So Many Options - Making a 12th levle Paladin

[tiornys]

One way to reduce the options is to add some restrictions. You mentioned a desire to be Lancelot-ish, and your discussion of the Justiciar suggests a desire to avoid implement powers. If I were to build a Chaladin that avoided implement powers for a party with excellent healing, it would look something like this:
[sblock]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 12
Human, Paladin, Questing Knight
Background: Birth - Blessed (+2 to Insight)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 11, Con 15, Dex 9, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 21.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 14, Dex 8, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 16.


AC: 31 Fort: 23 Reflex: 24 Will: 26
HP: 96 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 24

TRAINED SKILLS
Endurance +9, Religion +12, Insight +19, Diplomacy +16, Heal +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +2, Arcana +7, Bluff +11, Dungeoneering +10, History +7, Intimidate +11, Nature +10, Perception +10, Stealth +1, Streetwise +11, Thievery +1, Athletics +2

FEATS
Human: Weapon Proficiency (Bastard sword)
Level 1: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 2: Action Surge
Level 4: Human Perseverance
Level 6: Virtuous Recovery
Level 8: Fast Runner
Level 10: Armor of Bahamut
Level 11: Honored Foe
Level 12: Touch of Salvation

POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Virtuous Strike
Lay on Hands: Virtue's Touch
Paladin at-will 1: Enfeebling Strike
Paladin at-will 1: Ardent Strike
Paladin encounter 1: Fearsome Smite
Paladin daily 1: Majestic Halo
Paladin utility 2: Touch of Grace
Paladin encounter 3: Trial of Strength
Paladin daily 5: Unyielding Faith
Paladin utility 6: Wrath of the Gods
Paladin encounter 7: Blade of Light
Paladin daily 9: Shackles of Justice
Paladin utility 10: Noble Shield

ITEMS
Magic Gith Plate Armor +3, Thundering Bastard sword +3, Cloak of Resistance +3, Guardian Shield Heavy Shield (heroic tier), Symbol of Hope +1, Acrobat Boots (heroic tier), Belt of Sacrifice (heroic tier)
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[/sblock]The weakest point of this build is the lack of ranged options. It's taken a couple of things to help increase its mobility. The equipment is PHB1/2 only.

However, Chaladins do get access to some great implement powers, and the Lancelot flavor doesn't rule them out completely. If I were to go Justiciar, I'd instead look something like this:
[sblock]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 12
Human, Paladin, Justiciar
Background: Birth - Blessed (+2 to Insight)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 11, Con 15, Dex 9, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 21.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 14, Dex 8, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 16.


AC: 30 Fort: 22 Reflex: 21 Will: 25
HP: 96 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 24

TRAINED SKILLS
Endurance +13, Religion +12, Insight +17, Diplomacy +16, Heal +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +4, Arcana +7, Bluff +11, Dungeoneering +10, History +7, Intimidate +11, Nature +10, Perception +10, Stealth +3, Streetwise +11, Thievery +3, Athletics +4

FEATS
Human: Implement Expertise (holy symbol)
Level 1: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 2: Action Surge
Level 4: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 6: Virtuous Recovery
Level 8: Alertness (retrained to Armor Specialization (Plate) at Level 11)
Level 10: Armor of Bahamut
Level 11: Honored Foe
Level 12: Touch of Salvation

POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Virtuous Strike
Lay on Hands: Virtue's Touch
Paladin at-will 1: Enfeebling Strike
Paladin at-will 1: Ardent Strike
Paladin encounter 1: Fearsome Smite
Paladin daily 1: Radiant Delirium
Paladin utility 2: Call of Challenge
Paladin encounter 3: Trial of Strength
Paladin daily 5: Name of Might
Paladin utility 6: Wrath of the Gods
Paladin encounter 7: Astral Thunder
Paladin daily 9: Ray of Reprisal
Paladin utility 10: Noble Shield

ITEMS
Magic Gith Plate Armor +3, Acrobat Boots (heroic tier), Belt of Sacrifice (heroic tier), Symbol of Power +3, Thundering Longsword +3, Cloak of Survival +2, Bracers of Mighty Striking (heroic tier)
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[/sblock]The second build really wishes it had access to the AV/AV2, for access to weapons that count as holy symbols.

t~

 

[Rechan]

The DM gave the normal allowance of magical items for me from AV1/2, so I'll definitely be throwing out for a sword/holy symbol. It's interesting that I picked many powers that you did, tiornys. Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm still debating over some feats and utilities.

But I am resisting the urge to really optimize. I'm going for a mix.

