Help designing a Hammer of Moradin

[Enforcer]

Hi folks, I was wondering if you could help me design a 7th level Shield Dwarf Paladin for a Forgotten Realms campaign. I want him to qualify for the Hammer of Moradin PrC as soon as possible (9th level being his first PrC level). Basically the idea for this character is that he's the Ultimate Dwarven Hero(tm).

The campaign I'm in has 30 pts of point buy and I get the standard 19,000gp for a 7th level character. I know I could qualify as a Ftr/Clr, but I want a pure Paladin unless someone can make a very convincing argument for a Ftr 5/Clr 3 (please include domains you'd pick if you want to try).

I guess it's important to note that this character would be the party's healer...but I'm honestly not too stuck on this role.

Here's what I've done, feel free to suggest changes.

Str 16 (15 start, +1 from 4th level)--8 pts.
Dex 10--2 pts.
Con 14 (12 +2 racial)--4 pts.
Int 12--4 pts.
Wis 14 (needed to cast 2nd level divine spells at Pal 8, a prereq for the PrC)--6 pts.
Cha 14 (14 -2 racial, +2 Cloak of Charisma)--6pts.

From these ability scores, I'd be bumping Charisma at 8th and 12th level and Strength from there on out. I'm guessing a few people will tell me to dump Intelligence, but I'm kind of a sucker for skill points. Wisdom isn't an option because of the prerequisites to the Hammer of Moradin PrC and my desire to qualify as soon as possible.

Feats:
Weapon Focus (Warhammer)--prereq
Iron Will--prereq
Divine Vigor--from Complete Warrior, spend a turn undead for +2hp/level and +10 ft. of speed for a number of min. equal to Cha mod

Skills:
Craft (weaponsmithing) 10 ranks--prereq
Diplomacy 5 ranks (and a +4 bonus from synergies)
Knowledge (nobility) 5 ranks
Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks
Sense Motive 5 ranks

Equipment:
Warhammer +1 (2312 gp)
Full Plate +2 (5650 gp)
Darkwood Heavy Shield (257 gp)
Cloak of Charisma +2 (4000 gp)
Boots of Striding and Springing (5500 gp)
Wand of Cure Light Wounds (750 gp)
345 gp of adventuring gear, noble's outfit and jewelry, etc.
185 gp remaining

Things I'm considering:
-Making Str 14 and Cha 16 (with the Cloak bonus included). This will increase my saves, undead attempts, lay on hands, and smite attack bonus at the expense of combat power. Charisma also affects the goblin/drow/giant bashing abilities and the chaos crusher ability. Note the PrC's Powerful Grip ability as well as how Strength affects the quake and power strike abilities.

-Ditching the +2 on the Full Plate and buying Gauntlets of Ogre Power or Gloves of Dexterity

-Ditching the boots of striding and springing for Gauntlets of Ogre Power or Gloves of Dexterity

I appreciate any help you can give me!

 

[Junkheap]

I am currently playing one right now and i am 7th level as well. Say with the same score as you picked(Dont care much about the charisma actually but thats fine)

Str 16 (15 start, +1 from 4th level)--8 pts.
Dex 10--2 pts.
Con 14 (12 +2 racial)--4 pts.
Int 12--4 pts.
Wis 14 (needed to cast 2nd level divine spells at Pal 8, a prereq for the PrC)--6 pts.
Cha 14 (14 -2 racial, +2 Cloak of Charisma)--6pts.

OK this is what i did/ planning to do

Cleric 4/Fighter 4/Battlesmith(Races of Stone 3)/Fist Of Moradin 9

I chose cleric 4 becuase in Races of Stone there is a 4th lvl Dwarven cleric substituion level where you get +2 to dmg with a warhammer in melee, with the sacrifice of a second level slot.

Fighter 4 due to Weapon Specialization

Battlesmith lets you create your own weapons and armour plus it give you wisdom bonus to damage with your warhammer.

Fist of Moradin is self explantory

So, at 7th lvl you should be Cleric 4/Fighter 3

Next 2 level you should be getting an extra +3 to damage from wis/specialization. I built this mainly as a heavy damage dwarf and he does heavy heavy damage with a warhammer.

