Paladin Knight Charger (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

A Paladin / Knight and Cavalier riding griffon

References

• Book of Exalted Deeds
• Complete Divine
• Complete Warrior
• Player's Handbook.

Game Rule Components

Items

Belt of Battle, Cloak of Charisma +4, Counterstrike Bracers, heavy shield +3 with commander and crystal of arrow deflection lesser, Long sword +2 with sudden strike and holy surge, Gauntlets of Heartfelt blows, Full Plate Armor +3 with landing and Restful crystal, Heavy lance +2 with charging and sudden stunning and Noble Pennon and crystal of energy assault lesser (cold), Circlet of Persuasion, Unicorn pendant with natural armor +3, Vest Of Resistance +3, Riding boots, Wand of Thunder Lance.

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 16

Race (Templates): Lesser, Aasimar : Type: Humanoid +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma. Medium size. A Lesser Aasimar’s base land speed is 30 feet. Darkvision: Lesser Aasimars can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Racial Skills: Lesser Aasimars have a +2 racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks. Racial Feats: A Lesser Aasimar gains feats according to its class levels. Automatic Languages: Common, Celestial. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Sylvan. Favored Class: Paladin. Level adjustment +0.

Saint template : "Saint" is an acquired template that can be added to any living creature of good alignment that is not an outsider or an elemental (referred to hereafter as the "base creature"). See Sainthood in Chapter 2 BoED for more information about becoming a saint.

Size and Type: The creature's type changes to "outsider." The saint has the native subtype. Size is unchanged.

Armor Class: A saint gains an insight bonus to AC equal to the character's Wisdom bonus.

Special Attacks: A saint retains all the character's special attacks and gains those listed below.

Holy Power (Su): The save DCs of any and all of the saint's special attacks, including spells as well as spell-like, supernatural, and extraordinary abilities, increase by +2.

Holy Touch (Su): A saint's entire being is suffused with holy power, which likewise flows into any weapon the saint wields. A saint's melee attacks with any weapon (or unarmed) deal an additional 1d6 points of holy damage against evil creatures, and 1d8 points against evil undead and evil outsiders. Any evil creature that strikes a saint with a natural weapon takes holy damage as if hit by the saint's attack.

Spell-Like Abilities: At will - guidance, resistance, virtue, and bless. A saint's caster level is equal to its Hit Die total. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Special Qualities: A saint retains all the character's special qualities and gains those listed below, as well as the outsider type.

Damage Reduction (Ex): Saints gain damage reduction according to their Hit Dice (including character level).

HD Damage Reduction 1-3 - 4-7 5/magic 8-11 5/evil 12+ 10/evil If the base creature already has damage reduction, use the better value.

Fast Healing (Ex): Each round, a saint heals damage equal to half of its Hit Dice (including character levels, no a maximum of 10 points healed). if the base creature already has fast healing, use the better value.

Immunities (Ex): A saint is immune to acid, cold, electricity, and petrification attacks.

Keen Vision (Ex): Saints have low-light vision and 60-foot darkvision.

Protective Aura (Su): As a free action, a saint can surround herself with a nimbus of light having a radius of 20 feet. This acts as a double-strength magic circle against evil and as a lesser globe of invulnerability both as cast by a cleric whose level equal to the saint's Hit Dice.

Resistances (Ex): Saints have resistance to fire 10 and receive a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves against poison.

Tongues (Su): A saint can speak with any creature that has a language, as though using a tongues spell cast by a 14th-level cleric. This ability is always active.

Abilities: Modify the base creature as follows: Con +2, Wis +2, Cha +4.

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2.

Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +2.

Flaw 1 : Honorable Challenge You suffer a -4 penalty on attack rolls against creatures that have not explicitly challenged you or made an attack against you. For the purposes of this feat, an attack against you includes any action that would end an invisibility spell (see page 245 of the Player's Handbook).

Flaw 2 : Shaky You take a -2 penalty on all ranged attack rolls

Trait 1 : Honest You gain a +1 bonus on Diplomacy checks. Drawback: You take a -1 penalty on Bluff checks and Sense Motive checks. Roleplaying Ideas: Characters with this trait might be naive and too unsophisticated to lie, or they might be aware of worldly matters and simply choose to take a higher ground.

