OPTIBUILDS’ NOTES *** FREE *** Optibuilds’ Paladin PDF Part I
The Self-Healing Tank
February
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2016
Introduction The main reasons to be a Paladins have for a long time been Smite Evil, Divine Grace, full BAB, and Diplomacy. Once Fey Foundling / Greater Mercy builds came on the scene, Lay on Hands (“LoH”) became a primary reason. The Paladin could now be a self-healing tank rather than a super high AC tank. Opponents are given the illusion of thinking that the Paladin is beatable, so they don’t ignore the Paladin to attack others. Of course, after the self-healing Paladin takes his lickings, he immediately heals up and keeps on ticking.
Aasimar Paladin: The Aasimar version of this build focuses on maximizing Charisma (and thereby Saves, LoH uses per day, and spells per day). At 13th level, that’s 19 LoHs. Human Paladin I and II: These Human versions are more versatile build versions who master Handle Animal (See Skills Focus PDF), Diplomacy, Use Magic Device, and Cleave fighting (version I only). At 13th level, these builds get 17 LoHs. Raging Paladin Self-Healing Tank
Optibuilds has never made one of its builds premised on a house rule before. However, the Tiefling build in this guide is constructed off of an almost universal house rule regarding Fiendish Heritage. Most GMs simply ignore it and allow you to select variant Tieflings without need for the feat, like the Pathfinder rules allow for an Aasimar. If for some reason your GM is unusual and requires the Fiendish Heritage feat, then disregard the Tiefling build and convert it to one of the alternative builds.
Human Raging Paladin: This version gets 11 LoHs that heal an average of 50.5 (self / swift action and/or standard) and 31.5 (others / standard action) HPs per LoH. It also leverages Optimistic Gambler & Community Minded to get the most out of Eldritch Heritage: Orc Bloodline (Touch of Rage) and Bloodrage. The +2 inherent bonus to Strength at 11th level tops off the Rager concept well. Further, its attack stats with Divine Favor, Power Attack and Weapon Bond (without Smite and Touch of Rage) are +27/+22/+17 (2d6 + 34). See the Skills Focus PDF to see how he can get a Tiger and Dire Tiger into his repertoire with Handle Animal. Touch of Rage + Community Minded, Aura of Justice and your self-sacrificing abilities keep your tigers viable for a loooong time.
Standard Self-Healing Tank Builds
Fully Maximizing Builds
General Note: While the Aasimar is slightly lower, these builds with Divine Favor, Power Attack and Weapon Bond (and without Smite or Alter Self) basically attack for +26/+21/+16 (2d6 + 32). Other than the Tiefling build, at 13th level, these builds can heal for an average of 50.5 (self / swift action and/or standard) and 31.5 (others / standard action) HPs per LoH.
The Leadership Feat (See Martials & Pocket Cohorts as an example), Handle Animal Skill (See Optibuilds Skills PDF Part I), Created Races, and Created Magical Items will upgrade any build. I have not included the abovementioned, other than the Handle Animal skill for some builds. If you should want to upgrade even more, then feel free to work these concepts into the builds.
Even if they don’t ignore, you have Shield Other, Paladin’s Sacrifice and Suicidal. Quick Note
Tiefling Paladin: The Tiefling version of this build maximizes LoH healing. At 13th level, this build can heal for an average of 63.5 (self) and 31.5 (others) per LoH and gets 16 LoHs.
Don’t Forget to Get Optibuilds’ Paladin PDF Part II – The Divine Archer.
