Questions about creating a Drow DEX-Paladin. Any suggestions/recommendations?

[lkwpeter]

Hi!

First things first: We are starting a new campaign soon. Because our DM wants some more interesting RP interactions for the new adventure, I had the idea playing a Drow Paladin. Guess, a Drow in the party will spice adventuring up for sure. ;-) I know I have to find some workarounds for sunlight and some reasons for being neutral- or good-aligned. That's not the point for this topic.

My build ideas:

We are starting with level 3! Therefore, I had the following in mind:

Race: Drow
Class: DEX-based paladin
Abilities: ST 8, DEX 15+2, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 10 or 12, CHA 14+1 or 15+1. [WIS/CHA depends on feats, see below]
Oath: Vengeance or Ancients

Fighting Style:

• I'd pick a finesse weapon until level 4 and go for the Double Bladed Scimitar then, that allows an extra attack as bonus action (dealing 1d4 + mod. dmg).
• On level 4, I'd also pick the Revenant Blade feat that gives +1AC, +1DEX and increases bonus action damage to 2d4 + mod.
• On level 8 I would either go for Elven Accuracy or ASI +2 DEX.

That's a rough sketch.


I have some thoughts/questions I'd like to discuss:

​
1.) Is multiclassing Warlock worth it?

- 3 level Warlock offer CHA-based attacks with the double scimitar (Hexblade), some extra spells/cantrips (e. g. Green Flame Blade), and some utility stuff.

- I could go for heavy armor, focus on CHA/CON (and ignore DEX/ST almost totally).

- On the other hand, I am 3 Paladin levels behind what seems quite much. And playing a DEX-paladin seems to be strong as well (and could be combined with scouting - we have no scout yet).



2.) Abilitiy scores / Elven Accuracy:

a) On level 8: Should I go for Elven Accuracy (putting one point into CHA) or DEX 20 first? Everybody says that Elven Accury is pretty awesome. I see that getting 3 dice on advantage (instead of 2 dice) is nice. But I don't see me getting much Advantage anyway. So, isn't that feat bit overrated?

b) I guess, deciding for or against Elven Accuracy also determines, whether or not I would create a character with CHA 15 / WIS 12 (putting 1 point into CHA with the feat) or CHA 16 / WIS 10. What would you do?


Post is long enought. Guess, I should find an end here. ;-)

Would be glad about answers!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mort]

I didn't see mention of paladin oath?

Oath of vengeance can help greatly with getting advantage, at least a few times a day.

Though, for your build and being an elf, oath of ancients works great too.

​
1.) Is multiclassing Warlock worth it?

- 3 level Warlock offer CHA-based attacks with the double scimitar (Hexblade), some extra spells/cantrips (e. g. Green Flame Blade), and some utility stuff.

- I could go for heavy armor, focus on CHA/CON (and ignore DEX/ST almost totally).

- On the other hand, I am 3 Paladin levels behind what seems quite much. And playing a DEX-paladin seems to be strong as well (and could be combined with scouting - we have no scout yet).

Keep in mind, if you multi into warlock you are also significantly delaying your ASI/feat acquisition. As well as delaying extra attacks, something this build could really use (I believe thirsting blade has been erratad to key of warlock levels only). Also the truly beefy paladin 6 feature (cha bonus to all saves) will be delayed or not come into play.

Warlock is a good fit for paladins but, in early levels, I personally like straight paladin (playing a dex paladin right now, in fact, currently 5th level)

2.) Abilitiy scores / Elven Accuracy:

a) On level 8: Should I go for Elven Accuracy (putting one point into CHA) or DEX 20 first? Everybody says that Elven Accury is pretty awesome. I see that getting 3 dice on advantage (instead of 2 dice) is nice. But I don't see me getting much Advantage anyway. So, isn't that feat bit overrated?

b) I guess, deciding for or against Elven Accuracy also determines, whether or not I would create a character with CHA 15 / WIS 12 (putting 1 point into CHA with the feat) or CHA 16 / WIS 10. What would you do?

Elven accuracy is quite potent for a paladin because divine smite can be applied after you see if you hit. That means 1. You hit more and can smite more 2. That 5% extra crit chance can be put to pretty good use.

Still though, getting DEX to 20 is likely better overall, the +1 to hit AND dex saves is important. I'd go for revenant blade or elven acuracy, not both.

 

[Mort]

Also, keep in mind, unless your DM allows you to ignore the rule, you can't multiclass unless you get your strength up to 13.

That's a pretty big minus (and why multiclass builds tend to focus on strength paladins).

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Firstly, check with your DM about the Double Scimitar weapon and Revenant Blade feat, since those are specific to a particular setting and may not be suitable for their game. (And would not be generally suitable for a Drow character in that setting ;-) )

Also note that until you hit level 4 you are going to be making Double-scimitar attacks using your Str score of 8, not your Dex.

