Paladin Ability Scores

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Much as I dislike mental stat boosting items for RP reasons, I'd have to suggest boosting your natural CON and using items to make up the point in CHA. My reasoning is simple: losing a point of CHA suddenly due a sundered/dropped/dispelled item won't kill you, but losing the CON in the middle of combat could.

 

[Darklone]

Christian: I suggested to decrease Charisma to 15... and Con to 12. That's the middle way

And you'll survive till level 4!

 

[RigaMortus]

I have to disagree with virtually everyone. Cha is always better than Con for a Paladin, from 2nd level on. Why? Because of the lay on hands divine grace abilities. Lay on hands gives the same hit point bonus as Con, except that (a) you don't have it until you lose some hit points, and (b) you can share it with others if necessary. And divine grace means that your Cha gives you the same bonus to Fort saves as Con. So the only real disadvantage to Cha instead of Con is in your Concentration skill score ... Now, with that point buy distribution, you do get four points of Con while dropping only two from Cha, but in the long run you'll be better off. Maybe the 12 Con and 15 Cha, bumping to 16 at 4th level would be OK ...

Yeah, but it takes a Standard Action to use LoH. If you have the Con, you can take the hits. If you don't have the Con, you can't take the hits, you have to sacrifice your attacks on the next round to LoH yourself, there is the chance you will take an AoO (LoH provokes IIRC), and then you have to worry about getting hit again anyway. If you had the HP up front (by pumping up Con), you are in a much better position. Just MHO of course.

 

[Trainz]

Personally, I don't like playing Paladins unless it's a 6th level character or more, in which case I'll pick Paladin over any other fighting class.

That said, if you must...

Do you think your Paladin will be going up to level 10 ? If not, do not worry too much about Wisdom, because you won't really see a lot of use in your Paladin spells.

Other than that... it's a matter of preferences. Me, I like my Paladins to have a lot of Charisma, and a nice Strength.

But if I had to create a 1st level character with those stats, I'd pick a fighter, and go tower shield and scimitar.

My two cents...

 

[Darmanicus]

I've created a 1st-level paladin for an upcoming campaign.

29 point buy
Str: 14 (greatsword)
Dex: 10
Con: 10
Int: 13 (combat expertise at 3rd level)
Wis: 12
Cha: 16

Emphasis with this character is on diplomacy - Skill Focus and Negotiator feats at first level.

But, as I will probably be a frontline fighter too, I'm really feeling nervous with that 10 Constitution. So I've been debating with myself about switching the scores to this:

Str: 14
Dex: 10
Con: 14
Int: 13
Wis: 12
Cha: 14

The paladin would loose a little from his social skills and his paladin abilities, but would be up by 4 or 6 hit points at 2nd and 3rd level. That could be the difference between staying in the fight and taking down the enemy, or lying on the floor unconscious and dying.

What would you do?

Quasqueton

Definitely the 2nd option for you.

 

[ConspiracyAngel]

I guess it depends on what you want out of it.

If you do not have a high AC nor have a shield, chances are you are definitely going to get hit. So the question, as I see it, is do you want DEX, and if not then you had better go with some CON.

I personally hate to "burn" extra points in the point buy, but that is just me. If sacrificing a +3 to a +2 gets you, or "buys" you a +2 on Fort saves, Con related skills, and Extra Hit Points... I would say that is quite a deal.

Just my two cents.