"New" Player Build Help

[Jokubas]

I got this game when it came out, got to level five, and stopped playing until recently. I just hit level six, and have no idea what I want to do or what I should do for my character.

My playstyle:
I do a lot of soloing because I pretty much only group when my friends are on. I don't consider myself that great at resource management, so I prefer passive things.

My current build:
Keep in mind, I started this build when I knew even less about the game than I do now (which isn't much), and a lot of it was based on a roleplaying concept. I recall having a long-term plan, I just don't remember what it was.

The Truthbringer description is probably what I want to lean toward, but those pages really don't help me too much. I need to know the "whys" of build decisions as well as the "whats."

My stats (unbuffed):
STR 14
DEX 10
CON 12
INT 12
WIS 14
CHA 15

My skills:
Concentration (Do my spells need this?)
Diplomacy (Is this even worth taking? The description sounds really narrow.)
Heal
Repair

My feats:
Bastard Sword Proficiency
Iron Will (I originally built this guy to be a strong-willed character-type.)
Toughness

My enhancements:
I just reset these, because I really did not know what I was doing with them, and there was some that I had that I really didn't want. Does the one that adds more AC to the aura stack with other effects?

[Jokubas]

Since lesser reincarnation is finally coming, I'm interested in this discussion again. Rather than make a new thread, I'll just bump my old post.

And speaking of lesser reincarnation, where might I get the wood when it's available?

[AylinIsAwesome]

I'm a little hesitant to jump in and give advice... Since the first post is three months old, and I'm not sure if you got advice from some other place.

If you're just asking about the wood for Lesser Reincarnate... I'd say it'd probably be similar to True Reincarnation now; the wood's in the DDO store, and you can find it in Epic quests. I don't know of any other places to get it.

[Jokubas]

I pretty much haven't played this character since I made the first post, because of the build issues I was having.

I think I may have redone enhancements, but that's more or less irrelevant since I still plan on redoing everything if I get the chance.

[AylinIsAwesome]

Alright, first of all:


The only reason the "Paths" exist is to be as abysmally bas as possible. I've yet to see one that I would have ever considered "good". The closest one has come to is the Ranger Tempest one (but I would argue that that's 100% to do with how difficult it is to screw up a Tempest). So don't use a path. They're just awful.


Second: Stats.

You have this:

STR 14
DEX 10
CON 12
INT 12
WIS 14
CHA 15

You should have this:

STR 16
DEX 8
CON 13
INT 8
WIS 8
CHA 17

Why:

STR: Affects your to-hit and damage. You want this as high as possible
DEX: A dumpstat if you're not doing TWF (which you shouldn't on a Paladin unless you have 32-point builds)
CON: More HP is good
INT: 8 INT (on a human) gives you two skill points per level, which is all you need for UMD and Balance (and a little tumble).
WIS: Since all you need to cast spells with 8 WIS is a +6 WIS item...there's no need to have it higher than 8. It'll hurt around levels 4-9, but after that when you start getting +4, +5 and +6 WIS items you won't notice a difference. Also when you get 75 House P favor you can have them cast Owl's Wisdom on you for 30 minutes (it's WIS +4) for a small price of 300 gp.
CHA: It's your highest stat so you can hit Divine Might 4 at level 20 when you find a +3 tome here (it'll be a grind for a bit, but it's +8 damage on every swing so it's worth it).

Feats you should have: Toughness, Two Handed Fighting, Improved Two Handed Fighting, Greater Two Handed Fighting, Power Attack, Extend, Improved Critical: Slashing and Skill Focus: UMD.

Why:

Toughness: +22 HP, and opens up enhancements, so you can spend 6 APs for +40 more HP.
THF/ITHF/GTHF: These increase the damage on your glancing blows, and increase their to-hit.
Power Attack: +10 damage and -5 to-hit. Since to-hit isn't an issue in most quests, the extra damage is just awesome.
Extend: In order to maximize your damage there are 5 things that you need to do: Zeal (+10% stacking Attack Speed), Divine Favor (+3 to-hit and damage), Divine Might 4 (+8 damage for 1 minute), Exalted Smite 4 (+67 damage at level 20, increases critical multiplier and threat range by 2 each), Divine Sacrifice 3 (Adds 9d6 Light damage to your next attack and increases your critical multiplier by one [but costs you 5 HP and 1 SP]). Extend will help you keep Zeal and Divine Favor up, since you said you don't like to manage clickies. Also it'll help with Angel Skin and Resist Energy (two spells which will help you with soloing).
Improved Critical: Slashing: Significantly increases your damage, and it stacks with the threat range increase from Exalted Smite 4.
Skill Focus: UMD: You have an extra feat from being Human, so it makes sense to put it towards the best skill in the game.

