Need help w/makin a 15th level Elven Paladin

[NarlethDrider]

Startin a new game on friday night & I need to have my PC ready prior to the game & its 1:00 am in da mornin---not that I'm lazy or procrastinating (well maybe some) but I've been supine w/my back, but, thanks to some wonderful pain pills, I'm finally able to get to the computer & ask for help

This game has a strong (great! ) Tolkien influence amongst a Shattered Realm (large Floatin islands, dragonships, void vampires & other cool stuff!) The startin out place is a desert shard.

Code/Outlook: (I'm just putting it together at the moment, so stuff may chane )
1) Protect the 'good' weak & those unable to protect themselves.
2) Nuture not nature will determine the 'alignment' of a child born into evil. One must strive to deliver such a child to caring beings
3) History provides insight into the future.
4) A known enemy must be struck quickly to protect your companions, the innocent, & lastly, yourself.
5) Self sacrifice is an acceptable means to protect your companions & the innocent; though such sacrifice should not be foolhardy.
6) Be perceptive at all times, the most hideous visage may house a heart of gold while the most beautiful form my shroud the greatest of evil.
7) Elven babes are HAWT!
8) More to come as I attempt to ignore work tomorrow & post at ENWorld. (j/k)

Race: Elf per PHB
Class: Paladin (obviosly
Level: 15th
Gold: 200,000 (woo-hoo!)
Feats: Limited to the PHB

"Main Weapon": I'd like to use something a little different (for me) & was thinking a double bladed sword (or maybe the double bladed scimitarish version from Eberron). Of course I'd like to use feats that would maximize his ability to do so.

Skills: Of course I'd like to use ones that put his elven bonuses to use . Also, I'd like to invest some points into illustrator (craft?/profession?)

Fighting Style: Fast & furious!

Point Buy: 38. Following is 3 sets of point buy stat I've put together. These do not have racial bonuses/penalties or the +1 every 4 levels added in. Feel free to offer suggestions.

STR: 16
DEX: 14
CON: 16
INT: 12
WIS: 12
CHR: 12

STR: 12
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 12
WIS: 12
CHR: 14

STR: 14
DEX: 17
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 12
CHR: 12

Whew, that took a while ---so please help ---thanks!

 

[Drowbane]

My pally-fu is weak!

nm... too tired to do something as simple as PHB Only

 

[Klaus]

Dude, if you're a paladin, you need much more Cha than that, and far less Dex. Cha fuels your Lay On Hands, Smite Evil and Divine Grace. Dex gets hampered by your heavy armor.

Were it not PHB-only, I'd point you to Races of the Wild's Champion of Corellon class and the Elf Paladin racial substitution levels (unicorn mount? yes please!).

And for added Tolkien goodness, I'd wield an Icy Burst glaive and call myself Gil-Galad.

 

[Tinner]

Here's how I'd work it.
Went with the two-bladed sword.
Left you a little money for basic equipment.

Paladins are tricky, because you really have to balance three stats. You need STR for combat, CHA for turning undead and smiting, and laying on hands, and you need a high enough WIS that you can cast a few spells.

Personally, If I was building this for myself, I'd ask the DM if I could use the variant, no-spells paladin from Complete Warrior.
YMMV.

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Elf Paladin (CR 15, HD 15d10)
Elf (High) Pal15
LG Medium Humanoid (Elf)
Init +1 Spd 20
Senses Low-light Vision (Ex), Listen +8, Spot +8

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AC 28 (FF 27, Touch 15)
hp 87 (Disabled -4/Dying -10/Injury 10)
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +11
Immunity: Sleep Effects (Ex); +2 Saves vs. Enchantment Spells and Effects Divine Health;
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Atk +19/+14/+9 base melee, +16/+11/+6 base ranged; Grapple +19;
+23/+18/+13 Melee (+3 Sword, two-bladed 1d8+9/crit 19-20/x2)
+20/+15/+10 Ranged (+3 Longbow, composite ( +4 Str Bonus) 1d8+7/crit 20/x3)
SQ:
Paladin Features: Aura of Good, Code of Conduct, Associates, Smite Evil (4/day), Detect Evil, Divine Grace, Lay on Hands (+16*Cha.Mod), Divine Health, Aura of Courage, Spells, Turn undead (3+Cha.Mod/day), Special Mount, Remove Disease (4x/week);
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Abilities: STR 18, DEX 12, CON 10, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 18
Feats: Armor Proficiency: heavy, Armor Proficiency: light, Armor Proficiency: medium, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Sword, two-bladed, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus: Longbow, Weapon Focus: Sword, two-bladed.
Skills: Balance -1, Climb +2, Craft (Painting) +1, Diplomacy +9, Escape Artist -1, Hide -1, Jump -4, Listen +8, Move Silently -1, Search +8, Spot +8, Swim +2.
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Paladin Spells Prepared (--/3/2/1/1): 1- (x2)Bless, Cure Light Wounds ; 2-Bull`s Strength, Resist Energy ; 3-Dispel Magic ; 4-Cure Serious Wounds.
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Weapons: +3 Longbow, composite ( +4 Str Bonus): Speed; +3 Sword, two-bladed: Holy. Armor: +5 Mithral Full plate. (Spell Failure 25%). Goods: Coin: gp (3050). Magic: Cloak of Charisma +2; Ring of Protection +4; Quiver of Ehlonna.

