Paladin-based Devoted Tracker?

[danielxcutter]

This is for the OotS-style comic XPeditious Retreat that I'm trying to make, but could you make a decent Devoted Tracker build using Paladin as the base? The character(a highish-level NPC) I'm making is mostly a Paladin who did that so she could hunt down evil-doers better. How does Ranger 6/Paladin X sound? Since Smite Evil has to be used on a single melee attack(sad, since Smite Evil Multishot sounds so badass), the Mounted Combat combat style could be used. If Ranger 5/Paladin X is better, then Strong-arm style might be better. Well, any advice?

Btw the character will be at least 12th level, and probably a little higher than that. Also may or may not have all 5 or 6 Ranger levels, although 4 is the lowest I'm going(animal companion stacking, remember?)

[stanprollyright]

Which edition

[danielxcutter]

Which edition

3.5, silly. Why else would I post it in this sub-forum?

[Extra Anchovies]

Well, Devoted Tracker does three things.

1. Add paladin levels to Wild Empathy. Wild Empathy is used extremely rarely, if ever.
2. Add ranger levels to Smite Evil damage. Smite Evil is usable on only a few attacks per day, so this isn't much.
3. Apply Animal Companion benefits to your Special Mount. This is pretty great, because it combines two decent companions into one definitely strong companion.

Also, Ranger is ironically the worst class to use for the animal companion base, because you need four levels to even get the companion and it scales with half your ranger level. The best option is one level of Beastmaster, which gets you the companion of a 4th-level Druid and 1-to-1 scaling for further companion advancements. In fact, Paladin 5/Beastmaster 1 with Devoted Tracker is the core of pretty much any super-mount build. Supermounts generally require Halfling Outrider, though, and it doesn't sound like that's quite what you're looking for.

If you want a Paladin who decided to go all tracky-skillsy, take a look at Ranger-Knight of Furyondy (Dragon 317). Requires BAB +5, Ride 8 ranks, some other skills, and four feats; Mounted Combat, Track, Trample, and Two-Weapon Fighting. It's got a darn solid chassis (full BAB, 6+Int skills, good fort/ref, d10 HD), and its class features are generally pretty awesome; first and foremost is that it grants the special mount of a 6th-level Paladin when you enter the class (stacks with paladin levels) and gives three favored enemies over ten levels, but it's got plenty of other neat side features (including bonus feats!). Entry-wise, Paladin 3/Ranger 2 would work just fine, and although the build wouldn't include Devoted Tracker, you get a rather strong mount and a number of assorted ranger-paladin-type goodies.

[danielxcutter]

Well, Devoted Tracker does three things.

1. Add paladin levels to Wild Empathy. Wild Empathy is used extremely rarely, if ever.
2. Add ranger levels to Smite Evil damage. Smite Evil is usable on only a few attacks per day, so this isn't much.
3. Apply Animal Companion benefits to your Special Mount. This is pretty great, because it combines two decent companions into one definitely strong companion.

Also, Ranger is ironically the worst class to use for the animal companion base, because you need four levels to even get the companion and it scales with half your ranger level. The best option is one level of Beastmaster, which gets you the companion of a 4th-level Druid and 1-to-1 scaling for further companion advancements. In fact, Paladin 5/Beastmaster 1 with Devoted Tracker is the core of pretty much any super-mount build. Supermounts generally require Halfling Outrider, though, and it doesn't sound like that's quite what you're looking for.

If you want a Paladin who decided to go all tracky-skillsy, take a look at Ranger-Knight of Furyondy (Dragon 317). Requires BAB +5, Ride 8 ranks, some other skills, and four feats; Mounted Combat, Track, Trample, and Two-Weapon Fighting. It's got a darn solid chassis (full BAB, 6+Int skills, good fort/ref, d10 HD), and its class features are generally pretty awesome; first and foremost is that it grants the special mount of a 6th-level Paladin when you enter the class (stacks with paladin levels) and gives three favored enemies over ten levels, but it's got plenty of other neat side features (including bonus feats!). Entry-wise, Paladin 3/Ranger 2 would work just fine, and although the build wouldn't include Devoted Tracker, you get a rather strong mount and a number of assorted ranger-paladin-type goodies.

Ah, perfect. That's exactly what I needed.

[stanprollyright]

3.5, silly. Why else would I post it in this sub-forum?

There's also a Devoted Hunter or somesuch archetype for Paladins in PF; wasn't sure if that's what you were talking about lol