PF/3.5 Paladin without the Paladin

[Spuddles]

I am looking for a kick ass divine ass kicking build that is like a paladin (armored, smitey, righteous), but without setting my levels on fire taking classes like... paladin.

Any good paladin-without-the-paladin builds out there?

[limejuicepowder]

cleric or crusader comes to mind. Or do both and go ruby knight vindicator.

[GreenETC]

Look at the Ordained Champion and Church Inquisitor PrCs. They're both pretty low level and they feel very Paladin-y.

Even a straight Cleric can feel Paladin-y though, if you play it right.

[Killer Angel]

In PF, you have the option of the Cavalier, but you'd better be sure that the campaign/DM is mounted combat-friendly... :smallwink:

and yes, in 3.5, crusader is probably your best bet.

[Mirakk]

I did Cleric/Prestige Paladin 2-4/Ordained Champion 5/Cleric+ with the spontaneous domain (Protection) variant, and Pool of Healing ACFs.

Awesome build for making a paladin. You get most of the paladin toys, way more smite, way better spellcasting, more flexibility, and even more lay on hands

[Spuddles]

Because of the Divine Power nerf in PF, what's the best way to maximize BAB and minimize CL loss?

I have cleric1/church inquisitor3/??? as the chassis, using versatile spellcaster or something for early entry.

The DM lets me retrain a feat every level, so I can be pretty carefree with my feats.

I am thinking aasimar for free martial weapon proficiency, though human is also so so good in PF.

Character will be for a rise of the runelords campaign, which goes from 1st level to 17th. Would mounted combat tree be worth it? Lance & spirited charge is big time damage.

[navar100]

Pathfinder provides the Inquisitor, a built in divine gish. You get better spellcasting than a paladin but not as much as a cleric. You also get self-buffs to improve accuracy, AC, damage, saving throws, etc. You can even make your weapon a Bane against a foe you face. You can still roleplay the righteousness if you want but if you didn't want Paladin for the Code, Inquisitor has no code.

If straight Cleric is too vanilla and common for you, there is Oracle. Battle Mystery works best for combat prowess. You become proficient with heavy armor and martial weapons. You get to act in the surprise round. Metal and Ancestor Mysteries also allow for combative Oracles. Their flavor text doesn't quite match Paladin's, so you'll have to come up with your own. Pick Tongues Curse and bash your foes with righteous fury admonishing them in Celestial or cursing them in Abyssal/Infernal.

I think Inquisitor is closer to Paladin without being a Paladin.

[magwaaf]

I am looking for a kick ass divine ass kicking build that is like a paladin (armored, smitey, righteous), but without setting my levels on fire taking classes like... paladin.

Any good paladin-without-the-paladin builds out there?

setting levels on fire? pathfinder paladins are f'ing badass

also take the cavalier alt class samurai and do what we did and call it knight. now you can be badass on off your mount. you get to be a fighter with half the feats bug get a druid companion. tell me that's not sick

[Crustypeanut]

Pathfinder provides the Inquisitor, a built in divine gish. You get better spellcasting than a paladin but not as much as a cleric. You also get self-buffs to improve accuracy, AC, damage, saving throws, etc. You can even make your weapon a Bane against a foe you face. You can still roleplay the righteousness if you want but if you didn't want Paladin for the Code, Inquisitor has no code.

If straight Cleric is too vanilla and common for you, there is Oracle. Battle Mystery works best for combat prowess. You become proficient with heavy armor and martial weapons. You get to act in the surprise round. Metal and Ancestor Mysteries also allow for combative Oracles. Their flavor text doesn't quite match Paladin's, so you'll have to come up with your own. Pick Tongues Curse and bash your foes with righteous fury admonishing them in Celestial or cursing them in Abyssal/Infernal.

I think Inquisitor is closer to Paladin without being a Paladin.

Inquisitors still have a code. Just.. that they're open-minded as for how they (and only they) interpret the code. Still, Inquisitors are a bad ass class.

[Baroncognito]

I really like Holy Vindicator for Paladin without being a paladin.

[Squirrel_Dude]

I would recommend cleric or oracle in Pathfinder. Pathfinder also has the inquisitor if you want your paladin to be a divine bard. There's also favored soul and crusader in 3.5


In PF, you have the option of the Cavalier, but you'd better be sure that the campaign/DM is mounted combat-friendly... :smallwink:

and yes, in 3.5, crusader is probably your best bet.Or guns friendly and allows you to take the musketeer archetype.

[MukkTB]

The Crusader is a divine warrior who is assisted in combat by divine magic but doesn't really cast spells. The Inquisitor is a divine agent who plays a bit more like a skill monkey than an up and up fighter. A Cleric or Oracle can handle the role.

I would advise the Crusader. Its a full tier 3 class and one of the tankiest things you can get out of the box at low levels.

[gurgleflep]

I don't quite recall if it has magic, but you might want to look up the Knight class. They've similar to the Paladin as far as I can remember.

[mattie_p]

Umm, have you considered looking at old Zinc Saucier competitions? That is kind of the point of the thread. We had a paladin in round 7. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252932) Here's the judging, with links to each build.

{table=head]Ranking|Saucier|Entry Name|Build|Score

1st Place|T.G. Oskar|Roland (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826905&postcount=45)|Divine Mind of Heironeous 4/Cleric of Heironeous 3/Hospitaler 3/Fist of Raziel 10|19.5

2nd Place|Andorax|Karania (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826963&postcount=49)|Binder 6/Cleric 1/Knight of the Sacred Seal 4/ Knight of the Chalice 9|18.5

3rd Place|The Underlord|Feradim (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826976&postcount=50)|Divine Bard 8/(Divine Adaptation) Abjurant Champion 2/Skypledged 5/Sacred Exorcist 5|16.75

4th Place|smasher0404|Buono (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826948&postcount=48)|Cleric 6/Incarnate 2/Witch Hunter 2/Sapphire Hierarch 10|16

5th Place|rot42|R. Sophie (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826939&postcount=47)|Bard 7 / Fighter 1 / Sanctified One of Ehlonna 4 / Sublime Chord 1/ Abjurant Champion 5 / Eldritch Knight 2|15.75

6th Place|Eskil|Kindhearted Heretic (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826931&postcount=46)|Binder 15/Knight of the Sacred Seal 5|15.5

7th Place|Andorax|Martis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13826887&postcount=44)|Soulborn 7/Divine Crusader 5/Cavalier 8|15.25[/table]

[Daftendirekt]

Alternately, use the Dragonlance prestige classes for the Knights of Solamnia: Ranger 3, Cleric 2, Knight of the Crown 3, Knight of the Sword 3, Knight of the Rose 9 seems to be the optimal progression.