Option overload: ASI increased or feat for 8th level choice?

[Mort]

I usually DM, but now I'm facing a bit of option overload as a player.

Playing an eventually to be 8th level dex paladin oath of devotion.

Human (variant)

Stats (thanks to a generous 32 point buy):

Str: 12 Dex: 18 Con: 12 Int: 10 Wis: 12.  Cha: 16

Feat: shield master (not optimal with the 12 strength, but it's actually served quite well with the high dex)

Trying to decide on 8th level ability increase or feat.

Seemingly obvious choice:

Max Dex to 20: Provides +1 to all attacks all the time and +1 to AC, also +1 to dex saves and skills (trained in stealth, slight of hand and thieves tools).

Also tempting:

Cha to 18: +1 to all saving throws (total +4 to me and to those around me), +1 to Cha skills (persuasion and deception trained) +1 to sacred weapon, which seems to come up decently often. Also concentration checks have been coming up A LOT, and I'm somewhat regretting the "only" 12 CON. This is one way to mitigate that.

Also possible:

Con to 14: I could really use the extra HPs and the +1 Con save will come on handy, that's about it though.

But there are good feat options too!

Warcaster: advantage on Con saves will definitely come in handy. Casting with hands full hasn't been an issue. Casting a spell instead of opportunity attacking is likely a very small benefit, since when it comes up, I'd usually rather smite and can do that anyway.


Resilient (con): would push con save to +7, making concentration checks much easier, and con saves in general much more likely.

As I said, option overload!

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[DND_Reborn]

Not as interested in maxing out ability scores, personally I would go the feat route. Both Warcaster and Resilient are great, but with Warcaster you get advantage on your concentration checks, so that would also make them easier. Being able to opportunity attack with a spell can be handy, too.

Ultimately, my vote would be for Warcaster. That being said, all the options work fine. I suppose it depends more on where you want to go afterwards.

Hey, Mort, why would you "laugh with this post"? Nothing in it is funny or meant to be, so that seems sort of rude. Did I miss something?

 

[Blue]

I'll start by saying - you really can't go wrong with any of them. Sure, some may be "more optimal" for your table and group dynamic, but all are solid choices so if one seems more in-character, go for it.

Paladin are MAD but with your generous point buy it's much less of an issue.

For me, which I picked would likely be determined by the role I fill in the party.

If I am a primary damage dealer (lots of support, buff, debuff, crowd control and healing allies) I'd go for DEX. But with an 18 I can easily hold off until 12th. As a side note, it seems you're wearing light armor since you mentioned DEX can give you +1 AC. If you don't take DEX you can still get that +1 AC by changing to Half Plate. It will give you a base of 17 (15 + 2 max dex) which is better than the best light 16 (12 + 4 all dex).

If I'm primary tank and your DM throws a lot of mundane creatures, CON is nice. 8 extra HPs plus more as you level, better spending of HD for healing, a small boost to CON saves.

CHR is a great workhorse. It helps you protect others in your Aura, help you make you saves and keep Concentration. Adds to your Sacred Devotion which stacks with just about everything. It's probably my default pick.

Warcaster I wouldn't worry about as much. Both CON and CHR will add to Concentration checks while helping a lot more, and the rest of the feat doesn't seem too applicable.

Resilient (CON) is a bit more tempting, as CON saves outside Concentration will start to become more common. But it's a big, narrowly targeted bonus vs. others which will increase this and other things. I might wait for a later level to worry about this.

Hmm, what do you normally have up in terms of concentration? For example Shield of Faith is your lowest slot, and a bonus action to bring back so it's not bad to lose. Bless, while still a low slot, would take an action to bring back and would impact other characters. Other spells could use higher level slots.

Given lack of knowledge of your table dynamics, myself I'd go for +2 CHR unless you are either dropping regularly (+2 CON) or one of 1-2 primary damage dealers (+2 DEX).

 

[Satyrn]

Hey, Mort, why would you "laugh with this post"? Nothing in it is funny or meant to be, so that seems sort of rude. Did I miss something?

I believe certain mobile versions of this forum present just one rating option, a like, and that winds up registering as a laugh.