Standard Self-Healing Tank Race: Tiefling (Oni-Spawn) (+2Str/+2Wis/2Chr) (Alter-Self 1/day) Traits: Suicidal, Fate’s Favored Class/Archetypes: Paladin (Standard)13 Paladin Oaths: Oath of Vengeance or None Favorite Class Bonus: +1 healing/level Lay on Hands Starting Stats (20pts): Str (18), Dex (10), Con (14), Int (9), Wis (9), Chr (14). Add +1 to Strength at 4th, 8th. Add +1 to Wisdom at 12th. Feats / Class Abilities & Selections: 1) Fey Foundling, Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day; 2) Divine Grace, Lay on Hands; 3) Greater Mercy, Aura of Courage, Divine Health, Mercy (Sickened); 4) Channel Positive Energy, Smite Evil 2/day; 5) Power Attack, Divine Bond (Weapon); 6) Mercy (Dazed); 7) Extra Lay on Hands, Smite Evil 3/day; 8) Aura of Resolve; 9) Extra Lay on Hands, Mercy (Nauseated); 10) Smite Evil 4/day; 11) Extra Lay on Hands, Aura of Justice; 12) Mercy (Paralyzed); 13) Dazing Assault, Smite Evil 5/day Spells (includes extra spells from Chr headband): 1st) Divine Favor x2, Hero’s Defiance x2; 2nd) Protection v. Evil Communal, Shield Other, Paladin’s Sacrifice; 3rd) Magic Circle v. Evil, Remove Blindness/Deafness; 4) Holy Sword or Guardian of Faith Skills (13 points): UMD (1), Diplomacy (12) Equipment (98.5K): +4 Mithral Full Plate (26.5K); Bracer’s of Merciful Knight, +3 Greatsword (9K), +3 Adaptive Longbow
Composite (10K), +2 Ring of Protection (8K), +2 Amulet of Natural Armor (8K), Ring of Force Shield (4K), +4 Headband of Charisma (16K), +4 Headband of Strength (16K), Quick Runner’s Shirt (1K), Potions: Enlarge Person x5, Wands: Cure Light Wounds, Honeyed Tongue, Endure Elements, Heightened Awareness Alternative Builds Human Version I (Charisma Skills / Cleaver): Traits: Adopted (Suicidal), Fate’s Favored; Favorite Class Bonus: +1 Skill Point per Level; Starting Stats (20pts): Str (18), Dex (10), Con (14), Int (9), Wis (7), Chr (16). Feats / Abilities: 1) Fey Foundling, Power Attack; 5) Cleave; Spells: 1 more 1st level spell; Skills: Diplomacy (13), Use Magic Device (13), Handle Animal (13). Get Skills PDF Part 1 to enjoy the benefits of the Handle Animal skill. Human Version II (Super Charisma Skills): same as Human Version I, except that you replace your bonus feat for the Focused Study alternative trait and choose the following: Feats / Abilities: 1) Fey Foundling, Skill Focus (Diplomacy); 5) Power Attack; 8) Skill Focus (Handle Animal); 13) Skill Focus (Use Magic Device) Aasimar Version (Super Duper Charisma): Starting Stats (20pts): Str (18), Dex (10), Con (14), Int (9), Wis (7), Chr (18). Add +1 to Charisma at 4th, 8th. Spells: 1 more 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level spell; Alternative Oaths: Oath against Undeath is a viable alternative to Oath of Vengeance. Also Oath against Fiends can be taken with or in alternative to Oath of Vengeance.
