URGENT Help me choose a good Paladin feat.

[Rel]

...and probably won't be mounted much for the forseeable future...

Could you clarify whether you are going to disdain fighting from horseback or are simply taking the chastity thing very seriously.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Question:

Do you HAVE to take a feat when you earn it?

Can you voluntarily go featless until 4th level so that you then qualify for prerequisites?

Wulf

 

[Torm]

Can you voluntarily go featless until 4th level so that you then qualify for prerequisites?

This is very similar to what I was thinking - with a reasonably cooperative DM, I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't be able to put ANY feat in a slot, so long as you accept that it doesn't activate until the prereqs are met.

Maybe talk to your DM about this option, if you REALLY want a turn based feat?

 

[ForceUser]

Question:

Do you HAVE to take a feat when you earn it?

In my campaign, yes.

If you're looking for a good paladin feat, below is a list of WotC feats I've compiled for my homebrew campaign's gazetteer that I consider good for a 3rd-level paladin. Of this list, I recommend Kiai Shout (which in my Euro-centric campaign I call War Cry). It requires a high Charisma and forces all foes who can hear you and are within 30 feet to make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 character level + Cha Modifier) or be shaken for 1d6 rounds. That's a lot of oomph for a 3rd-level paladin, plus the visual is cool: when else will foes tremble before a low level character?

I also recommend Improved Toughness or Iron Will for any melee character. You can never have enough hit points or Will save bonuses.

The Complete List

Action Boost
Action Surge
Ancestral Relic
Animal Affinity
Cleave
Diehard
Distracting Attack
Education
Endurance
Exalted Smite
Extra Smiting
Eyes in the Back of Your Head
Gift of Faith
Gift of Grace
Goad
Great Fortitude
Hands of a Healer
Heroic Spirit
Improved Initiative
Improved Smiting
Improved Toughness
Iron Will
Kiai Shout
Knight Training
Lightning Reflexes
Mounted Combat
Negotiator
Nimbus of Light
Power Attack
Powerful Charge
Pursue
Ranged Smite Evil
Ride-By Attack
Sacred Vow
Sanctify Martial Strike
Shield Charge
Shieldmate
Silver Smite
Skill Focus (Ride)
Spirited Charge
Stand Still
Stigmata
Trample
True Believer
Vow of Abstinence
Vow of Chastity
Vow of Obedience
Vow of Poverty
Vow of Purity
Weapon Focus

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Question:

Do you HAVE to take a feat when you earn it?

Can you voluntarily go featless until 4th level so that you then qualify for prerequisites?

Wulf

No, you can't hold a feat in reserve, at least according to The Sage. In a home game, however, go for it!

Some good paladin feats from the Book of Exalted Deeds:

Gift of Grace (share your Divine Grace with others)
Holy Radiance (pre-req is Nimbus of Light, CHA 15) - your radiance damages undead
Nimbus of Light (my LG cleric just took it--fun for flavor)
Ranged Smite Evil
Sanctify Martial Strike (pre-req is CHA 15 and Weapon Focus)
Stigmata (pre-req is Nimbus of Light)

Our paladin just reached 3rd level and took Sanctify Martial Strike - it's a great feat for Paladins.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Question:

Do you HAVE to take a feat when you earn it?

Yes. You might ask your DM if you can select a feat for which you don't have the prereqs, though. You'd be going featless for one level, as you mentioned, and the feat would still be chosen at 3rd-level. I don't think a reasonable DM would have a problem with this.

If this is a character for some sort of official game, like LG or somesuch, though, technically you cannot bank feats, and you cannot take a feat for which you don't qualify...

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

The level-up sequence in the PHB doesn't support saving feats, I certainly wouldn't.

I think the main reason for having to choose at set levels is because that is effectively a prerequisite. Part of the appeal of the 'bonus feat' classes is that they can access feats earlier, eg ftr8 w improved crit or wiz5 w craft wands.

The relevant example of divine feats highlights this: divine might at lvl3 is more powerful than weapon spec at lvl4; lvl6 is more reasonable. Upstaging the fighter at fighting is a big no no.

As for the original question, if you don't have exceptional str I'd take weapon focus, if so then great cleave.

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

Unfortunately Great Cleave requires a BAB of +4. But its a valid choice for Level 6...

Kodam

 

[Carpe DM]

Probably too little, too late, but:

1. Servant of the Heavens (BoED). Terrible feat, but you then meet all requirements for Fist of Raziel. Let the smiting begin at 7th level. Stand back and let the whoop through.

2. Ok, if no specific prestige classes are in play, Mounted Combat ain't bad. Spirited Charge needs to be in every Pally's book.

 

[Nightfall]

Personally I prefer a virtue feat like Courage or Industriousness. But that's just me.