U51 Preview 2: Divine Crusader

[Lynnabel]

Disclaimer

Everything seen on the preview server, Lamannia, is not final and is subject to change or removal before live release.

Changes to this tree are in this bright sunny yellow!

Here are the general things that have been adjusted or fixed:

• As we have added additional +3 Melee and Ranged Power to every Epic level you have, the amount of Melee and Ranged power each Core gives in Destinies has been reduced; Divine Crusader now gives +5 Melee Power and +4 Ranged Power per Core. (See the main threads for this preview for details)
• Consecration's Cower now has a proper DC.
• Axiom of Faith now requires proficiency with the weapon that you are trying to make favored.
• Divine Smite now grants Ranged Smite Evil as well as Melee Smite Evil.

Core 1 (level 20) Just Cause: Each core including this one in this tree provides +15 Hit Points, +5 Melee and +4 Ranged Power.

Core 3 (level 23): Confront any Foe: Your weapons are immune to durability damage. +3 to all saving throws.

Core 6 (level 26): Weather any Blow: +5 Armor Class and PRR. +15 Healing, Repair, and Negative Amp

Tier 1 (req level 20):

• Divine Smite: You gain the Smite Evil feat, and +1 uses of Smite Evil. Enhances Smite Evil by adding 5 effective Paladin levels to its damage calculation. Furthermore, Smite Evil attacks to grant you and nearby allies 1d2 Positive Healing per Character Level when they hit an enemy. This may only apply once every 10 seconds.
• Shield of Justice: +5/10/15% secondary shield bash chance.
• Spear of Light: +1/2/3 to Attack and Damage
• Divine Sundering: +2/4/6 Sunder DCs
• Consecration (Epic Strike): The ground you are standing on is consecrated. While standing on consecrated ground you and your allies are healed every 3 seconds for 1 point of positive energy per character level. This is affected by your Positive Spell Power. (Cooldown: 30/25/20 seconds). Duration: 15 seconds.

Tier 2 (req level 20):

• Endless Smiting (req Divine Smite): +2/4/6 Uses of Smite Evil, Smite Evil regenerates 10/20/30% faster.
• Bulk Up: +5/10/15 HP, +25/50/75% Fortification
• Holy Mantle: Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle: Weapons and Shields you wield are considered to have your alignment for DR purposes. Your Base Attack Bonus is now equal to your Character Level.
• Divine Deflection: +1/2/3 all saves, additional +1/2/3 saves vs Enchantments
• Shield of Light: +2/4/6 PRR and MRR. Rank 3: You gain Magic Missile immunity (as per the Shield spell) while holding a shield.

Tier 3 (req level 23):

• Gaze of the Divine: You gain True Seeing and Blindness Immunity.
• Crusade: Consecration now grants Crusade to allies who stand inside of it (+10% damage for 4 seconds) and burns all enemies within it. (every 3 seconds, they take 1 point of fire damage per character level. This scales with your Fire Spell Power)
• Axiom of Faith: Multiselector: Choose a Religion from the full list of Religions. You are now considered a follower of that religion, including being able to use its Favored Weapon.
• Strike with Poise: Your Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle grants Favored Weapons an additional +1/2/3 to their enhancement bonus. Rank 3: Favored Weapons are also now considered Implements to you automatically, and gain +1W.
• How Dare You: Being struck by magic has a 10/20/30% chance to regenerate a Smite Evil. Rank 3: Getting hit below 50% will automatically Consecrate the ground beneath your feet. Can only happen once every 2 minutes.

Tier 4 (req level 26):

• Purge the Wicked: +1/2/3 critical hit damage and to crit confirmation, doubles if you have the Power Critical feat.
• Blessed Strikes: +2/4/6% Doublestrike and Doubleshot
• Heavenly Presence: Your Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle now grants you the traits of a Celestial. +10 Physical Resistance Rating and 10% Acid, Cold and Electricity absorption. In addition, you are immune to petrification.
• Cower Before Me: When you use Consecrate, nearby enemies must make a fort save or become Cowered for 4 seconds. Cower makes an enemy helpless for the duration. Only sentient creatures, Undead, Abberations, and Outsiders may be cowered (so constructs, oozes, etc, are immune) DC: 20 + Sunder DC + highest ability score.
• Rend Armor: You gain the Improved Sunder feat.