 

[tiornys]

But I am resisting the urge to really optimize. I'm going for a mix.

Don't resist the urge to optimize; channel it. Figure out the character or at least a theme, and then optimize within the bounds of that character or theme. That will organically avoid extreme optimization while allowing you to feel less like you're fighting yourself.

t~

edit: also, the only utility I think is a must, and only if you go Justiciar, is Call of Challenge, because it's awesome in combination with Just Radiance.

 

[Rechan]

I finally did my character:
[sblock]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Stagheart, level 12
Human, Paladin, Questing Knight
Build: Virtuous Paladin

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 13, Con 14, Dex 12, Int 11, Wis 17, Cha 21.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 16.


AC: 31 Fort: 24 Reflex: 25 Will: 27
HP: 95 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 23

TRAINED SKILLS
Endurance +9, Religion +11, Heal +14, Diplomacy +16, Insight +16

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +4, Arcana +6, Bluff +11, Dungeoneering +9, History +6, Intimidate +11, Nature +9, Perception +9, Stealth +3, Streetwise +11, Thievery +3, Athletics +3

FEATS
Human: Human Perseverance
Level 1: Weapon Proficiency (Bastard sword)
Level 2: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 4: Divine Perseverance
Level 6: Virtuous Recovery
Level 8: Armor of Bahamut
Level 10: Mettle Proven
Level 11: Paragon Defenses
Level 12: Honored Foe

POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Virtuous Strike
Lay on Hands: Virtue's Touch
Paladin at-will 1: Bolstering Strike
Paladin at-will 1: Enfeebling Strike
Paladin encounter 1: Fearsome Smite
Paladin daily 1: Radiant Delirium
Paladin utility 2: Call of Challenge
Paladin encounter 3: Call to Arms
Paladin daily 5: Sign of Vulnerability
Paladin utility 6: Wrath of the Gods
Paladin encounter 7: Price of Cowardice
Paladin daily 9: Shackles of Justice
Paladin utility 10: Font of Healing

ITEMS
Bradaman's Bastard sword +3, Summoned Gith Plate Armor +3, Guardian Shield Heavy Shield (heroic tier), Amulet of Protection +3, Acrobat Boots (heroic tier), Green Thumbs (heroic tier)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
[/sblock]
Now, I might make adjustments, retrain a few things. We'll see how it works out.

 

[keterys]

Fwiw, Ardent Strike is pretty awesome. I love being able to do things like divine challenge one guy and ardent strike the guy next to him. Poof, two guys challenged.

Especially with honored foe.

 

[NMcCoy]

I've actually just recently built a level 12 half-elf Chaladin; haven't had a chance to play him yet, and he doesn't quite fit thematically with your goals, but maybe worth a look?
[sblock]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Commander Ralis, level 12
Half-Elf, Paladin, Questing Knight
Build: Ardent Paladin
Background: Society - Noble (+2 to Diplomacy)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 9, Con 16, Dex 11, Int 11, Wis 18, Cha 22.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 13, Dex 10, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 17.


AC: 31 Fort: 23 Reflex: 22 Will: 26
HP: 97 Surges: 14 Surge Value: 24

TRAINED SKILLS
Religion +11, Endurance +10, Diplomacy +24, Insight +19

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +2, Arcana +6, Bluff +12, Dungeoneering +10, Heal +10, History +6, Intimidate +12, Nature +10, Perception +10, Stealth +2, Streetwise +12, Thievery +2, Athletics +1

FEATS
Level 1: Mark of Handling
Level 2: Solar Enemy
Level 4: Weapon Proficiency (Tratnyr)
Level 6: Cleansing Challenge
Level 8: Devoted Paladin
Level 10: Divine Approval (retrained to Touch of Salvation at Level 11)
Level 11: Versatile Master
Level 12: Forceful Challenge

POWERS
Dilettante: Jinx Shot
Lay on Hands: Lay on Hands
Paladin at-will 1: Virtuous Strike
Paladin at-will 1: Ardent Strike
Paladin encounter 1: Valorous Smite
Paladin daily 1: Glorious Charge
Paladin utility 2: Call of Challenge
Paladin encounter 3: Hold Fast
Paladin daily 5: Arc of Vengeance
Paladin utility 6: Shield the Virtuous
Paladin encounter 7: Blade of Light
Paladin daily 9: Shackles of Justice
Paladin utility 10: Turn the Tide

ITEMS
Unbroken Lance Tratnyr +3, Mirrored Plate Gith Plate Armor +3, Amulet of Protection +3, Aurien, the Golden Griffon, Heavy Shield
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
[/sblock]