Davy Jones - Half Elf Paladin(Bard)/Hospitaler/Ceaseless Guardian
This build uses the following sources:
AV - Adventurer's Vault
AV 2 - Adventurer's Vault 2
D XXX - Dragon Magazine, issue XXX
DP - Divine Power
AP - Arcane Power
PHB - Player's Handbook
PHB 2 - Player's Handbook 2
PHB 3 - Player's Handbook 3
Build Goal and Tactics
The goal of this build is to provide an impervious defense.
To that end, synergy between Hospitaler's Blessing and Weakening Challenge is the keystone of this build. Precious few monsters have any chance whatsoever of punching through the weakened condition (half damage) and automatic healing (that also happens on a miss) for 22 hitpoints. To so so would require that their maximum damage be higher than 44. A quick look at various monsters will show us that this is a rare quality for a potential foe to possess. After establishing that most foes cannot hurt a Hospitaler's allies, what is then left is status effects. To that end, we have chosen to increase the effectiveness of our Lay on Hands ability. Each use of LoH can target two allies, healing them each for 60 Hitpoints, and granting each of them a saving throw with a +9 untyped bonus (An autosuccess, unless they are suffering a penalty to saves). Due to these choices, we can not only prevent allies from being hurt by all but the rarest opponents, but we can also all but guarantee that we can also scrub out whatever effects an opponent might manage to put onto them.
Looking then, at our personal defense, this front is also very well protected. Our defenses are naturally at 48/43/44/47. Since we are wearing a Shadow Band, we have permanent concealment. Furthermore, we are using Psychic Lock with a Sorrowsong Blade, causing a -2 debuff to an opponent's attack if we manage to hit him. Should a marked opponent attack us, he will trigger Honored Foe, giving us our Wisdom Modifier's worth of temporary hitpoints. This triggers every single time an opponent does damage to us, be that ongoing damage, auras, zones, and anything else. Furthermore, we have a constant resist 5/all from our Ring of Free Time. To simplify, we might as well say that we have resist 12/all against marked opponents. Against standard opponents of same level, who at Lv. 30 deals a baseline of 3d8+10, your defenses (not including Psychic Lock or concealment from Shadow Band) combined with your damage reducing qualities, produce a state wherein no matter the defense attacked, you are will take less than 7 damage from an attack against any given defense.
Questions, thoughts, and comments are welcome!
Note: The summary will not work with CB as is, don't be surprised when it doesn't. Among other things, Ceaseless Guardian is not yet in the CB. This is meant as a placeholder, to help show when
things are retrained and such, until the snapshots and level by level sblocks are filled in.
Crazy Assumption: Cthulhu has the Madness and the Sea domains. He dares you to say that he doesn't.
This build uses the following sources:
AV - Adventurer's Vault
AV 2 - Adventurer's Vault 2
D XXX - Dragon Magazine, issue XXX
DP - Divine Power
AP - Arcane Power
PHB - Player's Handbook
PHB 2 - Player's Handbook 2
PHB 3 - Player's Handbook 3
Level 30 snapshot
Race: Half-Elf (PHB)
Class: Paladin (PHB)
Paladin Feature: Lay on Hands (PHB)
Multiclass: Bard (PHB 2)
Paragon Path: Hospitaler (PHB)
Epic Destiny: Ceaseless Guardian (D 387)
Ability Scores, with racial adjustments:
Strength 12 (+1)
Constitution 16 (+3)
Dexterity 14 (+2)
