Avariel Paladin. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Avariel Paladin. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Illodrin
02-01-07, 12:30 PM Hi Forum people.

Im playing in a Faerun campaign where we atm are about lvl 8-9.

I am planing to take in a Avariel paladin. I know that it is not the best race from an optimization point of view and that is why i turn to you ppl. Even thoug i have a high lvl adjustment (that im not allowed to remove phb2) i still wanna be a usefule part of the group.

I think that i have access to all books. One thing that is of importance is that ill be playing a Exalted good character....

Please have a look at it and see what you can come up with.
Xaktsaroth
02-01-07, 02:47 PM Hi Forum people.

Im playing in a Faerun campaign where we atm are about lvl 8-9.

I am planing to take in a Avariel paladin. I know that it is not the best race from an optimization point of view and that is why i turn to you ppl. Even thoug i have a high lvl adjustment (that im not allowed to remove phb2) i still wanna be a usefule part of the group.

I think that i have access to all books. One thing that is of importance is that ill be playing a Exalted good character....

Please have a look at it and see what you can come up with.

Why not just pick a Sun Elf and take the Winged Template from Savage Species?

Mechanically, you'd be identical to an Avariel, but you'd have a better fly speed, manuverability, and better stats, PLUS, you'd only be at +2 LA instead of +3 LA.

Just walk around and call yourself an Avariel and your set.
Hyfigh
02-01-07, 02:52 PM Or show Xak's suggestion to your DM and convince him to lower the LA of the Avariel to 2 instead of 3. I do that in my campaigns because it's silly to be able to template a better creature for less LA.
DaveTheMagicWeasel
02-01-07, 03:28 PM Errr... if you insist.

I'd suggest a Paladin archer, using either the Ranged Smite feat (BoED) or the Elf Paladin sub levels in RotW that do the same thing. With LA+3 you will never be able to compete in melee.

Paladin 5 / Ranger 11 / Pious Templar 4 is decent (assuming a deity with a bow as favored weapon).

Or take Zen Archery (and ideally Serenity from Dragon Mag) to make a totally Wis dependent archer with Monk / Paladin / Soulknife / Soulbow.
Ikeren
02-01-07, 03:49 PM (that im not allowed to remove phb2)

I suggest removing it with unearthed Arcana then. At level 9 you can take off 1, and at 12, and at 15. It'll make you weak and fuzzy for the low levels and put you at a significant EXP disadvantage (even with the balancing mechanic that some DM's don't use, you'll be down XP)...

This reminds me of a certain Avoreal thread a few months back...
Xaktsaroth
02-01-07, 03:57 PM I suggest removing it with unearthed Arcana then. At level 9 you can take off 1, and at 12, and at 15. It'll make you weak and fuzzy for the low levels and put you at a significant EXP disadvantage (even with the balancing mechanic that some DM's don't use, you'll be down XP)...

This reminds me of a certain Avoreal thread a few months back...

Urrr, not quite.

LA buy-off happens at your current LA x 3.

So, you'd be able to buyoff your first LA at level 9(3x3).

With your new LA of 2, you'd buyoff the 2nd point at level 15(9 + (2 x 3)).

And the last at 18 (15 + (1 x 3)).
Illodrin
02-01-07, 04:19 PM Thanks for all the tips guys. im gonna present the sun elf thing to my GM. he is a hard ass on these kinda things but maybee :).
i like the archer ide, im gonna look into it.
once again thanks
Illodrin
02-02-07, 07:12 AM ok. my GM has just agreed to lower the lvl adjustment to 2. he was a bit vague on the point if it was gonna be a winged gold-elf or just a avariell with adjustment 2.
Anyway, now i like to hear your opinions on what feats to pick. both for a ranged smither and a close combater.
smage
02-02-07, 08:01 AM Focus your build on the fact that you can fly. Otherwise, those 2 LAs are wasted.

P.S. - Go with Winged Gold Elf if you can (just make sure you have the Dex to make it worth it). ;)
DaveTheMagicWeasel
02-02-07, 09:02 AM ok. my GM has just agreed to lower the lvl adjustment to 2. he was a bit vague on the point if it was gonna be a winged gold-elf or just a avariell with adjustment 2.
Anyway, now i like to hear your opinions on what feats to pick. both for a ranged smither and a close combater.

Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot should be your first 2 feats.

If you can use the Elf Paladin sub levels from Races of the Wild then use them.

Otherwise, take Ranged Smite Evil (BoED). I'd then suggest Extra Smite as well.

Personally, I'd build towards Manyshot and Flyby Attack. Use your smites on the single Manyshot attack to get the greatest chance of hitting with multiple arrows.

Plunging Shot (Races of the Wild) (not sure about name) would also be an excellent choice, since with wings you can almost always guarantee being above your targets.

Then Weapon Focus and True Believer so as to get into Pious Templar. With your lower base saves from the LA and relative lack of HD Fort and Will save attacks could well be a problem for you, so Mettle makes a lot of sense.

Also, as said previously, Ranger levels. Either 6 or 11 depending on what else you want to fit in, will help you get the archery feats you want, some extra skills (Spot and Listen will mean you can use your flight to be a decent scout), and there are a number of Ranger spells that are nice for an archer. If there's a Rogue in the party I'd take the distracting attack variant in PHB2 in place of the animal companion. If you soften them up a bit before the rogue can sneak them for the kill it should be pretty efficient.

Finally, get the Splitting enhancement for your bow asap (in either Champions of Ruin or Valor, not sure which off top of me head).
Solfair
02-02-07, 06:32 PM Focus your build on the fact that you can fly. Otherwise, those 2 LAs are wasted.

P.S. - Go with Winged Gold Elf if you can (just make sure you have the Dex to make it worth it). ;)

Actually I think that the only negative difference is that the Avariell have that "Dive attack" That works like a charge.

However if you're going for the ranged build then such a thing would be useless anyway.

