Strength Paladin Build suboptimal?

[SpydersWebbing]

I started with a Charisma Pally and quickly evened up my strength score so that way I could choose whatever powers I wanted.

My reasoning? Charges use strength. Base attacks use strength. OA's use strength. When your strength is one of your lower stats this isn't a good thing. The charisma powers are good, but if you want to deal damage then the charisma build won't do it.

It all depends on what you want to do. Yeah, the strength Pally has less powers, but that's for the reasons I stated above. It balances it out nicely.

 

[bobo]

After level 10, I'm a fan of the STR Paladin because of the Champion of Order's Certain Justice power. Since that has a good chance to hit, and can keep one foe weakened and dazed for the rest of the encounter, it's pretty impressive.

While level 27 is probably too high to really be a good optimization target, the Stunning Smite power is an exceptional attack.

As some others have pointed out, the ability to hit with an OA helps you be a better defender as well. If your DM uses/abuses his knowledge of your character so that mobs run by you to get to squishies, since they are unlikely to be hit by your OA, you lose this aspect. OTOH, your divine challenge is less effective on the main target, so it really depends on the situation.

 

[Shadeydm]

I only see 1 level of non Str choices. Level 9. What other levels are you talking about?

The post said one or none.

lvl 1: dailies 2 chr ve 1 str
lvl 5: dailies 2 chr vs 1 str
lvl 7: encounter 3 chr vs 1 str
lvl 9: 3 chr vs 0 str
lvl 15: 2 chr vs 1 str
lvl 17: 3 chr vs 1 str
lvl 19: 2 chr vs 1 str

Do I really need to keep going or can you see what I am talking about here?

 

[Evanta]

I think STR-based pallys are fine. Their selection within the class is limited, but they have MANY options once you consider multi-class. A STR paladin can into Cleric, Fighter or Warlord powers far more easily than a CHA-based one. CHA-based pallies for the most part have only their own class choices (Warlock sux cuz you'll then need 3 implements instead of 2, everything else you can multi-class into needs STR or WIS to hit, which is definitely suboptimal).

Derailing a bit though, paladins really could use a sourcebook, more-so than other classes imo As things are currently, only a Dragonborn could reasonably take both CHA/STR powers with a decent WIS, there IS a need to introduce a little more at-wills and powers to expand the scope a little. Also, at the moment there is no point at all to make a Human Paladin, as the 3rd at-will power will be generally useless, unlike the other characters who at least have the choice of targeting a weaker defence like WILL or REF instead of AC.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Well, err ... human paladin ... if for some bizarre reason you're taking paragon multiclassing, you can ditch the one cha-based at will power you took ...

 

[Shadeydm]

Hmm I was planning to make a human paladin. So is this a "bad choice"? I am looking at multiclassing with warlord and probably doing a daily power swap feat around lvl 10. I figured bastard sword and board plus toughness would be pretty cool, and really only human lets me do this right out of the gate.

 

[theNater]

Hmm I was planning to make a human paladin. So is this a "bad choice"? I am looking at multiclassing with warlord and probably doing a daily power swap feat around lvl 10. I figured bastard sword and board plus toughness would be pretty cool, and really only human lets me do this right out of the gate.

You'll be fine. Just be aware that only two of your at-will powers will be based on your primary attack stat, so you may not get a lot of use out of the third.