Help me rebuild?

[Terlan]

Well, back in the days when DDO was a new release I made up a Paladin splash-Rogue aiming for a defensive tank with evasion. I got him to L8 (P5/R3) before being distracted by other alts (and games) and every time I come back to DDO I try figure out how to rebuild him so he’s useful in the latest ruleset. My last try I tried to reincarnate him with vague ideas of fixing in some fighter levels to give him a slight DPS boost via TWF & ended up with a F1/P5/R2 thats not much of an improvement. Although he's now a 32pt build so thats better.

I feel my options are limited by low cash & irregular game times (so I end up soloing more than teaming) but I still really want to make this guy work out. I've got just enough DDO credit left for one more +1 Lesser Heartwood so I can't afford to completely dump my rogue levels and I've spent too much at the DDO store already to just scrap him, so I had another think and hit the Character Planner a bit harder.

I’m hoping for a build that will give me ok tanking ability, an option to boost my DPS a little when there’s someone else to tank & some utility to support a party if/when I do manage to group up. I realise I won’t be outstanding at any role, but specialised builds have never been able to hold my attention anyway.

My current plan goes in stages: (1) tweak my current L8 build so at L9 I can hit Hunter of the Dead (Ghost Touch, receiving extra healing & lesser restoration seem slightly more useful than the alternatives); (2) get evade; (3) build up my fighter skills so I can leverage Kensai for a little extra DPS; and finally (4) polish up my paladin powers so I can rez (seems too cool an option to pass up).

Apart from the tomes I used to meet feat prereq's I couldn’t figure out how to factor in equipment via the planner, but here’s what I’ve got so far:-

[Edit - I'm convinced adapting the Mr Versatility build is better so no point looking at my first build idea]

I chose Bastard Sword for sentimentality to pnp-days plus I think if a good Kopesh drops for me I can get more out of it from the auction house than from swinging it myself.

I chose Sovereign Host because it gives me a nice heal power, plus a bonus with longswords if I happen to pick them up.

I took the Marks of the Sentinel because out of hope that a globe of invulnerability will help me against some threats AC can’t. They’re also nice for flavor, although I realise these may be my worst choices.

Bottom line I can change only 1 class via reincarnate and I’m currently L8 (F1/P5/R2). I really want to be able to survive solo and still be useful to any party I land in. Any advice on how to achieve that would really be welcome.

Finally, if you got this far thanks for taking the time to read!

[Terlan]

Another look at Sigtrent's Mr. Versatility build made me think that might be a better starting point for my re-build.

So here's Plan B, Sir Versatile ("Sir" coz of extra levels & knighthood, not because I think its a better build than Sigtrents!):

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

SirVersatile 
Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(8 Fighter \ 10 Paladin \ 2 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 314
Spell Points: 105 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 20
Reflex: 17
Will: 10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    26
Dexterity            13                    18
Constitution         13                    14
Intelligence         13                    14
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma             13                    16

Tomes Used
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 1
+4 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 1

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    15
Bluff                 2                     4
Concentration         1                     3
Diplomacy             6                     9
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                6                     7
Heal                  1                     1
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            6                    22
Jump                  8                    12
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             7                    26
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                4                     4
Search                2                     2
Spot                  4                     8
Swim                  4                     8
Tumble                7                     8
Use Magic Device      6                    25

{\b {\ul Notable Equipment }} \par +5 Bastard Sword \par +5 Steel Tower Shield \par +5 Mithral Chain Shirt \par  \par Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Combat Expertise
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Paladin)


Level 5 (Rogue)


Level 6 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 7 (Paladin)


Level 8 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Trip) I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Paladin Devotion I
Enhancement: Paladin Devotion II
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar I
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II


Level 9 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice I
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma II


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 11 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Trip
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I


Level 15 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II


Level 16 (Paladin)


Level 17 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Paladin Redemption I


Level 18 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness III
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness IV


Level 19 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery II


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good I

The good Open Locks & UMD were appealing for some added solo options & flexibility equipment-wise.

I started working on enhancements at L8 because that's my current respec point & then looked at what i'd need to hit Knight of the Chalice at L9, then Kensai, then where the loose points could best be spent. Apologies if that makes it harder to assess. I think I need to juggle things around to get Versatility up higher but I don't know what's best to sacrifice. Same thing with trying to get the most out of his skills.

I think his AC works out the same as Mr Versatile even in a Mithral Chain Shirt +5, which gives him his evade back. I gather AC's less important at high end so I'm hoping that balances out not getting better AC from the extra levels.

I switched to TWF (a) because more attacks = more sneak attack & KotC +1d6's where applicable, plus (b) I think it looks cooler. I tried to crunch his attack numbers but my maths failed me when I started looking at the TWF effects. Likewise I couldn't tell how Sigtrent's saves got so high but I'm sure thats my ignorance not his build.

I think its a lot more useful than my first rebuild idea, any thoughts from those wiser & more experienced with the quirks & high-end of DDO?

[unbongwah]

Off-hand, I'd guess you're better off with either fighter 12 / paladin 6 or fighter 6 / paladin 12; your current level split denies you the 2nd-tier PrEs of both.

[Terlan]

Off-hand, I'd guess you're better off with either fighter 12 / paladin 6 or fighter 6 / paladin 12; your current level split denies you the 2nd-tier PrEs of both.

Thanks for the tip Unbongwah. I like the look of Kensai II more thank KotC II since I'm guessing the KotC stun gets saved against a lot... but that means giving up all my tier II enhancements which doesn't seem to be a good tradeoff.

Then again, less tier II paladin enhancements means more fighter feats & tier II fighter enhancements...

Any idea how long the Kensai II strength boost lasts & how often can I use it?