Intelligence 10 (+0)
Wisdom 24 (+7)
Charisma 28 (+9)
HP: 205 --> 15 base, +16 Constitution, +174 levels
Bloodied: 102 HP or less
Healing Surges: 19 --> 10 base, +9 Charisma
Healing Surge Value: 51 HP
AC: 47 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +14 armor, +6 enhancement, +2 shield
Fortitude: 45 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +3 ability (Constitution), +6 enhancement, +4 Epic Fortitude, +2 feat, +1 class, +2 Diamond Cincture, +2 shield
Reflex: 44 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +2 ability (Dexterity), +6 enhancement, +4 Epic Reflexes, +2 feat, +2 shield, +1 class, +2 Boots of Caiphon
Will: 47 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +9 ability (Charisma), +6 enhancement, +4 Epic Will, +2 feat, +1 class
Initiative: +23 --> +2 ability (Dexterity), +15 levels, +6 item
Speed: 6 --> 6 base, +1 Guardian Mindfulness, -1 armor
At-Will Attack Powers:
L1 - Enfeebling Strike (PHB)
L1 - Virtuous Strike (DP)
L1 - Guiding Strike (PHB2) (Dilettante)
Encounter Attack Powers:
L11 - Warding Blow (PHB)
L13 - Castigating Strike (DP)
L23 - Demand Respect (DP)
L27 - Restricting Smite (PHB)
Daily Attack Powers:
L1 - Majestic Halo (DP)
L20 - Life-Giving Smite (PHB)
L25 - Discipline the Unruly (DP)
L29 - World in Winter (D 380)
Utility Powers:
L2 - Call of Challenge (DP)
L6 - Wrath of the Gods (PHB)
L10 - Prescient Maneuver (PHB 3)
L12 - Healing Font (PHB)
L16 - Winter's Arrival (D 380)
L22 - Failure is No Option (DP)
L26 - Always Ready (D 387)
Skills:
Diplomacy (+31) --> +9 ability (Charisma), +5 trained, +15 levels, +2 racial
Endurance (+19) --> +3 ability (Constitution), +5 trained, +15 levels, -2 armor, -2 shield
Insight (+29) --> +7 ability (Wisdom), +5 trained, +15 levels, +2 racial
Religion (+20) --> +0 ability (Intelligence), +5 trained, +15 levels
Feats:
L1 - Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blades, Holy Symbols) (PHB 3)
L2 - Group Defense (DP)
L8 - Bardic Dilettante (PHB2)
L11 - Honored Foe (DP)
L11 - Psychic Lock (PHB)
L12 - Versatile Master (PHB 2)
L14 - White Lotus Master Riposte (D 374)
L14 - White Lotus Riposte (D 374)
L16 - Touch of Salvation (DP)
L18 - Power of the Sea (DP)
L20 - Shield Mastery (PHB3)
L21 - Weakening Challenge (DP)
L22 - Pious Champion (DP)
L24 - Robust Defenses (PHB 2)
L26 - Epic Fortitude (PHB 2)
L28 - Epic Reflexes (PHB 2)
L29 - Bolstering Touch (D 385)
L30 - Epic Will (PHB 2)
Changes:
+6 HP
New Feat: Epic Will (PHB 2)
Magic Items (Expected GP = 14,625,000):
L29 (2,625,000 gp): +6 Sorrowsong Blade Longsword (E2:KotG)
L29 (2,625,000 gp): +6 Timeless Locket (AV 2)
L29 (2,625,000 gp): Ring of Free Time (AV 2)
L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Symbol of the Champion's Code (AV 2)
L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Gallant Godplate Armor (AV 2)
L27 (1,625,000 gp): Shadow Band (AV)
L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (AV 2)
L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (AV)
L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (Paragon Tier) (AV 2)
L20 (125,000 gp): Many-Fingered Gloves (AV 2)
L15 (25,000 gp): Shield of Fellowship (AV 2)
L10 (5,000 gp): Headband of Intellect (Heroic Tier) (AV)
L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (AV 2)
TOTAL: 14,284,200 gp
Discussion:
There's really not much to say here. Pack up your bags and set sail for Old Man with the Canaries, and tell him to bring some friends since this tier ain't big enough for both of you.
