Pimp the Paladin

[carborundum]

In the campaign I'm playing my Human Paladin just reached level 8 and we're going to pump the characters to level 18 to end the campaign with a big fight (vs Demons, apparently).
I now have a week to pump 10 levels into him and make him a demon-slaying machine!
The other party members are a Rogue, a Fighter, a Wizard and a Cleric. I will also be 50% of the meat-shield contingent.

He already has Wpn Focus Longsword, Power Attack, Imp. initiative and Blindfighting. (Got sick of 50% miss chances after fighting in mist one too many times).

I'm torn between the millions of choices out there and would appreciate a bit of advice.

So far I've got the following ideas:

• 4 levels of Fighter for Wpn Spec and bonus feats
• Dig into Defenders of the Faith and go Knight of the Chalice
• Dig into Defenders of the Faith and take 3 levels of Pious Templar (Mettle, Wpn Spec, Will saves)
• Try the Shining Blade from Complete Divine
• Take 3 levels of Cleric for buffs
• FRCS - Divine Champion - extra Lay on Hands, bonus feats, Divine Wrath @ 5
• Go Dragon Shaman (gold or silver) - cold damage or fire immunity

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm equally grateful if you remember a particular thread I didn't find or just have a great plan!

 

[jasin]

I'd advise against Ftr and especially Clr levels. Knight of the Chalice is pretty good against fiends IIRC, but there's also a simple solution you can't really go wrong with: 10 more levels of paladin, and smite away!

 

[Nac_Mac_Feegle]

As jasin said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with 10 more levels of paladin

As for feats, you have 4 more to choose

Divine Shield, adds your Charisma bonus to your shields AC for half your character level in rounds (9)
Extra Smiting, go the whole hog and teach those demons whats for
Extra Turning, Especially if you go divine shield, you can burn through turn attempts quite quickly
Divine Metamagic: Reach Spell, burn turns attempts to spontaneously metamagic touch spells into ranged touch spells, hand for healing if you get seperated from the fighter and the clerics busy (I think its erratad that you have to have the metamagic feat first, and then add the divine aspect to it, so it would take 2 feats, if you're not that into healing and stuff, dont bother)

As for magic items, you probably already have this covered, but a holy demon bane sword will add some nice punch to each hit.

For me, as a front line paladin, assuming I have a nice charisma bonus, it would be Divine Shield, Extra Turning and 2xExtra Smiting, a Demon Bane Holy Longsword, cloak of charisma, vest of resistance, amulet of health, and every other bit of magic into AC. If your happy with your movement of 20, stick with normal full plate and dont worry about mithril, use that spare gold to beef your weapon

Feegle Out

 

[Felix]

2 more levels of Paladin, convert all 10 into 10 levels of Blackguard, then 4 levels of Fighter and 4 levels of Rogue.

Halfway through the fight, switch sides and assist your demonic patron in disposing of these pesky adventurers!

 

[szilard]

Options:

A. 10 more levels of Paladin (maybe mixing in some Pious Templar). Feats: Extra Turning, Divine Might, Divine Shield, and Extra Smiting.

B. Pick up Divine Might, Improved Sunder, and an adamantine longsword. Since this is the end of the campaign, you don't have to worry about preserving your opponent's equipment. Chop it to pieces. It would be fun.

C. Multiclass to Crusader for a few levels - it will preserve your theme, but give you a bunch of options.

-Stuart

 

[the_mighty_agrippa]

Exorcist of the Silver Flame (EBCS)

Good F/W, Full BAB, +6 levels of spellcasting, various weapon enhancements at no cost

Fist of Raziel (BoED)

Full BAB, lots of smite options

ESF is the better choice, though.

 

[carborundum]

I think I'll take 10 levels in Knight of the Chalice (DotF)
I'm just wondering - do my bonus spells for Wisdom get spread across the Paladin and Knight spells or do they count twice? (doubt it!)
I'm also wondering about the Save DC for Holy Aura - it says it should be calculated as if I am a level 10 Cleric, but it's an 8th level spell! More confusion!

 

[Rhun]

I think I'll take 10 levels in Knight of the Chalice (DotF)
I'm just wondering - do my bonus spells for Wisdom get spread across the Paladin and Knight spells or do they count twice? (doubt it!)

Actually, I do believe you get them twice. You would get bonus spells for high ability score in each seperate spell-casting class that you have.

I'm also wondering about the Save DC for Holy Aura - it says it should be calculated as if I am a level 10 Cleric, but it's an 8th level spell! More confusion!

Since you will 18th level by the time you get Holy Aura, you've already invested the appropriate experience into being able to cast the spell. You simply don't do it as well as a cleric would.

 

[javcs]

If it's two different lists and spells/day, you get bonus spells for each.