 

[Mort]

Hey, Mort, why would you "laugh with this post"? Nothing in it is funny or meant to be, so that seems sort of rude. Did I miss something?

Satyrn is correct, my phone had it as thanks not laugh. When I realized the likely confusion, tried to unclick and put like instead, but it wouldn't let me do that.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Ah! Ok, no problem. I know you wouldn't normally be rude or anything, so I wondered if I really did miss something LOL! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Mort]

If I am a primary damage dealer (lots of support, buff, debuff, crowd control and healing allies) I'd go for DEX. But with an 18 I can easily hold off until 12th. As a side note, it seems you're wearing light armor since you mentioned DEX can give you +1 AC. If you don't take DEX you can still get that +1 AC by changing to Half Plate. It will give you a base of 17 (15 + 2 max dex) which is better than the best light 16 (12 + 4 all dex).).

Large group: 2 paladins (the other is a polearm master strength build), 2 druids, wizard, sorcerer, cleric, and a monk.

I tend to both draw fire and do lots of damage. But I haven't had any real problem hitting and damage is already high.

AC is currently 18 (using a shield).

The half plate is a consideration but despite the large group no one can stealth well and my stealth of +7 is the best in the party. Half plate would impose disadvantage and I'm a bit reluctant to do that.

If I'm primary tank and your DM throws a lot of mundane creatures, CON is nice. 8 extra HPs plus more as you level, better spending of HD for healing, a small boost to CON sav.

That's the draw, I've dropped once and gotten low several times. But, thinking about it, a cleric 2 druids and another paladin can certainly keep me up!

CHR is a great workhorse. It helps you protect others in your Aura, help you make you saves and keep Concentration. Adds to your Sacred Devotion which stacks with just about everything. It's probably my default pick.DEX).

Yeah, I think this is currently at the top. It adds lots of benefits. Plus, the other paladins Cha is lower than mine as he's focused on strength and con.

Warcaster I wouldn't worry about as much. Both CON and CHR will add to Concentration checks while helping a lot more, and the rest of the feat doesn't seem too applicable.

Resilient (CON) is a bit more tempting, as CON saves outside Concentration will start to become more common. But it's a big, narrowly targeted bonus vs. others which will increase this and other things. I might wait for a later level to worry about this.

Of the feats, yeah resilient is more of a draw.

Hmm, what do you normally have up in terms of concentration? For example Shield of Faith is your lowest slot, and a bonus action to bring back so it's not bad to lose. Bless, while still a low slot, would take an action to bring back and would impact other characters. Other spells could use higher level slots.DEX).

Divine Power has been a goto, I've tended to go for offense over defense.

Plus, we found a +1 longbow, I'm the only one that has any use for it, and divine power works with it.

I wonder what the math on heroism vs. Shield of Faith is? I suspect heroism might prevent more damage in the long run [edit: especially if I boost CHA] .

Given lack of knowledge of your table dynamics, myself i'd go for +2 CHR unless you are either dropping regularly (+2 CON) or one of 1-2 primary damage dealers (+2 DEX).

That's the front runner currently.

 

[Dausuul]

As Blue says, all of those are solid choices. Given the large party with several other damage dealers, +2 Cha would be my pick. I don't think I'd go for the feats unless you use concentration spells a lot and have trouble hanging onto them. Even then, it might be better for Cha to help the dedicated casters hang onto their concentration spells instead.

 

[Zardnaar]

Feats are generally better the exception is Dex based PCs so your choice really.

 

[77IM]

I think of those options both +2 Dex and +2 Cha are both pretty good, depending on which fits your character concept better. (Note that +2 Dex will also help with Concentration checks because you won't get hit as often.)

Also consider the following feats:

Toughness. This is a totally boring feat, but if your problem is staying upright, this will help a lot more that +2 Con.

Inspiring Leader. This is also generally better than +2 Con, especially with your high Cha, but it also benefits the rest of your team! A fantastic feat for paladins, and it may fit your concept better, since you've had mediocre Con since the beginning.

If it were me, I'd probably go with Inspiring Leader now, and then increase Cha to 18 at 12th level. Or vice versa. I'd really want both.