Race: Half-Elf (PHB)
Class: Paladin (PHB)
Paladin Feature: Lay on Hands (PHB)
Multiclass: Bard (PHB 2)
Paragon Path: Hospitaler (PHB)
Epic Destiny: Ceaseless Guardian (D 387)
Ability Scores, with racial adjustments:
Strength 12 (+1)
Constitution 16 (+3)
Dexterity 14 (+2)
Intelligence 10 (+0)
Wisdom 24 (+7)
Charisma 28 (+9)
HP: 205 --> 15 base, +16 Constitution, +174 levels
Bloodied: 102 HP or less
Healing Surges: 19 --> 10 base, +9 Charisma
Healing Surge Value: 51 HP
AC: 47 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +14 armor, +6 enhancement, +2 shield
Fortitude: 45 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +3 ability (Constitution), +6 enhancement, +4 Epic Fortitude, +2 feat, +1 class, +2 Diamond Cincture, +2 shield
Reflex: 44 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +2 ability (Dexterity), +6 enhancement, +4 Epic Reflexes, +2 feat, +2 shield, +1 class, +2 Boots of Caiphon
Will: 47 --> 10 base, +15 levels, +9 ability (Charisma), +6 enhancement, +4 Epic Will, +2 feat, +1 class
Initiative: +23 --> +2 ability (Dexterity), +15 levels, +6 item
Speed: 6 --> 6 base, +1 Guardian Mindfulness, -1 armor
At-Will Attack Powers:
L1 - Enfeebling Strike (PHB)
L1 - Virtuous Strike (DP)
L1 - Guiding Strike (PHB2) (Dilettante)
Encounter Attack Powers:
L11 - Warding Blow (PHB)
L13 - Castigating Strike (DP)
L23 - Demand Respect (DP)
L27 - Restricting Smite (PHB)
Daily Attack Powers:
L1 - Majestic Halo (DP)
L20 - Life-Giving Smite (PHB)
L25 - Discipline the Unruly (DP)
L29 - World in Winter (D 380)
Utility Powers:
L2 - Call of Challenge (DP)
L6 - Wrath of the Gods (PHB)
L10 - Prescient Maneuver (PHB 3)
L12 - Healing Font (PHB)
L16 - Winter's Arrival (D 380)
L22 - Failure is No Option (DP)
L26 - Always Ready (D 387)
Skills:
Diplomacy (+31) --> +9 ability (Charisma), +5 trained, +15 levels, +2 racial
Endurance (+19) --> +3 ability (Constitution), +5 trained, +15 levels, -2 armor, -2 shield
Insight (+29) --> +7 ability (Wisdom), +5 trained, +15 levels, +2 racial
Religion (+20) --> +0 ability (Intelligence), +5 trained, +15 levels
Feats:
L1 - Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blades, Holy Symbols) (PHB 3)
L2 - Group Defense (DP)
L8 - Bardic Dilettante (PHB2)
L11 - Honored Foe (DP)
L11 - Psychic Lock (PHB)
L12 - Versatile Master (PHB 2)
L14 - White Lotus Master Riposte (D 374)
L14 - White Lotus Riposte (D 374)
L16 - Touch of Salvation (DP)
L18 - Power of the Sea (DP)
L20 - Shield Mastery (PHB3)
L21 - Weakening Challenge (DP)
L22 - Pious Champion (DP)
L24 - Robust Defenses (PHB 2)
L26 - Epic Fortitude (PHB 2)
L28 - Epic Reflexes (PHB 2)
L29 - Bolstering Touch (D 385)
L30 - Epic Will (PHB 2)
Changes:
+6 HP
New Feat: Epic Will (PHB 2)
Magic Items (Expected GP = 14,625,000):
L29 (2,625,000 gp): +6 Sorrowsong Blade Longsword (E2:KotG)
L29 (2,625,000 gp): +6 Timeless Locket (AV 2)
L29 (2,625,000 gp): Ring of Free Time (AV 2)
L28 (2,125,000 gp): +6 Symbol of the Champion's Code (AV 2)
L27 (1,625,000 gp): +6 Gallant Godplate Armor (AV 2)
L27 (1,625,000 gp): Shadow Band (AV)
L24 (525,000 gp): Boots of Caiphon (AV 2)
L21 (225,000 gp): Ring of Tenacious Will (AV)
L20 (125,000 gp): Diamond Cincture (Paragon Tier) (AV 2)
L20 (125,000 gp): Many-Fingered Gloves (AV 2)
L15 (25,000 gp): Shield of Fellowship (AV 2)
L10 (5,000 gp): Headband of Intellect (Heroic Tier) (AV)
L9 (4,200 gp): Backlash Tattoo (AV 2)
TOTAL: 14,284,200 gp
Discussion:
There's really not much to say here. Pack up your bags and set sail for Old Man with the Canaries, and tell him to bring some friends since this tier ain't big enough for both of you.
Character Builder summary
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Davy Jones, level 30
Half-Elf, Paladin, Hospitaler, Ceaseless Guardian
Build: Protecting Paladin
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Holy Symbol)
Guadian Mindfulness: Charisma
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 16, Dex 14, Int 10, Wis 24, Cha 28.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 12, Dex 12, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 16.