Tier 5 (req level 30):

• Beckon Divinity: Epic Moment: Divine Power infuses you and your party members, granting them Divinity for 30 seconds. This blessing is so strong that any allies who are dead are raised from it to their Maximum Hitpoints. Divinity: When you are struck by any type of damage, you are healed for 4d6 Positive Healing (this healing becomes Repair if you are a Warforged, or Negative if you are Undead). Furthermore, for the first 10 seconds, you are immune to all forms of Crowd Control. The Resurrection portion of this ability may only affect you once per rest.
• Law of the Divine: You gain the Embodiment of Law feat. If you already had it, it instead enhances the feat to deal 1d6 Law damage per Epic Level scaling with 200% melee or ranged power, and apply a stack of Vulnerability and Armor Destruction on Critical Hits. (1s cooldown on the debuff application)
• Bring Down Wrath: Your shield is now considered a Favored Weapon for the purposes of your Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle, and now doublestrikes at 50% of the rate of your Mainhand Doublestrike as if it were an offhand weapon
• Blessed Blades: While using a Favored Weapon, +1 Critical Multiplier on a roll of 19-20.
• Mighty Crusade: Smite Evil attacks apply the Crusade buff to your entire party for 4 seconds. You gain +1 AC and +1 PRR for every 2 Religious Lore feats you have.

Known Issues:

• N/A

[Kielbasa]

Beckon divinity looks interesting nice way to bring a party back from a wipe. Any way it could drop a consecration at every party members feet? Or would that be a little too crazy?

[QuantumFX]

• Beckon Divinity: Epic Moment: Divine Power infuses you and your party members, granting them Divinity for 30 seconds. This blessing is so strong that any allies who are dead are raised from it to their Maximum Hitpoints. Divinity: When you are struck by any type of damage, you are healed for 4d6 Positive Healing (this healing becomes Repair if you are a Warforged, or Negative if you are Undead). Furthermore, for the first 10 seconds, you are immune to all forms of Crowd Control. The Resurrection portion of this ability may only affect you once per rest.

Aw. I had a bunch of Old Spice Guy references lined up for the previous version.

[axel15810]

Any consideration to adding more options for non-shield users throughout the tree? Lots of feedback was given to this effect last round. Especially regarding the tier 5 mantle which doesn't do anything for non-shield users. It needs a multiselector or something. Would like to see these options for KotC paladins, melee clerics and melee FVS. The shield focus is particularly a bummer to melee clerics and melee FVS who want to use this tree and play the hybrid DPS/healing support role in epics since they don't even have a viable option of using shields offensively unless they splash pally or fighter levels to get access to vanguard.

[grudgebear]

Any consideration to adding more options for non-shield users throughout the tree? Lots of feedback was given to this effect last round. Especially regarding the tier 5 mantle which doesn't do anything for non-shield users. It needs a multiselector or something. Would like to see these options for KotC paladins, melee clerics and melee FVS. The shield focus is particularly a bummer to melee clerics and melee FVS who want to use this tree and play the hybrid DPS/healing support role in epics since they don't even have a viable option of using shields offensively unless they splash pally or fighter levels to get access to vanguard.

THIS.

It feels like DC is most useful for Sword 'n' Shield type Paladin.

[Seph1roth5]

Axiom of Faith - ummm...I think people were saying that this should GIVE proficiency in preview 1, not saying it shouldn't work if you weren't proficient.

Core 3 and 6 - weak, very weak.

Purge the Wicked - same complaint, the synergistic feat blows, and either way the numbers are junk for tier 4.

Beckon Divinity - Assuming 5 min cooldown, hate that. It's very out of place in an offensive tree also. You guys are really not getting the power level of "immune to all forms of crowd control." right. I like the idea of an aoe raise (what's the range on this btw?) but should really just be a big effect with a long cooldown, not their epic moment.

What about buffing everyone to add light damage to their attacks? Lasers for all! Or some sort of big light blast that also does a fist of light-type buff so you can heal when you smack em.

Law of the Divine - Well, the epic part of the synergy is nice, but the feat itself is still meh. The problem with these synergies is it takes a feat AND epic destiny space to get something good. And 99% of the time the feat is ****.

