The first build in this thread is an updated version of my PDK paladin Vanguard. Later I may post examples of Feydark Illusionist-based builds. For historical reference and comparison, a couple other build threads:
The first major build decision is: do you take the Shield Mastery feats manually while leveling for the extra PRR and doublestrike; or do you plan to take Shield Mastery Specialty at level 31 instead, freeing up those feat slots for other things (in this case, Improved Shield Bash, Quicken, and Empower Heal)? Or maybe you level with the Shield Mastery feats, then lesser reincarnate at 31 to switch feats around and take SMS then. I present both options.
The second main issue is Enhancements. If we follow Strimtom's example of combining tier-5 Knight of the Chalice (KotC) with the Vanguard capstone, it looks something like this:
The drawback to this approach is there's no APs to spare for other trees: e.g., defensive bonuses from Sacred Defender. A more balanced approach would be something like this:
Epic Destinies: there are a lot of options, of course, but I want to focus on Divine Crusader + Unyielding Sentinel, which is how I feel S&B paladin is "meant" to be played, with a mix of DPS, party support (mostly from Consecration), survivability, and threat-aggro bonuses. The third ED can be whatever complements the rest of your build; here I go Dreadnought for Dire Charge and +1 Imbue dice.
- https://forums-old.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/522061-First-Life-Friendly-THF-Charisma-Paladin
- https://forums-old.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/538433-A-more-modern-paladin-vanguard
- https://forums.ddo.com/index.php?threads/daxeguard-and-other-flavors-of-vanguard.399/
Requires a +1 Lesser Heart of Wood to get rid of the initial fighter level, +2 STR tome for ITHF/GTHF pre-reqs, and +3 DEX tome for Precision (optional but I prefer it to Power Attack).PDK Vanguard of Helm
Paladin 20
Lawful Good Purple Dragon Knight
Stats
. . . . . . . .34pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 15. . . .+2. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . 10. . . .+3. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 14. . . . . . . .12: CHA
Intelligence. . 10. . . . . . . .16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . . . . . .20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18. . . . . . . .24: CHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: CHA
Skills
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Intim . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Heal. . . 2. 2. . .2 . . 2. . .2 . . 2. . .2 . . 2. . .2 . . 2. . .2 .22
UMD . . . 2. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 11
Tumble. . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .12. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3
Feats
.1. . . . : Two Handed Fighting
.1 PDK. . : Improved Shield Bash OR Shield Mastery
.3. . . . : Precision OR Power Attack
.6. . . . : Improved Two Handed Fighting
.9. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
12. . . . : Greater Two Handed Fighting
15. . . . : Quicken Spell OR Improved Shield Mastery
18. . . . : Empower Healing Spell OR Greater Shield Mastery
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
22 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
24 Epic . : Bulwark of Defense
25 Destiny: Doublestrike OR Crush Weakness
27 Epic . : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Embodiment of Law
30 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea
31 Destiny: Shield Mastery Specialty OR Enhanced Elemental Dice
.1 Deity. : Follower of: Helm
.6 Deity. : Ever Watchful
The first major build decision is: do you take the Shield Mastery feats manually while leveling for the extra PRR and doublestrike; or do you plan to take Shield Mastery Specialty at level 31 instead, freeing up those feat slots for other things (in this case, Improved Shield Bash, Quicken, and Empower Heal)? Or maybe you level with the Shield Mastery feats, then lesser reincarnate at 31 to switch feats around and take SMS then. I present both options.
