Hi All, 

I’m starting my first campaign with about 6 friends or so (also mostly all their first campaigns too aside from one player and the DM). I was looking for help on where to stat. I’ll be playing an oath of vengeance dragonborn Paladin. I rolled 17, 17, 15, 13, 9, and 8. I placed them in STR, CON, CHA, DEX, INT, and WIS respectively so 19, 17, 16, 13, 9, 8 with racial bonuses. Thoughts? Should I swap the top 3 around? Since it’s many of our first times playing I think I may be over rating CON for my Paladin and should pump up my CHA?

In my experience, and depending on the party comp, I'd suggest:

CHA, STR, CON, DEX, WIS, INT 

or

STR, CHA, CON, DEX, WIS, INT

This is because CHA should be your highest stat and STR your second. An exception for this are for paladins who are going to dump all their spellcasting into Smite, but you'd still want your CHA as your second highest just in case. DEX and CON are largely middle of the road stats. You want them out of negative, but not your highest. If you're a tank, take CON over DEX, and if you're dps\healing it doesn't matter. The last two are essentially RP focused. WIS gives you Perception and Insight, while INT gives you investigation. For that reason I'd take WIS over INT.

You might regret that 8 Wisdom. Failing a Wisdom save generally means something real bad for you and possibly your party (stuff like mind control or debilitating dear effects). Personally, I would switch your DEX and WIS and keep everything else.

Quote from Silvercoins >>

In my experience, and depending on the party comp, I'd suggest:

CHA, STR, CON, DEX, WIS, INT 

or

STR, CHA, CON, DEX, WIS, INT

This is because CHA should be your highest stat and STR your second. An exception for this are for paladins who are going to dump all their spellcasting into Smite, but you'd still want your CHA as your second highest just in case. DEX and CON are largely middle of the road stats. You want them out of negative, but not your highest. If you're a tank, take CON over DEX, and if you're dps\healing it doesn't matter. The last two are essentially RP focused. WIS gives you Perception and Insight, while INT gives you investigation. For that reason I'd take WIS over INT.

A lot of Paladin spells don’t really require their casting ability, so if Cha is lower down the list it’s not the worst thing in the world. Spells like bless, shield of faith, find steed, crusader’s mantle, spirit shroud, the various auras… none of them require even a positive Cha mod to be effective. I usually focus primarily on Str and Con for Paladins. 

Quote from Helmut_McQuack >>

You might regret that 8 Wisdom. Failing a Wisdom save generally means something real bad for you and possibly your party.

Very true, although do remember that Paladins get Proficiency in Wisdom Saving Throws and Aura of Protection at 6th Level (Charisma modifier added to all saving throws), so these combined balance the drop in Wisdom.

Quote from IamSposta >>

Quote from Silvercoins >>

In my experience, and depending on the party comp, I'd suggest:

CHA, STR, CON, DEX, WIS, INT 

or

STR, CHA, CON, DEX, WIS, INT

This is because CHA should be your highest stat and STR your second. An exception for this are for paladins who are going to dump all their spellcasting into Smite, but you'd still want your CHA as your second highest just in case. DEX and CON are largely middle of the road stats. You want them out of negative, but not your highest. If you're a tank, take CON over DEX, and if you're dps\healing it doesn't matter. The last two are essentially RP focused. WIS gives you Perception and Insight, while INT gives you investigation. For that reason I'd take WIS over INT.

A lot of Paladin spells don’t really require their casting ability, so if Cha is lower down the list it’s not the worst thing in the world. Spells like bless, shield of faith, find steed, crusader’s mantle, spirit shroud, the various auras… none of them require even a positive Cha mod to be effective. I usually focus primarily on Str and Con for Paladins. 

 Even if a paladin never casts a cha dependent spell the aura is such a significant feature I would put cha as one of my top 2 stats at least if the campaign is expected to have a decent way to go when you hit level 6.

I suppose. I dunno, I always figured that top 3 was good enough, but maybe I undervalued the extra point in the aura?

Comparing con to cha.

Each +1 modifier to con instead of cha gives you

1. 1 extra HP per level (useful)
2. a +1 to con saves while unconcious (very minor effect)

Each +1 modifier to cha instead of con gives you

1. One extra divine sense per day (very minor)
2. More powerful spells if they are link to an ability (depends whether you cast such spell)
3. An extra spell prepared (Useful for casters but little benefit if keeping slots for smite)
4. From Level 6 a +1 to Str, Dex, Wis, Cha and Int saving throws while conscious (you get the con save bonus if you take con instead) (Very Useful)
5. From Level 6 a +1 to Str, Dex, Wis, Cha and Int and Con saving throws to any alllay within 10 feet of you while you are concious. (Very useful unless the rest of the party wont go near you) (Increases to 30ft at level 18)
6. At 14th level one extra cleansing touch per day
7. Most subclasses get a feature that runs of charisma, they vary but most are quite useful however Redemption, Ancients and Vengence get nothing extra charisma based

Make your own choice but unless the vast majority of the campaign is level 1-5 I will choose Charisma every time.