What Oath would the Paladin be?

Going warlock has a lot of non-mechanical baggage associated with it. Note that if you're going to be using heavy armour, you will probably want enough Str to move in it well though.

If you can get a reliable method of getting advantage and your DM is allowing weapon crits to multiply Smite damage, Elven Accuracy is useful for extra chances of getting a crit even if you're hitting reliably already.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Double-bladed scimitar is specific to Eberron, and a very specific culture there. RAW, no one else is proficient in it. You would have to use the Weapon Master feat. It's also supposed to have RP drawbacks if anyone else uses it, to balance it being very overpowered.

 

[Mort]

Double-bladed scimitar is specific to Eberron, and a very specific culture there. RAW, no one else is proficient in it. You would have to use the Weapon Master feat. It's also supposed to have RP drawbacks if anyone else uses it, to balance it being very overpowered.

Very true.

In addition, as mentioned above, it's actually a terrible weapon for most elven builds - when was the last time you saw an elf built for strength? For the build proposed, even if allowed, you're better off using a short sword or rapier until 4th level.

The fact that the weapon doesn't work as intended and who it's intended for, without a feat, just seems like terrible design.

Frankly, assuming they do as they stated and update the Wayfairer's Guide based on feedback and playtesting, I'll be surprised if it survives the first round as is. Which also indicates that using it in a build is not ideal.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Very true.

In addition, as mentioned above, it's actually a terrible weapon for most elven builds - when was the last time you saw an elf built for strength? For the build proposed, even if allowed, you're better off using a short sword or rapier until 4th level.

The fact that the weapon doesn't work as intended and who it's intended for, without a feat, just seems like terrible design.

Frankly, assuming they do as they stated and update the Wayfairer's Guide based on feedback and playtesting, I'll be surprised if it survives the first round as is. Which also indicates that using it in a build is not ideal.

I'm not sure where you're getting all this from? Are you looking at the weapon solely from a mechanical optimisation point of view?
Nothing in the setting suggests that the Valenar dump their Strength the way a minmaxed PC might do, and they are exceptional within the setting in that a significant number of them are actually high enough level to have feats.

 

[Mort]

I'm not sure where you're getting all this from? Are you looking at the weapon solely from a mechanical optimisation point of view?
Nothing in the setting suggests that the Valenar dump their Strength the way a minmaxed PC might do, and they are exceptional within the setting in that a significant number of them are actually high enough level to have feats.

Even in Eberron elves favor finesse and grace over strength - they still get the same +2 dex after all.

The fact that their "signature" weapon goes against their racial proclivities? That's just odd design. And requiring a feat to "fix" that is also odd.

But, more importantly, and to stop hijacking the thread, it's not a good fit for this character at 3rd level (you're attacking with disadvantage much of the time AND at a -1, ouch).

 

[lkwpeter]

Thanks for all your answers! Quite happy about it!

I didn't see mention of paladin oath?

Oath of vengeance can help greatly with getting advantage, at least a few times a day.

Though, for your build and being an elf, oath of ancients works great too.

Sorry, I fortgot! Yes, I was thinking about Vengeance or Ancients as well. Think, I'd rather go for Vengeance.

Keep in mind, if you multi into warlock you are also significantly delaying your ASI/feat acquisition. As well as delaying extra attacks, something this build could really use (I believe thirsting blade has been erratad to key of warlock levels only). Also the truly beefy paladin 6 feature (cha bonus to all saves) will be delayed or not come into play.

Warlock is a good fit for paladins but, in early levels, I personally like straight paladin (playing a dex paladin right now, in fact, currently 5th level)

Thanks, your answer sounds absolutely plausible. I know that I had to go ST13, but I forgot to take this into account while posting. But it's just another reason against Warlock. Guess, pure Paladin is the strongest way to play such a class, right?

In addition, as mentioned above, it's actually a terrible weapon for most elven builds - when was the last time you saw an elf built for strength? For the build proposed, even if allowed, you're better off using a short sword or rapier until 4th level.

Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to do. Getting a finesse weapon until level 4.

Double-bladed scimitar is specific to Eberron, and a very specific culture there. RAW, no one else is proficient in it. You would have to use the Weapon Master feat. It's also supposed to have RP drawbacks if anyone else uses it, to balance it being very overpowered.

Yes, I know it comes from Eberron. But there doesn't seem to be any reason not to take this weapon into the Forgotton Realms, is it? Our DM wants us to play "interesting characters that enrich the campaign and adventuring feeling". So, I was thinking to play an Drow (instead of Human: Variant) and live with Sunlight Sensitivity (there might be a workaround at some point later on). In return, I'd ask him to get a stylish play style.

Are there any strong alternatives for the Double Bladed Scimitar + Revenant Blade Feat?

 

[Guest 6801328]

Just ask [MENTION=6799753]lowkey13[/MENTION] and do whatever he says.