Hybrid Human Palladin/Sorcerer build. Strong or weak build?

[Supra_Dictateur]

Hi people, I play a lvl 2 human Sorcerer/Paladin Hybrid. I want to know what you think about this build.

Role: defender/controler

The purpose of this character is to be in the front line, and to deal good amount of dmg on ennemies group.

Ability
str: 16
con:10
dex:12
int: 8
wis:12
cha:18

HP: 33 (lvl 2)

Defenses

AC:21
For:15
Ref:16
Wil:17

Trained Skills:

Atletism
Intimidate
bluff
Streetwise (background)

Feat:
lvl 1: Toughness
lvl 1: paladin armor proficiency (pally hybrid option)
lvl 2: Dragon soul (sorc hybrid option)
lvl 4: Versatile expertise (on dagger)
lvl 6: Implement expertise (dagger)
lvl 8: Focusing spellfury (+2 dmg with at-will that hit more than 1 foe)
lvl 10: Battle Caster Defense (+4 AC vs opportunity att when casting)
lvl 11: Draconic Spellfury (temp hp when hit with at-will hp= str bonus)
**** lvl 11: Switch Battle Caster Defense for Arcane admixture (add acid element on Burning Spray power)
lvl 12: Shield specialisation (+1 shield bonus)
lvl 14: Shield Mastery (shield bonus apply to fortitude)
lvl 16: Paragon defenses (+1 for/ref/wil)
lvl 18: lightning reflexes (+2 ref).
**** lvl 18 Switch paragon defenses for iron will
lvl 20: Great Fortitude (+2 for)


Equipment of choice

Dagger
Plate
Heavy Shield


Actual Powers

at-will:
Burning Spray (close blast 3. 1d8 + cha & str modifier dmg)
Blazing starfall (range burst 1. 1d4 + cha & str modifier dmg)
Virtuous Strike (melee weapon. [W] + cha dmg. +2 saving throw)

Encounter power:
Whirlwind (range burst 1. 1d10 + cha & str modifier dmg. fall prone)

Daily:
Chromatic Orb

Utility:
Virtue (encounter. Spend healing surge. Gain temporary hp instead)

Paragon:
Not sure yet. Maybe justiciar.

Expected to lvl 20, just for the sake of it (with +4 inventory)

AC: 38 (20 + 15 Armor, +3 shield)
For: 35 (20 + 5 str, + 4 cloak, + 3 shield, +2 feat +1 race)
Ref: 32 (20 + 4 cloak, + 3 shield, +2 feat, +1 race, +1 class, +1 dex)
Wil: 34 (20 + 6 cha, + 4 cloak, + 2 feat, +1 race, +1 class)

My team:

Psion, Bard, Avenger, Assasin (well... one thing piss me off. A "true healer" would had really more usefull in our team than a bard. I wouldn't complain as much if this player was good at in managing. anyway.)


General Strategy:

Well, I try to be in front line as much as possible. If im not in front line for whatever reason, or against Range foes, I use my Range burst attack (blazing starfall). When melee foes are on me, i use my Close blast attack, Burning spray.

If there is a dangerous boss that piss me off, I my chromatic orb on his face.

My utility encounter power allow me to gain temporary HP by spending healing surge if I need it.



Comment:

Some people may wonder why i chose human and not dragonborn. I mean, +2 strengh would had been very usefull. And the Breath... well, it seemed "ok" i guess... but.... no!!! The breath is only an Encounter power... and worse, it actually deals less damage than my at-will burning spray (1d8+7 vs 1d6+3).

Human race allow me more flexibility with one more at-will power (allowed me to pick blazing starfall), give me +1 def to for/ref/wil, one free feat (God only know how this character really needs all feats he can get) and one free skill (well, not bad, but i don't really mind it).

As a defender, my character has one problem. Not as much HP than the usual defender. That's what i had to sacrife in order be able to deal good/high damage output at my opponents' faces. But, i'll try to concentrate on paladin power that heals/give temporay HP to compensate this.

Some may not understand why my con ability score is 10, and my dex 12. because some of my sorcerer powers may rely on dex (slide target = dex modifier). And because i didn't want my reflexes to be abyssal. +2 con, its only benefit is +2 hp and +1 healing surge... which, is, by my opinion, not as much usefull.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

You can not take Hybrid Talent more than once.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Off the top of my head, you're only allowed one hybrid talent - not one per class. You're only allowed one Hybrid Talent so you can't take Dragon Soul. Finally you're not using up to date feats; Superior Will is much better than Iron Will and Improved Defences is better than Paragon Defences (pity you don't qualify for Superior Reflex).

As for the breath, it's a minor. You can do it and use burning spray in a turn.

 

[Supra_Dictateur]

Yeah, i found out you are quite right about it.

you can pick it twice, but you need to sacrifice your paragon class at lvl 11

 

[Aulirophile]

As a Defender|Controller? No.

 

[Supra_Dictateur]

Off the top of my head, you're only allowed one hybrid talent - not one per class. You're only allowed one Hybrid Talent so you can't take Dragon Soul. Finally you're not using up to date feats; Superior Will is much better than Iron Will and Improved Defences is better than Paragon Defences (pity you don't qualify for Superior Reflex).

As for the breath, it's a minor. You can do it and use burning spray in a turn.

"Superior stuff", what book does it come from?

 

[nightwyrm]

"Superior stuff", what book does it come from?

One of the new essentials books.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

To be a bit more specific, they are in both of the essentials "heroes" books (so, Heroes of the Forgotten Lands and Heroes of the Fallen Kingdoms) - both books contain all the same feats, except for those that only apply to a class or classes only in one of the books.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Psion, Bard, Avenger, Assasin (well... one thing piss me off. A "true healer" would had really more usefull in our team than a bard. I wouldn't complain as much if this player was good at in managing. anyway.)

Seriously, damage prevention is as effective as straight healing. And bards are excellent debuffers.

Also, re the above build, I'm looking at a monk for AoE damage and front line combat. But looking at that group I think you want a full defender rather than a hybrid with what is probably the squishiest class in the game. You already have two strikers and assassins are seriously helped if you can cut the enemy's movement so they can separate their oath target - a warden, fighter, paladin, cavalier, or knight wouldn't go amiss.

(For that matter, which assassin do you have? A ninja teleporter or an executioner?)

 

[Kerranin]

Sorry but the problem in the group is not the selection of a Bard leader, it is not having a defender who can actually do the role. Either you actually mark in which case you're HP will last a couple of rounds, or you don't mark in which case you're not being a defender and everyone else suffers. You've created a striker who can mark - a lovely combination if you're trying to commit suicide.

As an aside, I play a paladin in a heroic tier game, and virtue is the first thing I do in almost every combat.

Bards do extremely well as skill monkeys and diplomats. (no, really?) Of course, the usefulness of a skill-monkey character is determined by the type of game...

If a bard wanted to be an excellent healer, he would make sure he meets the requirements for multiclassing into Cleric, Warlord, Shaman, etc. That would give him a fair number of daily heals in addition to majestic word. (and train skills with those feats too)