Knight Commander (Order of the White Rose)- Fighter(4), Paladin(26), Champion of Torm(10) (Revised)
By Deborah Tyr
In keeping with the medieval knight orders, in addition to the “Big-Three” (Templars, Hospitalers, & Teutonic), there were numerous other little orders, such as the Thistle Knights in Scotland, and the Livonian Knights in Poland/Lithuania. This build is in keeping with the theme; players familiar with the other builds will note, however, that this is more of a power-paladin build, which has also been revised (see notes, below). I recognize that, in terms of skills, this character is a bit thin; however, it is specifically designed with a desire to achieve a good balance between its combat (melee) and smite abilities, with good hitpoints and the ability to dish out some decent damage. I hope everyone enjoys this character, as revised. Acknowledgments and credits are below, and feedback is always welcome - Tyr
Knight Commander (Order of the White Rose) Fighter(4), Paladin(26), Champion of Torm(10) Race: Human / Alignment: Lawful Good Hitpoints: 480
Combat Vitals: BAB: 30, AB +40 (No Buffs) / +47 (Bull’s, GMW Only) +5 Divine Favor +1 Bless +1 Aid +1 Prayer +1 Deafening Clang +5 Divine Wrath -- AB +61 (Self-Buffs Only, No Equipment)
*Smiting AB: Adds Cha-Bonus to Attack Roll (or, AB +72/73, with Aura & Eagle’s Only) Cap AB: 66, +Divine Wrath & Smiting AB (Cha-Bonus)
DAMAGE CALCULATION: Mundane Long Sword, 1-8 +*12 (17-20 crit./x 2) -- +2 Bull's Strength +5 Greater Magic Weapon +5 Divine Favor +3 Deafening Clang (Sonic) +5 Divine Wrath -- +*11/12 Divine Damage (Divine Might, with Aura & Eagle’s) -- Combat Total: 13-20, + 32 (or, 45 – 52) -- Smite Evil Damage (Combat Total + 216 GS V (or, 268 total per each smite)*(for more smite power, see below)
Other Damage: Lay-on-Hands (Positive Energy): *11/12 x 34 = 374/408 Pos. Damage (note: also dubs as healing power, and essentially equivalent to a Heal Potion)
Other Enhancements: Bless Weapon: +2d6 divine damage vs. Undead
Turn Undead (HD): 31+2d6
DEFENSE VITALS: AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 13/24 +12 Divine Might -- AC 36 (Divine Buffs Only, Does Not Include Spell Buffs or Any Magical Items/Equipment)
SMITING POWER: In the event you want more smiting power, you could drop some great strengths in exchange for more great smites; doing so, however, would drop your AB (melee) and combat damage. While you could technically pick up STR-bonus lost with your self-buffs (spells), the loss of your STR would nevertheless detract from the overall balance that this character was specifically designed to achieve, and reason why I stopped at Great Smite V (i.e., each smite, at up to or about 250 damage apiece, x's 3 (or, well in excess of 700 damage in total) me thinks will work out nicely for you
True, more smites are always a valid option for high level paladins, but I like the idea that this character can follow-through with combat, without having to rely on smiting alone. This, for two reasons: first, smiting is limited in terms of daily use (or rest period) and, second, they are effective against evil beings only. While I prefer the versatility, smiting is without question a wonderful thing (except for those who be evil of course, and on the receiving end ). Thus, I put this out as an alternative, as a valid option, albeit one I wouldn't recommend. Either way, I hope everyone enjoys this knight, or any of the others in the Templar series! ~ Tyr
Added EWS to damage calculation and more . Grim
Edited By Grimnir77 on 07/06/06 13:36
Revision Notes : June 29, 2006-06-29
This character has been revised, as follows: reduced number of Fighter levels (from 6 to 4) and, in turn, raised the number of Paladin levels (from 24 to 26) for the purpose of making this character non-dispelable.
Acknowledgments: I would like to thank Mick Dagger who brought to my attention a similar, yet different build that he had created, in which it was apparent that we share a similar desire to achieve a balance between combat (melee) and smiting abilities; in other words, we both wanted to create a balanced paladin/fighter build; because of this, we in essence approached the revisions on this build together, merging our two separate builds together so to speak, such that the Knight Commander, as revised, reflects his former build’s level split (to avoid dispelling and quicker spell access) while, at the same time, retaining my higher smiting and combat AB.
This build, as revised, does in many ways accordingy represent a joint-effort on our part, in terms of the revisions, and I graciously acknowledge his input and assistance in this regard. I would also like to thank Finneous for his continuing interest and comments not only on this knight, but other knights in my series: thanks also to everyone who commented on him and/or such other knights (including, of course, Grim and my usual coach crew – As always, I appreciate your feedback, and continue to welcome comments – Deborah Tyr.
