Help Making Paladin....

[Artoomis]

Well, if a small one just doesn't do it for you (though my 11th level halfling paladin, who is NOT very powerful, typically does 4d6 + 24 damage, 4d6 + 68 on a smite), then you'll just have to be a boring ol' regular paladin.

There are some cool prestige classes out there, but none I have seen quite make the grade for me, anyway, when it come to trade-offs.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Well, the one you mentioned (hospitaler) gives you "+1 level of existing class" as far as spellcasting goes. So you could be a fighter 4, paladin 1, hospitaler 3. Add your hospitaler level to your paladin level (for spellcasting purposes alone) and you cast spells as a level 4 paladin, getting 0 plus any bonus spells to prepare. The problem would be that you would only get up to level 11 for spellcasting and that would not get you the holy weapon spell. You would have to take another prestige class that gave you the +1 level of existing class ability. Or get more levels of paladin before you take the PrC.

Another way to go is to take the Cavalier PrC in Sword & Fist. It has benefits for your mounted combat path. Or forget the paladin altogether and be an elven fighter or ranger and take the holy liberator PrC. It is paladin-like, but requires a chaotic good alignment.

 

[reapersaurus]

Thanks guys, although the small paladin may be more suitable to dungeon enviorment I don't think it fits my image of a paladin. I just can't see some little 4 foot tall guy smiting evil. I was also thinking of doing something like maybe a Fighter 4 Paladin 1 Hosiptalitor the rest, but then I would loose the acsess to Holy sword (the only real reason I want to have a high "paladin" level).
Is there any prestiege class that would let me keep my paladin spells and still be any good?

in my estimation, unless you go almost STRIGHT paladin, there is no way the spell Holy Sword is going to be very attainable.

Here's the thing: what's the likelihood of you actually REACHING that high of level?
Are you making the character for NOW, or a high-level game?

The more I look at things, the more I think a fighter/cleric/Hospitaler or straight Cleric is more powerful than a paladin, games-mechanic wise.

Smite is really not that powerful, and the lack of feats really kills the paladin.

I think I'll post a thread about it sometime, but I'm almost positive a multiclassed and PrC's fighter/cleric could wipe the floor with a paladin any day.

 

[reapersaurus]

oh, i almost forgot -
unless I'm mistaken, you don't need the Leadership feat to get your special mount.
It's just a variant of the normal mount you get at level 5 - you're delaying it and upping the power.

the only need for Leadership feat is if you get a dragon mount.

 

[Westwind]

Also consider...

Some of the feat chains presented here are pretty good, but I would also consider Iron Will. DMs have a habit of casting enchantment spells on people in platemail and poisoning people in robes (at least in my experience) and a charmed Paladin can have some serious rping problems. Even with the boost they get to saves, this one has saved my guy many times. Now if only he could get Slippery Mind...

Also, beg/bribe/demand your DM to allow the Mirthal Knight prestige class from the Scarred Lands. IMHO, it is the best Paladin prestige class out there (slim pickings, to be sure).

 

[Artoomis]

What is the Mithral Knight all about?

 

[Arcanus]

Yeah I REALLY want to know what the heck the Mithral Knight is too.

For feat ideas I would take Power Attack, Improved Shield Bash, Divine Shield, Divine Might, Shield Charge, Shield Expert.

 

[apsuman]

How about;

A halfling paladin that specializes in dagger thowing and rides an ostrich. the right divine feats (from the DotF) and he is adding his +1 thrown weapons, +1 point blank, +dex, +Cha to hit.

or a forrest gnome paladin (they are only 2 1/2 feet tall) riding in a kangaroo pouch. give the mount a ring of jumping, arm your self with a lance and jump up (way up) and come crashing down lance pointed down of course.

or a dwarf on a mountain goat. no lance, no sword, weapon focus (head butt). Ram (pun intended) headlong into every opponent.

g!

 

[RogueJK]

A halfling paladin that specializes in dagger thowing and rides an ostrich. the right divine feats (from the DotF) and he is adding his +1 thrown weapons, +1 point blank, +dex, +Cha to hit.

Which divine feats are you referring to? None of the feats from DotF allow you to add your Charisma bonus to attack rolls... I believe that you are thinking of Divine Might, which adds your Charisma bonus to damage.

A Paladin can, however, add his Charisma bonus to his attack when Smiting Evil, but that is only usable 1/day.

 

[Arcanus]

If you use Divine Shield feat you get to use your CHA bonus to attack and damage and AC with a shield if you use it for a weapon.

Taking the shield expert feat would still let you keep your shield AC during a shield bash attack.