D&D 3E/3.5 (3.5e)Charging paladin

[Kharrne]

Hey everyone, i was wondering about a few things... If i take the 2 weapon fighting feat and the 2 weapon pounce feat, don't i get 2 attacks while charging? Also, is there a feat or a variant or something that allows to stack paladin with let's say, fighter, for your special mount's bonus?

Or another class that stacks with paladin level. Personally putting more lvls in paladin seems somewhat pointless at this stage, since all i gain is smite evil, which, seeing the incredible amount of damage i do right now is not of much use. Also, is there more riding classes than cavalier? Not that i dislike it, simply that i already need all my feats for my current build, and losing 2 of them for weapon focus isn't really worth it. Thanks =D

 

[Shin Okada]

If i take the 2 weapon fighting feat and the 2 weapon pounce feat, don't i get 2 attacks while charging?

Paladin or not, that is exactly what the Two-Weapon Pounce feat is for. You make two attacks when charging.

Also, is there a feat or a variant or something that allows to stack paladin with let's say, fighter, for your special mount's bonus?

Or another class that stacks with paladin level. Personally putting more lvls in paladin seems somewhat pointless at this stage, since all i gain is smite evil, which, seeing the incredible amount of damage i do right now is not of much use. Also, is there more riding classes than cavalier? Not that i dislike it, simply that i already need all my feats for my current build, and losing 2 of them for weapon focus isn't really worth it. Thanks =D

I don't know any Fighter/Paladin multiclass feat and such.

If you want some extra feats for achieving the two-weapon style feat tree while keeping your mount's strength, Devoted Tracker feat (PHB 2) lets you multiclass between Paladin and Ranger. Your mount gets both benefits as a special mount and an animal companion (thus effective enough as your partner). And you will gain ranger's virtual two-weapon fighting feat.

Also, If you take Champion of the Wild alternative class feature in Complete Champion, you can get some bonus feats by giving up spellcasting ability as a ranger.

But if you go Ranger/Paladin multiclass, maybe keeping spellcasting ability is a better option. There is a 2nd-level ranger spell Lion's Charge which enables you to make a full attack when charging.

 

[Elethiomel]

Paladin spells must not be discounted for ridiculous charge damage; Rhino's Rush, for instance. Also, feats like Awesome Smite makes Smite Evil rather useful because it allows you to ignore miss chance when smiting; at high levels as attack bonuses outstrip AC bonuses, miss chance becomes more and more important. As such, bypassing it becomes more and more valuable.

That said, yes, if you stack paladin features and the right feats, charging paladins can be utterly ridiculous. I made an ECL 13 paladin once that could one-shot any demon or devil in the monster manual with 95% probability.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

There are Paladin multiclass feats, mostly if not all from Complete Adventurer. I know there's one for Paladin/Bard (you'll need to do alignment limbo until getting the feat, which allows lawful bards as well) and Paladin/Ranger. Ranger combo has more synergy of those two.

Paladin Spells: As noted, in non-core, these can rock. Also, there's a feat in Complete Champion to cast all standard action Pal spells as swift actions, which is quite nice. Furthermore, even if you don't keep going in Paladin, you can still use wands of the spells.

Prestige Classes: A few options I know of.

Lots of stuff in Book of Exalted Deeds. Best fit might be Fist of Raziel.

Halfling Outrider: Really great PrC for melee or ranged. Halfling only. Levels stack with Paladin for mount and Ranger for animal companion (ie, awesome if dual classed with the Paladin/Ranger feat). Complete Warrior (CW).
Wild Plains Outrider: Only 3 levels, I thnk it stacks for mount. Complete Adventurer (CV).


If you don't mind not doing mounted combat, Crusader is a really awesome base class to multiclass with. It gets some charisma benefits, and with White Raven and Divine Spirit disciplines to focus on, can get lots of charging maneuvers for bonus damage. The class itself is similar in theme to a Paladin, too. It's found in Tome of Battle.
The other good base class to combine if you DO want to be mounted is Knight, from PH 2. It's good for several levels, giving some mounted combat feats and cha-based abilities to draw enemies to attack you, as well as making your threatened area difficult terrain.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Or another class that stacks with paladin level. Personally putting more lvls in paladin seems somewhat pointless at this stage, since all i gain is smite evil, which, seeing the incredible amount of damage i do right now is not of much use. Also, is there more riding classes than cavalier? Not that i dislike it, simply that i already need all my feats for my current build, and losing 2 of them for weapon focus isn't really worth it. Thanks =D

Well, it depends on the specifics. What are your stengths, what are your weaknesses, and which of the two do you want to address?

I am playing a 12th level balanced concept single-classed Paladin who happens to have the Extra Smiting feat already. I am going to pick up Awesome Strike as my new feat for the reasons Elethiomel suggests. What is going to screw me up at this level is not a lack of damage output, although I am sure I lag yours by a country mile, but things like Concealment or other miss chances.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

First, welcome to the boards!

Another PrCl that stacks with Paladin pretty well is the Kensai. With an inherent weapon-enhancing ability and a situational +8Str bonus that is untyped, and the ability to continue multiclassing with Paladin, its a solid choice.

The Hospitaler PrCl also allows free multiclassing with Paladin.

After taking the requisite Rogue levels, Shadowbane Inquisitor has some interesting abilities, and may freely multiclass both Rogue and Paladin levels.

An unusual choice might be the Warpriest PrCl. You'd gain an actual Domain and some handy spells and abilities. You won't be able to gain further Paladin levels, though.

In addition, if you don't want to play a mounted charging Paladin, consider the Charging Smite alternative class feature (PHB2).

 

[Aus_Snow]

The Paladin/Ranger multiclassing feat is probably the one you want. Basically, it stacks the Paladin's Special Mount and the Ranger's Animal Companion features, for (usually) a horse. You might also want to take that feat that gives you +3 effective levels for the Animal Companion feature (Complete Champion? can't quite remember. . .) - if indeed, the animal in question in that important, and you want it to (hopefully) survive. And yes, I'll second the recommendation for the alternate (non-caster) Ranger, from Complete Champion.

Heh, TWF Paladin/Ranger. . . lemme see. . . Holy Avenger (preferred hand) and Sun Blade (off hand) - old skool (er, kinda) and hella fun!