I have taken quite a long break from DDO (over 10 years) and am interested in this paladin build or something like it in a fighter. The issue I have is that I have no idea how to plan what order to take my enhancements in. I'm not looking for a detailed list like take X at level one (but if you have one I'd take it) but I am looking for direction as to what to prioritize. Any help would be appreciated and thanks in advance.
New/returning Player needing a bit of help
- Thread starter dwwithers
- Start date
morningfrost
Well-known member
Being a Vanguard, I would say to start putting APs there. Knight of the Chalice will be important for DPS, too, so try to keep thing balanced as you level up. Don't worry too much, you can always reset a tree if you find out you would have done differently.
ProllyDidItWrong
Well-known member
First of all, Hi and Welcome... Back.
If it were me, I would first try to get up to at least 1 or 2 ranks of shield smash in the vanguard tree, then work on getting divine might in the KotC tree.
Next I would go for the action boost in the van tree and the smites in the KotC tree after that just kind of work back and forth between the two trees.
Resetting the trees can get expensive really quick if you don't have a lot of plat but it's pretty usual for me to reset the trees every few levels as when I'm working up the trees I always try to push up the next tier by taking only one or two ranks in any of the skills that have I, II, II versions in them and then after a couple more levels back fill those while pushing up the trees which often means having to reset every once and a while.
You get four AP per level and for me it's kind of a PIA to agonize over where I'm going to put spend one measly point, so I often bank a few point before I spend them - it just seems more satisfying to slap down a few points vs. 1 lonely point and with at least 2 APs you have all the option open to you as oposed to when you only have 1 poin.
Thats just what I would do - it's been a while since I've played a pally so others might have a different strategy and of course YMMV.
Good luck
If it were me, I would first try to get up to at least 1 or 2 ranks of shield smash in the vanguard tree, then work on getting divine might in the KotC tree.
Next I would go for the action boost in the van tree and the smites in the KotC tree after that just kind of work back and forth between the two trees.
Resetting the trees can get expensive really quick if you don't have a lot of plat but it's pretty usual for me to reset the trees every few levels as when I'm working up the trees I always try to push up the next tier by taking only one or two ranks in any of the skills that have I, II, II versions in them and then after a couple more levels back fill those while pushing up the trees which often means having to reset every once and a while.
You get four AP per level and for me it's kind of a PIA to agonize over where I'm going to put spend one measly point, so I often bank a few point before I spend them - it just seems more satisfying to slap down a few points vs. 1 lonely point and with at least 2 APs you have all the option open to you as oposed to when you only have 1 poin.
Thats just what I would do - it's been a while since I've played a pally so others might have a different strategy and of course YMMV.
Good luck
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There's not really a wrong way to do it, but personally I would prioritize the KotC DPS boosts first, then invest in Vanguard's S&B bonuses like Stunning Shield and the attack speed increases in the cores. Strimtom's build uses longswords so it's relying on KotC Cleaves for AoE DPS, as opposed to Strikethrough from bastard swords / dwarven axes on other S&B builds (including mine). At level 12, you might want to do an Enhancement reset so you have 37 KotC / 11 Vanguard; then focus on VG while leveling 13-20 until you have the capstone at 20.
Does anything your build need to be updated?
It predates the level cap increase to 32 and the Epic Destiny overhaul a couple of years ago. Also as a Purple Dragon Knight, it gets CHA to hit and damage from its racial enhancements; other races have to use the Feydark Illusionist tree (which wasn't an option back then).
That said, the gist of the build is the same: use bastard swords to take advantage of Helm's Favored weapon status, Strikethrough and higher damage modifier from THF feat chain, and extra doublestrike and PRR from Shield Mastery line. I can update it later when I get a chance.
Thanks, I would love to see it!
Took me longer than planned but I finally started a new thread.
