Are there any Paladin builds that ensure a self reliant character? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are there any Paladin builds that ensure a self reliant character? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Priest_of_Torm
02-13-07, 04:33 AM Perhaps not to the level of a Cleric, but impressive nevertheless?
ninjarabbit
02-13-07, 09:19 AM How are we defining self-reliant?

Anyways any paladin-gish build or a paladin-ranger with devoted tracker should be somewhat self-reliant.
ChristopherGroves
02-13-07, 09:36 AM Warforged Paladin sub / Fighter / Juggernaught ?
nittanytbone
02-13-07, 09:38 AM Paladin-Gish is pretty good. Something like Pal 3/Sorcerer 4/Spell Sword 1/etc. has decent melee capability, excellent "face" capability (due to all the synergies with Diplomacy), some limited self-healing, and the ability to use a wand of CLW. Can't disarm traps, although I suppose you could take Knock as a sorcerer spell known which helps with locked doors (short of just breaking them down).

A shadowbane inquisitor could be a paladin-rogue hybrid.
rilem
02-13-07, 09:49 AM Paladin Gish, second. A better bet is to go Pal2/Bard8/SublimeChord, etc., but you are arguably more of a bard than a Paladin.

More details would be good. Why do you want to be self-reliant.

Using the alt-class feature from Dungeonscapes (available online) would work well.
Chimaera2000
02-13-07, 03:02 PM Taking one level of a skill-based class (like rogue or the upcoming factotum class from Dungeonscape) plus the Able Learner feat (Races of Destiny) allows you to have a solid skill base for any character.

Splashing any number of Tome of Battle levels increases your self-sufficiency. Crusaders get healing maneuvers and damage-soaking abilities, for example, while Warblades can gain access to Iron Heart Surge among other maneuvers.

For a truly "self sufficient character," I might go with:

Rogue 1/Paladin 2/Sorceror 4/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Eldritch Knight 7

If you're using Tome of Battle, another possiblity could be:

Rogue 1/Paladin 2/Sorceror 4/Crusader or Warblade 1/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Abjurant Champion 5/Jade Phoenix Mage +5

Both of these builds are hurt somewhat in their spellcasting ability, though, and one can question how closely related to paladins they are. They are very self-sufficient, though.
FriendlyFrog
02-13-07, 05:58 PM The feat Sword of the Arcane order from Champions of Valor allows a Paladin to cast Wizard spells in addition to their normal spells. That is pretty amazing. If you're not intending to multiclass, this is almost mandatory. A straight Paladin with this feat, Divine spirit substitution levels from Dungeonscape and here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20070209a&page=1), the feat Serenity from Dragon magazine compendium (it allows you to use Wis instead of Cha for Divine grace and Turn undead) would definately not be what you'd expect from a Paladin.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Priest_of_Torm 02-13-07, 04:33 AM	Perhaps not to the level of a Cleric, but impressive nevertheless?
ninjarabbit 02-13-07, 09:19 AM	How are we defining self-reliant? Anyways any paladin-gish build or a paladin-ranger with devoted tracker should be somewhat self-reliant.
ChristopherGroves 02-13-07, 09:36 AM	Warforged Paladin sub / Fighter / Juggernaught ?
nittanytbone 02-13-07, 09:38 AM	Paladin-Gish is pretty good. Something like Pal 3/Sorcerer 4/Spell Sword 1/etc. has decent melee capability, excellent "face" capability (due to all the synergies with Diplomacy), some limited self-healing, and the ability to use a wand of CLW. Can't disarm traps, although I suppose you could take Knock as a sorcerer spell known which helps with locked doors (short of just breaking them down). A shadowbane inquisitor could be a paladin-rogue hybrid.
rilem 02-13-07, 09:49 AM	Paladin Gish, second. A better bet is to go Pal2/Bard8/SublimeChord, etc., but you are arguably more of a bard than a Paladin. More details would be good. Why do you want to be self-reliant. Using the alt-class feature from Dungeonscapes (available online) would work well.
Chimaera2000 02-13-07, 03:02 PM	Taking one level of a skill-based class (like rogue or the upcoming factotum class from Dungeonscape) plus the Able Learner feat (Races of Destiny) allows you to have a solid skill base for any character. Splashing any number of Tome of Battle levels increases your self-sufficiency. Crusaders get healing maneuvers and damage-soaking abilities, for example, while Warblades can gain access to Iron Heart Surge among other maneuvers. For a truly "self sufficient character," I might go with: Rogue 1/Paladin 2/Sorceror 4/Spellsword 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Eldritch Knight 7 If you're using Tome of Battle, another possiblity could be: Rogue 1/Paladin 2/Sorceror 4/Crusader or Warblade 1/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Abjurant Champion 5/Jade Phoenix Mage +5 Both of these builds are hurt somewhat in their spellcasting ability, though, and one can question how closely related to paladins they are. They are very self-sufficient, though.
FriendlyFrog 02-13-07, 05:58 PM	The feat Sword of the Arcane order from Champions of Valor allows a Paladin to cast Wizard spells in addition to their normal spells. That is pretty amazing. If you're not intending to multiclass, this is almost mandatory. A straight Paladin with this feat, Divine spirit substitution levels from Dungeonscape and here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20070209a&page=1), the feat Serenity from Dragon magazine compendium (it allows you to use Wis instead of Cha for Divine grace and Turn undead) would definately not be what you'd expect from a Paladin.