WF or dwarf?

[binnsr]

You'd think they would though, being made for war and all. Would likily make them a little overpowered though, like dwarves.

I've always thought that too ..

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

Snippets from my Paladin Build Guide:

A quick rundown of the Pros for each Race:

Human: +1 Feat, +1 Skill Point/Level, +1 to 2 Stats, Human Versatility (Mod 5)
Dwarf: Axe/Armor/Tactics/Toughness Enhancements, Racial Saves, Con Bonuses
Warforged: Con Bonuses, Racial Immunities, Follow of Lord of Blades
Elf: Longsword Enhancements, Follower of Soverign Host
Drow: Shortsword Enhancements, Follower of Vulkoorim, Starting 10 CHA, Drow SR
Halfling: +1 To-Hit, +Dex Bonuses, +1 AC Size Bonus

And a quick rundown of the Cons for each Race:

Human: +1 to 2 Stats instead of +2 to 1 stat
Dwarf: Lower CHA
Warforged: Body Feat is costly, lower CHA & WIS
Elf: Lower CON
Drow: Lower CON
Halfling: Lower STR usually means Dex-based or TWF, Intimidate Penalty

But overall, all the races are quite good for Paladins.


For a quick “generalization” of the Racial differences for Paladins (and these are generalizations for the Races, not hard-rules)

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The Human Paladin
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Often uses Bonus Feat for Exotic Weapon: Kopesh, else goes with Longswords
Usually Sword-and-Board
Human Adaptability allows better balance of starting stats vs. Tomes/Items/Class Enhancements
Usually has the highest CHA of all Paladins

--------------------
The Dwarven Paladin
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Usually sticks to Dwarven Axes, but will use other axes, and occasionally 2-handeds
Often has a higher Dex, due to Racial Armor Mastery
Usually has the most hitpoints of all Paladins

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The Warforged Paladin
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Usually goes with Greatswords for the Lord of Blades Enhancements
Lowest CHA and WIS of most Paladins, but Immunities make up for it

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The Elven Paladin
--------------------

Elven Paladins are almost exclusively Longsword users, as the Racial Bonus and Soverign Host make them deal a lot of damage.
Usually tied with Drow for the lowest Hitpoints of all Paladins, but higher Dex, and occasionally 2-Weapon Fighters


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The Drow Paladin
--------------------

Elven Paladins are almost usually Shortsword users, as the Racial Bonus and Soverign Host make them deal a lot of damage.
Usually tied with Elves for the lowest Hitpoints of all Paladins, but higher Dex, and occasionally 2-Weapon Fighters
Drows also have start with 10 in CHA, INT, and DEX... making a higher Charisma cost less.
Drow SR can help augment a Paladin's Saves for survivability


--------------------
The Halfling Paladin
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Halfing Paladins tend to be Finesse Fighters, and very often 2-Weapon due to Racial Dex, and low starting STR
Usually have some of the best saves of all Paladins

and

So What Race Should I Choose?

A lot depends on your playstyle, and what items you may have banked.
The Weapons will often choose the Race, as each Race has it’s preferred weapons due to Racial options or the Faith Enhancements. Dwarves, Humans, and Warforged are probably the 3 “best” choices, while Elves/Drow are a very close second. Halflings are a bit less popular, and tend to go towards 2-Weapon, which leaves very little feat room for a Paladin.

Keep in mind the Weapons that lend themselves one way or another:
Kopesh – Human
Axes – Dwarf
Greatsword – Warforged
Longsword – Elf
Shortsword – Drow


Also, remember the Racial differences:
Human: +Feat, +1 Skill, +1 Stat to 2 different Stats
Dwarf: +Con, -Cha
Warforged: +Con, -Cha, -Wis, Immunities
Elf: +Dex, -Con
Drow: +Dex, -Con, SR
Halfling: +Dex, -Str


One other way to look at Race Recommendations Build Type:
Pure Paladin: Any Race
"IntimiTank" Paladin: Human or Dwarf
Evasion Paladin: Human, Elf, Drow, Dwarf
DPS Paladin (Pure, IntimiTank, or Other): Dwarf, Warforged, Human
Two-Weapon Paladin: Halfling, Elf, Drow

But, in all seriousness, don't be afraid of the -2 Cha for Dwarves or the -2 Cha/-2 Wis for WF... they are easily overcome. Also, it is important to remember that neither Cha or Wis really need to be all that high for a good Paladin build. Most Human Paladins start around 8-10 Wis... and many only at 12-14 Cha. I would consider a "Good" Paladin build to end up around 16 Wis and 20 Cha... and with the +3 Cha from Paladin, +1 Tomes, and +6 Stat items, that is VERY easy to obtain.

Consider also that the Warforged immunities help with a lower-than-normal Will Save, as they provide extra protection. Alternately, you can focus on Cha, and only get your Wis up to what you need to cast the Level of spell you want (10+Spell Level), and let the Divine Grace help make up for your lower Will Saves.

[Twerpp]

You what would be fun about either of those races? Taking stunning blow, maxing out racial tactics enhancements they both have and hotkey yourself a 1,2 combination of stunning blow follered up with a high holey smitey crit from hell-er from heaven I mean. This would go great with either race but even more so with dwarvens X3 crits and racial enhancements. The amount of smites you get is weak but everyone loves that record setting smitey crit feeling you could get that feeling on every smite you throw!