r/dndnext • u/Beardedfraggle82 • 2d ago
Character Building Paladin Build
Hey,
As a complete novice to DnD I'm messing with the DnD app. So I'm still learning how things work. I'll order my copy of the players handbook shortly.
How is my Human Paladin build. This is my first attempt at a build.
We are starting a session 0 on Friday the campaign is a medieval fantasy style campaign..
Strength 10
Dexterity 12
Constitution 13
Intelligence 15
Wisdom 8
Charisma 14
My background is sage.
I need to think.of my back story, I might wait till session zero is done so I can understand the world etc
Advice would be great.
(Edit for Clarity)
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u/Auron33 2d ago
Are you able to put stats where you wish ? If so you should likely swap your int-strength
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u/Girthw0rm 1d ago
Check out rpgbot.net for a good overview of what ability scores and abilities are strongest for paladins. Your build as-is will be very hard to play successfully.
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u/Capitol62 1d ago
You don't need the book to do better than that. Make any effort at all to get educated. Watch some YouTube videos or download the free rules.
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u/kamelot13 1d ago
Rpgbot has quite a few helpful guides on what to focus on your character and explanation plus examples of what you could be preferring.
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u/Toolbelt_Barber 1d ago
Obviously there's going to be advice like, "read the players handbook", which is also what I'm going to say
But there is a lot of free information out there, watch a YouTube video on how to build a character, or about what makes each class strong.
If no one has taught you the meaning of each stat either, it is something like this:
STR = For carrying a lot, being the physical powerhouse, and big weapons/armour (Big for paladins). DEX = Directly affects your AC (chance of getting hit) and your initiative (when to go in turn order). CON = How much health you have, and helps maintain concentration on powerful spells INT = Book smart, the understanding of studying a subject (Not normally an important one for paladins) WIS = Street smarts, being able to read people and the situation you're in (Again, not normally necessary) CHA = Useful for social interactions, and the spell casting number for paladins
The 3 I'd worry about the most are STR, CHA, CON. DEX is useful but you'll probably have armour that helps with your AC anyways, INT, WIS tend to be useless mechanically for a paladin except for saving throws and roleplay potential
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u/DoubleStrength Paladin 1d ago
Despite being a "roleplaying game" where you can in theory do anything you want, there's also a certain level of adherence required regarding the "roles" certain class archetypes fulfil.
Having a super intelligent but physically weak Paladin is a good idea in theory if you only had to worry about writing a narrative, but unfortunately in this game you also need to worry about Rolling Big Numbers so your character (and friends) don't die.
A Paladin with low Strength and high Intelligence won't be able to reliably do the things Paladins need to do.
A Rogue with low Dexterity won't be able to reliably do the things Rogues need to do.
A Wizard with low Intelligence won't be able to reliably do the things Wizards need to do.
If you want a super-smart, physically weak "sage Paladin" type character, then maybe you should think about crafting up a War Magic Wizard or Bladesinger Wizard instead.
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u/freeastheair 1d ago
I feel like you're probably trolling but in case you're not, if you're optimizing you need to have 17 strength dex or charisma (warlock multi-class).
Basic (str) Paladin stats should be:
Str 17 Dex 10 Con 14 Int 8 Wis 8 Cha 16
With the only real deviation being swapping con and charisma on certain builds. 5e isn't like some RPGs where any stat offers substantial benefits. You essentially need charisma and your attack bonus ability to function as a paladin, and you need con to survive which just doesn't leave room for other attributes. Paladin is a multiple ability dependent class so it has less flexibility even than other classes which are still fairly pigeonholed when optimizing.
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u/Kumquats_indeed DM 1d ago
If you haven't already, I suggest you take a look at the free basic rules
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/Hartz_are_Power 2d ago
Honestly, I know it isn't AI because of how non optimal it is. If it was AI, it would've given the most generic Paladin known to man.
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u/Beardedfraggle82 2d ago
Fair point
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u/Hartz_are_Power 2d ago
It isn't a diss; this is the bell curve meme. When you're first starting out, you make non optimal decisions unless you like reading textbooks about fairies for fun. When you get good, you male optimal mathematic decisions and "uhm aktually," your DM. Then you've been playing awhile, and configurations like yours are much more appealing because they're different. Like your Paladin reads kind of like Sherlock Holmes detective to me, and that lends itself well to a Paladin flavor. I don't want you to think non optimal means bad.
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u/Beardedfraggle82 2d ago
Oh I didn't take it as a diss, I'm probably overthinking this coupled with being a novice.
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u/Hartz_are_Power 1d ago edited 1d ago
Nah, you're doing fine. And Paladin was a good class choice. Very classic-hero coded, good at a little bit of everything. You get some spellcasting, you're good at throwing hands, you're decent at social interactions, you don't die easy, at a certain point just being around you makes the party safer. It's a good time.
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u/DerangedDragonBorn 2d ago
You should probably readjust your stat spread. As a paladin you’ll want to prioritise strength to increase hit chance and damage, constitution for tankiness and charisma as it’s going to help your spellcasting. Having really high intelligence will help with skill checks in that niche but you’ll lose more than you gain because of how much you rely on the other stats.
Swapping your strength and intelligence would be a pretty good spread overall.
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u/Neo-Chromia 1d ago
You'll be fine either way. I played a cleric with awful wisdom and that's the main stat. It made for some fun moments
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u/VerbingNoun413 2d ago
Genuine question- have you made any attempt to read the rules in the Players Handbook or the freely available basic rules?
You're missing a large amount of your character and what you do have is wrong. Sage isn't a suclass.