To see the original build of this character, check out: Knight Commander FTR(6)/Paladin (24)/Champion of Torm (10)
To see Mick’s original build, check out: Guardian of Light Paladin26/Fighter4/CoT10)
Fixed broken links. Grim
Edited By Grimnir77 on 06/29/06 11:35
Let me start out by saying that this is a very good build of a Holy Warrior who can deal out some extra "wrath of his god", as well as being able to hold his own without relying on smites at all times. It is very tough to make a character build that focuses in 2 attributes, and that is actually playable. Good job.
Second, only 129 skill points!! *shivers with dread* Hehe, sorry, I have been on a kick lately of getting all the skillpoints I can, I rarely have a character with less than 12 int, and usually try to get at least 14. Being as stat point starved as you are with this build though, you have to make sacrifices somewhere. My head tells me you made the right choice to get the extra 40 hps then to go with the extra skill points on this build. Though I am not sure if I would actually be able to make my Will check while rolling this character up to do that. I am also thinking that instead of putting the points into Concentration, I would go the Taunt route, to help you out even more offensively.
A nice, solid Knightly build; well done.
Almost forgot- On yer damage calculation, you put 1d8+6, it will actually be 1d8+12 (6 for str modifier, and 6 for Epic Wep Specialization) _________________ If everyone is thinking alike, then someone is failing to think.
Edited By DarkStar27909 on 06/29/06 08:29
Definitely better AB but some less AC, HPs and skillpoints with respect to the way I would have done it (check the second build in this thread ). Classical class combo, on eof those cases when the numbers of desidered lvls per class nicely and naturally sums up to 40
Well done Deborah! BTW, are you aiming for Mithdradates record? (highest number of builds in the index)
Cheers, Kail _________________ To hear the sound of Freedom, many gave their lives They fought for you and me Those memories will always live inside us, and now it's our time to be free
Thanks everyone for the praise on this one; yeah, it's not easy to achieve good AB/combat damage while, at the same time, keeping power-pally goodness. For me, it was about the balance as, once those 3 smite attacks are spent, or in the event your foe's not evil, well....
For AC and Saves: Relying on some of those nice feats of the pally, and also his spells as thus: AC's taken care of with the Divine Shield & his spells (he's many turn charges, and lots of buffs which, at 26 pally, are long lasting and essentially non-dispellable. Plus, he's that holy sword of his (dispels magic on hit Again, gotta thank Mick for the level split, enables us to rely on buffs with more or less complete confidence
But, Dark, if you want better saves, check out my Teutonic Knight build - his saves are higher, with sligtly better AC and more skills than this one, which I agree is nice, especially for PvE; then, there's a cost: he has great smite IV (could take 'em to V, but IV does about +170 or so extra per smite, as opposed to the +204 extra here In turn, Teutonic gets AB 39 (no buffs), but IKD + skills to compensate, w. the higher HPs. I like this knight better, but Teuton def. has charms, and depends on environment - choices, choices
Or, for real, check out Kail's ....
Hey, Kail (nice to see ya. Was wondering when you'd get around to say hello -- thanks so much for the praise, and for sharing that so very cool sycthe-smiter here - no way I was gonna take yer schtick (but, you know, if you're trying to convince everyone here as to a good weapon to use - me thinks we'll see more pally's out there wielding sycthes - COOL!). Your character is very good and I really like him, too: saves & skills are nice, bit more AC, & smite V too, but cost: combat AB and HPs. Still, with evil foes & smite, only need one (check out that crit scythe smite damage, folks -nice, Kail
Thanks everyone, again.
Deb Tyr
ps. Kail, me thinks you've started something wonderful (& um, as to build-numbers, must we count those early "I was in training/cuttin' me teeth" ones?
Edited By TyrTemplar on 06/30/06 21:13
Just thought I'd add this link, so everyone can see what exactly are the spells that pally's get to choose from; at 26 level Pally, gets some nice buffs and, in addition to all the divines, the spells also boost saves, AC, AB, etc., while adding some very nice immunities and damage, too, as the following link shows (once again, to everyone who commented and/or helped out on this knight, and/or others in the series, thanks so much - I hope you enjoy this series, and here's that promised link Click Here
). Thus, I put this out as an alternative, as a valid option, albeit one I wouldn't recommend. Either way, I hope everyone enjoys this knight, or any of the others in the Templar series! ~ Tyr
. Grim
*shivers with dread* Hehe, sorry, I have been on a kick lately of getting all the skillpoints I can, I rarely have a character with less than 12 int, and usually try to get at least 14. Being as stat point starved as you are with this build though, you have to make sacrifices somewhere. My head tells me you made the right choice to get the extra 40 hps then to go with the extra skill points on this build. Though I am not sure if I would actually be able to make my Will check while rolling this character up to do that. I am also thinking that instead of putting the points into Concentration, I would go the Taunt route, to help you out even more offensively.
