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<blockquote data-quote="FrogReaver" data-source="post: 7553382" data-attributes="member: 6795602">That ruling came so late into 5th edition after a previous sage advice ruling by the same guy had stated the exact opposite that it's more of the wild west on how any particular DM is going to implement shield master in their particular game.&nbsp; As you level, HAM increases in absolute effectiveness (as enemies get more attacks as you level) while decreasing in relative effectiveness.&nbsp; PAM actually doesn't increase much in effectiveness while lowering in relative effectiveness as you level and gain extra sources of attacks and enemies increase further in HP (extra attack, haste etc).&nbsp; Most every feat decreases in effectiveness in some way as you level.&nbsp; If your not able to spot how then you likely aren't looking through the right lens.I totally agree.&nbsp; There really isn't a best build but there are very optimized builds and very un-optimized builds.&nbsp; I try to take a holistic approach, what aspects of combat would me being good at and exceling at help my team the most and what aspects for out of combat tasks do I think will be the most useful.&nbsp; I try to optimize along both of those axis.&nbsp; Then if I'm melee I personally try to optimize some for offense and some for defense.If my build advice is followed you can have both PAM and HAM by level 4 with 16 str and 16 cha.&nbsp; 1 defensive feat and 1 offensive feat.&nbsp; Order isn't particularly important as either is an amazing feat to begin the game with and both still are pretty strong for most of the level 5+ game.Many still use shield master such that the bonus action shove attack can be used before the attack action.&nbsp; Honestly a shield master paladin doing that ends up being one of the most impressive offensive builds imaginable if built right (it does take till higher levels to get everything you want).As long as it's one of the good feats then they all make a big difference.&nbsp; HAM is one of those feats.&nbsp; So is PAM.&nbsp; So is Inspiring Leader.I'll run those calculations once I finish with my comments</blockquote>

[QUOTE="FrogReaver, post: 7553382, member: 6795602"] That ruling came so late into 5th edition after a previous sage advice ruling by the same guy had stated the exact opposite that it's more of the wild west on how any particular DM is going to implement shield master in their particular game. As you level, HAM increases in absolute effectiveness (as enemies get more attacks as you level) while decreasing in relative effectiveness. PAM actually doesn't increase much in effectiveness while lowering in relative effectiveness as you level and gain extra sources of attacks and enemies increase further in HP (extra attack, haste etc). Most every feat decreases in effectiveness in some way as you level. If your not able to spot how then you likely aren't looking through the right lens. I totally agree. There really isn't a best build but there are very optimized builds and very un-optimized builds. I try to take a holistic approach, what aspects of combat would me being good at and exceling at help my team the most and what aspects for out of combat tasks do I think will be the most useful. I try to optimize along both of those axis. Then if I'm melee I personally try to optimize some for offense and some for defense. If my build advice is followed you can have both PAM and HAM by level 4 with 16 str and 16 cha. 1 defensive feat and 1 offensive feat. Order isn't particularly important as either is an amazing feat to begin the game with and both still are pretty strong for most of the level 5+ game. Many still use shield master such that the bonus action shove attack can be used before the attack action. Honestly a shield master paladin doing that ends up being one of the most impressive offensive builds imaginable if built right (it does take till higher levels to get everything you want). As long as it's one of the good feats then they all make a big difference. HAM is one of those feats. So is PAM. So is Inspiring Leader. I'll run those calculations once I finish with my comments [/QUOTE]

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