First Attempt at Sword & Board

[Sani_Medicor]

I'm not going for insane item based AC. I just want a solid build that can take some damage when needed and be a little lower on the healers priority list. My plan is to use a good ole long sword and heavy shield and swap to a tower shield when needed. Please look it over and let me know what you think!

Lawful Good Human
(18 Paladin / 2 Fighter)

Stats
Str 16 +5 Level Ups
Dex 12
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 10
Cha 14
(+1 Dex and Wis Tome)

Progression
1 Fighter
2-9 Paladin
10 Fighter
11-20 Paladin

Feats
1 Toughness
1 Shield Mastery
1 Mark of Passage
3 Force of Personality
6 Power Attack
9 Improved Critical: Slashing
10 Improved Shield Mastery
12 Dodge
15 Mobility
18 Spring Attack

Skills
Fighter Levels - Jump
Paladin Levels - Concentration, Intimidate

Enhancements
Unyielding Sovereignty
Follower of the Sovereign Host
Paladin Defender of Siberys III
Human Toughness II
Human Improved Recovery II
Human Adaptability Strength I
Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Fighter Strength I
Fighter Haste Boost I
Paladin Charisma II
Paladin Toughness IV
Paladin Item Defense I
Paladin Divine Might II
Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Paladin Armor Class Boost I
Paladin Extra Lay on Hands III
Paladin Focus of Good I
Paladin Courage of Good I
Paladin Bulwark of Good IV
Paladin Resistance of Good III

[PolarisNC]

I would suggest:
Drop DEX to 8 --> points into CHA

Mark of Passage is useless - use the boots from Korthos for an Expeditious Retreat Clicky. Swap this for EWP: Bastard Sword, which gets glancing blows when you go sword-and-board.

Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack: Mostly good for adding Dodge%, but your Dodge is capped by your DEX bonus, so they'll do you no good. Replace with the THF line, to increase the glancing blows you'll do with your Bastard Sword.

Not really sure why you need Force of Personality. You already get your CHA bonus to saves.

See also Junts' Guide to Paladins which, while it has been around for a while, still has lots of useful information.

Good luck!

[Skeald]

Another 2 things to keep in mind:

1) A true "tank" is rarely needed in many quests and only begins to shine as you move closer to endgame. Make sure that you have a viable DPS option, in other words dps greater than a longsword and Shield will provide.

With the THF line as teh above poster mentioned you will have the option to pick up a greataxe or falchion for basic trash clearing duty

2) Maintaining agro is a 2 pronged attack - you need a high intimidate, AND a reasonable amount of DPS, the hate generated from boosting your DPS will help you maintain aggro while your intim is on cool down

As the above poster said bastard sword pro. will help with that, as will the THF feats, also make sure that you have as much hate amp gear on as possible to boost the hate from your lower level of DPS

Enjoy your build - tanks can be alot of fun - they just take a few levels to really start shining