Worthwhile Paladin Spells.

[Ridley's Cohort]

Is the Falchion really necessary here? If you go total PA, you're likely going to need a 20 to hit anyway. Works as well with a greatsword.

...

Hrm. Divine Favor would affect the rider and mount as well, wouldn't it...

Let's do the numbers. If I am 9th level with a 14 Str and a +1 weapon. If I do full PA I still have a net +3 to hit, +5 if I charge. My significant opposition at this level has a typical AC in the range of 20-22. Let's use AC 21. So I hit AC 21 on a roll of 16 while charging. Lo and behold I threat on a 15-20 (if I am 9th level and take Improved Crit).

Stacked up, I have Bull's Strength, one of Bless/Prayer/Divine Favor, Smite Evil for +5 (+9 to damage), and +1 if I am on my mount fighting with a Medium creature. My to hit total is +14 when charging. I hit AC 21 on a 7. That is a 70% chance of hitting with damage ~43 HPs with the falchion. I have a 30% of a crit for ~87 HP damage.

Of course, full PA is not necessarily optimal. My point is that swinging for the fences can work pretty well if you purposely go for lucky criticals and bank on the automatic threat confirmation. The calculus is very, very different for the Paladin with Bless Weapon compared to your average Fighter or Barbarian.

Divine Favor will look very attractive once you hit mid levels. For me, it is pretty hopeless.

 

[Darklone]

Don't forget buffs from the group. Friend of mine had a bard5/bbn1 strength 18... not really good BAB, but with a +15 to hit (heroism +2, bull's strength +2 from wizard, strength +4, rage +2, +1 MW weapon), full Power Attack was it all the time

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Don't forget buffs from the group. Friend of mine had a bard5/bbn1 strength 18... not really good BAB, but with a +15 to hit (heroism +2, bull's strength +2 from wizard, strength +4, rage +2, +1 MW weapon), full Power Attack was it all the time

Ha. Well, I can usually count on +1 from Inspire Courage from our Cleric/Bard, but that's where the buff-train stops, I'm afraid. Our party tactics are more the self-optimization kind, rather than the party optimization kind.

Of course, full PA is not necessarily optimal. My point is that swinging for the fences can work pretty well if you purposely go for lucky criticals and bank on the automatic threat confirmation. The calculus is very, very different for the Paladin with Bless Weapon compared to your average Fighter or Barbarian.

Nice. Does it compare so favorably with a longsword and no Improved Crit? I'm S&B all the way, hoping for a Sun Blade eventually.

Divine Favor will look very attractive once you hit mid levels. For me, it is pretty hopeless.

Yes, in a core game Divine Favor is, like so many spells, worthless for a paladin. But at level 9 it'll grant a +2 bonus to attack and damage--sharable with my mount--if my DM opts to House Rule the pally's CL to level-3. Here's hoping.

In a side note, it occurs to me that my pally could really make good use of some Pearls of Power to recall his Protection from Evil or Bless Weapon and use it in another encounter or two.

 

[Carpe DM]

Lots of good ideas here (isn't it interesting how pathetically obsessive we are about our paltry spellcasting ability?).

I looked into the shield each other stunt a few months back. My conclusion at the time (if I recall correctly) was that it won't work. Shield Other is targeted on the Other to be shielded. And I don't think Share Spell works in reverse: that is, any spell affecting your horse affects you. So you could Shield Other your horse, but I don't think your horse could return the effect.

Unfortunately. That would be a hoot of a stunt.

For my current crop of spells, I'm using Protection from Evil and Divine Sacrifice. I picked up two pearls of power, so I can use at least one spell per fight.

Of course, the other trick I'm using is one level of monk + Ki-Striking longsword / lance. Charge, smite, stun, Divine Sacrifice, YUM.

best,

Carpe