Paladin F2P Paladin Vanguard Build

[Ducksoup]

Revised --- I've recently canceled my VIP and converted to free to play (premium status), and since I haven't played Pali in a long time and have never really tried a sword and board build, I'd thought I'd get some feedback on the my plan.

The purpose of this build is primarily to build favor, and run solo. So far I've reached level 8 without much difficulty, although some HE traps have caused me some grief, and running each quest 3 times gets old fast.

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Paladin)
Hit Points: 280
Spell Points: 318

BAB: 20/20/25/30/30
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 8
Will: 11

28 Point Build:
Strength 16 (all level ups)
Dexterity 8
Constitution 14
Intelligence 8
Wisdom 14
Charisma 14

1 – Deity: Follower of the Sovereign Host
1 – Selected: Stunning Blow
1 – Human Bonus: Power Attack
3 - Shield Mastery
6 – Exotic Weapon – B-Sword
9 – Improved Shield Mastery
12 – THF
15 – Improved Critical: Slashing
18 – ITHF

Epic's: I might be switching these around.
21 – GTHF
24 – Overwhelming Critical
26 – Perfect THF
27 – Epic Damage Reduction
28 – First Blood
29 – Deific Warding
30 – Empower Healing
30 – Scion of Arborea

I’d like to offer the possibility that giving up 4 ability points to raise an ability by 2, rather than using 6 to raise the ability by 6 may not be wise. I realize the norm is to dump wisdom and then use items with a plus in that ability. But let’s say I changed my wisdom to 8 and Charisma to 16 and Intelligence to 10.

Using the logic of using items to boost the score:
Wisdom of 8 + a plus 6 item = 14
Charisma of 16 + a plus 6 item = 22

BUT, if I left things the way I’ve got it:
Wisdom of 14 + a plus 6 item = 20
Charisma of 14 + a plus 6 item = 20

I don’t know, but it just seems costly to spend the 4 points to raise an ability by only 2. Especially given the argument that one uses items to boost the score, that argument can also be applied to Charisma.

I offer this alternative, in part because I like to question things, but also because I’m F2P and already used my free respect and don’t want to waste TP to respect, and I’m very close to level 9 now and don’t want to start over.

Really, the build to look at is ED37's, listed in this thread.

[unbongwah]

There are several thread about S&B pallies already; see my Sacred Vanguards thread as well as Erkid's and ED37's.

Some specific advice with your build:

• While it may be counter-intuitive, WIS is pretty much always a dump stat on pallies. You need those build pts for more important stats (like CHA or CON); use a WIS item to meet your spellcasting pre-req.
• WF:Slash + Power Crit are a weak pair of DPS feats. Better feat options: khopesh + Imp Shield bash; or as part of b.sword + THF chain. Quicken is also an important feat if you want to be able to heal mid-combat.

Since you stopped at level 20, I can't give advice for epic levels beyond what's in the threads I already mentioned.

[Ducksoup]

Thanks, Unbongwah!

ED37's build seems really close to what I was looking for (and easier to read :-) ). I do have one more question.

It seems counter intuitive to take the THF feats for a sword and board build? and while I do find myself using a Greatsword or Maul once in awhile, most of the time it's S&B.

As far as over 20 levels, I'd be happy to make it to 20 on Premium/F2P, but it looks like ED37's build covers the extra levels.

So far I've purchased Delaria's, The Vale (because it is on sale right now) and Warlock (also because it is on sale right now).

[unbongwah]

It seems counter intuitive to take the THF feats for a sword and board build?

Glancing blows apply to bastard swords and dwarven axes when single-wielded, which makes them an option for Vanguards. The downside is the feat investment required if you want to max out your glancing blows.

If not going this route, then your second-best option is to use khopeshes like Erkid's build does, which become 16-20/x4 weapons with Improved Crit and Holy Sword.

and while I do find myself using a Greatsword or Maul once in awhile, most of the time it's S&B.

Most VG builds are designed to go S&B full-time, due to the feat and AP investment required. However, for a "part-time" S&Ber with THF chain, one possible AP configuration is 41 KotC / 21 VG / 13 SD with 5 APs left over to tweak things. This would work for someone who uses 2H weapons most of the time and only switches to S&B when they need to tank; the downside being your S&B DPS isn't as good as someone with VG capstone instead of KotC.

The important thing to remember is that Enhancements - and later your Epic Destiny points - are easily reset; your feats and base stats are not. Particularly on a feat-starved build like this, it's more important to choose your feats carefully than to worry too much about Enhancements, IMO.

[Ducksoup]

Thanks Unbongwah, that makes a lot of sense.

I'm going to go with the b-sword and THF, I didn't realize that the Glancing blows applied to b-sword, that is nice.

[unbongwah]

One other build comment (with thanks to ED37 for pointing this out to me): the light damage from KotC cores apply to glancing blows as well. So for a DPS-focused Vanguard build using b.swords, I would do something like 41 VG (T5s + capstone) / 23 KotC (Empowered Smite + lvl 12 core for 3d6 light dmg) / 13 SD (Tenacious Defense) / 3 human (Dmg Boost + heal amp). Dreadnought is best DPS, Sentinel is best tanking, Crusader is a good compromise between the two.

Among named b.swords, best epic option is definitely Spinal Tap, which becomes 16-20/x4 with Holy Sword + IC:Slash: i.e., as good as a khopesh but with glancing blows as well. Good luck farming one!

[Ducksoup]

Oh boy, that is one nice b-sword. Unfortunately, it costs 650 TP to unlock Temple of Elemental Evil.

There's a Heroic version of the sword that looks good, but without enough TP to purchase Temple of Elemental Evil, I'm going to wait for the epic version.

Thanks for all your help.