[elvesunited]

Message from Suulomades:

"DDO developers! How dare thee! Everyday I face dozens of adventurers seeking to stop my rightful claim to lay ruin on Eberron! Most of the time those cursed adventurers succeed and I am driven back. But I long for those times when I succeed and see their ruined bodies before me! And you do this? They lie broken but then a single paladin uses a Jibbers and before he can be re-killed with a raise of his hand bring back his entire party at full health? This is unacceptable! The Lord of Blades shall here about this! As shall Baba Lysaga! We will file a grievance with the DDO monster union! I demand you reverse this or you shall suffer our wrath!"

Seriously though, this seems too unbalanced to be true.

[Gabrael]

Would it be possible to have back the ability to regen turn undead? I don't want to go on a caster tree (exalted angel) as a paladin to get back my ability to regenerate my turns.

Even if it's just the base regenerative ability it's fine. I get u want smites here and turn undead on cleric ED. But paladin don't have the ability to regenerate turn undeads in class tree unlike clerics. So I would really like to retain some ways to regenerate them.

Edit: if not in ED. Coupd be add regeneration oh turn undead in KotC. Or tag it on one of the turn undead feats

[Gabrael]

Add-on: other possibility. Instead of a passive regen. A way to gain back channel divinity via vorpals? Even if 10% on a vorpal. Or 5% defensive proc

[Zafaron]

I think the shield doublestrike might still be capped so it doesn't actually attack as often as you would expect. I don't think a shield bash can happen more than once per second?

[Pandjed]

Any consideration to adding more options for non-shield users throughout the tree? Lots of feedback was given to this effect last round. Especially regarding the tier 5 mantle which doesn't do anything for non-shield users. It needs a multiselector or something. Would like to see these options for KotC paladins, melee clerics and melee FVS. The shield focus is particularly a bummer to melee clerics and melee FVS who want to use this tree and play the hybrid DPS/healing support role in epics since they don't even have a viable option of using shields offensively unless they splash pally or fighter levels to get access to vanguard.

You know, that out of 43 enhancements only 4 mentions shields? Let's take a look at each of them:

• t1 Shield of Justice: +5/10/15% secondary shield bash chance. [Is tier 1, other enhancements can be chosen without any consequences]
• t2 Holy Mantle: Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle: Weapons and Shields you wield are considered to have your alignment for DR purposes. Your Base Attack Bonus is now equal to your Character Level. [You benefit from full BAB and the alignment pierce even if you don't have a shield, they just are treated like weapons in this regard]
• t2 Shield of Light: +2/4/6 PRR and MRR. Rank 3: You gain Magic Missile immunity (as per the Shield spell) while holding a shield. [+6 PRR/MRR is good in their own right, and if you think MM-immunity at 20th level is a must-have ability and that Epic Sapphire Bucket is so hard to farm, then I can't help you either]
• t5 Bring Down Wrath: Your shield is now considered a Favored Weapon for the purposes of your Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle, and now doublestrikes at 50% of the rate of your Mainhand Doublestrike as if it were an offhand weapon [That one complain is legit, so either add a multiselector or add some normal doublestrike to it and all good]

I mean, less than 10% of the tree are about shields, so it's not really that super supportive.

[Alphabox]

Overall, it's dull.
There are no high-powered active attacks, only tiny damage additions.
No CC.

Beckon Divinity?
I'd rather have a skill for not wipe than a skill for what happens after it wipe.
Recover is the job of the Unyielding Sentinel or Exalted Angel.

Too little offensive power compared to DL and Fury, I want limited offensive power specific to Divine.
Divine Crusader is limited, but should do more damage than DL and Fury.

LD is a versatile attacker.
Fury is instantaneous attack power
So what about DC?

Don't think about helping the party.
DC is an divine ATTACKER!

...But the most important thing for Paladin is to be cool.
Where did Holy Steed go?

[SerPounce]

[*]Axiom of Faith: Multiselector: Choose a Religion from the full list of Religions. You are now considered a follower of that religion, including being able to use its Favored Weapon.

I love that we have this option, but I don't understand the point of making you wait till ~23 (or whatever it is exactly to get t3) to get it. Why not just let people pick the deity they want to begin with (with the possible exception of Morninglord and Bladeforged)? Makes for a frustrating 1-30 experience. If nothing else let Ebberon races pick lord of blades at the start so that they have a 2hf option (other than q-staff).

[DaviMOC]

Disclaimer

Everything seen on the preview server, Lamannia, is not final and is subject to change or removal before live release.

