A diary of a Gimpy Pally

[DoctorWhofan]

http://my.ddo.com/character/thelanis/sousake/

THere he is, in all his gimpy glory. He is the second oldest character I have, dating from May 2006. BUT, he managed to avoid being re-rolled (rather well, nearly killing Velah at level 12 on his own due to therest of the party being dead except for a cleric).

I even Rp'd in my head why he was so gimpy. Self justifcation, really, but I do regret erasing my first character, a pally named Roselyn. But she was worse than Sousake. He was my fourth character I ever rolled up. Kleo, my 28 pt. sorc is my second rolled toon (and not being TRUrez. She isn't broke, just 28pt build) and Trissa is number 5.

He is slated for TRUrez. If I can get him to 20.

You see, he cannot solo anything, and I feel incredibly guilty having him in a party. Outside being most likely being the last one dead, and a great emergacy party-wiper-stopper, he brings nothing to the party but my winning personality (and even that is questionable).

SO I have two requests for my poor, poor abused server:

1. I need to get him to 20. He is flagged for Reaver and the Shroud, and willing to drag him in anything. He has some really nice weapons. Longswords, but really nice ones. I can try to help out as much as possible.

...and...

2. How should I roll him up? I do have some critria. As mentioned, I have niiice Longswords. I have zero Khopeshes. Every elf I have have taken all my good scimitars. THat's another Pally, melee FvS, and my Clogue, among others. SO Longswords it is.

I would love to have the uber saving power. His saves were nice, but I don't think it needed to be THAT nice. Also, having that UMD helped alot. Like to keep that on the his second time through.

I'd like him to have KotC. I want him to HIT and do some damage. I am horrid with AC builds so let's go this way. Yes. yes, the damage won't be khopesh uber. But I'd like to do some kind of damage.

He has to stay human.

Please make my WIS at least a 10


HE HAS WAITING FOR HIM: +6 WIS, proof against Poison goggles (tier 2 shroud,) and has swallowed the following tomes:

+1 STR
+1 DEX
+1 CON
+1 WIS
+2 CHA

I currently have no +2 STR or CON tomes, but several DEX ones.

SO any assistance would be great. Insults, not so much, but I am sure you guys will hand them out too.

[Newtons_Apple]

This does not bode well. I'm in the same boat with my Paladin, and I need pretty much the same type of help. I wish you good luck, Thelanistian...

[DoctorWhofan]

yay! not the only badly designed pally inthe game! I feel so much better!

[QuantumFX]

First, I’ve seen worse characters.

Second, why are you going to do a True Reincarnation? If it’s just to fix some problems then I have it on good authority that Greater Reincarnation is coming this week.

How much favor have you gotten on the character? You can get a lot of XP by going back and cleaning up favor on level 11+ quests and high level explorer areas. If you’re willing to be a level 18 character for a while you can bank level 19 and pretty much jump from 18 to 20. This has the advantage of making you eligible for level 16 groups and level 20 groups.

Edit: You can also play the extortion card with your guild. I’m sorry guys… but until poor Sousake is capped I can’t play my clerics…

[DoctorWhofan]

First, I’ve seen worse characters.

Second, why are you going to do a True Reincarnation? If it’s just to fix some problems then I have it on good authority that Greater Reincarnation is coming this week.

How much favor have you gotten on the character? You can get a lot of XP by going back and cleaning up favor on level 11+ quests and high level explorer areas. If you’re willing to be a level 18 character for a while you can bank level 19 and pretty much jump from 18 to 20. This has the advantage of making you eligible for level 16 groups and level 20 groups.

1750 favour. I have a toon with 2500 favour that isn't gunna betouched so It's ok. Like I said, he is a character that deserves better. Luckily I caught his STR mistake around level 10 and been putting abilty points into STR ever since

[QuantumFX]

1750 favour. I have a toon with 2500 favour that isn't gunna betouched so It's ok. Like I said, he is a character that deserves better. Luckily I caught his STR mistake around level 10 and been putting abilty points into STR ever since

I would try cleaning up your desert favor and go from there. A lot of the older quests tend to generate better XP than the Shavarath quests. And as a 28 pt build you can generally get to cap pretty quick.

Also finish your Explorers in Gianthold, the Orchard, the Vale, the Refuge and Shavarath.

How are your enhancements specced? With a 29 CHA you should have a fairly nasty Exalted Smite available.

Another question: Reading back trough your OP it sounds like you started the character with a 15 DEX. Is this correct?

Also, I wouldn’t worry about what weapons you have to “Give” your paladin. Paladins can make the single best weapon of their choice via the Holy Sword spell!