Human Raging Self-Healing Tank Race: Human (+2Str) Traits: Community Minded, Optimistic Gambler Class/Archetypes: Bloodrager 1 / Paladin (Standard) 12 Paladin Oaths: Oath of Vengeance Favorite Class Bonus: +1 skill point / level Starting Stats (20pts): Str (18), Dex (10), Con (14), Int (9), Wis (7), Chr (16). Add +1 to Strength at 4th, 8th. Add +1 to Intelligence at 12th. Feats / Class Abilities & Selections: B1) Fey Foundling, Skill Focus (Survival); Bloodline (Celestial), Bloodline Power (Angelic Attacks), Bloodrage, Fast Movement P2) Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day; P3) Greater Mercy, Divine Grace, Lay on Hands; P4) Aura of Courage, Divine Health, Mercy (Sickened); P5) Power Attack, Channel Positive Energy, Smite Evil 2/day; P6) Divine Bond (Weapon); P7) Eldritch Heritage (Orc Bloodline: Touch of Rage), Mercy (Dazed); P8) Skill Focus (Handle Animal), Smite Evil 3/day; P9) Extra Lay on Hands, Aura of Resolve; P10) Mercy (Nauseated); P11) Imp. Eldritch Heritage (Orc Bloodline: Strength of the Beast), Smite Evil 4/day; P12) Aura of Justice; P13) Dazing Assault, Skill Focus (Perception) Mercy (Paralyzed) Spells (includes extra spells from Chr headband): 1st) Divine Favor x2, Hero’s Defiance x2; 2nd) Protection v. Evil Communal, Shield Other, Paladin’s Sacrifice; 3rd) Magic Circle v. Evil, Remove Blindness/Deafness; 4) Holy Sword or Guardian of Faith
Skills (13 points): UMD (1), Diplomacy (13), Survival (12), Handle Animal (12), Perception (13) Equipment (111.5K): Hat of Greater Disguise (12K), +4 Mithril Full Plate (26.5K); Bracer’s of Merciful Knight, +3 Greatsword (9K), +3 Adaptive Longbow Composite (10K), +2 Ring of Protection (8K), +2 Amulet of Natural Armor (8K), Ring of Force Shield (4K), +4 Headband of Charisma (16K), +4 Headband of Strength (16K), Quick Runner’s Shirt (1K), Potions: Enlarge Person x20 (1K) Wands: Cure Light Wounds, Honeyed Tongue, Endure Elements, Heightened Awareness Pet: You still have a considerable amount of left over money for the Tiger or Dire Tiger. At the very least get it a Mithril Chainshirt, Holy Amulet of Mighty Fists, +2 Strength Belt, Alternative Builds Alternative Oaths: Oath against Undeath is a viable alternative to Oath of Vengeance. Also Oath against Fiends can be taken with or in alternative to Oath of Vengeance. Alternative Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) Build: P7) Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline: Arcane Bond (Familiar); P9) Improved Familiar; P11) Extra Lay on Hands There are so many familiars, improved familiars, and familiar archetypes to choose from. See the Optibuilds Shaman PDF to get a taste for what the mauler familiar can do.
Leveraging Community Minded & Optimistic Gambler Simply start your rage the 1st round, get your attacks or whatever, and then turn off rage as a free action before the end of your turn. Next, let Optimistic Gambler and Community Minded (you are your own ally) kick in. You can cure the rage fatigue with your Lay on Hands or just let it naturally go away in basically one round, since the rd. you end rage counts towards the 2 rds. the fatigue will last. Keeping your Tigers Viable If and when you purchase Tigers as suggested in Skills PDF Part I, you will find that they eventually run out of juice because at higher levels you will be fighting creatures with damage reduction. Most builds have to retire the tigers from melee combat and/or invest heavily in equipment. However, the Rager Paladin build can boost the Tiger’s and Dire Tiger’s attacks with Touch of Rage and later with Aura of Justice. This means the Tiger is a menacing option throughout 13th level (especially against Evil). Equipment Honorable Mentions 1. Jingasa Jacket – At lower levels, this is a more accessible option that the Hat of Greater Disguise. At higher levels I prefer the Hat of Disguise Greater not just for the +2 stat bonus to strength or dexterity, but for scent (pheromone arrows and etc. discussed in Skills PDF Part I), swim, climb, claw/bite attack (troglodyte), and roleplay advantages. 2. Prism Ioun Stones – I am not a big fan of these because they can be taken away so easily. With that said, if you GM does not have NPCs steal Ioun Stones, they are great. Dusty Rose Prism Ioun Stone gives a +1 insight AC bonus for 5k. Cracked Dusty Rose Prism for 500g give +1 to initiative. Cracked Pale Green Prism gives a +1 competence bonus to attack rolls or saving throws.
