pimp my paladin

[Bard1cKnowledge]

So yeah, I have no idea how to play as a physical combat class, I always play as a bard or other types of arcane casters (chiefly 5e warlocks, short rests and eldritch fueled power yes please)

So I decided on a gnome paladin of irori(I forget spelling, book at home, god/goddess of history and that stuff)

What should my dump stat be on a 20 point buy, and what feats?

[TheCountAlucard]

Which edition? You sorta implied 5e judging by the Warlock bit but that's not particularly indicative of the paladin you're playing now.

[Bard1cKnowledge]

Whoops, 3.P, otherwise known as pathfinder

[BilltheCynic]

Check out Dictum Mortuum's Paladin Handbook (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1118281). It should have the information you need, not just on stats and feats but on ACFs, prestige classes, etc.

[Glorius Nippon]

1. Well, do you want to go two handed fighter, two weapon fighter, sword & board, ect.?

2. Then, do you want to be good at charging, tripping, ect.?

3. Then, what weapon do you want to use (semi reliant on step 2.)

Point is, there's alot of different ways to be a martial. Hell you can even go paliarcher if you want, smiting evildoers with righteous arrows.

[Flickerdart]

The most important rules for your paladin are the Alternate Mount rules in the back of the DMG. It does require the DM's permission, but essentially any quadrupedal creature of CR = your level -3 (or -4 if it flies) is available for a mount. Half-Celestial Magebred Light Horse is an excellent start.

[Bard1cKnowledge]

Well I was hoping for more of the holy weapon style, and a switch hitter between two handed and sword/shield

My main question is stat wise what should I do, I am a gnome and I do have that -2 str

[lsfreak]

Well I was hoping for more of the holy weapon style, and a switch hitter between two handed and sword/shield

3.5 really doesn't support splitting your resources like that, and Pathfinder - afaik - even less so. One of the initiators from Path of War might fare better at switching back and forth, but even so a lot of the resources you spend will probably be wasted on one or the other style.

Don't know how good it is, but there's this (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9vv1a7v3y5BSGpObWxScUs1YlU/edit) Pathfinder paladin handbook (Dictum Mortuum's is excellent, but for the significantly different 3.5 paladin).

[GreatDane]

Well I was hoping for more of the holy weapon style, and a switch hitter between two handed and sword/shield

My main question is stat wise what should I do, I am a gnome and I do have that -2 str

I don't know tons about the Pathfinder paladin, but if you're going to be a gnome and use the 3.5 paladin, I'd strongly recommend going the mount route. As a Small character, your mount will be Medium, which means you can actually take it into most places the party will be going (a big advantage over Medium paladins, whose Large mounts are hard to maneuver).

Pros to mounted combat are numerous and include great speed, tons of damage on a charge (there is feat and equipment support), and whatever nice abilities your mount might get down the line. Here (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7414) is the mount handbook (useful for optimizing your mount or just seeing the variety of options out there).

I don't know if it quite fits your character vision, but if you decide to focus on lances for the "double damage on a mounted charge" thing, you can be a two-handed fighter on the ground (with the lance) and a "lance-and-board" fighter while mounted, since lances can be wielded with one hand while mounted.

[toapat]

Well I was hoping for more of the holy weapon style, and a switch hitter between two handed and sword/shield

My main question is stat wise what should I do, I am a gnome and I do have that -2 str

divine bond is a trap option in pathfinder, only useful if you have a dm that likes economically screwing you over.

at 20 point buy getting decent primary stats is hard for paladin

[BWR]

divine bond is a trap option in pathfinder, only useful if you have a dm that likes economically screwing you over.



How so? The paladins in my game have loved Divine Bond because it's so much more useful for paladins than the mount (unless you play a specifically mounted pally)

[Bard1cKnowledge]

Thanks for all the help, I just need to buy the equipment (and find a game I can use him in) and I'm set

Maybe later I can take a dip in Monk, just imagine a gnome in full plate punching evil in the face with a glowing fist that does extra damage to undead

[Red Fel]

Thanks for all the help, I just need to buy the equipment (and find a game I can use him in) and I'm set

Maybe later I can take a dip in Monk, just imagine a gnome in full plate punching evil in the face with a glowing fist that does extra damage to undead

Three things.

First, be aware that, if you wear full plate, you lose your Monk AC bonus, fast movement, and flurry.

Second, be aware that Smite Evil works differently in 3.X and in PF. Frankly, PF's smite is much better, in my opinion. Be sure which version you're using.

Third, if you're considering Paladin/Monk, consider the Champion of Irori (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/c-d/champion-of-the-enlightened) PrC. (Have a handbook (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1bu5RkMqNkZbHpHRF9RX09ZWE0/edit?pli=1).) Advances Monk levels for class feature purposes, lets your Smite Evil alternatively Smite Chaos, gives you a ki pool if you don't have one, lets you Smite against multiple targets, and lets you make an unarmed strike as a touch attack.

I've worked with this class before (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?380611-Seven-Heavens-Seven-Palms-Building-an-Unarmed-Holy-Dude), and it's a pretty powerful Pathfinder product.

[Bard1cKnowledge]

Three things.

First, be aware that, if you wear plate, you lose your Monk AC bonus, fast movement, and flurry.

Second, be aware that Smite Evil works differently in 3.X and in PF. Frankly, PF's smite is much better, in my opinion. Be sure which version you're using.

Third, if you're considering Paladin/Monk, consider the Champion of Irori (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/c-d/champion-of-the-enlightened) PrC. (Have a handbook (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1bu5RkMqNkZbHpHRF9RX09ZWE0/edit?pli=1).) Advances Monk levels for class feature purposes, lets your Smite Evil alternatively Smite Chaos, gives you a ki pool if you don't have one, lets you Smite against multiple targets, and lets you make an unarmed strike as a touch attack.

I've worked with this class before (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?380611-Seven-Heavens-Seven-Palms-Building-an-Unarmed-Holy-Dude), and it's a pretty powerful Pathfinder product.

This^^

This is what I was pretty much going for, god and everything.

I just couldnt find/think up his code