The second main issue is Enhancements. If we follow Strimtom's example of combining tier-5 Knight of the Chalice (KotC) with the Vanguard capstone, it looks something like this:
If you have a +1 racial AP tome, add the level 18 KotC core enhancement.Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)
Vanguard (41 AP)Knight of the Chalice (36 AP)
- To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I, Shield Combat II, Vicious Shield II, Shield Champion
- Shield Specialization, Shield Smash III, Unbalancing Shove I
- Shield Specialization, Brutality III, Stunning Shield III, Missile Shield III, Melee Power Boost III
- Shield Specialization, Follow Up III, Fatal Bulwark
- Shield Specialization, Vanguard Armor Mastery III, Shield Charge III
Purple Dragon Knight (3 AP)
- Slayer of Evil, Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil II, Improved Courage of Heaven
- Extra Smites II, Improved Second Strikes III
- Adept Combatant, Divine Might III, Exalted Cleave: Melee
- Divine Sacrifice: Melee I, Exalted Smite: Melee III, Stat: Charisma
- Knight's Training, Censure Demons, Vigor of Life
- Ascendency, Censure Outsiders, Vigor of Life, Holy Retribution: Melee
Leveling Guide
- Human Versatility: Damage Boost
- Cormyrean Knight Training
- Knight of the Chalice: Slayer of Evil, Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil II, Improved Courage of Heaven
- Extra Smites II, Improved Second Strikes III
- Adept Combatant, Divine Might III, Exalted Cleave: Melee
- Divine Sacrifice: Melee I, Exalted Smite: Melee III, Stat: Charisma
- Knight's Training, Censure Demons, Vigor of Life
- Ascendency, Censure Outsiders, Vigor of Life, Holy Retribution: Melee
- Purple Dragon Knight: Human Versatility: Damage Boost
- Cormyrean Knight Training
15. Van3 Follow Up II, III; Van2 Shield Specialization
- Vanguard: To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I
- Shield Specialization, Shield Smash III
- Stunning Shield III, Melee Power Boost III
- Follow Up I, Fatal Bulwark
16. Van0 Shield Combat II; Van3 Shield Specialization
17. Van4 Shield Specialization; Van4 Shield Charge I, II, III
18. Van1 Unbalancing Shove I; Van0 Vicious Shield II; Van2 Missile Shield I, II
19. Van2 Missile Shield III; Van2 Brutality I, II, III
20. Van4 Vanguard Armor Mastery I, II, III; Van0 Shield Champion
The drawback to this approach is there's no APs to spare for other trees: e.g., defensive bonuses from Sacred Defender. A more balanced approach would be something like this:
+25 PRR/MRR from Sacred Defender to improve survivability; and Haste Boost from Vistani Knife Fighter to improve burst DPS, especially vs bosses who resist Holy Retribution. Or if you don't have Vistani, you can put more points into PDK tree for Great Weapon Aptitude (+20% Strikethrough); or Sacred Defender for +2 Lay on Hands charges and Hardy Defense (+6 CON).Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)
Vanguard (41 AP)Knight of the Chalice (22 AP)
- To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I, Shield Combat II, Vicious Shield II, Shield Champion
- Shield Specialization, Shield Smash III, Unbalancing Shove I
- Shield Specialization, Stunning Shield III, Melee Power Boost III
- Shield Specialization, Follow Up III, Fatal Bulwark
- Shield Specialization, Shield Charge III
- Shield Specialization, Shield Rush III, Armored Strength, Brutal Impact
Vistani Knife Fighter (8 AP)
- Slayer of Evil, Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil II, Improved Courage of Heaven
- Extra Smites II, Improved Second Strikes III
- Adept Combatant, Divine Might III
- Divine Sacrifice: Melee I, Exalted Smite: Melee III
- Censure Demons
Sacred Defender (6 AP)
- Knife Expertise
- Undead Hunter, Mist Stalker, Acrobatic I
- Haste Boost III
Purple Dragon Knight (3 AP)
- Holy Bastion, Sacred Defense
- Extra Lay On Hands I, Improved Sacred Defense: Durable Defense III
- Human Versatility: Damage Boost
- Cormyrean Knight Training
Epic Destinies: there are a lot of options, of course, but I want to focus on Divine Crusader + Unyielding Sentinel, which is how I feel S&B paladin is "meant" to be played, with a mix of DPS, party support (mostly from Consecration), survivability, and threat-aggro bonuses. The third ED can be whatever complements the rest of your build; here I go Dreadnought for Dire Charge and +1 Imbue dice.
Destinies (Spent: 60 (40 +20pdp) / Max: 60 (40 +20pdp) AP)
Divine Crusader (39 AP)Unyielding Sentinel (14 AP)
- Just Cause, Confront any Foe, Weather any Blow, Sunder Evil
- Divine Smite, Consecration III
- Endless Smiting III, Holy Mantle
- Strike with Poise III, Crusade, How Dare You Strike Me III
- Heavenly Presence, Blessed Strikes III, Cower Before Me, Rend Armor
- Mighty Crusade, Bring Down Wrath, Law of the Divine, Blessed Blades, Beckon Divinity
Legendary Dreadnaught (7 AP)
- Unyielding, Ward Against Darkness, Stand Against the Tide
- Celestial Mandate: Celestial Mandate, Brace for Impact III
- Renewal, Knight's Challenge
- Legendary Shield Mastery III
- Fearless, Weaponmaster
- Push Through The Line III, Dire Attack: Dire Charge
- Esoteric Touch