[Orratti]

Just stopped in to say I remember Roselyn. I see your posts all the time but until now never knew who any of your characters were. That is all, not much help I know.

[DoctorWhofan]

Just stopped in to say I remember Roselyn. I see your posts all the time but until now never knew who any of your characters were. That is all, not much help I know.

What? that horrid TWF Pally? She is now my second best cleric. Flagged for the Shroud at level 14

[DoctorWhofan]

I would try cleaning up your desert favor and go from there. A lot of the older quests tend to generate better XP than the Shavarath quests. And as a 28 pt build you can generally get to cap pretty quick.

Also finish your Explorers in Gianthold, the Orchard, the Vale, the Refuge and Shavarath.

How are your enhancements specced? With a 29 CHA you should have a fairly nasty Exalted Smite available.

Another question: Reading back trough your OP it sounds like you started the character with a 15 DEX. Is this correct?

Also, I wouldn’t worry about what weapons you have to “Give” your paladin. Paladins can make the single best weapon of their choice via the Holy Sword spell!

pally armour boost I
Human Adapt. STR
Human Versitality I
Aura of Courage I
Bulkwark of Good II
Focus of Good I
Resistance of Good II
Divine Sacrifice I
Exalted Smite I
LoH III
Extra Smite III
Defender of Siberys II
Paladin Redemption I
Racial Toughness II
Devoution II
CHA III
Pally Toughness III
Divine Might II

with three action points left over. probably for exalted smite.
Started with 9 DEX. have a +1 tome and +6 gloves. may have my Haste gloves on for MY DDO.

[Seelowe]

concerning #2: do you want him pure or do you want an evasion splash?

[Roland_D'Arabel]

Here's a link to a great thread with some additional links to pally builds.

Junts' Pally Thread

[QuantumFX]

OK. I think I have a few ideas for you then.

Ask yourself if a Greater Reincarnation could solve the issues you’re having. The paladin past life feats aren’t worth True Reincarnating over. And you should weigh the benefits of each:

Greater Reincarnation:
Benefits: Adds 4 build points over the current character. You retain XP, Favor and flagging status. Tomes might be applied at an earlier level than initally used. With a +3 you could also splash Monk levels.
Drawbacks: 2 build points less than True Reincarnation

True Reincarnation:
Benefits: 2 build points over Greater Reincarnation, 5% Healing Amp. You could also go to another class for the 34 point build and return as a 36pt paladin. (I plan on reincarnating my drow ranger as a paladin so he can get the Warrior of the Wild past life feat.)
Drawbacks: Lose all tomes, Must re level on a higher XP table.

As for gear… If you keep the Defender of Syberys PrE you could get these items pretty quickly:

Get some Dragontouched Full Plate. It will generate XP for you and you will get more AC from an unupgraded suit. (Mithril FP is considered Medium armor which isn’t helped as much by the Defender of Syberys PrE.) Any useful enchantments are icing.

At level 18 you could ditch your Prot +5 Necklace and just hit yourself with the DoS Mass Shield of Faith buff.

Work your butt off to get a DoS belt. While your HP total isn’t abysmal you still have the ability to get at least 55 more. (Greater False Life and a Tier III GS item)

For a one handed weapon I would holy sword a scimitar when you log in. (You can still use Longswords for specialty weapons though) The higher threat range is a lot nicer on an exalted smite or divine sacrifice. Khopesh would be nicer but you can save that for a reincarnation decision later. (Holy sword is just THAT awesome for a paladin. You come pre equipped with the most awesome non greensteel weapon!)

[DoctorWhofan]

concerning #2: do you want him pure or do you want an evasion splash?

Pure please.

OK. I think I have a few ideas for you then.

Ask yourself if a Greater Reincarnation could solve the issues you’re having. The paladin past life feats aren’t worth True Reincarnating over. And you should weigh the benefits of each:

Greater Reincarnation:
Benefits: Adds 4 build points over the current character. You retain XP, Favor and flagging status. Tomes might be applied at an earlier level than initally used. With a +3 you could also splash Monk levels.
Drawbacks: 2 build points less than True Reincarnation

True Reincarnation:
Benefits: 2 build points over Greater Reincarnation, 5% Healing Amp. You could also go to another class for the 34 point build and return as a 36pt paladin. (I plan on reincarnating my drow ranger as a paladin so he can get the Warrior of the Wild past life feat.)
Drawbacks: Lose all tomes, Must re level on a higher XP table.