Skills you should train: Balance and UMD (11 ranks each) and Tumble (1 rank)

Why:

Balance: If you're on your back you'll die quickly. The higher your Balance is, the better.
UMD: This is the most powerfully broken skill in the game. With this skill you can use Raise Dead scrolls and Heal scrolls (two really good spells that will help you out in both soloing and in a group) and for convience Teleport scrolls.
Tumble: You only need one point in this to tumble, so that's all you train. You won't be able to tumble until you find a +DEX and Tumbling item though.


For enhancements, you should definitely plan to be a Knight of the Chalice (since that gives the best damage out of the three, and going Defender really requires a 32-point build since you can't use INT or DEX as dump stats...and Hunter of the Dead just plain doesn't do anything useful). You'll need Courage of Good 2, Energy of the Templar 2, Unyielding Sovereignty (it's better than Silver Flame Exorcism), Racial Toughness 2, Paladin Toughness 2, Extra Smite 4, Exalted Smite 4, Divine Sacrifice 3, Divine Might 4, Extra Lay on Hands 3, Paladin Charisma 1, Human Adaptability 1 (For Strength), Weapons of Good and Human Improved Recovery 2.

Why: There are too many to go into, but most of those are pre-reqs for Knight of the Chalice (this damage works on both undead and evil outsiders by the way - it's an extra 4d6 on every swing that connects) and the rest are just good ones to have (Like extra Lay on Hands or Human Improved Recovery).

Don't train Paladin Devotion or Heal (Heal is a worthless skill anyway) or any of the other Paladin skills.

Why: You won't be using Cure spells most of the time (so those enhancements are pretty much useless to you) and the skills aren't necessary for you to have (you won't be casting in combat, so Concentration isn't important to you).

Spells to memorize in order, and why:

Virtue: +20 HP (at level 10) which can help you stay alive and gives you a buffer to use Divine Sacrifice.
Divine Favor: +3 to-hit and damage (at level 9), which can help you increase your DPS pretty nicely.
Resist Energy: This spell is very godly. When you can first use it, it's 20 resist to the element. At level 11, it's 30.
Angel Skin: You gain Damage Reduction 5/evil (only evil weapons can bypass it). It will help you solo, and most mobs don't use Evil weapons.
Dispel Magic: Get rid of pesky enhancements mobs place on you and your allies.
Cure Moderate Wounds: Mostly to top off your HP out of combat.
Lesser Restoration: Remove ability damage and negative levels, which will help you Clerics/FvS in groups you're in and will help you out when you're solo.
Zeal: +10% Sacred Attack Speed. This stacks with Haste.
Break Enchantment: Upgrade to Dispel Magic.
Remove Paralysis: Not so useful, but no other spell you would get at this level is likely to be useful to you.
Lionheart: Help out your non-twinked low-Will save teammates!
Any level 2 Spell: You already have all the good ones memorized.
Magic Circle Against Evil: Best level 3 spell you've got left. Might as well mem it.
Any level 3 Spell: You already have the good ones memorized.
Restoration: Upgrade to Lesser Restoration.
Deathward: No negative levels and no instant death effects.

Also at level 14 you get the spell Holy Sword. Go into an instance, cast it to get your +5 Silver, Cold Iron, Byeshk Holy Burst weapon, then switch it out for Zeal at a Tavern or Rest Shrine.

Tomes and why:

+2 STR tome: An extra +1 to-hit and damage.
+3 CHA tome: You need this to qualify for Divine Might 4

Gear you should aim for at low levels and why:

Carnifex: This is a named Greataxe from Delera's Tome (end reward). It has a 20% crit rate.
Golden Cartouche: +3 competence bonus to the UMD skill. End reward from Delera's Tome.
Voice of the Master: +5% XP on all quests and +1 luck bonus to all skills. End reward from Delera's Tome.
Visor of the Fleshrender Guards: End reward from the Tangleroot quest chain, this casts Deathward that lasts from 7 minutes.
Planar Gird: You probably won't get this for a while, but it's in a chest in the Xoriat Cipher. (One of the ones in the treasure room, I forget which one). It has a clickie on it for Greater Heroism which lasts 11 minutes (gives you +11 Temporary HP, +4 to all saves and +4 to all skill checks).

