold? :P And I still haven't maxed out the healing amp yet. Good times!

[Harloki]

Hey Siegfried,
I like the idea of the build a lot. But since I have never played a Monk I have to ask a more or less noob-question: what basic-equipment other than the longswords would you have in mind for the build? Would you wear heavy armor for better AC but suffer not being centered as a consequence (don't even know if the healing curse would work then) or would you rather wear robes/cloth armor? Also I'm guessing you would be looking for some healing amp equipment, right?!? (as far as I know it should stack with the enhancements...) Hope these questions are not too much of an annoyance; and thanks in advance for answering... :)

[unbongwah]

If you're uncentered, you can't use most of your monk abilities, including FoL / healing ki finisher. So, yeah, this is another pajama fighter. :D

[Arlathen]

Interesting Build, Sig... there's a fair bit that i would do differently though.

Oh and a quick note, Paladin Zeal spell got changed to a doublestrike bonus, and is no longer a melee alacrity bonus.

Which brings me on to my suggested Class split: Paladin 14 / Monk 6

With Wind Stance 2, thats a +10% Enhancement Bonus to attack speed, so non-hasted you'll be attacking as fast as the old Tempest 6 abuse builds. The 5% Insight bonus to Double strike will(should) stack with the sacred Zeal bonus of 10% double strike, for a total 15% Double strike.

I think currently this is the highest Doublestrike bonus available in game, and with the power that a Paladin 14 can put into Smites / Divine sacrifice that 15% chance to DS a Smite looks really good on paper.

Healing amplification is an important part of such a build - Going Elf and Knight of the Chalice would limit you in this regard, but Human and Hunter of the Dead would open up this avenue greatly.

I would also personally suggest HotD 2 over KotC 2. The additional 20% Healing Amp, Immunity to Negative Energy, Ghost Touch on all weapons, even using Remove Disease as Restores are very useful utility.

Secondly, as mentioned both Elf and Human can also work. My preference is for Elf, for the additional Elf bonus to Longsword attacks, and I usually find a way to squeeze in the Elf Least and Lesser Dragonmarks as a self cast Displacement is so very handy. Many times its been pointed out to me that Shroud clickies serve just as well, but personal experience is that you can't beat 10 or even 12 minutes worth of Displacement for the cost of two feats where you have them spare.

Lastly, Feat wise:

1 - WF: Slash
2 - Whirling Steel Strike
3 - ITWF
4 - GTWF
5 - Improved Critical: Slash
6 - Extend
7 - Empower Heal or Maximise

Human - 2nd Toughness or SF: UMD

Monk 1 - TWF
Monk 2 - Toughness
Monk 3 - Power Attack

32pt Human Build Starting Stats

Str: 14
Dex: 15
Con: 14
Int: 8
Wis: 14
Cha: 14

This is debatable, but the build is very MAD to the point of obscenity - Str 16 is quite prohibitive and would require dropping Wis/Cha realistically


... hope that gives you some ideas.

[Deified]

14 Pal/6 Mnk and 14 Pal/6 Rng would give similar benefits in terms of attack speed.