High AC/Saves Drow Build?

[yevintrint]

Hey guys.

I'm coming off of playing a rogue, and having just unlocked Drow. I'm looking for a build that will give me a drow paladin with high AC, good saves. I want to be the last one standing finishing off the boss if the rest of the group fails. I've done a bit of reading around the forums today and it seems that a lot of the Drow builds are TWF offensive. Coming off of a rogue, I'd like to stay away from the TWF offensive feel. I figured sword and board, but I'd like to either do OK DPS with sword and board, or have an option to switch out the shield to do better DPS for times when I'm not getting hit much anyways.

Basically, drow paladin with high defense, and a dps option.

Couple notes: I have low access to tomes. I have only 28 pt builds and drow as options. I'm open to non-drow 28 pt builds too, but I'd like to use my shiny new drow.

Any build ideas?

Thanks!

[William_the_Bat]

Well, the defender of siberys paladins can end up with some pretty crazy AC going sword and board, thanks to the enhancements and defensive stance. A lot of them carry around a two-handed weapon for when DPS is called for, but in the first 10 levels or so, that will be rare.

If you are looking for ultimate AC, I'm sure some flavor of monk or monk splash on a dex based character is going to be it. But if you want a solid AC and strength based damage, a paladin will get it done, and give you some fun toys to play with (smites, lay on hands, etc)

I'd go drow with 16 in str and cha, and maybe 12 int so you can eventually get combat expertise (it's not very useful at low levels, at high levels you'll have the cash to pick up a +1 int tome in the AH) The other points spread around wis, con, and dex. You will not need more than 12 dex, I'd probably do no more than 12 wis, maybe 10. A lot of people say 8 wis, but then at level 4 it's nearly impossible to cast your paladin spells, and you'll appreciate the extra SP from higher wis later on.

For that extra bit of oomph, I'd go with khopesh over rapiers, even though you are drow. It costs a feat, but without the TWF line you'll have a spare, and you'll save the AP from the rapier enhancements, which a paladin is notoriously short on. You'll love the damage you get in a critical hit with exalted smite.

Feats: khopesh, toughness, tower shield, improved crit, power attack, combat expertise, extend spell. The last three can be rearranged in order, I'd keep the others the way they are.

Skills I'd take use magic device, intimidate, and concentration if you went 12 int. The first two are invaluable, the last because you'll be rebuffing in combat a lot as a paladin's best buffs are short duration (divine favor, angelskin, and zeal)

I have a similar build at level 18 (no combat expertise, different skills, if I were rerolling I'd do it as described above) and his usual playstyle is to either dash over to the enemy casters and clerics (preferably slightly away from most of the party) and smite them and relying on my saves and AC (not to mention the emergency lay on hands) to keep me alive while I eliminate the nasty threats, or going defensive stance and hate-tanking the biggest bad guy.