Optimizing Protector Aasimar Paladin

[gjf2a]

Greetings,

I am considering a couple of different options for the statistics of a Protector Aasimar Paladin, using point-buy. I have no interest in multiclassing. His background is Outlander.

For skills, Outlander includes Athletics and Survival. For his other two skills, I am considering Insight and Persuasion. But I could replace one of those with Perception since his background includes Athletics, which is a class skill. Two other party members are proficient in Perception. Of these three (Insight, Perception, Persuasion) which two would be ideal to choose?

For statistics, I am considering a couple of options:

15 10 12 8 11(+1) 15(+2) yielding
15 10 12 8 12 17

The idea would be to use the level 4 ASI to bump both CHA and STR, yielding 18 and 16 respectively.

I am also considering:
14 10 14 8 12(+1) 14(+2) yielding
14 10 14 8 13 16

I would then use the level 4 ASI to bump STR.

Given these two alternatives, then, would it be preferable to have the extra +1 on CHA with +1 hp/level, or take the lower (but still rather good) CHA with +2 hp/level?

Thanks for your suggestions!

[Corran]

The idea would be to use the level 4 ASI to bump both CHA and STR, yielding 18 and 16 respectively.

This is a good idea. I would go with that.

For skills, I would pick perception and persuasion (perception is basically the most tested skill and I prefer persuasion to insight since I generally prefer to be good at doing things than be good at reacting to things). Keep in mind that you can modify backgrounds should you wish.

For the rest of the stats, I see 4 approaches I like:

1) STR 9, DEX 15, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 10, CHA 17
2) STR 9, DEX 15, CON 13, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 17
3) STR 15, DEX 10, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 9, CHA 17
4) STR 15, DEX 12, CON 13, INT 8, WIS 9, CHA 17

1&2 are for a dex based paladin, 3&4 for a str based paladin (each approach has its merits).
1&3 are for if you are not planning on taking resilient con as a feat, 2&4 start you with an odd con score so that it will round at 14 when you get resilient con (you are a bit pressed for ASI's and feats, but some oaths really profit from taking resilient con).

[CTurbo]

STR 15, DEX 10, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 9, CHA 17 all the way and bump Str and Cha at level 4.

[Waazraath]

- I like this stats better: 15 10 12 8 12 17 ; from lvl 6 onwards, cha is just too poweful with the save bonus, for yourself and nearby allies.
- you could consider a dex build (as already mentioned), if your not set on using a heavy weapon. Shield + rapier on a dex based pally is great, you can always nova for damage with smites (or even smite + a spell from the smite line). Aasimar also gives you a damage boost 1/day
- these kind of damage boosts don't work well with the -5/+10 from GWM, so if that feat would be the reason to go for a str-based, this could be a reason to reconsider
- I agree that perception is just too good to pass on

[gjf2a]

Thanks everyone!

I hadn't thought about a Dex build, but that could actually work pretty well the way I imagine the character. I know I didn't want to dump Wis, so dumping Str is an interesting alternative. Athletics skill compensates somewhat.