Playable from level 1 to 40... PvM

Here is another build that doesn't exist in the guild. It does require one alignment change and it has a massive 1 level XP penalty at level 39. Despite saving a ton of skill points until you take the first bard level, it is quite playable all the way up. It ends up with a fairly nice AC and 21 points of Damage Reduction. While the AB is low (which is true of most dwarven defenders), the paladin spells buff it up nicely. The build is a pretty nice Tank, but nothing really exceptional. It should do best in low to mid magic settings where devastating critical is banned as a PvM build.

Advantages

-Immune to Fear. Always nice to have with all those fear auras around.
-21 points of damage reduction. It takes the edge of most physical attacks, unfortunately critical hits will still take a chunk out of those HP.
-Level 4 paladin spells. He has a high enough level to make him hard to dispel using the "dispel" line, but he is still vulnerable to greater dispel.
-Good Buffed AB. His unbuffed AB is low, but he can buff it up to a high level thanks to the paladin spells.
-Good AC. He can manage a 61 with +5 equipment, a 65 with defensive stance. This is a pretty good total for a strength build.
-Lots of Hitpoints. Over 600 is always nice.
-Maxed out UMD.

Disadvantages

-Mediocre will and reflex saves. Vs. Spells they aren't bad, but they aren't great either.
-1 Alignment Shift. At level 39 from lawful to neutral. Since you have 38 levels to manage this, it should be doable
-XP penalty at level 39.

The Soulforger's Anvil

Race Dwarf

Alignment Lawful Good to Start

Base Attributes
STR 14
DEX 14
CON 16
INT 14
WIS 14
CHA 6

Attribute Bonuses
Levels 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 increase constitution
Levels 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 increase strength

Final Level Distribution
Bard 2
Dwarven Defender 18
Paladin 20

Level Distribution and Feats
Level 1: (Paladin 1): Weapon Focus (Battle Axe)
Level 2: (Paladin 2)
Level 3: (Paladin 3): Knockdown
Level 4: (Paladin 4)
Level 5: (Paladin 5)
Level 6: (Paladin 6): Toughness
Level 7: (Paladin 7)
Level 8: (Paladin 8 )
Level 9: (Paladin 9): Dodge
Level 10: (Paladin 10)
Level 11: (Dwarven Defender 1)
Level 12: (Dwarven Defender 2): Improved Knockdown
Level 13: (Dwarven Defender 3)
Level 14: (Dwarven Defender 4)
Level 15: (Dwarven Defender 5): Extend Spell
Level 16: (Dwarven Defender 6)
Level 17: (Dwarven Defender 7)
Level 18: (Dwarven Defender 8 ): Blind-Fight
Level 19: (Paladin 11)
Level 20: (Paladin 12)
Level 21: (Paladin 13): Epic Weapon Focus (Battle Axe)
Level 22: (Paladin 14)
Level 23: (Paladin 15)
Level 24: (Paladin 16): Epic Damage Reduction I
Level 25: (Paladin 17)
Level 26: (Paladin 18)
Level 27: (Paladin 19): Epic Damage Reduction II
Level 28: (Paladin 20)
Level 29: (Dwarven Defender 9)
Level 30: (Dwarven Defender 10): Epic Damage Reduction III
Level 31: (Dwarven Defender 11)
Level 32: (Dwarven Defender 12)
Level 33: (Dwarven Defender 13): Great Strength I
Level 34: (Dwarven Defender 14): Epic Prowess
Level 35: (Dwarven Defender 15)
Level 36: (Dwarven Defender 16): Great Strength II
Level 37: (Dwarven Defender 17)
Level 38: (Dwarven Defender 18): Armor Skin
Level 39: (Bard 1): Great Strength III Alignment must be non-lawful here
Level 40: (Bard 2)

Final Attributes
STR 22
DEX 14
CON 21
INT 14
WIS 14
CHA 6

AB and Damage
(no buffs, mundane battle axe)
40/35/30/25 6+1D8 (20 x3)

