The Basic Paladin Build Guide v1.2

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

This is an updated version of the Paladin Build Guide. I have edited, reorganized, and reposted this, thus superseding the previous version.

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1/14/08 - Added Dragonmark Information for all races to Post #2
1/14/08 - LOTS of Updates throughout the entire guide. All new material is in Yellow.


Table of Contents:

Post #1 – “Introduction to the DDO Paladin”,

Post #2 - “What Race Should I Choose for my Paladin?”

Post #3 – “Ok, So What Race Should I Choose?”

Post #4 - “Important ‘Break Points’ for Feats/Enhancements for Paladin Multi-Classing”

Post #5 - "Items and Equipment of interest to most Paladins?".

Post #6 – “The Paladin DPS Discussion” – A serious look at Paladin DPS vs. Fighter DPS

Post #7 - Basic Pure 14 Paladin Template, with translation information for all 6 races.

Post #8 - Paladin/Fighter Hybrids, including "Intimitanks" and "Max-AC" builds.

Post #9 – DPS Focus

Post #10 - The "Basic Human Evasion Paladin" with conversions to other races

Post #11 – The Evasion Paladin + Rogue Skills.

Post #12 - Level-20 build-out speculation for the builds.

Post #13 – Some “other” Paladin-ish builds I have created. A.K.A. Builds that splash a little Paladin, but probably shouldn’t be included in a “Paladin Build Guide”, but I’m going to do it anyways.

Post #14 – Other contributed builds that I have not personally tested

Post #15 - Paladin AC Discussion

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IMPORTANT NOTE: REMEMBER THAT IN ORDER TO TAKE PALADIN LEVELS, YOU *MUST* BE LAWFUL GOOD. While it is not stated on each of the builds, remember that any build that does not start with Paladin *MUST* be Lawful Good, otherwise you will not be able to take any Paladin Levels

What is a Paladin in DDO?

While many may be familiar with the PnP Paladin, the DDO Paladin is a bit of a different beast. DDO Paladins are, usually, front-line melee characters, with limited spellcasting for buffs, healing wand usage, and Lay on Hands for Emergency Healing. Paladins, in general, will have a higher “standing, unbuffed, unstanced” AC than most other classes, but fully buffed and stanced, the Fighter will usually surpass the Paladin in AC, but the Paladin will still have a respectable AC on his own.

The Paladin’s Aura is beneficial to the entire party, including himself, providing bonuses to AC, All Saves, and vs. Fear, and possibly even to boost Concentration. Think of the Paladin as a front-line fighter than can self-heal, cast most of his own buffs, and use Lay on Hands for Emergency burst healing to save himself or someone else in the party.

The Paladin won’t usually be the top of the kills list, but he can be, but they make very good melee fighter-types, and their versatility in spellcasting and wand/scroll usage makes them a boon to every party.


Think of the Paladin as a Melee Fighter, not bound by Alignment Restrictions, as in PnP, with no mount.

On the DPS / AC / Saves Chart, here is how an average Paladin matches up against average Fighters & Barbarians (There are always exceptions, but this is the "Average")

DPS:
#1 - Barbarian
#2 - Fighter
#3 - Paladin (and just barely behind the Fighter)

AC:
#1 - Fighter
#2 - Paladin
#3 - Barbarian (a VERY distant 3rd)

Saves:
#1 - Paladin
#2 - Fighter
#3 - Barbarian (Will surpass Fighter on Will Saves when raging)

So with the Paladin, you are getting a balanced, all-around melee type, with self wand-healing ability, some of the best saves in the game, respectable DPS, and good AC.