Playable from 1-40...PvM build

I realized that there aren't too many strength based paladins in the guild so I figured I'd post one. This build will do best in +5 to +10 magic item setting. I went for a CoT/Fighter/Paladin, the build is pretty strong and doesn't really need any buffs, though it has them if necessary. In a +5 equipment environment this build should do quite well, and be able to manage a +12 to charisma and probably a +8 to +12 to strength including buffs. Thus, it should be able to get a lot of use out of divine might and shield, possibly even divine wrath. Because it can use divine shield to boost its AC, I chose a greatsword for a weapon. With a 30 STR it seemed appropriate, though you could focus in a 1 handed weapon if you want the extra AC. This build would rend a charisma based paladin limb from limb in a one on one fight.

Advantages

-High AB. This build has an AB of 44 with a mundane greatsword. Throw the paladin buffs and taunt bonus on top of that and his maximum effective AB is 76.
-High Taunt. With a 55 taunt he should have no trouble taunting opponents (I thought, it was the only the other players that found paladins annoying).
-High Damage. This build averages 28 points of damage with a mundane greatsword, unbuffed. Throw in buffs and he does, 56 points of damage on average (59.5 vs. evil, 66.5 vs. undead), 19 points of that is non physical and difficult to resist (sonic, magic and divine).
-Devastating Critical with a 40 DC base.
-High Fortitude save. With a 37 base (really 32 because sacred defense counts towards the save boost limit) fortitude save he is fairly devastating critical resistant.
-Good Reflex and Will saves vs. spells. 29 isn't all that great, but after casting Eagle's Splendor and Aura of Glory his saves will jump to 32-33 and divine wrath can get them even higher. He should make his saves against will and reflex targeted spells unless the caster is really focused.
-Immune to Fear.
-Immune to Disease.

Disadvantages

-Melee is his only form of attack. He has no trap setting ability or offensive spell casting, if he can't hit something he's in trouble.
-No real spell defense. He'll probably make his saves, but he'll still take damage from spells. Against spellcasters, he does have over 500 hitpoints and a weapon that dispels on hit with a 26 DC, so he might have a slim chance.
-Lowish AC. For a character that uses a two-handed weapon it's pretty good, but his hitpoints are bit low for a character that uses a two-hander (though he can heal some of it) and he doesn't have any damage reduction. You might want to consider using a one-handed weapon and a shield instead of a greatsword.

Herculean Knight

Race Human

Alignment Lawful Good

Base Attribute
STR 14
DEX 8
CON 14
WIS 14
INT 14
CHA 14

Leveling Guide
Levels 1-2 Fighter
Levels 3-6 Paladin
Levels 7-8 Fighter
Level 9 Paladin
Levels 10-11 Champion of Torm
Level 12 Paladin
Levels 13-14 Champion of Torm
Level 15 Paladin
Levels 16-17 Champion of Torm
Levels 18-20 Paladin
Level 21 Fighter
Level 22 Paladin
Level 23 Fighter
Level 24 Paladin
Level 25 Fighter
Level 26 Paladin
Level 27 Fighter
Level 28 Paladin
Level 29 Champion of Torm
Level 30 Paladin
Level 31 Champion of Torm
Level 32 Paladin
Level 33 Fighter
Level 34 Paladin
Level 35 Fighter
Level 36 Paladin
Level 37 Champion of Torm
Level 38 Paladin
Level 39 Champion of Torm
Level 40 Paladin

Final Level Distribution
Champion of Torm 10
Fighter 10
Paladin 20


Attribute Bonuses
All 10 go to Strength

Feats
Level 1: Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Power Attack, Toughness
Level 2: Knockdown
Level 3: Cleave
Level 6: Divine Might
Level 8: Weapon Specialization (Greatsword)
Level 9: Divine Shield
Level 11: Improved Knockdown
Level 12: Great Fortitude
Level 14: Improved Critical (Greatsword)
Level 15: Extend Spell
Level 17: Great Cleave
Level 18: Blind-Fight
Level 21: Great Strength I
Level 23: Epic Weapon Focus (Greatsword)
Level 24: Great Strength II
Level 27: Great Strength III, Epic Weapon Specialization (Greatsword)
Level 30: Great Strength IV
Level 31: Overwhelming Critical (Greatsword)
Level 33: Great Strength V
Level 35: Devastating Critical (Greatsword)
Level 36: Great Strength VI
Level 39: Epic Skill Focus (Taunt), Epic Prowess

Final Attributes
STR 30
DEX 8
CON 14
WIS 14
INT 14
CHA 14

Final Saves Base/Sacred Defense/Vs. Spells
Fortitude 32/37/41
Reflexes 20/25/29
Will 20/25/29

AB and Damage

(No buffs, normal Greatsword)
44/39/34/29 21+2D6 (17-20 X2)
Devastating Critical DC 40

(+4 STR [Bull's Strength], +8 CHA [Eagle's Splendor+ Aura of Glory], Bless, Divine Favor, Aid, Prayer, Holy Sword, Bless Weapon, Deafening Clang, Divine Might, Divine Wrath, normal Greatsword)
64/59/54/49 30+2D6 (+5 magic, +3 sonic, +11 divine, +1D6 divine [vs. evil], +2D6 divine [vs. Undead]) (17-20 X2) deafen and dispel on hit
Devastating Critical DC 42

