Paladin Build

[Kinkurono]

Can anyone give me their opinion on this smiter paladin build ?

http://nwn2db.com/build/?229161

[Ariella]

I would go for something like this http://nwn2db.com/build/?238566 Smite infidel is pretty useful here and it does increase with greater smiter although not as much as smite, You will also gain 1 more AB and one extra greater smite. Paladin spells are the only reason not to take Divine Champion but since the nerf on holy/lawful sword you won't be using most less its a boss fight.

[Kinkurono]

But i was thinking that i'd lose a lot of spellslots if i take levels of divine champion, even though with divine champion the build would have a lot more smites, also with CL20 the build would be dispelled quite a lot wouldn't it ?

[Ariella]

You have max spell slots at 20 3/3/3/3, You will be dispelled by a couple of areas but fine in most.

[chad878262]

Holy / Lawful sword (like many of the updates) is still in flux. best not to consider changes as 'final' so much as looking at various possibilities.

Regards to the build, biggest issue is a smiter is a boss killer, but getting to the boss is more difficult. EDM has more staying power for grinding/getting to the boss, etc. but a smiter can throw some really strong numbers. This is why the suggestion for Divine Champion is decent, because then you have smite evil and smite infidel which gives you a couple more uses.

Hitting Paladin 20 will still give you the max benefit for your spells such as holy/lawful sword, or GMW etc. Your durations will be shorter, but you still have 20 minutes of +8 STR, +4 CHA, +5 EB, Keen on your weapon and 2 minute boss battle spells to add 4d6 damage (even if nothing gets changed). The problem you could have is bosses that have (greater) dispel...and mobs that have this. As a Paladin you have fewer spell slots so getting dispelled hurts a lot more since you don't have the option to memorize 2 or 3 of the same buff to reapply if dispelled.

A possible option would be to simply go P26/DC4 w/ practiced caster. Still hits CL30 while gaining Smite Infidel (though not as strong). This might be the right combination if you're interested.

[Kinkurono]

Hmm, P26/DC4 seems alright, but so seems P20/DC10. i just can't decide on what to go with.

[Ariella]

Boss dispelling is not an issue as almost all boss fights will end in one or two rounds. You can avoid dispel-able monsters easy as only a select few areas have them, however as a paladin you are not dependent on buffs so simply wait until you can handle the naga without wards.

That said at current there is a 100% RCR so i recommend trying both builds and finding out what suits your play style best.

[Kinkurono]

Problem is, i am only level 21 so i can't really try both builds to their fullest and i wont get to level 30 before they remove the 100% RCR...

[Ariella]

Grind! But you only really need to get to about 24 to experience the main difference between the two spell wise.

[Kinkurono]

Well time to grind haha !

[calvinus]

Kink,

If you are planning on maybe getting sucked into pvp against evil PCs and pve boss fights against all NPCs bosses except the white dragon and dracolich (with a strong all around grinder escort) more, a pure smiter (even with 20-24 CL in Ariella's type build) with super high short term damage and attack (but not much else that is exceptional) can be awesome. You can of course change up the disadvantages and advantages of this build a bit by boosting the CL at the cost of other things such as smite damage or AC (as chad was getting at). Fortunately, you are in a guild where other characters are very much a good escort for you IC in terms of pve, so this might be quite fun to play without as much of an annoying disadvantage mechanically. I don't know how often you get sucked into pvp though, so I am not sure of the advantage for that mechanically. Personally, I get into pvp like once a year on Wai lol, so it's not really a major mechanical and RP consideration for me as a paladin player. It is true though that a pure smiter is very dangerous in pvp against any evil PC opponent. I have seen a 20 paladin/10 DC pure smiter build take out 5 enemy level 30 PC evil alignment arcanists in two rounds in pvp before.

If you are planning though on being the all around grinder escort and even soloing all bosses except the white dragon and dracolich (and having potential for tanking the white dragon in a group), then a more rounded EDM build with 30CL and higher sustained damaged, AC, and FAB can be awesome. I can tell you though with this latter build, which is roughly the one I have played for a few years, it is horrible at pvp, even though it is generally very strong in pve against every NPC boss except the white dragon or dracolich solo, haha. Wai loses 95% of the time in pvp (especially against arcanists), but that's okay! She barely gets into it IC and really she is not meant to be the best combatant ever or even that great, more a "inspire a coalition" into action type paladin.

You are smart then to test out both then and see which playstyle you mechanically enjoy more given the environment IC that Klait would play in -- it's all about having fun after all =D. What is neat is that even though mechanically they are both paladin types, they are very very different in mechanical style. You could test them in JEGS as well btw, as you would get a feel for things there a bit except for the dispel issue. Before you RCR though, I recommend thinking carefully about what skills you want as a paladin in terms of lore if any as they seemed to have changed a lot with the update!

[Kinkurono]

Alright, i made a new build keeping in mind what everyone said (Thanks for the tips guys ! especially calvinus hehe)
Here it is:
http://nwn2db.com/build/?238646

Well i decided to get level 20 on paladin for those extra spell slots (With the extra spell slots i have my slots should be something like this - 6/5/4/5 - which would let me extend spell most of my main buffs so i could have a lot of 40 minutes buffs ) as soon as possible that's why i took the three levels of DC before 20 and then 3 levels of paladin after it, Now i am not sure what feat to take at level 18. Took extra turning for more casts of divine shield/divine might ( 18 uses fully buffed if i am not mistaken) but also thought on getting heavy armor specialization for the dr 5/- or practiced spellcaster even though i'd need to change the skills a bit to get get acess to it, what do you guys think ?

[Ariella]

Make it practiced spell caster paladin

[Kinkurono]

Alright, updated it with practiced spell caster (Paladin)

[chad878262]

you could consider dropping DEX to 9 and raising CON to 11. That way you could use a +3 item for each stat to hit 12 DEX (perfect for full plate) and 14 CON. The other side is to leave even so you can end with 12/12 by utilizing the ring of the knight (+2 DEX/CON, Toughness). Other than that the build is fine for what you are looking to do. You might have some trouble if you were to attempt soloing certain areas, but for most you should be able to roll through. Plus since you have a group you appear to play with consistently you will be great in the role of 'boss killer'

Have fun!