min/max this Paladin

[Grundle]

Here's my situation:
The over-confident wizard in our 8th level party has decided to take on a dragon without the rest of the party. Fortunately, we all get to roll-up separate characters to participate in the dragon horde raiding (or TPK). I'm going with a human Paladin. Probably worships Rao (weird, I know).

Here are my initial rolls (4d6, drop worst method):
17, 14, 15, 13, 9, 12

So, do your best - what's your idea of an 8th level Paladin that rocks!

PS
The other thing I was toying with was taking 2 levels of Fighter (for the feats). I don't see any down side to going Pal6/Ftr2 other than delaying increases in the number of Remove Disease/week - who cares? Am I missing something?

 

[Savage Wombat]

Personally, I like Divine Might - if you have access to DotF. Get that high CHA and then add it to your damage rolls. Power Attack is a prereq.

Of course, paladins don't have a lot of feats to work with. I have often wondered if an Aasimar paladin would be worth the +1 ECL for the bonus to CHA.

 

[Vinyafod]

If you just need that Char for the Dragonfight go for this:

Human 6 Pal/ 2 Ftr

STR: 15
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 9
WIS: 12
CHA: 18 (including lvl 4 increase)

1st Level Paladin - Feats : Powerattack, Mounted Combat
2nd Level Paladin
3rd Level Paladin Feat: Divine Might (from DotF)
4th Level Paladin Statpoint: Charisma
5th Level Paladin
6th Level Paladin Feat: Extra Smiting (from DotF)
7th Level Fighter Ftr-Feat: Ride-by Attack
8th Level Fighter Ftr-Feat: Spirited Charge

Then "ride-by charge" the dragon with a heavy lance from horseback using Divine Might and Smite Evil (the Dragon will most likely be evil).

8 BAB + 2 STR + 2 Charge + 4 Smite Evil = +16 to hit (plus possible enhancement bonuses)

1d8 + 2 STR +6 Smite Evil +4 Divine Might = 1d8+12 tripled by Spirited Charge for a total of 3d8+36 (plus 3x possible enhancement bonuses)

Then have a second run using your extra smiting per day. Can't think of any other way dealing same or even more damage at the moment. This for sure only works if you have enough room to operate mounted.

Nevertheless... just an idea..

 

[Storminator]

If you're not keeping the PC, toss the 9 into INT. The piss poor skills won't matter.

Put the 17 in CHA. I too like the Divine Might feat, and I think 2 levels of fighter are a good idea. Unless you want the higher levels for the mount. (is spell casting better?)

Probably put the +2 stats into STR and CON, and the +1s in DEX & WIS.

Gotta go, so sorry.

PS

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Only the Lay on Hands, the 2 extra points from Smite, and maybe a 2nd level spell. If you go the Spirited Charge route, those 2 extra points get multiplied out.

The Lay on Hands is nothing to sneeze at, actually. You could have a Cha mod of +5. 40 points is the best combat healing "spell" your party will have.

If you want to stack offensive, either go Spirited Charge, Power Attack, potion of True Strike, Rhino Hide armor, on your Paladin Warhorse, OR go Improved Crit Falchion (pick up a level of Fighter at 8th to grab the feat) with Blessed Weapon (does not work with Keen) and Divine Might. Blessed Weapon can work very nicely with Power Attack if you can guestimate the AC of your intended victim.

A few other ideas:
--Scrolls: Your caster level will be 3 or 4. There are a few of 2nd and 3rd level spells on your list that can be useful in a knockdown, drag out fight you do not want to overlook, even if you only have a 90-95% chance of success.
--Spring Attack: dragon AoOs are a nightmare
--Close Quarter Fighting: dragons with grappling feats are an even bigger nightmare

 

[RogueJK]

If you just need that Char for the Dragonfight go for this:

Human 6 Pal/ 2 Ftr

STR: 15
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 9
WIS: 12
CHA: 18 (including lvl 4 increase)

1st Level Paladin - Feats : Powerattack, Mounted Combat
2nd Level Paladin
3rd Level Paladin Feat: Divine Might (from DotF)
4th Level Paladin Statpoint: Charisma
5th Level Paladin
6th Level Paladin Feat: Extra Smiting (from DotF)
7th Level Fighter Ftr-Feat: Ride-by Attack
8th Level Fighter Ftr-Feat: Spirited Charge

If you decide to go this route, buy yourself some Rhino Hide armor. It'll help increase your damage on a charge.

(And you forgot the stat increase at 8th level... I'd put that point into Strength.)

 

[Grundle]

Some great ideas there folks, thanks.

I'm looking at the armor enchancement for DotF, "command". Has this thing been erratta'ed or something? Its a pretty good deal as I understand it: +4 CHA bonus, +2 to all allies saves within 30ft for the cost of a +1 armor enchancement.

 

[Zenon]

I would skip any of the Riding Feats unless you spring for a flying mount.

No self-respecting dragon is going to let anyone charging around on a warhorse come anywhere near him. He's going to be busy flying around and frying your mount with breath weapon attacks.

On the other hand, a Griffon or a Pegasus mount? Now we're talking....

 

[der_kluge]

I'd put a level into Ranger and make the favored enemy dragons.

Isn't there a dragon hunter (or more than one) PrC floating around out there, too?