D&D 4E Paladins - The first 4e class to fail

[Doctor Proctor]

The biggest problem I've always had with the "just MC" defense is what are we supposed to do if we're playing in a heroic tier campaign? When the paladin is actually 9th level and can't take the daily power-switch feat because it requires the character be 10th level. Kinda screws any LFR-compliant strength paladin, doesn't it?

I didn't say it was perfect...but until Divine Power comes out it's probably your best bet. Straladins and Fighters match up well since they're both STR primary, and something like Victorious Surge is a power that works well with Pally's anyway. As you pointed out, you'd have to wait a level...but at least it's semi-workable.

Either that, or you're going to have to get the DM to houserule something and let you use STR instead of CHA for just that level. You could also just take Crown of Glory or One Stands Alone...both are versus Will, which is a weak Defense that you might be able to hit occasionally with a semi-decent CHA (12 or 14). Plus, they're both Burst 1's that will hopefully give you multiple attack rolls...AND they both have effect lines that will acivate regardless of whether or not it hits.

Your third choice, of course, is to just take a second level 5 power.

 

[Psikus]

Has anyone tried taking each Strength based power, replacing all references to Strength with Charisma, references to Charisma or Wisdom with Strength?

And changing Lay on Hands to be Charisma times per day, with the feat Healer's Hands adding Wisdom?
.

I mentioned a very similar idea in a previous post.

However, rather than changing LoH to use Charisma (and having every paladin feature trigger off that ability), I changed Divine Challenge to use Strength. Thus, you'd have one build with stronger Challenge and one better at Laying.

Haven't had a chance to playtest it yet, though.

 

[keterys]

I've been pondering that exact change, myself - I'm very iffy on a Cha/Wis build, however. Both clerics and paladins end up with one as an option and it strikes me as a bit focused. But eh, it makes sense.

I also considered Str for attacks, and a choice of either Cha or Wis for where you went from there... which does have a number of advantages, but Str to attack can be overdone sometimes. Dunno.

P.S. Nice blog, Psikus.

 

[Nail]

I've been pondering that exact change, myself - I'm very iffy on a Cha/Wis build, however. Both clerics and paladins end up with one as an option and it strikes me as a bit focused. But eh, it makes sense.

Just from a simplicity and symetry argument, using one stat for all attacks (Cha) and two stats for power secondary effects (Wis or Str) seems best. Still two builds, but only one paladin.

Being a Paladin means being a defender first. So leave DC as Cha-based. Then for each build (Str or Wis) give a class feature like Lay On Hands. Perhaps LOH is the Wis build's feature, and some kind of Righteous Smash 'Em power for the Str build. ...So the paladin becomes either a Defender with a bit of Striker, or a Defender with a bit of Leader.

Symetry.