(+12 STR, +12 CHA, Bless, Divine Favor, Aid, Prayer, Holy Sword, Bless Weapon, Deafening Clang, Divine Might, +5 keen Greatsword)
68/63/58/53 36+2D6 (+5 magic, +3 sonic, +13 divine, +1D6 divine [vs. evil], +2D6 divine [vs. Undead]) (15-20 X2) deafen and dispel on hit
Devastating Critical DC 46

Maximum AB: 70

AC
21 (Full Plate, No Buffs)
50 (+4 to Dex, +12 to CHA, +5 Full Plate, +5 Ring of Protection, +5 Amulet of Natural Armor, Boots of Speed, Divine Shield)

Hit Points 520 (Max Every Level)

Final Skillpoints 215
Concentration 43 (45)
Discipline 43 (53)
Spellcraft 18 (20)
Persuade 10 (12)
Taunt 43 (55)
Tumble 20 (19)

Skillpoint Distribution
Level 1: Concentration 4, Discipline 4, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 2, Save 4
Level 2: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Save 7
Level 3: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Taunt 6, Tumble 1
Level 4: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Taunt 1, Save 2
Level 5: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Taunt 1, Tumble 1
Level 6: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Taunt 1, Save 2
Level 7: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, Save 1
Level 8: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Save 4
Level 9: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Taunt 3, Tumble 1
Level 10: Discipline 1, Save 4
Level 11: Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, Save 4
Level 12: Concentration 3, Discipline 1, Taunt 3, Save 2
Level 13: Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, Save 2
Level 14: Discipline 1, Save 6
Level 15: Concentration 3, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Taunt 3, Tumble 1
Level 16: Discipline 1, Save 4
Level 17: Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, Save 4
Level 18: Concentration 3, Discipline 1, Taunt 3, Save 2
Level 19: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Taunt 1, Tumble 1
Level 20: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Persuade 1, Taunt 1, Save 1
Level 21: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1
Level 22: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Taunt 2, Save 1
Level 23: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1
Level 24: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Taunt 2, Save 1
Level 25: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1
Level 26: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Taunt 2, Save 1
Level 27: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1
Level 28: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Taunt 2, Save 1
Level 29: Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, Save 1
Level 30: Concentration 2, Discipline 1, Taunt 2, Save 1
Level 31: Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, Save 1
Level 32: Concentration 2, Discipline 1, Taunt 2, Save 1
Level 33: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1
Level 34: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Persuade 1, Taunt 2
Level 35: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Tumble 1, Save 1
Level 36: Concentration 1, Discipline 1, Persuade 2, Taunt 2
Level 37: Discipline 1, Tumble 1, Save 2
Level 38: Concentration 2, Discipline 1, Persuade 2, Taunt 2
Level 39: Discipline 1, Save 4
Level 40: Concentration 2, Disicpline 1, Persuade 4
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Edited By Mithdradates on 06/13/05 09:36

Quote: Posted 06/13/05 09:33:36 (GMT) -- Mithdradates
Disadvantages

but his hitpoints are bit low for a character that uses a two-hander (though he can heal some of it) and he doesn't have any damage reduction. You might want to consider using a one-handed weapon and a shield instead of a greatsword.

I think you're a bit hard on yourself, Mith. For a two-hander, I don't think 520 is a bit low. I think it's just right. You really can't make it much more than that without having to change everything. With just 1 +4item or potion of Endurance, he can hit 600.
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! I am confused about the saving throw limit from Paladin's saving throw bonus and the saving throw bonus from CoT levels. Is there a limit? I got's to know!
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We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender - Winston Churchill
Quote: Posted 06/14/05 20:03:28 (GMT) -- Ithacan

I am confused about the saving throw limit from Paladin's saving throw bonus and the saving throw bonus from CoT levels. Is there a limit? I got's to know!

There's a +20 cap on boosting saving throws through magical means. The Pally and BG boosts from high CHA are not included in this limit.

The CoT boost for every 2nd CoT level and the Spellcraft boost from ranks in Spellcraft (as well as any items/spells, etc.) are included in this limit.
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It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!
Quote: Posted 06/14/05 20:09:51 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din

Quote: Posted 06/14/05 20:03:28 (GMT) -- Ithacan

I am confused about the saving throw limit from Paladin's saving throw bonus and the saving throw bonus from CoT levels. Is there a limit? I got's to know!

There's a +20 cap on boosting saving throws through magical means. The Pally and BG boosts from high CHA are not included in this limit.

The CoT boost for every 2nd CoT level and the Spellcraft boost from ranks in Spellcraft (as well as any items/spells, etc.) are included in this limit.

Thanks! I think my build's okay, then (Avenging Commando Champion).

I like this build although I have a hard time letting go of rogue (or is it rouge?) levels.
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We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender - Winston Churchill
Quote: Posted 06/14/05 21:55:57 (GMT) -- Ithacan

I have a hard time letting go of rogue (or is it rouge?) levels.

Depends on the makeup of your build...
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