 

[The_Gneech]

Okay, using a base of:

STR: 15
DEX: 13
CON: 15
INT: 12
WIS: 13
CHR: 14

add the racial mods:

Str 15
Dex 15
Con 13
Int 12
Wis 13
Cha 14

add your level bonuses at 4th, 8th, and 12th:

Str 16
Dex 15
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 14
Cha 14

Now get ye Exotic Proficiency (double-bladed sword or whatever), Two-Weapon Fighting (the second head of a double weapon is "light") and Weapon Focus (whatever). That should take care of your melee needs, anyhow. As far as armor is concerned, I like magic elven chain myself, but anything that leaves you with +2 Dex bonus and 30' of movement is a good thing. (A magic chain shirt is good too ... there's also Mithral Full Plate of Speed, a bargain at 26,500 gp.) Of course your double-blade should have flaming in the name somewhere (pricey, as you have to enspell both ends). You'll probably also want at least a masterwork longbow for those occasions when you can run up to whatever and wail on it, but with that much moolah you can probably get a good magic bow.

Skill points, I'd say pour 'em into Diplomacy and Sense Motive, and toss a few ranks into Search just 'cause Elves get so many free Search checks. The rest, whatever pleases you. Craft is good, Perform (Oratory) is kind of a cool choice ... Heal is probably not worth it once you've got all those restoration spells at your command.

-The Gneech

 

[FalcWP]

I went with a multiclass build to increase your fighting potential (and also lets you get two-weapon fighting without a 15 Dexterity). It does limit your spellcasting and some of your Paladin abilities; feel free to drop to 2 levels of fighter and 1 of Ranger to get 11 levels of Paladin.

Also - Note that you would either have to play a half-elf, or have a DM who is willing to ignore the XP penalties (since Paladin isn't an Elf's favored class). Everything below is based on an Elf; a half-elf would have a 16 Dexterity (20 with his Amulet of Health), and a 12 Dexterity (16 with his Gloves of Dexterity). If you go half-elf, you gain 15 hit points and +1 on Fortitude saves for -1 on Reflex saves and -1 to AC.

If you were single-classed as a Paladin, you would lose Track and Endurance, as well as Weapon Specialization and three other feats (I'd probably pick a combination of Mounted Combat, Two-Weapon Defense, Iron Will and Cleave), then pick up Two-Weapon Fighting as a normal feat. You would probably want to drop your Constitution by 2 to increase your Dexterity and Wisdom by 2 each (To qualify for TWF and to gain access to your higher level spells, respectively)

One other thing to consider: Pick up 5 ranks of Hide, and two of Knowledge (Religion), as well as the Improved Sunder feat (Possibly in place of Mounted Combat) before you start. Consider it insurance in case you violate your Paladin code and your DM is stingy about letting you atone - you'll qualify for the Blackguard Prestige Class, and can "cash in" your Paladin levels for new abilities...

Fighter 4/Ranger 3/Paladin 8

Str: 18 [22] (+1 at Level 4, 8, 12, +4 from Belt of Giant Strength) (15 at level 1; 8 points)
Dex: 14 [18] (+4 from Gloves of Dexterity) (12 at level 1; +2 from Racial; 4 points)
Con: 14 [18] (+4 from Amulet of Health) (16 at level 1; -2 from Racial; 10 points)
Int: 10 (2 points)
Wis: 12 (4 points)
Cha: 16 [22] (+6 from Cloak of Charisma) (10 points)

HP: 8 + 2d8 + 12d10 + 60; Average of 143
Saves: Fort +23; Ref +16; Will +13
AC: 27 (+8 (Celestial Armor), +1 (Two Weapon Defense), +3 (Ring of Protection +3), +4 (Dexterity), +1 (Dusty Rose Ioun Stone))
ACP: -2

Feats:

Level 1: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Two-Bladed Sword)
Ranger 1: Track
Ranger 2: Two Weapon Fighting
Ranger 3: Endurance
Level 3: Power Attack
Fighter 1: Weapon Focus (Two-Bladed Sword)
Fighter 2: Cleave
Level 6: Iron Will
Fighter 4: Weapon Specialization (Two-Bladed Sword)
Level 9: Improved Critical (Two-Bladed Sword)
Level 12: Mounted Combat
Level 15: Two-Weapon Defense

Mounted Combat can be dropped for Lightning Reflexes, Leadership, or another feat if you want.

If you want to get a few more Paladin levels, drop Weapon Specialization.


Skills:

I'd probably get skills such as Ride, Jump, and Climb to decent levels with the Fighter and Ranger levels. Use the Paladin levels to boost Diplomacy and Sense Motive. Ranks in Search, Listen, and Spot could all help you as well.

Equipment:

Celestial Armor (22,400) - It counts as light armor, which means your two-weapon fighting still works. It also lets you fly once per day, helping you against airborne foes.

+1 Holy/+1 Axiomatic Two-Bladed Sword (36,700) - Though you could go with Holy on each end, this will let you take care of Chaotic Neutral opponents as well; when you smite and toss in the Holy end, evil guys are not going to have a good day.

Cloak of Charisma +6 (36,000) - Charisma boosters as important for you.

Gloves of Dexterity +4 (16,000) - Extra AC and Reflex saves

Belt of Giant Strength +4 (16,000) - More melee damage

Amulet of Health +4 (16,000) - More hit points (and a boost to your already great Fort saves)

Boots of Striding and Springing (5,500) - extra speed to help your allies on the battlefield

Ring of Protection +3 (18,000) - more AC is good

Ring of Evasion (25,000) - You have a good Reflex save... might as well take advantage of it

Dusty Rose Ioun Stone (5,000) - Again, AC is your friend

3,400 for misc. equipment. Drop the Ring of Protection +3 to +2 for an extra 10,000, or Cloak of Charisma +6 to +4 for 20,000 (or both) if there's an item you really want. Alternatively, pick up a Heward's Handy Haversack for 2,000. Obviously, any of the secondary stat boosters can be dropped entirely for 16,000 gold, or reduced to +2 items for 12,000 gold if there are other items you want.