As for gear… If you keep the Defender of Syberys PrE you could get these items pretty quickly:

Get some Dragontouched Full Plate. It will generate XP for you and you will get more AC from an unupgraded suit. (Mithril FP is considered Medium armor which isn’t helped as much by the Defender of Syberys PrE.) Any useful enchantments are icing.

At level 18 you could ditch your Prot +5 Necklace and just hit yourself with the DoS Mass Shield of Faith buff.

Work your butt off to get a DoS belt. While your HP total isn’t abysmal you still have the ability to get at least 55 more. (Greater False Life and a Tier III GS item)

For a one handed weapon I would holy sword a scimitar when you log in. (You can still use Longswords for specialty weapons though) The higher threat range is a lot nicer on an exalted smite or divine sacrifice. Khopesh would be nicer but you can save that for a reincarnation decision later. (Holy sword is just THAT awesome for a paladin. You come pre equipped with the most awesome non greensteel weapon!)

I have holy sword spell. I trade it off with deathward. Or in the shroud, powing up energy cells.

I want DPS KotC. AC is junk at high level. DOn't have any Khopeshes and all my good scimitars are tied up with other toons.

So TRUrez would only give me 2 more abilty points than Greater? Hmmmm... At that point, what good would 2 more points give me? higher WIS?

[Seelowe]

ok, so here is a quick go at what I understood you wanted to do with this guy:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.32
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Doctor Who
Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Paladin) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 275 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 23
Reflex: 18
Will: 15

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

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               3                    13
Bluff                 3                     6
Concentration         2                     2
Diplomacy             3                     6
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                     6
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  2                     3
Intimidate            3                     6
Jump                  2                     6
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         2                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                    -1
Spot                  0                     0
Swim                  2                     5
Tumble                3                     4
Use Magic Device      5                    17

Level 1 (Paladin)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Paladin)


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh


Level 4 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Paladin)


Level 6 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 7 (Paladin)


Level 8 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Paladin)


Level 11 (Paladin)


Level 12 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 13 (Paladin)


Level 14 (Paladin)


Level 15 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: CHA


Level 17 (Paladin)


Level 18 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell


Level 19 (Paladin)


Level 20 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Paladin Weapons of Good
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Charisma I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance 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 Extra Lay on Hands I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands II
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 Charisma II
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

short elaboration:
tome use:
you mentioned you had several +2 dex tomes, so I took one for granted at lvl 7.
this build uses a +3 charisma tome at 18 to get acces to DMIV, which is tricky either way on a human. if you don't get a +3 while grinding reavers, shrouds, vods, hounds etc until you reach lvl 18, you can still get DMIV by putting the last ability raise into Cha and using a +2 cha tome (any self respecting paladin should have a Cha+2 tome planned into a build at the latest when hitting 1750 favor).
as to why we are levelling up cha, instead of str on a dps paladin:
+2 increase in strength = +1 dmg.
+2 increase in cha = DMIV = +2 dmg compared to DM III.


attention: what tomes he has swallowed in his 1st life doesn't matter, since everything gets reset. quest completions reset too btw, so if you are close to a couple of 20s you might want to get those in first^^.


I left Wisom at 10 by request, though you could really drop it to 8. 8+6 = 14, which is all you need to cast 4th level spells, which is as high as it gets. if you are frustrated having 2 spell points when you first get them you can use house owl's wisdom early on and I am sure you have wisdom items laying around since this is a TR. equipping a power item before shrines just to buff after shrining also solves lots of issues early on.

you mentioned you have a whole bunch of longswords laying around. well, if you chose to go with those for say smiters or paralyzers or whatnot sure, that is your decision, you know the consequences and all but there is no reason not to take the khopesh feat and use holy khopeshes once you get the spell for raids, or simply when you feel like having the extra damage.

extend was taken to make it easier on you to keep the 2-3 short term self buffs going through quests. it helps. it is not build breaking if you want something else but it makes it easier.

some feats were taken sooner than would make sense but it was necessary due to unavailability of others at that level, due to prerequisities.

so the build ends up with full divine sacrifices, almost full exalted smites, full knight of the chalice, weapons of God and DM IV, dual wielding. that is top notch dps for most of the endgame raids/evil outsiders. obviously it is more clicking-intense but if you just want to target things with autoattack on, paldins are the wrong class for you
if you really get into grinding and get an epic khaosblade or 2... it will be what dreams are made of

no APs into things like bulwark of good etc, since it won't matter if he has 30 or 35 AC either way.

as for the skills, obviously you wanted UMD and that has full ranks for a non-class skill. many ppl take balance if they have the extra skill available. Human allows you to get one for free each lvl. if you want to put more points into jump or whatever else, your call but spending time on your feet instead of on your back, will produce more dps than something you can get on a clickie like jump

follower of the sovereign host has a great active ability coming up with unyielding sovereignity and you need a 2nd tier like that for KotC either way but it will also help with your longswords.


anyway, tis late I am sure I am missing something but this is what I came up with on the fly.

