Need Help with new PC

[StreamOfTheSky]

I don't think it is. Paladin's a pretty crappy limited class. Great dip, but the OP doesn't want a lot of multiclassing. Paladin can't heal enough to keep the rogue alive (and there's a druid for that), can't make enemies attack him, can't do much damage excepting charge-based stuff (hard to anchor the front lines for the flankin rogue if doing that), etc... All he can really do is sit there and be a full plated tank to get ignored.

Even on a roleplay level, if you want the odd couple, you don't need to be a paladin for that. You can RP characters how you want and give them the appropriate alignment. For example, I ignore the Warblade fluff and tend to make the extremely honorable lawful types and use them as the "real" samurai class (since the real one manages to both be wildly inaccurately portrayed AND suck worse than every other PC class ever printed). Such a Warblade could have a similar odd couple RP dynamic with a rogue.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Odd couple, schmodd couple.

This duo probably works best when they can work together...and to me, that means a warrior who can be nearly as stealthy as the Rogue (and tagalong, unknown motive, DNPC Druid)- because then they don't have to worry about splitting the party to retain the element of surprise. There are lots of paths there, but most of them involve being lightly armored.

And in a party this small, that may mean self-buffing is a virtual requirement...which leads me back to my original suggestions.

As a dip or as a primary class, a battlesorc or psywar could do things like expand, improve his AC, avoid being hit or even have an attack that is LoS or AoE...and not disarmable...and thats without getting into really wonky builds.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

For example, I ignore the Warblade fluff and tend to make the extremely honorable lawful types and use them as the "real" samurai class (since the real one manages to both be wildly inaccurately portrayed AND suck worse than every other PC class ever printed).

Which real one is that, CW or OA?

(I ask because I kinda like the OA version, esp. post-3.5 update in Dragon #317.)

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

CW.

And if you want stealthy...I was going to actually suggest this earlier...

I really like Whisper Gnome (Races of Stone) Swordsage. It requires a lot of feats (flaws allowed?), but you can make a very sneaky and acrobatic tank. The race alone between size and other bonuses basically gives +2 AC and +9 hide. You take Titan Fighting (Races of Stone) + Desert Wind Dodge and you now have a very mobile tank with +4 AC against just about anything. Go for Weapon Finesse (with your point alottment, may not even need it) for dex to hit and Shadow Blade for dex to damage (on top of strength), and get some nice shadow hand maneuvers and stances to help both of you out. Island of Blades makes flanking a synch (and means if you dip Crusadaer for maneuvers you can simultaneously be flanking with the rogue AND adjacent to protect him with shield block). I don't know...seems like a good combo to me, that way you two can basically do everything together without slowing each other down. In fact, once druid gets wildshape (or even from start of the game, check out Camouflage, Mass Camouflage, and Forestfold from Spell Compendium), the entire party could be stealthy!

Just another thought, lots of classes can work.