Vanguard Paladin for new players

[Merfyn]

Overall I'm expecting classic hand-and-half Vanguard builds like this to see some noticeable DPS improvements, but it's not a radical game-changer vs other melee combat styles.

My toon's KotC tree got wiped anyway, so I'll just read your PDK thread & see what adaptation looks like...

I wonder if it's worth giving up Unyielding Sovereignty since I won't be using longswords as much?

[Fedora1]

The devs made some last-minute buffs after the second Lama preview, in particular Strikethrough always works while moving, the target cap is now 5 (400% Strikethrough), and hand-and-a-half weapon damage mod was increased. I guess we'll see if it's enough to address the complaints.

That's cool, thanks for the head's up. At a "glance" it looks better than glancing blows now.

Considering they just got 3x STR bonus to damage, it's hard for me to feel bad for 2H builds. The bigger losers will be SWF builds IMO.

Did SWF get nerfed, or did it just remain the same? Because SWF has been superior to the old THF for a long time, if they evened out I'm not upset.

Also on the topic of pallys in general it reset all my AP spent in the KotC tree (as expected with all the changes) and it really seemed to help. I got more bang for the buck on the AP I originally spent in that tree.

[unbongwah]

I wonder if it's worth giving up Unyielding Sovereignty since I won't be using longswords as much?

One of the advantages of U45 is if you want to use any Knight's Training weapons, it doesn't matter which deity you pick, because of the new Combatant line of enhancements. At tier-2 you gain Longswords, Battle Axes, Heavy Maces, Morningstars, and War Hammers as Favored weapons. At tier-3 you add greatswords as well, although it doesn't benefit from Knight's Training feat AFAIK. Add in the racial weapon options - e.g., wood elves can take Faith of the Forest to add Rapiers, Falchions, and Shortbows as Favored weapons - and you have a lot more options for paladins than before.

So you can pick your deity based on which level 6 ability you want rather than weapon type. Or alternatively, if you're playing a race which is restricted to certain deities (e.g., Morninglord, Bladeforged), you don't have to feel constrained by their favored weapon.

[unbongwah]

Did SWF get nerfed, or did it just remain the same?

I meant in terms of relative DPS loss. Call it a nerf-by-proxy.

Old Divine Might: CHA 50 -> +20 STR -> +10 STR mod. For 2H and GSWF builds, that turned into +15 damage (1.5x mod).
New Divine Might: CHA 50 (+20 mod) -> +10 damage regardless of combat style.

So both 2H and GSWF builds get a smaller DPS bonus from the new Divine Might. But 2H weapon builds just got a big DPS boost from the THF overhaul (i.e., Strikethrough and 3x damage mod from GTHF). Like I said, it's hard for me to feel bad for them that Divine Might is a smaller DPS bonus than it was a week ago considering all the other ways their DPS went UP. But SWF got bupkiss outside of specific edge cases, so between the DM nerf plus having to go through the hassle of regearing (swapping Insightful Deadly for Insightful STR), this update was not for them.

[Khalaq]

This pure paladin vanguard is not a unique or unusual build....

So, I'm coming back to DDO after about ten years of being absent, and the first thing I notice is that all of the builds I am finding online seem to be out-of-date. (I know, not a big surprise.) The "cookie-cutter" paladin build you posted seems to be the kind of paladin I want to play, but I'm having trouble following your build as the enhancements have obviously been changed/adjusted since you posted it. I'd really appreciate it if you could find the time to update this build so that it fits with Update 46.

P.S. (I tend to play solo due to odd gaming hours, so I'm looking for a durable paly that can kill the mobs before they kill him. There may no longer be a need for "tanks," but I still love feeling "invincible.")

[unbongwah]

The "cookie-cutter" paladin build you posted seems to be the kind of paladin I want to play, but I'm having trouble following your build as the enhancements have obviously been changed/adjusted since you posted it.

This build weathered the latest melee changes better than many. The recent THF buffs were most beneficial to 2H weapon builds, but also improved S&B builds which used hand-and-a-half weapons (i.e., bastard swords and dwarven axes). Base damage mod went from 1x STR to 1.6x STR with GTHF feat; and Strikethrough is a lot more powerful than glancing blows were.

I posted a 2H DPS paladin and PDK Vanguard a while back. Converting the latter back to regular human is fairly simple, although you lose the free bastard sword proficiency and Favored weapon bonuses. Also without PDK's Cormyrian Knight Training you're better off being STR-based instead of maxing CHA like the original build in this thread.

[Stravix]

This build weathered the latest melee changes better than many. The recent THF buffs were most beneficial to 2H weapon builds, but also improved S&B builds which used hand-and-a-half weapons (i.e., bastard swords and dwarven axes). Base damage mod went from 1x STR to 1.6x STR with GTHF feat; and Strikethrough is a lot more powerful than glancing blows were.

I posted a 2H DPS paladin and PDK Vanguard a while back. Converting the latter back to regular human is fairly simple, although you lose the free bastard sword proficiency and Favored weapon bonuses. Also without PDK's Cormyrian Knight Training you're better off being STR-based instead of maxing CHA like the original build in this thread.

At that point, he would probably be better off as a dwarf and using DAxes. That way he can make it a favored weapon, making kotc quite a bit better.

[Khalaq]

This build weathered the latest melee changes better than many. The recent THF buffs were most beneficial to 2H weapon builds, but also improved S&B builds which used hand-and-a-half weapons (i.e., bastard swords and dwarven axes). Base damage mod went from 1x STR to 1.6x STR with GTHF feat; and Strikethrough is a lot more powerful than glancing blows were.

I posted a 2H DPS paladin and PDK Vanguard a while back. Converting the latter back to regular human is fairly simple, although you lose the free bastard sword proficiency and Favored weapon bonuses. Also without PDK's Cormyrian Knight Training you're better off being STR-based instead of maxing CHA like the original build in this thread.

We seem to be forgetting the start of this thread. I came here because I wanted a first-life, simple-to-follow, paladin build for a new player. I do not have access to the PDK tree. I do have the one Heart of Wood I began with, so I could do an LR to fix my current build. I also have access to the Aasimar race if I'm willing to throw away the six (almost seven) levels I have already put into my current character. The whole purpose of following a build guide was so that I could create a "solid" character with which to become familiar with the game. Instead, I find myself struggling because the OP is telling me to do things which are a) no longer applicable, or b) no longer possible.

Given all of that, if you wish to offer me a build path I can actually follow, I would be grateful. Just keep in mind that I am having to look up terms just to understand half of what you are saying. I suppose I should also mention that I am currently a VIP player and do have some points to spend.

[Edit: I have since figured out that the way to get a PDK Paladin as you described is to create the iconic character and then respec him through the use of an LR. I think I have sufficient knowledge of the game to pull that off, although it still amounts to abandoning my current character.]

[Edit 2: Well, as no further assistance seems forthcoming, I have decided to scrap my current character and begin anew.]

[Amlaria]

Yes an update of this type of pally build for a new free to play person just starting on the new build would be awesome

[Breezwyn]

Are there any updates to this build, in light of the recent patch?