What is your thoughts on a STR/WIS based Paladin? Not interested in the CHA side of it. But what would your build up between L1-10 and why? If you are running one now - am especially interested to hear what you took and how you play him/her.
This sounds like a question for the D&D Character Optimization forum or maybe a quick search through that forum for the topc (I think) "Paladin's Handbook - Face Stabbing in the Name of Thy God".
But I'll take a short stab (
) at this. If your character is going to be STR/WIS with CHA either tertiary or CHA not even on the map, he's going to be missing out on secondary effects unless you use the powers and feats from Divine Power. Which means, I'd suggest using the Ardent Paladin build from Divine Power, which can be more or less focused on STR/WIS without needing Charisma.
But even if you don't use the Ardent Paladin build, I'd still suggest the Mighty Challenge feat for your Paladin, since that will make your Divine Challenge harder to ignore, which if Charisma is tertiary, is very likely to happen (the ignoring part, I mean).
Thanks
(contunued in D&D Character Optimization forum)
Seeing as I actually have a tenth level strength paladin it's really the optimal route for the class nothing wrong with wisdom it's just at a certain point the charactor hit's a "wall" where he's all deffense and not doing much damage. If he's not doing much damage and can't be hit the BBEG will just take whatever minor damage the charactor is dealing and attack softer targets because the charactor is a non threat. Being a non threat is one of the worst possible things a charactor can become especially at high levels it also means on a four man table he'll ignore the fighter to get to the squishy Ranger and Cleric. Once they go down it pretty much leaves the fighter as the only threat left on the battlefield plus with no healer, no ranged damage dealer, and an ineffectual Paladin it's mop up time for the BBEG
Yummy I want Elf Brains
Oh and all Paladin builds should consider Cha 14, even if it only gains tier pips after that, especially now that there are all the Divine Sanction options available thanks to Divine Power.
Str 18 Wis 14 ChA 14 is probably the right basic starting point for a Str character.
But really Cha is the way to go now I suspect. That wat you only need 2 stats, Wis and Cha to maximise your basic class options.
Is a strength/wisdom paladin viable? Sure.
Is it optimal or even particularly effective? Not really.
Even with Divine Power strength paladins are still miles behind charisma paladins in terms of power and flexibility.
For example charisma paladins lost their "feat tax" with the introduction of Virtuous Strike.
Strength paladins gained a feat tax in the form of Mighty Challenge (which of course does not help Divine Sanction).
If you don't mind always being charisma's little brother go for it.
As I advised this is continued in the D&D Character Optimization forum.
Feel free to discuss more about STR/WIS Paladins there in regards to how to play them.