• Axiom of Faith: Multiselector: Choose a Religion from the full list of Religions. You are now considered a follower of that religion, including being able to use its Favored Weapon.

• Bring Down Wrath: Your shield is now considered a Favored Weapon for the purposes of your Divine Crusader Destiny Mantle, and now doublestrikes at 50% of the rate of your Mainhand Doublestrike as if it were an offhand weapon

Tree is looking nice, love the epic moment. Hope it can motivate players to try harder while raiding.

- Please consider putting Axiom of Faith to be ml 20. The kind of favored weapon you use defines a build, having it at ml23 leaves 3 odd epic levels if the player is considering it on his build.
- Please consider adding something to non-shield users on "Bring Down Wrath", dont need to be great or comparable to the shield version, but please, something...It is this ED mantle final form, not easly ignored.

[Kza]

This feels good :-)

[Pandjed]

Played a STR-based and domained warpriest shieldbasher with little dips in US and LD for some more melee (Longsword and Tower Shield). Grabbed mostly saltmarsh loot for the tests. Was a first-lifer.

During 20, running EH Sentinels was no problem, EE took a while and had some difficulty spikes.
During 24, running EE Carnival was more or less a slow grind-fest, however, there was no difficulty spikes anymore. ER1 was also working, yet it was slower and much more of a hassle. With a party, it'd be probably fine.
At 30th level, I felt suddenly like a decent DPS-character, that is quite a damage spike upwards. Running RL on EE was fluent without much trouble, running ER1 had some sudden deaths, which I may have been able to avoid if I actually played that build longer.

Overall, I think the mid-levels are a bit lacking in the damage department. Would it be possible to either make shields favored weapons or to make them doublestrike a bit earlier? Doublestrike could land at 25% of mainhand and I think it would still be a more fluent progression.

[superdupe6934]

I like the concept of the Beckon Divinity, but cannot help but feel that belongs in either Exalted Angel or Unyielding Sentinel. The primary flavor that DC wants to lean towards is the Knight in Shining Armor and nothing quick exemplifies that like charging into ones foes atop a mighty steed! Overall, I do have to agree with posters that are stating that this tree does need something more in its damage department. There are lots of nice little flourishes and touches, but nothing with significant meat on it. Some more group based smiting capacity would be of use or some kind of light based melee bomb (a 'you cannot pass moment') to put a serious dent into a single large foe or clean out a lot of undead/outsider trash. I would also advise changing Crusade's damage to light or good and not forcing it to run off of spellpower that Paladins will not have, or moving it to a tree where characters that do utilize Fire spell power can use it.

[Alphabox]

Just in time to throw out the old system.
Don't rebuild it, build a new one.

Divine Crusader is not an ED for shield users.
It's not an ED for Vanguard.
It's an ED for warriors who have put their faith in God.

How can a warrior who has put his faith in God be far inferior to a barbarian or a fighter without faith?
If it's a game, it should be inferior overall, but superior in limited ways.

As it is, the DPS-Paladin will never be able to fight with holy power.
We'll have to resort to barbaric technology.

God is dead.God remains dead.

[GramercyRiff]

^^^Top 20 post ever written on this forum.

[Arlathen]

Tier 3 (req level 23):

• Crusade: Consecration now grants Crusade to allies who stand inside of it (+10% damage for 4 seconds) and burns all enemies within it. (every 3 seconds, they take 1 point of fire damage per character level. This scales with your Fire Spell Power.

Would this mean that Consecration gains the 'Fire Spell' type, so it would benefit from the Exalted Angel Mantle? Would the EA Mantle work per tick of Crusade/Consecration damage, or just once per cast?

Seems a REALLY nice way to get some cross-destiny synergy in for Paladins going the whole nine yards into DC/EA/US for destiny selections....

Tier 5 (req level 30):

• Beckon Divinity: Epic Moment: Divine Power infuses you and your party members, granting them Divinity for 30 seconds. This blessing is so strong that any allies who are dead are raised from it to their Maximum Hitpoints. Divinity: When you are struck by any type of damage, you are healed for 4d6 Positive Healing (this healing becomes Repair if you are a Warforged, or Negative if you are Undead). Furthermore, for the first 10 seconds, you are immune to all forms of Crowd Control. The Resurrection portion of this ability may only affect you once per rest.

Yes Please.

That is all.