Tanking: Barbarian or Paladin?

[Vincentthegerman001]

I'm trying to get a good friend of mine into DDO. He loves healing in games, so I'm still looking for a build for him...

Anyways, that means someone has to tank, and to hell with hirelings.

So my question is pretty much what the title says. Which one would last longer? Which one would keep a party alive longer? Which one would simply do the most damage (Which, I know, equals keeping threat/hate)?

Some basic info:

*I really, really like barbarians actually. But when I asked this friend of mine what he'd rather heal, he said Paladin. Granted, he doesn't know jack squat about the game.
*I managed to round it up to 400 HP for a Paladin and 1000 HP for a Barbarian at endgame, using the character planner, and thorix's barbarian build, and the Sacred Vanguard S&B for the pally.
*I have a good build ready to use for a Barbarian (Thorix), but really nothing for a Paladin.

[Maelodic]

I'm trying to get a good friend of mine into DDO. He loves healing in games, so I'm still looking for a build for him...

Anyways, that means someone has to tank, and to hell with hirelings.

So my question is pretty much what the title says. Which one would last longer? Which one would keep a party alive longer? Which one would simply do the most damage (Which, I know, equals keeping threat/hate)?

Some basic info:

*I really, really like barbarians actually. But when I asked this friend of mine what he'd rather heal, he said Paladin. Granted, he doesn't know jack squat about the game.
*I managed to round it up to 400 HP for a Paladin and 1000 HP for a Barbarian at endgame, using the character planner, and thorix's barbarian build, and the Sacred Vanguard S&B for the pally.
*I have a good build ready to use for a Barbarian (Thorix), but really nothing for a Paladin.

A paladin is more durable and has more reliable heals than a barbarian. The bonus to saves and PRR and everything else make them a lot easier to control as far as your own fate. Pure barbs do a bit more damage, I believe, but you have to keep swinging or you will die.

Barbs tend to be kind of easymode fun in comparison, but they're both meaty and they'll both be able to take a lot of damage.

It sounds like you've already made your mind up on a barbarian. You'll do fine with one particularly if your friend wants to play healbot.

If you're going to duo the game, consider having him play a trapper. 18 Bard/2 Rogue loses out on the heal spell but can keep a party alive just fine and gets tons of skill points. It would also round him out as a support character.
If he wants to play more traditional healer, consider having him also build for melee as a Cleric or Bard or spellcasting as a Bard/Druid/FvS/Cleric. If you're playing either barb or pally, he'll often not have much to do because you have so much integrated self healing.

[Vincentthegerman001]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 4.30.001
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Renfrick 
Level 30 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Paladin \ 10 Epic) 
Hit Points: 430
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 26
Reflex: 9
Will: 14

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 30)
Strength             16                    26
Dexterity             8                     8
Constitution         16                    16
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             16                    16

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 30)
Balance               0                     9
Bluff                 0                    13
Concentration         4                    36
Diplomacy             0                    13
Disable Device        n/a                  n/a
Haggle                0                    13
Heal                  4                    37
Hide                  0                     9
Intimidate            4                    38
Jump                  0                    18
Listen                0                     9
Move Silently         0                     9
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                  n/a
Repair                0                    10
Search                0                    10
Spellcraft            0                    10
Spot                  0                     9
Swim                  0                    18
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      n/a                  n/a

Level 1 (Paladin)
Feat: (Deity) Follower of the Sovereign Host
Feat: (Selected) Shield Mastery
Feat: (Human Bonus) Stunning Blow


Level 2 (Paladin)


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword


Level 4 (Paladin)


Level 5 (Paladin)


Level 6 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Tower Shield Proficiency


Level 7 (Paladin)


Level 8 (Paladin)


Level 9 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 10 (Paladin)


Level 11 (Paladin)


Level 12 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Mastery


Level 13 (Paladin)


Level 14 (Paladin)


Level 15 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Paladin)


Level 17 (Paladin)


Level 18 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 19 (Paladin)


Level 20 (Paladin)


Level 21 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Overwhelming Critical


Level 22 (Epic)


Level 23 (Epic)


Level 24 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Bullheaded


Level 25 (Epic)


Level 26 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Primal Sphere: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Level 27 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality


Level 28 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Divine Sphere: Epic Skill Focus: Heal


Level 29 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Divine Sphere: Deific Warding


Level 30 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Epic Damage Reduction
Feat: (Legendary) Scion of Arborea
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Slayer of Evil I (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Courage of Heaven (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Slayer of Evil II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Improved Courage of Heaven (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Extra Remove Disease (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Extra Remove Disease (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Extra Remove Disease (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Extra Smite (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Extra Smite (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Divine Might (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Divine Might (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Divine Might (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Vigor of Life (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Exalted Smite (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Exalted Smite (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Exalted Smite (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Knight of the Chalice (Pal) - Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - To the Fore! (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Combat (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Vicious Shield (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Combat II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Vicious Shield II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Champion (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Specialization I (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - No Weakness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - No Weakness (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - No Weakness (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Specialization II (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Brutality (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Brutality (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Stunning Shield (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Stunning Shield (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Stunning Shield (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Missile Shield (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Missile Shield (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Missile Shield (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Action Boost: Melee Power (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Specialization III (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Follow Up (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Follow Up (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Follow Up (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Fatal Bulwark (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Reposte (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Reposte (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Reposte (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Specialization IV (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Vanguard Armor Mastery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Vanguard Armor Mastery (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Vanguard Armor Mastery (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Charge (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Charge (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Charge (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Myrmidon's Edge (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Myrmidon's Edge (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Myrmidon's Edge (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield to the Face (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Rush (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Rush (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Shield Rush (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Pal) - Armored Strength (Rank 1)

This is what I came up with as a Pally on the Char planner. I noticed while testing the Thorix build that I get hit like a truck and only survive thanks to the high HP.

I noticed that after making this build, my ungeared and unbuffed HP would come around to 430, abruptly lower than the barbarian. I assume it makes up for this with more fortification, PRR and MRR, and AC.

Would this paladin build survive at all, or should I just stick to this barbarian of mine?

[Maelodic]

Would this paladin build survive at all, or should I just stick to this barbarian of mine?

It would survive pretty well, but your damage would be fairly low. Paladin gets a lot of built in survivability particularly if you splash into the SaD tree.

I'd recommend checking out this build for more DPS, but still a lot of survivability or this build for survivability and lots and lots of stunning/DPS.

As far as barbarians, you can build to be survivable but you will not get it innate like paladins do. If you want to play barb, go for it. They're both survivable enough, paladin's just a lot more forgiving. If you want to be tanking raid bosses and what not, paladin is a much better option, but for general questing barb is absolutely fine.

[Vincentthegerman001]

Alright, thank you for that info!

I guess it's settled then, Paladin it is. I'll check both builds out, ask some questions, make some tests, etc.

Personally, which one would you say makes the better 'tank'? Can the former (Sacred Knight) even tank, say, raid bosses?

[Maelodic]

Alright, thank you for that info!

I guess it's settled then, Paladin it is. I'll check both builds out, ask some questions, make some tests, etc.

Personally, which one would you say makes the better 'tank'? Can the former (Sacred Knight) even tank, say, raid bosses?

If you're talking about high end LE endgame tanking, I unfortunately don't have any experience with that.

If you're talking about every other raid, I'm going to say yeah, definitely can- particularly in Unyeilding Sentinel destiny.