Paladin Of Freedom Optimization

[Nazhkandrias]

OK, I really want to play a Paladin of Freedom, but there are a few questions I have...

1. Does anybody know any good abilities to sub in for the Special Mount? The character is more of the foot soldier type, but I don't know if this ability is worth getting rid of for anything else. It will free up a lot of skill points, feats, time, and money (no need for Mounted Combat feats, ranks in Ride, no 30-day wait after death, no need for barding), but the only variants I've seen that seem worth looking at are Sword of Celestia (Dragon Magazine), which basically gives a free weapon, powering up from +1 to a +2 Holy Lawful weapon for free; the other is Charging Smite, which lets you add twice your Paladin level to a Smite Evil attempt if you Smite Evil at the end of a charge. Any better ideas, or should I just keep the mount and specialize in mounted combat?

2. I never really liked Turn Undead too much. I played a Cleric with more emphasis on combat, so I kind of dumped my Cha score. Turn Undead is kind of situational, but I acknowledge that it works in a pinch. My Paladin will have a high Cha score regardless, but I need to know if there's anything I could dump the ability for, or if I should just keep it.

3. Feat chains, anybody?

4. Ability scores. So far, a Human Paladin (with 28-Point Buy) looks like this to me - Str 16, Dex 8, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 16. Any better ideas? I'll be taking a position in the front lines, I'll be using uber-heavy armor and a heavy shield, keep that in mind. I want to put a bit of emphasis on damage, though - I'll probably end up using a Bastard Sword, unless anybody has a better idea. Also, don't worry about the Wis score - I'll have it up to 14 by the time I hit the 4th-level spell range.

5. Just general suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[moritheil]

OK, I really want to play a Paladin of Freedom, but there are a few questions I have...

1. Does anybody know any good abilities to sub in for the Special Mount? The character is more of the foot soldier type, but I don't know if this ability is worth getting rid of for anything else. It will free up a lot of skill points, feats, time, and money (no need for Mounted Combat feats, ranks in Ride, no 30-day wait after death, no need for barding), but the only variants I've seen that seem worth looking at are Sword of Celestia (Dragon Magazine), which basically gives a free weapon, powering up from +1 to a +2 Holy Lawful weapon for free; the other is Charging Smite, which lets you add twice your Paladin level to a Smite Evil attempt if you Smite Evil at the end of a charge. Any better ideas, or should I just keep the mount and specialize in mounted combat?

2. I never really liked Turn Undead too much. I played a Cleric with more emphasis on combat, so I kind of dumped my Cha score. Turn Undead is kind of situational, but I acknowledge that it works in a pinch. My Paladin will have a high Cha score regardless, but I need to know if there's anything I could dump the ability for, or if I should just keep it.

3. Feat chains, anybody?

4. Ability scores. So far, a Human Paladin (with 28-Point Buy) looks like this to me - Str 16, Dex 8, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 16. Any better ideas? I'll be taking a position in the front lines, I'll be using uber-heavy armor and a heavy shield, keep that in mind. I want to put a bit of emphasis on damage, though - I'll probably end up using a Bastard Sword, unless anybody has a better idea. Also, don't worry about the Wis score - I'll have it up to 14 by the time I hit the 4th-level spell range.

5. Just general suggestions.

Thanks!

First off, I build "weird" paladins. I almost never play straight paladin. That said:

1. Just keep the mount. You don't have to specialize in mounted combat - it's a flanking/grappling partner and free celestial storage! If you don't like that, I'd think that charging smite is potentially much more valuable.

2. Turn undead is the single most awesome class feature short of spellcasting. Granted, that isn't because it's super-useful as turn undead; it's useful because of divine feats. DMM: Persistent is not as good for paladins as it is for clerics, but it's feasible. Other good feats include the PHBII feat that gives you an immediate bonus to saves.

3. I tend to play caster/paladins, so all my feats are taken up with things like Practiced Spellcaster and Alternative Source Spell. That said, I suggest Armor Optimization, especially if you wind up going mounted.

4. I don't like low-dex characters, but that's a reasonable allocation. If you aren't using skill points for anything, consider dropping that Int to 8 and getting a higher Wis or Con. 10 Con is risky for a front-liner.

5. Consider multiclassing. Sorc, bard, and pious templar are all very strong options.

 

[Thurbane]

I'm really wanting to try out a Paladin with Charging Smite (PHB II) in place of a special mount. I was thinking of a Paladin of Freedom with a couple levels of Barbarian for the move bonus, and with feats like Reckless Charge, Power Attack etc.

 

[Nightfall]

If you want to use the sword, there's no reason you can't change the lawful to chaotic/anarchic instead. It can still be a holy weapon just not lawful.

 

[satori01]

Champion of Freedom from Arcana Evolved might be what you are looking for. Disable Device, Open Locks on the skill set. The ability to call Weapons and Shields, not Pokemounts. A champion for a cause but not a Holy Roller. Best of all, the Take Upon Mantle power is extremely useful, makes you exceptionally tough for a battle, and work not disparagingly like He-Man or Superman and Clark Kent.

 

[Nightfall]

Sat,

Good choice! I do recommend that champion since you get more out of it than the conversion in UA.

 

[Nyaricus]

OH man, Paladin of Freedom? I know just the build for it

This thread has the info you need for the build.

Basically, my Paladin was based on a rough-ass half-orc who used fear to shake-up his enemies, and then charged in and busted some balls. It was sooo much fun to go into combat and deal out oodles of damage, whilst freaking out my foes.

If you need any help with understand the build further, I can answer any and all questions.

cheers,
--N

 

[Nightfall]

I should have known Ny, the metal-est metal head on En World would have had something for this occasion.

The man cries Freedom louder than William Wallace fighting the English.

Good job Ny.

 

[Nyaricus]

I should have known Ny, the metal-est metal head on En World would have had something for this occasion.

The man cries Freedom louder than William Wallace fighting the English.

Good job Ny.

lol

Yeah, that little combo I cooked up was pretty sweet. You *could* optimized the charging more if you wanted to use a mount - but that wasn't something I wanted to use.

Oh, and BTW, this is the image which inspired my linked-to character in the first place: the cover illustration of Races of Destiny:

cheers,
--N

 

[Nightfall]

Ny,

NICE! I like that idea. Certainly a good way to go for making a paladin of freedom option.