Avenging Paladin - Fair or not?

[vhailor]

I thought I'd try an Avenging Dragonborn Paladin, but after I looked the powers, I saw that the distribution of powers between the two builds(strength, charisma) was totally unfair for Avenging Paladins.
Especially at level 9, he has no power(based on strength) to choose. Also, in every level where you have to choose from three offered powers, two are always based on charisma.

Later, I thought about multiclassing and guessed I'd go for a power of the second class, but still is unacceptable.

 

[Obryn]

I thought I'd try an Avenging Dragonborn Paladin, but after I looked the powers, I saw that the distribution of powers between the two builds(strength, charisma) was totally unfair for Avenging Paladins.
Especially at level 9, he has no power(based on strength) to choose. Also, in every level where you have to choose from three offered powers, two are always based on charisma.

Later, I thought about multiclassing and guessed I'd go for a power of the second class, but still is unacceptable.

Yeah, at some levels, a strength-based Paladin gets hurt a bit. If you have a decent Charisma, it's not horrible, but it's still not great. I'd suggest that everyone playing a strength-based Paladin get a high Charisma if they don't want to multi-class.

Personally, I'd suggest just multi-classing into Fighter or Warlord. Not only are the Multiclass feats probably among the best feats in the game, you get plenty of feats to play around with. Pick up the Daily power-swap, and you're set. You'll still have 4 more feats to work with in the rather lackluster Heroic tier.

-O

 

[SadisticFishing]

Fighter also gives you a new mark every combat, and opens up the Pit Fighter paragon path, if you've got high wisdom and it suits the character concept.

But yes, it sucks. Personally I'd either multiclass fighter or try to work with my DM and make a new one.

 

[Stalker0]

I'd argue that the avenging paladin is probably the best evidence that WOTC just did not do a proper job reviewing the books.

There's a ton of errata already, including a lot of monsters that got some fairly major adjustments. But the fact that they "forgot" to give one of the core builds a power at 9th is the icing on the cake. What makes it worse is that there is only 1 strength based 5th level power AND 1 strength based 1st level power. Meaning even if a strength paladin wanted to just pick a power from a lower level, he has likely already gotten all the strength based dailies he can.

I'll throw my love on 4e when its due (and there is definitely some due), but stuff like this is just plain sloppy.

 

[bganon]

I don't think it was really an oversight.

There are four other classes with Str-based melee powers (fighter, cleric, warlord, ranger). In fact, outside of Rogue and Paladin powers, pretty much every melee power is Str-based. I think they decided that there were simply so many other Str-based melee powers already that the Paladin was their opportunity to print some Cha-based ones.

Besides, if you actually look at the Paladin powers, some of the Cha-based powers have nice effects that don't require a hit anyway. At level 9, both Ones Stands Alone and Crown of Glory are just fine for a Str-based Paladin, as the damage (which is pretty small) isn't really the point. Crown of Glory's pretty great, actually, since it makes the paladin in some ways stickier than a fighter for an entire encounter.

 

[Patlin]

My Strength based Paladin multiclassed into Cleric, will take Crown of Glory at 9th for the reasons bganon stated, but will swap it out at 10th level via multiclassing feat for Divine Power. I'm pretty happy with the build, so I'd say it's fair enough.

 

[FireLance]

This is the reason that I came up with the following matched pair of feats:

Spirit of Power (Paladin, Divinity)
Prerequisites: Paladin, Channel Divinity class feature
Benefit: You can invoke the power of your deity to use spirit of power.

Channel Divinity: Spirit of Power
Class Feat Power
Your physical strength fuels your next attack.
Encounter * Divine
Minor Action
Personal
Effect: You may use your Strength modifier instead of your Charisma modifier when making attack rolls and damage rolls for the next paladin attack power you use this turn.​

Strength of Spirit (Paladin, Divinity)
Prerequisites: Paladin, Channel Divinity class feature
Benefit: You can invoke the power of your deity to use strength of spirit.

Channel Divinity: Strength of Spirit
Class Feat Power
Your strength of personality fuels your next attack.
Encounter * Divine
Minor Action
Personal
Effect: You may use your Charisma modifier instead of your Strength modifier when making attack rolls and damage rolls for the next paladin attack power you use this turn.​

 

[Minigiant]

Str based Paladins will qualify for more weapon feats, have a stronger oppurtunity attack, better Fort (Important to defender to avoid pushes), and more multiclass options. You sacrifice your powers for better FUNDAMENTALS.

 

[Styracosaurus]

The damage from the chosen powers is low anyway, mostly you gain from the effect. You get a bit of a bonus if you are a Charisma based character, but the beef of the power is still there.

 

[zillah]

Avenging paladins are less MAD. Cha paladins need cha, wis, con, and str if hammer rhythm, and dex as well if they want HBO...
I play a str paladin and the powers are fine. if anything the utilities need work, not the attacks.
STR paladins are less MAD