Paladin/Fighter

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I've added a Paladin to my party. He's currently level 1. I was planning on adding 4 levels of fighter to him to get weapon specialisation, but now I'm wondering whether it's not worth just putting all his forthcoming levels into fighter. I didn't think the Paladin abilities were necessarily all that great. What are the advantages and disadvantages either way?

 

Fighter levels = More Feats
Paladin levels = Divine spells, Better Lay on Hands, Smiting Evil, Turning Undead, Aura of Courage

 

I think getting fighter levels in normal difficulty mode is only worth it when you keep the paladin's wisdom low. Then you get feats, Specialisation and the like. But personally, I think Specialisation isn't that great in comparison with paladin spells and other abilities. If they already seem weak to you, they won't get any better with a four level delay.

As an example, compare Specialisation with Bull's Strength. Specialisation adds 2 to damage. Bull's Strength adds 1-2 to both damage and Attack Bonus. It also increases weight allowance, should this matter. Weapon Specialisation is limited to one class of weapons. Bull's Strength is good with everything (if obviously less useful for Finessed paladins, should one ever want any -- and I've played one ). And there are spells that add a neat +4 to damage. Getting Specialisation means getting those spells later or not at all. And I can even think of more useful feats to take up two slots from four fighter levels, actually, that is also including Weapon Focus.

 

I didn't give my paladin high wisdom because I already have a cleric and I don't see the need to have a second, inferior divine spellcaster. If i want to use a strength spell I can use a higher level cleric one, but despite that, spells can be dispelled while proficiency bonuses can't, spells have to be cast, proficiency bonuses are just there. I think Paladins have to balance too many abilities and you have to make a concession somewhere, so I didn't raise mine's wisdom, instead focusing on Charisma, thinking I would utilise those abilities. Now I'm not so sure. At any rate he is an Aasimar so he wont incur penalties for disparate class levels.

 

It won't be as uber as Chevalier's famous Paladin / Wizard, though.

 

If you don't have enough wis for castings (needs to be 10 + spell level) then just take 3 levels paladin for all bonuses and the rest as fighter.
You will probably run out of useful feats before end of normal though. The poins spent on charisma is always useful as soon as you've taken the first pal-level.

BTW. I think you're underestimating bulls strength! sure it can be canceled but that don't happen too often, and it lasts forever at higher levels so cast it and play for days.

 

He may not be as powerful casting as your cleric, but taking the paladin levels means that he can deal with much buffing himself, allowing your cleric to concentrate more buffing elsewhere, more summons or more damage spells.

Think of it this way: would you rather have a fighter with Bull's Strength and a cleric or a paladin and a cleric both with Bull's Strength? I don't remember having my buffs removed very often when I last played.

Besides, Paladins are cool, while fighters aren't.

 

At level2 paladins get immunity to fear and holy aura which are very useful, so I'd take at least 2 levels.
Taking the third paladin level is probably also worth it, you gain immunity to disease, cure disease and an improvement for will and reflex saves.
The half extra feat for a fighter level doesn't sound that great in comparison.

The first paladin spells aren't very useful if you have a cleric in your party, but at level 15 paladins get the level 4 spell "holy power", which adds +4 to damage for at least 15 rounds.

Paladins also get "holy smite" which adds the paladin level to damage and you can even take feats for extra smiting.

Compared to the +8 extra damage with holy smite and holy power the pure paladin gets the little +2 extra damage for specialisation a fighter4/paladin gets just fades in comparison.

The pure paladin is the strongest choice.
If you don't like micromanaging, then take a paladin3/fighter x.
In this case you should set wisdom very low, max out str,con and cha and get at least 13 dex for rapid shot instead.

One advice: Longswords are crap, even for paladins. Use 2-handed weapons instead.

 

I think kmonster just hit the nail on the head much better than my attempt.

Paladins > Paladin/Fighters

 

And make sure you use the Ease of Use Mod that makes Cera Sumat a Greatsword instead of a Longsword.

 

Give us a link so it'll be even more famous!

(I was considering a Fighter2/Pally 3/Sorcerer X idea, and could get a lot from seeing how a build like this works)

 

Well, here is the original version of Chevalier's uber Paladin Wizard:

http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/14/1847.html#000000

And here is the reincarnated version:

http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/14/2758/3.html

 

Coolness, thanks.

 

The one downside to pure paladins, depending on your point of view, is that you cannot use the "deception" method of infiltrating the Yuan-ti Temple with a pure pally. However, a fighter/pally will be willing to put on the disguising robes and sneak around the snake temple.

OTOH, if you don't care about sneaking around, the issue is moot.


Something to think about.