I'd strongly suggest that you convince your DM to allow
"monster" feats from MM, such as flyby attack in case you go for charging smite/meele build.
PhoenixInferno
02-02-07, 06:42 PM Finally, get the Splitting enhancement for your bow asap (in either Champions of Ruin or Valor, not sure which off top of me head).Champions of Ruin, actually.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Illodrin 02-01-07, 12:30 PM	Hi Forum people. Im playing in a Faerun campaign where we atm are about lvl 8-9. I am planing to take in a Avariel paladin. I know that it is not the best race from an optimization point of view and that is why i turn to you ppl. Even thoug i have a high lvl adjustment (that im not allowed to remove phb2) i still wanna be a usefule part of the group. I think that i have access to all books. One thing that is of importance is that ill be playing a Exalted good character.... Please have a look at it and see what you can come up with.
Xaktsaroth 02-01-07, 02:47 PM	Hi Forum people. Im playing in a Faerun campaign where we atm are about lvl 8-9. I am planing to take in a Avariel paladin. I know that it is not the best race from an optimization point of view and that is why i turn to you ppl. Even thoug i have a high lvl adjustment (that im not allowed to remove phb2) i still wanna be a usefule part of the group. I think that i have access to all books. One thing that is of importance is that ill be playing a Exalted good character.... Please have a look at it and see what you can come up with. Why not just pick a Sun Elf and take the Winged Template from Savage Species? Mechanically, you'd be identical to an Avariel, but you'd have a better fly speed, manuverability, and better stats, PLUS, you'd only be at +2 LA instead of +3 LA. Just walk around and call yourself an Avariel and your set.
Hyfigh 02-01-07, 02:52 PM	Or show Xak's suggestion to your DM and convince him to lower the LA of the Avariel to 2 instead of 3. I do that in my campaigns because it's silly to be able to template a better creature for less LA.
DaveTheMagicWeasel 02-01-07, 03:28 PM	Errr... if you insist. I'd suggest a Paladin archer, using either the Ranged Smite feat (BoED) or the Elf Paladin sub levels in RotW that do the same thing. With LA+3 you will never be able to compete in melee. Paladin 5 / Ranger 11 / Pious Templar 4 is decent (assuming a deity with a bow as favored weapon). Or take Zen Archery (and ideally Serenity from Dragon Mag) to make a totally Wis dependent archer with Monk / Paladin / Soulknife / Soulbow.
Ikeren 02-01-07, 03:49 PM	(that im not allowed to remove phb2) I suggest removing it with unearthed Arcana then. At level 9 you can take off 1, and at 12, and at 15. It'll make you weak and fuzzy for the low levels and put you at a significant EXP disadvantage (even with the balancing mechanic that some DM's don't use, you'll be down XP)... This reminds me of a certain Avoreal thread a few months back...
Xaktsaroth 02-01-07, 03:57 PM	I suggest removing it with unearthed Arcana then. At level 9 you can take off 1, and at 12, and at 15. It'll make you weak and fuzzy for the low levels and put you at a significant EXP disadvantage (even with the balancing mechanic that some DM's don't use, you'll be down XP)... This reminds me of a certain Avoreal thread a few months back... Urrr, not quite. LA buy-off happens at your current LA x 3. So, you'd be able to buyoff your first LA at level 9(3x3). With your new LA of 2, you'd buyoff the 2nd point at level 15(9 + (2 x 3)). And the last at 18 (15 + (1 x 3)).
Illodrin 02-01-07, 04:19 PM	Thanks for all the tips guys. im gonna present the sun elf thing to my GM. he is a hard ass on these kinda things but maybee :). i like the archer ide, im gonna look into it. once again thanks
Illodrin 02-02-07, 07:12 AM	ok. my GM has just agreed to lower the lvl adjustment to 2. he was a bit vague on the point if it was gonna be a winged gold-elf or just a avariell with adjustment 2. Anyway, now i like to hear your opinions on what feats to pick. both for a ranged smither and a close combater.
smage 02-02-07, 08:01 AM	Focus your build on the fact that you can fly. Otherwise, those 2 LAs are wasted. P.S. - Go with Winged Gold Elf if you can (just make sure you have the Dex to make it worth it). ;)
DaveTheMagicWeasel 02-02-07, 09:02 AM	ok. my GM has just agreed to lower the lvl adjustment to 2. he was a bit vague on the point if it was gonna be a winged gold-elf or just a avariell with adjustment 2. Anyway, now i like to hear your opinions on what feats to pick. both for a ranged smither and a close combater. Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot should be your first 2 feats. If you can use the Elf Paladin sub levels from Races of the Wild then use them. Otherwise, take Ranged Smite Evil (BoED). I'd then suggest Extra Smite as well. Personally, I'd build towards Manyshot and Flyby Attack. Use your smites on the single Manyshot attack to get the greatest chance of hitting with multiple arrows. Plunging Shot (Races of the Wild) (not sure about name) would also be an excellent choice, since with wings you can almost always guarantee being above your targets. Then Weapon Focus and True Believer so as to get into Pious Templar. With your lower base saves from the LA and relative lack of HD Fort and Will save attacks could well be a problem for you, so Mettle makes a lot of sense. Also, as said previously, Ranger levels. Either 6 or 11 depending on what else you want to fit in, will help you get the archery feats you want, some extra skills (Spot and Listen will mean you can use your flight to be a decent scout), and there are a number of Ranger spells that are nice for an archer. If there's a Rogue in the party I'd take the distracting attack variant in PHB2 in place of the animal companion. If you soften them up a bit before the rogue can sneak them for the kill it should be pretty efficient. Finally, get the Splitting enhancement for your bow asap (in either Champions of Ruin or Valor, not sure which off top of me head).
Solfair 02-02-07, 06:32 PM	Focus your build on the fact that you can fly. Otherwise, those 2 LAs are wasted. P.S. - Go with Winged Gold Elf if you can (just make sure you have the Dex to make it worth it). ;) Actually I think that the only negative difference is that the Avariell have that "Dive attack" That works like a charge. However if you're going for the ranged build then such a thing would be useless anyway. I'd strongly suggest that you convince your DM to allow "monster" feats from MM, such as flyby attack in case you go for charging smite/meele build.
PhoenixInferno 02-02-07, 06:42 PM	Finally, get the Splitting enhancement for your bow asap (in either Champions of Ruin or Valor, not sure which off top of me head).Champions of Ruin, actually.