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8 months ago ::
Oct 10, 2012 - 11:45PM
#1
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So I'm running around in a couple campaigns at once, and it came as no surprise that I was voted to be Defender in at least one of them. Thing is, one of the constraints is that we must all be drow. First thing that came to mind: Paladins! They're charisma-tanks, right?
WELL! I took a look at the paladin guide "Pillars of Faith", and am no closer to making a decision here. My DM is extremely, I mean EXTREMELY hellbent on killing us PCs when the opportunity arises, so survivability is top priority here. I see that Straladins seem bulkier, but the charisma-based leadery powers look like they offset this somewhat...
So my question is, can Chaladins be as as durable as Straladins? Would I be better off just grabbing Melee-Training (Dexterity I guess?) and going with Knight? I'm pretty nubbish when it comes to defenders, so I need all the help I can get just to not get smashed in the first round after I've marked something.
On another note, this campaign will only last a few sessions. It won't be going past level 10.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 12:32AM
#2
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Cha/Wis Paladins are very durable. Plate+Heavy shield, Lay on Hands. They really take off in Paragon but are good in Heroic.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 12:37AM
#3
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So my question is, can Chaladins be as as durable as Straladins?
I don't see why not, there's nothing stopping a Chaladin from wearing the same plate armour, wielding the same heavy shield, and putting the same amount of points into Con as a Straladin. Plus, being a Chaladin, you're probably going to have a better Will defence, and I find that while Will is targeted fairly rarely, it also tends to be the defence that is targeted by the attacks with the nastiest effects (dominates, stuns, that sort of thing).
Would I be better off just grabbing Melee-Training (Dexterity I guess?) and going with Knight?
No.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 12:44AM
#4
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Wow, yeah. After taking a look at some of the Divine Power and Dragon feats, I'm....well, I'm a bit embarassed to have asked. Hell, it looks like Chaladins were built to never die! I'm still a bit skeptical about having redundant defenses in my two main stats (Cha/Wis), but the level of self-healing and party buffing I can do is crazy...
Definitely picking up a paladin now. Thanks guys!
Also, guessing that Melee-Training isn't all it's cracked up to be?
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 1:18AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Dec 22, 2010
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Take Virtuous Strike as one of your at-wills. It's a cha-based MBA.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 3:49AM
#6
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For truly impressive durability, get a Ring of Tenacious Will.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 4:28AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2010
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For truly impressive durability, get a Ring of Tenacious Will.
Yep, having upwards of 18 surges is just funny.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 7:45AM
#8
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Wow, yeah. After taking a look at some of the Divine Power and Dragon feats, I'm....well, I'm a bit embarassed to have asked. Hell, it looks like Chaladins were built to never die! I'm still a bit skeptical about having redundant defenses in my two main stats (Cha/Wis), but the level of self-healing and party buffing I can do is crazy...
Definitely picking up a paladin now. Thanks guys!
Also, guessing that Melee-Training isn't all it's cracked up to be?
Will is the best NAD to have be high. Fort/Ref are pretty trivial, though you will have to deal with forced movement (Fort) slightly more than average. So even though it isn't great to deal with, it isn't all that bad in your case. Int/Dex is the really sucky pair in that regard (Str/Con usually means enough surges to deal with things).
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 8:20AM
#9
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I've played a Cha-paladin in LFR up from level 1 and I assure you, he is quite durable. Of course, I've invested many feats and items into making him more so. Ring of Tenacious Will is indeed ridiculously good for Cha-based PCs of all sorts. Its daily power has saved this PC's life twice. Even at lower levels, though, and prior to having all the equipment I wanted, this PC was still nice and durable. fairly generic dragonborn paladin
Show
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Sseklah - Epic, level 24
Dragonborn, Paladin, Questing Knight, Legendary Sovereign
Dragonborn Racial Power Option: Dragon Breath
Dragon Breath Key Ability: Dragon Breath Constitution
Dragon Breath Damage Type: Dragon Breath Lightning
Cormyr (General) (Cormyr (General) Benefit)
Theme: Knight Hospitaler
FINAL ABILITY SCORES STR 14, CON 18, DEX 10, INT 12, WIS 20, CHA 28
STARTING ABILITY SCORES STR 12, CON 13, DEX 8, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 17
AC: 41 Fort: 39 Ref: 34 Will: 42
HP: 171 Surges: 19 Surge Value: 54
TRAINED SKILLS Athletics +15, Diplomacy +26, Endurance +17, Insight +26, Religion +18
UNTRAINED SKILLS Acrobatics +8, Arcana +13, Bluff +21, Dungeoneering +17, Heal +17, History +15, Intimidate +23, Nature +17, Perception +17, Stealth +8, Streetwise +21, Thievery +8
POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Knight Hospitaler Utility: Shield of Devotion
Dragonborn Racial Power: Dragon Breath
Paladin Feature: Divine Mettle
Paladin Feature: Divine Strength
Paladin Feature: Divine Challenge
Paladin Feature: Virtue's Touch
Paladin Attack 1: Virtuous Strike
Paladin Attack 1: Enfeebling Strike
Paladin Utility 2: Virtue
Paladin Attack 5: Name of Might
Athletics Utility 6: Mighty Sprint
Paladin Attack 9: Ray of Reprisal
Paladin Utility 10: Guiding Verse
Questing Knight Attack 11: Strength of Ten
Questing Knight Utility 12: Quester's Discipline
Paladin Attack 13: Castigating Strike
Paladin Attack 15: Knight's Defiance
Paladin Utility 16: Divine Aegis
Paladin Attack 17: Wrathful Smite
Paladin Attack 19: Corona of Blinding Radiance
Questing Knight Attack 20: Virtuous Wrath
Paladin Utility 22: Shared Valor
Paladin Attack 23: Demand Respect
FEATS
Level 1: Draconic Challenge
Level 4: Resourceful Leader
Level 6: Superior Will
Level 8: Devout Protector Expertise
Level 10: Battlewise
Level 11: Improved Defenses
Level 12: Focused Mind
Level 14: Swift Recovery
Level 16: Hero's Poise
Level 20: Shield Mastery
Level 21: Weakening Challenge
Level 21: Superior Initiative
Level 22: Champion's Countenance
Level 22: Strength Through Challenge
Level 24: Pious Champion
ITEMS
Heavy Shield x1
Iron Armbands of Power (paragon tier) x1
Lesser Shadowbane +5 x1
Legion Plate Armor of Cleansing +5 x1
Boots of Free Movement Strikebacks x1
Helm of Able Defense x1
Symbol of the Champion's Code +5 x1
Battle-Scarred Champion (epic tier)
Golden Ring of Teros x1
Ring of Tenacious Will x1
Ring of the Fallen
Shepherd's Battle Standard
Stone of Earth
Belt of Vim (paragon tier) x1
Brimstone Cloak +5 x1
Airstriders x1
Solitaire (Violet)
Avandra's Boon of Escape (level 28)
Demonskin Tattoo (epic tier)
====== End ======
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 8:46AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Nov 16, 2010
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Something to remember, as a chaladin, grabs and that pesky 10 foot deep pit/acid pool etc are your bane. I'd suggest having at least 1 way of breaking a grab and some way to get around athletics checks.
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