[QuantumFX]

I have holy sword spell. I trade it off with deathward. Or in the shroud, powing up energy cells.

I want DPS KotC. AC is junk at high level. Don't have any Khopeshes and all my good scimitars are tied up with other toons.

That’s what I’m sayin. Send over all the specialty longswords for vorpalling, wounding, etc. But, make a Holy Sword version of a scimitar for DPSing. (Scimitars and Longswords are both slashing weapons.) Unlike a fighter, paladins aren’t bound to a specific weapon.

For KotC I would go with a Falchion for the short term. While the damage is pretty good you’ll really want to

As for AC… Well, it’s something that you have to gear for… (I’m going to stop there before I go into a rant about how ******** the Dragontouched lottery is.) Anyway, KotC means smites… More smites (Extra Smite Evil), More powerful Smites (Exalted Smite), smites for when you can’t smite (Divine Sacrifice) and stuff to augment your smites (KotC and Weapons of Good). So Bulwark is a tight fit.

So TRUrez would only give me 2 more abilty points than Greater? Hmmmm... At that point, what good would 2 more points give me? higher WIS?

Depends. You want a decent STR score to hit stuff. If your a TWF character you want at least a 15 DEX. You want some CON score but you don’t need to go nuts there. WIS is strictly for casting. And you want enough Base + Tome CHA to pick up Divine Might and fuel it with turn attempts (IMHO 16 Base CHA is the sweet spot).

[DoctorWhofan]

Hmmm... much to think about. To GR or not to GR that is the question.

I haven't put anybody through the reincarnation cycle of any type.

Trissa is auto excluded cuz she is a Drow, and therefore has nothing to gain outside fixing some skill points, and I am NOT TRUrezzing her. She also holds my highest favour.

Kleo, my 18 sorc, is going to do the GR, simply to put her from 28 pt. to 32 pt. And not losing my +3 CHA tome giving to her by Java (Tygre) on a Reaver Raid. Nothing wrong with her also.

Sousake, I wished to be more functional. Right now, he's kinda a dead wieght. True, at his level, you either hit or not, but he doesn't hit for MUCH. I went out in the desert and GH last night, his highest smite was 269, with buffs. I know he will not be on par with the Ranger DPS, or Rogue's single DPS damage, or even a Barb's THF damage...But I wish him to be far more functional than he is now.

BTW: thanks Seelowe and Quantum for some guidance. Still mulling.

[Kriogen]

...
Sousake, I wished to be more functional. Right now, he's kinda a dead wieght. True, at his level, you either hit or not, but he doesn't hit for MUCH.

Take a "great" longsword or two longswords.

You have two options for damage. TWF or a big 2hander.

If you can't have Dex 17 (natural+tomes), then go greataxe, greatsword or falcion (all slash), THF feats, Power Attack, Divine Favor, Divine Might (use your Charisma Doc) and Human Versality (+5 damage part). Then add Smites, Sacrifice.

If you can have Dex 17, do the same, but with two 1handed weapons and TWF feats.

Anyway, a big two-hander or two one-handers plus Power Attack, Divine Favor, Divine Might and Humans action boost. This adds to alot of unconditional per hit damage.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

yay! not the only badly designed pally inthe game! I feel so much better!

No.....you're not.

http://my.ddo.com/character/thelanis/tsunamikhan/

[Razic-Thule]

From what it sounds like you REALLY want out of Sousake you just need a Greater Reincarnate for. He will no longer be a dead weight and should be a much functioning member of society. I would go with TWF since you want KoTC and DPS. But then again i would rather see Roselyn as a paladin then a cleric. Then i would have someone stealing Silvymori's insta kills all the time. hehe

[DoctorWhofan]

From what it sounds like you REALLY want out of Sousake you just need a Greater Reincarnate for. He will no longer be a dead weight and should be a much functioning member of society. I would go with TWF since you want KoTC and DPS. But then again i would rather see Roselyn as a paladin then a cleric. Then i would have someone stealing Silvymori's insta kills all the time. hehe

THat's because Silvy is a gimp. Leave my generalist clerics alone! Or no heals for you!


ANd...get your arse in the game...I need someone to torment in the guild!