2 rogue/18 paladin Elf build help

[Abriana23]

I have been trying to look up a build that seems very fun to me with no luck. I have tried to build my own but I am still new and don't want to mess it up bad.

I would love to play a twf/dps paladin with a splash of rogue (mostly for pick lock and some disarming traps). I have seen this build with human but I hate playing humans. I would love to be able to do the build with elf ideally with scimitars. Would also be willing to go Drow I suppose but I love the look of scimitars. I have 32point builds. If push comes to shove I am willing to get some +1 tomes but would only want to get +2s after I leveled closer to 20.

I know it is not the most uber of builds but it is ment to just be something fun to play solo in duo/group *rarely*. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Ralmeth]

As Paladin's don't get very many skill points per level, I would advise against trying to do traps on a 2 Rogue splash. However a 2 Rogue splash can be a good DPS build and the skill points you get when you take your Rogue levels can be used to max out UMD (highly recommended) as well as to put points into other useful skills such as jump, balance, tumble, open locks, etc.

Alternatively if you want to play a DPS character who can also do traps I would recommend building a Ranger instead because Rangers get a lot more skill points per level and you can afford to put points into your trap smithing skills.

[Ystradmynach]

I have a twf drow paladin splash rogue, but I don't see how one can possibly keep up with trapsmith skills with 2 skill points per level, dealing with cross-class skills and the fact that int should be a dump stat. I personally use my skillpoints to max out UMD instead.

If you want a multi-class rogue with good trap skills; wizard, ranger, bard and even barbarian would be better choices than a paladin. What a paladin/rogue is good at though is shrugging off everything thrown at them, as they have both evasion and amazing saving throws (plus some immunities).

[unbongwah]

If you were willing to settle for just UMD & Open Locks OR Search & Disable, you could go for an elf (or drow) with base stats 15 / 16 / 12 / 14 / 8 / 14 with all lvl-ups into STR. Max your chosen pair of skills on paladin levels. +1 DEX tome to get ITWF at lvl 9. +2 CHA tome if you find it to get Divine Might II.

Otherwise, no, I don't think you can do it unless you take extra rogue levels to max your skills.

[MithrilSoul]

I'm trying it on a human right now (currently 9 pally / 1 rogue) and I have just about hit the point where my trapmonkey skills have fallen so far behind that I might as well not have them. It's not that I can't still pick a lock (at least on a good roll, 15+) when I come across one. But traps are a different issue entirely. The larger issue is having a high enough Spot & Search to FIND traps in the first place. That is where it all goes wrong; you really need to keep both Spot and Search pretty close to max (and both are cross-class), and at least periodic points into DD and Open. And then of course if you want UMD then you need points in that every level.

It becomes impossible. You can pull it off for about 5-6 levels, maybe 7-8 if you start with a much higher than normal INT, but it's a failing proposition eventually. I'm really regretting it now. I suppose at my next level-up I could take a 2nd rogue level to try to "catch up" but honestly that might only buy me another couple of levels of success and then I'll be back in the same boat. And in the meantime, I would have put off the second stage in the prestige line by another whole level.

In retrospect, there are really two good things that an 18/2 build are going to get you. Two levels where UMD is a class skill so it makes it much easier to get usable UMD levels sooner, and raises the max bar you can get UMD. And secondly, you get evasion with that 2nd rogue level, and evasion combined with the really high saving throws pallys have seems to be a sweet combo.

Is that worth giving up the pally capstone? Not sure.

[Abriana23]

Not what I wanted to hear LOL. But this has saved me from trying to make my own and finding out half way in that it would not work. Thank you all

[Ralmeth]

No problem, and like I mentioned earlier if you want to be a melee with rogue trapsmithing abilities I would recommend taking a look at playing a Ranger with a Rogue splash.

[lord_of_rage]

Its really not worth it to try and get trapskills on a paladin. You just do not have the skill points. Evasion,umd, intimidate, and rogue haste boost1 are what benifits the 2 rogue splash. UMDing heal scrolls is great for soloing, but Im not sure as a KOTC pally if its worth the capstone. But then again that only matters the most if you are looking to run epic and get ahold of epic weapons like the sos or chaos blade.