Weapon you should be using most of the time and why:

Falchion: Has a 30% crit rate with Improved Critical, and your Exalted Smites and Divine Sacrifices like to crit. (You won't be able to make a Holy Falchion, but you can make a Greatsword, so I'd suggest you do that).


Anything else I can help with?

[Rerednaw]

Has anyone broken this down to a level progression? What to get when? Start with Toughness and THF? Or start with Power Attack?

This build looks interesting and I am going to try it.

With a 32 point build where would you distribute the extra points?

Thanks!

One more thing: can paladins solo? Maybe not as well at custom builds or pure spellcasters...just curious.

[AylinIsAwesome]

Has anyone broken this down to a level progression? What to get when? Start with Toughness and THF? Or start with Power Attack?

This build looks interesting and I am going to try it.

With a 32 point build where would you distribute the extra points?

Thanks!

One more thing: can paladins solo? Maybe not as well at custom builds or pure spellcasters...just curious.

Here you go:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.14
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Paladin) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 246 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 20
Reflex: 11
Will: 11

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength             16                 23                   24
Dexterity             8                  8                    8
Constitution         13                 14                   14
Intelligence          8                  8                    8
Wisdom                8                  8                    8
Charisma             17                 20                   21

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 19
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 19
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 19

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
Balance               0                 10                   10
Bluff                 3                  5                    5
Concentration         1                  2                    2
Diplomacy             3                  5                    5
Disable Device       n/a               n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                  5                    5
Heal                 -1                 -1                   -1
Hide                 -1                 -1                   -1
Intimidate            3                  5                    5
Jump                  3                  6                    6
Listen               -1                 -1                   -1
Move Silently        -1                 -1                   -1
Open Lock            n/a               n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                 -1                   -1
Search               -1                 -1                   -1
Spot                 -1                 -1                   -1
Swim                  3                  6                    6
Tumble                0                  0                    0
Use Magic Device      5                 16                   19

Level 1 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Aura of Good
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Heavy Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Smite Evil
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip


Level 2 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Automatic) Divine Grace
Feat: (Automatic) Lay on Hands


Level 3 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Aura of Courage
Feat: (Automatic) Divine Health
Feat: (Automatic) Fear Immunity


Level 4 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Automatic) Turn Undead
Spell (1): Bless
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Spell (1): Divine Favor
Spell (1): Lesser Restoration
Spell (1): Lionheart
Spell (1): Protection From Evil
Spell (1): Resistance
Spell (1): Seek Eternal Rest
Spell (1): Virtue


Level 5 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 6 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Automatic) Remove Disease


Level 7 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 8 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Spell (2): Angelskin
Spell (2): Bull's Strength
Spell (2): Eagle's Spendor
Spell (2): Owl's Wisdom
Spell (2): Remove Paralysis
Spell (2): Resist Energy


Level 9 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting


Level 10 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 11 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Spell (3): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (3): Dispel Magic
Spell (3): Magic Circle Against Evil
Spell (3): Prayer
Spell (3): Remove Blindness
Spell (3): Remove Curse


Level 12 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 14 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Spell (4): Break Enchantment
Spell (4): Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (4): Deathward
Spell (4): Holy Sword
Spell (4): Neutralize Poison
Spell (4): Restoration
Spell (4): Stalwart Pact
Spell (4): Zeal


Level 15 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting


Level 16 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 17 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 18 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Use Magic Device


Level 19 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 20 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Weapons of Good
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice III
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite II
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite III
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite IV
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands III
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil III
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil IV
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice I
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice II
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar I
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar II
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might III
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might IV

For 32-points, I'd put CON to 14 from the start and pump STR to 17. You won't need a +1 CON tome or a +2 STR tome (a +1 would be acceptable), but you'd get better benefit from a +3 STR tome.


Paladins can solo, and I think it's easier to do it with Paladins than Fighters, Rangers or Barbarians because of the good self-healing, DR, and UMD. Plus your saves will be through the roof.

EDIT: Alternatively with a 32-point human, you could go the TWF route instead, having starting stats of 15/15/14/8/8/16. Put one level-up into CHA, use a +3 tome for Divine Might 4, rest into STR. Also drop SF: UMD for Khopesh Prof. You would need a +2 DEX tome at some point before level 15 in order to get ITWF and GTWF though.