Feat list
1st lvl: Axethrower(PGTF), Use str instead of dex for throwing warhammer
3rd lvl: Wpn Focus(Warhammer)
4th Lvl: Fighter bonus: Endurance
5th Lvl: Fighter bonus: Iron Will
6th Lvl: Your Pick(Took earth heritage from Planar Hb +1 Dmg when U and opponent are standing on ground)

I like it a lot. My friends modification of this is that he doesnt take cleric at all. Instead he takes 3 Dwarf Paragorn/ 2 Fighter/ 3 Pious Templar. Then into battle smith and then into Hammer

 

[Enforcer]

Feat list
1st lvl: Axethrower(PGTF), Use str instead of dex for throwing warhammer
3rd lvl: Wpn Focus(Warhammer)
4th Lvl: Fighter bonus: Endurance
5th Lvl: Fighter bonus: Iron Will
6th Lvl: Your Pick(Took earth heritage from Planar Hb +1 Dmg when U and opponent are standing on ground)

You can't have both Axethrower and the Hammer of Moradin prestige class... The required region for Hammer of Moradin is Spine of the World, Axethrower is only available to dwarves from the Great Glacier. And why did you pick Endurance? I assume it's a prereq for the Battlesmith class? I don't have Races of Stone so I'll have to look at a friend's copy to see if it fits with my vision for this character.

I actually tested out a Clr 4/Ftr 4 vs. the straight Pal 8 and found out a few things. Obviously the Ftr/Clr does more damage thanks to weapon specialization (and improved Strength by substituting gauntlets of ogre power for the cloak), but the straight paladin is actually a comparable healer, especially with an Eagle's Splendor spell to improve lay on hands.

I think the extra class abilities of the Paladin outweigh the Ftr/Clr's extra damage, however. Divine grace, smiting, detect evil, and the mount are pretty darn spiffy (aura of courage is moot because it overlaps with Hammer of Moradin). Also my skills came out a lot better as a Paladin--higher Diplomacy (much higher), Sense Motive, and Knowledge (nobility) are a lot better for roleplaying than my Ftr/Clr's Climb, Intimidate, and Jump.

What I have done to the Paladin build, however, is trade in the +2 bonus on the Full Plate for Gauntlets of Ogre Power, then moved 2 points of Strength into Charisma. This means equal combat prowess, better saves, better healing, slightly better smiting, better Diplomacy, and 2 points from my AC. I'm not sure if I'm happy with this or not yet though.

 

[Enforcer]

Bump.

Nobody else has any thoughts?

 

[Shadeus]

Str 16 (15 + 1 level) - 8 pts
Dex 10 - 2 pts
Con 16 (14 + 2 racial) - 6 pts
Int 10 - 2 pts
Wis 12 - 4 pts
Cha 15 (15 - 2 racial + 2 cloak) - 8 pts * put level 8 point here

This character should not be the primary healer. He/she is a focused fighter, with some spell requirement as more of a punishment than a help. The PrC gains no spell progression either. If this character is to fill the role of healer, ditch the PrC and look for another. Or go straight cleric.

However, if you are looking for a fighter with a few cleric powers, I would go fighter 4/cleric 4. There is no reason to go fighter 5: it gives you next to no advantage (slightly more hp). At least the cleric level gets you slightly more spells. By not going paladin, you reduce your wisdom requirement and you also gain more precious feats. Paladins do have some nifty abilities, but is healing 16 pts from a lay on hands worth it? No chance. You are better off investing in wands of CLW instead.

Feats: weapon focus (warhammer), weapon spec (warhammer), iron will, power attack, divine might, Quick Draw

Alternative feats: lightning reflexes (your Reflex saves will be really bad), point blank shot

Quick draw is good if you plan to use the throwing feature frequently so you can throw multiple hammers in a round (each returning, which is a pretty cool visual).

Your turn attempts will be fairly useless, so gettting a divine vigor or divine might is a good idea. Power Attack is always a good feat and a pre-req to cleave and imp. sunder. If you want to save the feat, go divine vigor instead and then get PBS or lightning reflexes.

Equipment: your list was fine.

At fighter 4/cleric 3:
Attack: +11/+6 (1d8+6, +1 warhammer)

 

[mikebr99]

I'll second the... accomplish your role as a healer with wands!

And, this is a regional PrC... are you expecting to work and live in the region? Because I, as your DM would have misgivings about letting you have the PrC, if you weren'y also serving Citadel Adbar. YMMV

Mike

 

[Storminator]

As a completely different tack, you can go Ranger 8/ HoM X.

The Ranger gets huge skill points, and you think those bane powers are going to come up, you can double up with favored enemies. Take the archery track and Quickdraw and throw more hammers, or take TWF track and hammer and shield bash...

You'd have to use wands for the healing, but it's another option to consider

PS