(+12 to Strength, bard song, bless, bless weapon, deafening clang, divine favor, aid, prayer, holy sword, +5 keen scimitar, haste)
60/55/50/45/60 19+1D6 (12-20 x2) +5 (magic) +3 (sonic) +2D6 (divine vs. undead) +1D6 (divine vs. evil)

AC
22 (no buffs, no equipment)
32 (Full Plate, Tower Shield)
61 (+5 Full Plate, +5 Tower Shield, +5 Ring of Protection, +5 Amulet of Natural Armor, +5 dodge boots, Haste)
65 (As above with defensive stance)

Final Saves (Vs. Spells)
Fortitude 29 (40)
Reflex 18 (29)
Will 22 (33)

Hit Points 668 (max. every level)

Damage Reduction 21 points

Skillpoints 176
Discipline 43 (50)
Perform 8 (6)
Spellcraft 43 (45)
Tumble 40 (49)
Use Magic Device 42 (40)

Skillpoint Distribution
Level 1: Discipline 4, Save 12
Level 2: Discipline 1, Save 15
Level 3: Discipline 1, Save 18
Level 4: Discipline 1, Save 21
Level 5: Discipline 1, Save 24
Level 6: Discipline 1, Save 27
Level 7: Discipline 1, Save 30
Level 8: Discipline 1, Save 33
Level 9: Discipline 1, Save 36
Level 10: Discipline 1, Save 39
Level 11: Discipline 1, Save 42
Level 12: Discipline 1, Save 45
Level 13: Discipline 1, Save 48
Level 14: Discipline 1, Save 51
Level 15: Discipline 1, Save 54
Level 16: Discipline 1, Save 57
Level 17: Discipline 1, Save 60
Level 18: Discipline 1, Save 63
Level 19: Discipline 1, Save 66
Level 20: Discipline 1, Save 69
Level 21: Discipline 1, Save 72
Level 22: Discipline 1, Save 75
Level 23: Discipline 1, Save 78
Level 24: Discipline 1, Save 81
Level 25: Discipline 1, Save 84
Level 26: Discipline 1, Save 87
Level 27: Discipline 1, Save 90
Level 28: Discipline 1, Save 93
Level 29: Discipline 1, Save 96
Level 30: Discipline 1, Save 99
Level 31: Discipline 1, Save 102
Level 32: Discipline 1, Save 105
Level 33: Discipline 1, Save 108
Level 34: Discipline 1, Save 111
Level 35: Discipline 1, Save 114
Level 36: Discipline 1, Save 117
Level 37: Discipline 1, Save 120
Level 38: Discipline 1, Save 123
Level 39: Discipline 1, Perform 4, Spellcraft 42, Tumble 40, UMD 42
Level 40: Discipline 1, Perform 4, Spellcraft 1
_________________
Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.

Edited By Mithdradates on 09/21/06 21:30

What happened to the clumsy paladin club, Mith?

Anyway, another monster. If you keep undoing us it's going to make us look bad, though. I like it mith! I am a HUGE fan of your builds, esp the cleric/rdd/bard! The one thing I dont get from this is, why 2 bard lvls? I know 19 dd gets nothing, but 21 pally would give you that extra spell duration! LOL I say, if you are gonna go cheese, go BIG!

THe thing I see from this is, it would save you the 1 lvl xp penalty. Just my 2 cents
_________________
Quote: Posted 07/24/06 22:47:54 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

You should listen to avado

Quote: Posted 09/21/06 23:42:29 (GMT) -- avarielo

What happened to the clumsy paladin club, Mith?

Anyway, another monster. If you keep undoing us it's going to make us look bad, though.

DwD can't be clumsy.

Nicely done Mith, it's just a pity to end on an odd CON score but there's not much you can do about it, apart lowering starting INT and DEX to 13... something I wouldn't do. Dwarven Paladins are something special, I'm quite fond of them. There used to be one (the only one ever existed in that environment) in my PnP 2nd Ed. campaign. What a blast! Concept wise it would have surely qualified for Paladin/DwD.


Cheers,
Kail
_________________
Unto to the darkness
I commend my soul
Never shall I repent
Never shall I be saved

I'll go into the House of Death
Before my last breath
My enemies all shall die!