AC: 47 Fort: 45 Reflex: 44 Will: 47
HP: 205 Surges: 19 Surge Value: 51
TRAINED SKILLS
Religion +20, Insight +29, Diplomacy +31
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +13, Arcana +15, Bluff +24, Dungeoneering +22, Endurance +14, Heal +22, History +15, Intimidate +24, Nature +22, Perception +22, Stealth +13, Streetwise +24, Thievery +13, Athletics +14
FEATS
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Group Defense
Level 4: Virtuous Recovery (retrained to Bolstering Touch at Level 29)
Level 6: Devoted Paladin (retrained to Honored Foe at Level 11)
Level 8: Bardic Dilettante
Level 10: Power of Madness (retrained to White Lotus Riposte at Level 14)
Level 11: Psychic Lock
Level 12: Versatile Master
Level 14: White Lotus Master Riposte
Level 16: Touch of Salvation
Level 18: Power of the Sea
Level 20: Shield Mastery
Level 21: Weakening Challenge
Level 22: Pious Champion
Level 24: Robust Defenses
Level 26: Epic Will
Level 28: Epic Fortitude
Level 30: Epic Reflexes
POWERS
Dilettante: Guiding Strike
Lay on Hands: Lay on Hands
Paladin at-will 1: Enfeebling Strike
Paladin at-will 1: Virtuous Strike
Paladin encounter 1: Valorous Smite
Paladin daily 1: Majestic Halo
Paladin utility 2: Call of Challenge
Paladin encounter 3: Righteous Smite
Paladin daily 5: Hallowed Circle
Paladin utility 6: Wrath of the Gods
Paladin encounter 7: Price of Cowardice
Paladin daily 9: Crown of Glory
Paladin utility 10: Prescient Maneuver
Paladin encounter 13: Castigating Strike (replaces Valorous Smite)
Paladin daily 15: True Nemesis (replaces Hallowed Circle)
Paladin utility 16: Winter's Arrival
Paladin encounter 17: Hand of the Gods (replaces Righteous Smite)
Paladin daily 19: Corona of Blinding Radiance (replaces True Nemesis)
Paladin utility 22: Failure is No Option
Paladin encounter 23: Demand Respect (replaces Price of Cowardice)
Paladin daily 25: Discipline the Unruly (replaces Crown of Glory)
Paladin encounter 27: Restricting Smite (replaces Hand of the Gods)
Paladin daily 29: World in Winter (replaces Corona of Blinding Radiance)
ITEMS
Ring of Free Time (epic tier), Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier), Diamond Cincture (paragon tier), Timeless Locket +6, Gallant Godplate Armor +6, Many-Fingered Gloves (paragon tier), Shadow Band (epic tier), Shield of Fellowship Heavy Shield (paragon tier), Sorrowsong Blade Longsword +6, Symbol of the Champion's Code +6, Headband of Intellect (heroic tier), Boots of Caiphon (epic tier), Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Davy Jones, level 30
Half-Elf, Paladin, Hospitaler, Ceaseless Guardian
Build: Protecting Paladin
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Holy Symbol)
Guadian Mindfulness: Charisma
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 16, Dex 14, Int 10, Wis 24, Cha 28.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 12, Dex 12, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 16.