Trait 2 : Polite You gain a +1 bonus on Diplomacy checks. Drawback: You take a -2 penalty on Intimidate checks. Roleplaying Ideas: Characters with this trait might be honestly polite and kind, or they might simply be adept at mimicking social conventions to get what they want.

Ability Scores (After Racial,template and stuff Adjustments): Str 14, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 28

Holy Warrior Holy Warrior By giving up your spellcasting ability, you gain access to bonus feats much as a fighter does. This choice does not, however, close you off from divine influence - in fact, several of these feats actually increase your divine power. Level: 1st. Replaces: To select this class feature, you must sacrifice your spellcasting ability. Benefit: You no longer gain spells as a paladin, but you can now select a bonus feat at 4th, 8th, 11th, and 14th levels. You can select any feat from the following list for which you meet the prerequisites: any divine feat, Cleave, Extra Smiting, Extra Turning, Great Cleave, Improved Smiting, Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Power Attack, Ride-By Attack, Skill Focus (Ride), Spirited Charge, and Trample. This is an extraordinary ability. Special: A paladin who selects this path can no longer use scrolls, wands, or other magic items that require access to a spell list, unless she has another spellcasting class that grants access to the appropriate spells.

Starting Racial Traits:

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Paladin / Knight 01 - D12	+1	+2	+0	+2	Weapon Focus (heavy lance) [General], Nymph's Kiss [Exalted] , Sanctify Martial Strike[Exalted]	Aura of good, detect evil, smite evil 1/day, Fighting challenge +1, knight's challenge, knight's code	ACF Holy Warrior : Lose spellcasting, gain bonus feat
2nd	Paladin / Knight 02 / D12	+2	+3	+0	+3	Mounted combat	Divine grace, lay on hands, Mounted Combat, shield block +1
3rd	Paladin / Knight 03 / D12	+3	+4	+1	+4	Ride-By Attack	Aura of courage, divine health, Bulwark of defense
4th	Paladin / Knight 04 / D12	+4	+5	+1	+5	Spirited Charge (Holy Warrior)	Turn undead, Armor mastery (medium), test of mettle	+1 Cha
5th	Paladin / Knight 05 / D12	+5	+5	+1	+5	Trample	Smite evil 2/day, special mount, Bonus feat, vigilant defender
6th	Paladin / Knight 06 / D12	+6	+6	+2	+6	Divine shield	Remove disease 1/week, Shield ally	At this point add the Saint template
7th	Paladin / Knight 07 / D12	+7	+6	+2	+6		Fighting challenge +2
8th	Paladin / Knight 08 / D12	+8	+7	+2	+7	Skill Focus (Ride) (Holy Warrior)	Call to battle	+1 Cha
9th	Paladin (ACF Holy Warrior) / Knight 08 / Cavalier 01 / D10	+9	+9	+2	+9	Nimbus of Light	Special mount, mounted weapon bonus (lance) +1, Ride bonus +2, courtly knowledge
10th	Paladin (ACF Holy Warrior) / Knight 08 / Cavalier 02 / D10	+10	+10	+2	+10		Deadly charge 1/day. mounted weapon bonus (sword) +1

Other Components

<- anything not covered by the previous sections ->

Highlights

High Save, at lvl 10, with high charisma and Saint template : For +29, Ref +18, Will +29, High AC 36 With smite ability and Fighting challenge +2 can strike at +27 and with Thunde lance at +34

Munchkin-Size Me

<- Take it to the next level ->

Side Notes

<- overview of additional info about this build ->

Limitations

Call special mount a griffon, this build work when she can charge at each round, as due to her feats she can charge and be far from a target. Charging at each round can make great damage.

<- conditions of when this build works ->

DM Counters

<- If needed, tricks for the DM (provided they allow this build) to keep the abuse to a minimum. ->

Miscellaneous

<- Any other side notes that don't fit in the above sections. ->

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