[Gercho]

Just to say that i fully support all that Aylin said, so you know is not just one person that thinks that way.
Definitively Aylin is Awesome

[AylinIsAwesome]

Just to say that i fully support all that Aylin said, so you know is not just one person that thinks that way.
Definitively Aylin is Awesome

Why thank you! :-D

*Beams.*

[Jokubas]

Oh wow.

Thanks a lot. This is really awesome.

[Rerednaw]

Just wanted to add my thanks!

Appreciate it! Pally godliness here I come!

Excelsior!

[Bobbyearl]

Aylin wins at life. That was the best post i have seen in a while.

You should send him some gold or your first born or something. lol

[Ninetoes]

+1 Aylin, who's ever helpful.

One returning player to another, you absolutely need to check out this thread. Happy Paladining!

[AylinIsAwesome]

+1 Aylin, who's ever helpful.

One returning player to another, you absolutely need to check out this thread. Happy Paladining!

Quite true: Junts' thread is actually what caused me to reroll my old Paladin, and it's definitely my favorite class now.

[Chilly76]

Hi There,

As you can see I don't post at all, but just had to for this thread.

I go by Prican on the Orien server and have been following this build. Although I am new to the game I have tried a few starter builds up till about level 8 or 9 with no luck. A fighter, barbarian, tempest ranger, strength based rogue, and combos of the latter. The builds I have tried have not been kind to me. This build by far has given me the most success due to its ease of play and amazing results.

I am still low level and in the new player areas but so far a lot of new players (and some vets) have been asking how I do what I do.

Team leaders I ask for invite tell me "sorry we need good dps" fighter, ranger, or barb not you. When I do get that invite most times cause I tell the leader I can back up heal and such via wands, then its so on. After a few quests I start to get asked by the fighters, and barbs in the group:

"How the hell are you topping me on kills?"
"Wait how are you still alive the whole group is dead?"
"Did you just one shot the end boss?"
"Omg help I am gonna die *poof lay on hands*, whoa I just got healed for 90 hp who did that..."

And my fav so far...

"Stop rushing ahead stay behind Prican our front-liner."

This build is very new player friendly and just a blast to play. Yes I know when it comes to end game the l33t players may have the edge. For learning the game, surviving bad pugs, and hanging in there with vets that are on alts it really gets the job done.

So as you folks say here on this forums..

+1

and thank you AylinIsAwesome

[AylinIsAwesome]

Hehe, topping kill counts on a Paladin isn't that hard. Wait 'till the mob gets lowish then BAM! ...hit it with a Divine Sacrifice or Exalted Smite.

But seriously, I never do that... >_> Ever... <_<


Anyway, I forgot to mention something in my last post of stuff to look for.

In the quest "Relic of a Sovereign Past" (I think that's it's name anyway) you can find 15 pieces Adamantine Ore in the mines. If you collect 10 of them you can trade them in for a Nightforge Gorget which is a necklace with 100% Fortification on it.

It's possibly to just do that part (not the whole quest, which is kinda long and monotonous, also the Drugar Blackguards hit pretty hard towards the end) with a couple of people and some hirelings at level 10. If you have a really good group, then you could probably also finish the quest, which is worth somewhere around 7K XP on normal.


Also thanks for all the thankyous. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[TEcarson]

I busted my Paladin a while ago, so he has been in the garage while I have been running my cleric. I almost deleted him until I found the release notes for Update 3.

He is lvl 7, and his abaility scores are 15/14/11/14/12/15 (also known as a Dog's Breakfast).

I'm gonna follow this build when I reincarnate him this weekend.

+1 rep to Alyin for an excellent string of posts.

Cheers

[AylinIsAwesome]

Glad I could help.

[Gwelfy]

Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Why this? is it needet for opening up something ?
Am i ever gonna use longsword ?

PS, Awesome guide AylinIsAwesome

[AylinIsAwesome]

Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Why this? is it needet for opening up something ?
Am i ever gonna use longsword ?

PS, Awesome guide AylinIsAwesome

Follower of the Sovereign Host is required before you can get Unyielding Sovereignty, which is required for you to get Knight of the Chalice 3.

The only time I ever used a longsword was when I stepped foot into Gianthold while underleveled (level 9) and a +4 Longsword was the only weapon I had that gave me enough to-hit to be able to hit things easily. After I leveled up a couple times though I sold it and just stuck to Rapiers except when I needed to bypass DR.