Tiefling Paladin/Rogue

[Darkness]

Well, if you're using 3E rules, Keen stacks. So that's 4+.

Plus, Vorpal works on a simple crit. Mr. Ginsu, anyone? (Not with a rapier, I suppose, but still.)

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Well, you've all gotten my interest. If you don't use the 3e tiefling, give me a good substitute? I'm a lover of Planescape, but have never trusted my own game-rules-making abilities. I'd love to hear what you have in mind.

I upgunned all the Planetouched. Tieflings are +2 DEX, INT, CHA; Aasimar are +2 STR, WIS, CHA. (I figure the Tiefling's cumulative +4 CHA is balanced by the Aasimar's +2 STR.)

Haven't done anything with random or variable spell-like abilities. Might do it if I get enough Tieflings in a game-- though I usually leave Tiefer variance to the fact that you can apply Tiefling racial traits as a template for +2 LA.

 

[malien]

I upgunned all the Planetouched. Tieflings are +2 DEX, INT, CHA; Aasimar are +2 STR, WIS, CHA. (I figure the Tiefling's cumulative +4 CHA is balanced by the Aasimar's +2 STR.)

Haven't done anything with random or variable spell-like abilities. Might do it if I get enough Tieflings in a game-- though I usually leave Tiefer variance to the fact that you can apply Tiefling racial traits as a template for +2 LA.

Are they still +1 LA? Seems a bit... powerful?

 

[malien]

So, I've started to stat out the character. So far, I've decided on going with the first three levels being Rogue, and then switching over to Paladin for the next four levels. That takes him as far as he'll be when he plops into the campaign.

As for stats, I went with...

Str 14 (+2)
Dex 16 (+3)
Con 12 (+1)
Int 14 (+2)
Wis 12 (+1)
Cha 14 (+2)

I figured this was a good way to go because it allows for a bit of everything. The Charisma is going to have to be upped with items, the Wisdom is enough because I don't see the character ever hitting 8th lvl Paladin (which is where bonus spells of 2nd lvl would be handy with a higher bonus) 14 Strength will be a good starting point, the 16 Dexterity allows for better AC and some skills (I have to have stealthy skills!) and Intelligence 14 permits extra skills. Constitution could be higher, but you can't win them all.

This is, of course, the stats after racial adjustments (tiefling) and a bonus point at lvl 4.

 

[malien]

Hmm. So, a quandry.

With three feats to take... do I take... Improved Initative, Power Attack and Devoted Inquisitor? Or do I make better use of my +3 Dex bonus, lower my strength score (to many 12, that's more points for Constitution or Charisma) and go Weapon Finesse, Exotic Weapon Proficency (Elven courtsword) and Power Attack? Arrrgh, I want to do too many things at once.

Any thoughts? (Sorry for all the questioning, I'm right /in/ the middle of making the character, you see...)

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Are they still +1 LA? Seems a bit... powerful?

Yes. I haven't noticed a problem.

Part of it is that I run a Gestalt game, so level adjustment is a heavier cost than it is for normal characters-- but I've been using these houseruled Planetouched since before I ever picked up Unearthed Arcana, and I never noticed a problem then, either.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Hmm. So, a quandry.

With three feats to take... do I take... Improved Initative, Power Attack and Devoted Inquisitor?

Yes. Or Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Power Attack, and Devoted Inquisitor. Or Extra Smiting, Power Attack, and Devoted Inquisitor.

Or do I make better use of my +3 Dex bonus, lower my strength score (to many 12, that's more points for Constitution or Charisma) and go Weapon Finesse, Exotic Weapon Proficency (Elven courtsword) and Power Attack? Arrrgh, I want to do too many things at once.

Yes, you want to do too many things at once. This one, however, is easy: you can't qualify for power attack with a 12 strength; you need at least a 13.

I wouldn't go weapon finesse either. To go for an elven court sword and weapon finesse over a greatsword and a higher strength, you pick up (on the original stats you posted) +1 to hit. If it were possible to power attack with a 12 strength, you'd pick up +2 to hit. However, comparing the damage, you still wouldn't come out ahead of the first build.

14 strength, weapon focus and a greatsword:
+BAB +3 to hit; +3 damage
14 str, 16 dex, Weapon finesse and an elven court sword
+BAB +3 to hit; +3 damage

In other words, you spend an extra feat vis a vis the greatsword but gain no advantage in terms of attack or damage.

If you dropped your strength to 13 for some reason, it would look like this:
Greatsword: +BAB +2 to hit, +1 damage
Court Sword: +BAB +3 to hit, +1 damage--power attack for 1 to go to +BAB +2 to hit, +3 damage.

So, dropping your strength and using an elven court sword lets you spend three feats in order to attack worse or do less damage (your choice which) than you would by spending one feat on using a greatsword. It's a bad deal.