AC: 47 Fort: 45 Reflex: 44 Will: 47
HP: 205 Surges: 19 Surge Value: 51
TRAINED SKILLS
Religion +20, Insight +29, Diplomacy +31
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +13, Arcana +15, Bluff +24, Dungeoneering +22, Endurance +14, Heal +22, History +15, Intimidate +24, Nature +22, Perception +22, Stealth +13, Streetwise +24, Thievery +13, Athletics +14
FEATS
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Group Defense
Level 4: Virtuous Recovery (retrained to Bolstering Touch at Level 29)
Level 6: Devoted Paladin (retrained to Honored Foe at Level 11)
Level 8: Bardic Dilettante
Level 10: Power of Madness (retrained to White Lotus Riposte at Level 14)
Level 11: Psychic Lock
Level 12: Versatile Master
Level 14: White Lotus Master Riposte
Level 16: Touch of Salvation
Level 18: Power of the Sea
Level 20: Shield Mastery
Level 21: Weakening Challenge
Level 22: Pious Champion
Level 24: Robust Defenses
Level 26: Epic Will
Level 28: Epic Fortitude
Level 30: Epic Reflexes
POWERS
Dilettante: Guiding Strike
Lay on Hands: Lay on Hands
Paladin at-will 1: Enfeebling Strike
Paladin at-will 1: Virtuous Strike
Paladin encounter 1: Valorous Smite
Paladin daily 1: Majestic Halo
Paladin utility 2: Call of Challenge
Paladin encounter 3: Righteous Smite
Paladin daily 5: Hallowed Circle
Paladin utility 6: Wrath of the Gods
Paladin encounter 7: Price of Cowardice
Paladin daily 9: Crown of Glory
Paladin utility 10: Prescient Maneuver
Paladin encounter 13: Castigating Strike (replaces Valorous Smite)
Paladin daily 15: True Nemesis (replaces Hallowed Circle)
Paladin utility 16: Winter's Arrival
Paladin encounter 17: Hand of the Gods (replaces Righteous Smite)
Paladin daily 19: Corona of Blinding Radiance (replaces True Nemesis)
Paladin utility 22: Failure is No Option
Paladin encounter 23: Demand Respect (replaces Price of Cowardice)
Paladin daily 25: Discipline the Unruly (replaces Crown of Glory)
Paladin encounter 27: Restricting Smite (replaces Hand of the Gods)
Paladin daily 29: World in Winter (replaces Corona of Blinding Radiance)
ITEMS
Ring of Free Time (epic tier), Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier), Diamond Cincture (paragon tier), Timeless Locket +6, Gallant Godplate Armor +6, Many-Fingered Gloves (paragon tier), Shadow Band (epic tier), Shield of Fellowship Heavy Shield (paragon tier), Sorrowsong Blade Longsword +6, Symbol of the Champion's Code +6, Headband of Intellect (heroic tier), Boots of Caiphon (epic tier), Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
Build Goal and Tactics
The goal of this build is to provide an impervious defense.
To that end, synergy between Hospitaler's Blessing and Weakening Challenge is the keystone of this build. Precious few monsters have any chance whatsoever of punching through the weakened condition (half damage) and automatic healing (that also happens on a miss) for 22 hitpoints. To so so would require that their maximum damage be higher than 44. A quick look at various monsters will show us that this is a rare quality for a potential foe to possess. After establishing that most foes cannot hurt a Hospitaler's allies, what is then left is status effects. To that end, we have chosen to increase the effectiveness of our Lay on Hands ability. Each use of LoH can target two allies, healing them each for 60 Hitpoints, and granting each of them a saving throw with a +9 untyped bonus (An autosuccess, unless they are suffering a penalty to saves). Due to these choices, we can not only prevent allies from being hurt by all but the rarest opponents, but we can also all but guarantee that we can also scrub out whatever effects an opponent might manage to put onto them.
Looking then, at our personal defense, this front is also very well protected. Our defenses are naturally at 48/43/44/47. Since we are wearing a Shadow Band, we have permanent concealment. Furthermore, we are using Psychic Lock with a Sorrowsong Blade, causing a -2 debuff to an opponent's attack if we manage to hit him. Should a marked opponent attack us, he will trigger Honored Foe, giving us our Wisdom Modifier's worth of temporary hitpoints. This triggers every single time an opponent does damage to us, be that ongoing damage, auras, zones, and anything else. Furthermore, we have a constant resist 5/all from our Ring of Free Time. To simplify, we might as well say that we have resist 12/all against marked opponents. Against standard opponents of same level, who at Lv. 30 deals a baseline of 3d8+10, your defenses (not including Psychic Lock or concealment from Shadow Band) combined with your damage reducing qualities, produce a state wherein no matter the defense attacked, you are will take less than 7 damage from an attack against any given defense.
Questions, thoughts, and comments are welcome!
Note: The summary will not work with CB as is, don't be surprised when it doesn't. Among other things, Ceaseless Guardian is not yet in the CB. This is meant as a placeholder, to help show when
things are retrained and such, until the snapshots and level by level sblocks are filled in.
Crazy Assumption: Cthulhu has the Madness and the Sea domains. He dares you to say that he doesn't.