I have posted before in the past requesting some advice about certain races that blend well with the paladin class, but I have narrowed it down to three choices I am looking at (hence the title). Oath: Devotion - For any of the 3 races I would prefer to go with Oath of Devotion, but I am open to suggestions.
Tabaxi - Dex build with rapier and shield or 2 rapiers/scimitars. Fighting style would be duelist or I would dip 1 lvl to fighter to pick up 2 weapon fighting style or get feat. Leather/light armor. Triton - Str build with sword and shield pick shield master feat with duelist fighting style. May or may not dip into fighter to gain 2nd fighting style pf great weapon fighting style. Medium/heavy armor. Dragonborn - Str build with glaive or halberd and the greater weapon fighting style. Would pick up sentinel and pole master feat for the OA. Undecided on color/draconic ancestry but leaning towards either Green for the poison resistance or the Bronze for lightning damage or Silver/White for cold damage (with cone output). Heavy armor
I would like to hear which of these 3 would be better for a general campaign. I do not know if I am participating in an official or fresh first time. I am obviously open to adjustments to any of the 3 selections, but it would for sure be between these 3 races for now. I am aware of the huge benefit hexblade would bring to any of these 3, but am deciding against it for now.
I play as a strength based sword and board triton paladin with the duelist fighting style, who took oath of devotion. It's been a fun character to play, and I don't plan to multiclass. But, if you do end up dipping into fighter, I wouldn't take great weapon fighting if you're going to take dueling as a paladin because that would make your dueling fighting style obsolete (it looks like you have to be wielding the weapon with both hands to gain the benefit from great weapon fighting, versus with dueling you can only have one melee weapon in one hand to gain benefit from it). I would, instead, take defense, that way you get the benefits of +2 to your AC with the shield, +1 to your AC with your defense fighting style, and +2 to your one-handed melee damage rolls.
At paladin level 4, I took heavy armor master instead of shield master, and recommend it for you, too. It increases strength by 1 (from 19 to 20 for me), and decreases nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage by 3 per attack. While it may not have as much impact at later levels, it will help you more in earlier levels when you have lower HP. So, it makes more sense to take that feat at a lower level than a higher level.
I know this is about a month and a half after you posted, but hope it helps anyway!
As James says. If you plan to multiclass with a Paladin they have to have a minimum of 13 strength and charisma.
I like the idea of a dexterity based Tabaxi. It works well with the dueling fighting style and a rapier and shield. Because you have good dexterity you can also run with a bow. Take thieves tools as a proficiency in your background and you're basically a Paladin/Archer/Scout/Thief, and is possibly one of the most flexible builds in the game. If you take Magic Initiate: Sorcerer or Warlock you can even add a ranged cantrip like Firebolt or Eldritch Blast, along with a utility cantrip like Mage Hand. Hex or Shield make good spell choices. With proficiency in persuasion you'd even be a great party face if you don't already have someone to do that job.
8/16/14/10/10/16 is a good stat spread (just remember you won't be multiclassing).
Though depending where you are it might be cheaper to buy him elsewhere. I use Noble Knight Games because shipping to New Zealand is about a third of Reaper's own.
When you factor in all the racial benefits a Tabaxi gets, including a climbing speed and dash, the dexterity Paladin/scout/archer/thief is basically a one man army. Two of the Paladin Smite spells, branding smite and banishing smite, can even be used with ranged weapons. The only things you should avoid doing involve feats of strength like grappling. In combat? He's a Paladin. Maybe slightly lower AC, but he can still smite with the best of them.
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I have posted before in the past requesting some advice about certain races that blend well with the paladin class, but I have narrowed it down to three choices I am looking at (hence the title).
Oath: Devotion - For any of the 3 races I would prefer to go with Oath of Devotion, but I am open to suggestions.
Tabaxi - Dex build with rapier and shield or 2 rapiers/scimitars. Fighting style would be duelist or I would dip 1 lvl to fighter to pick up 2 weapon fighting style or get feat. Leather/light armor.
Triton - Str build with sword and shield pick shield master feat with duelist fighting style. May or may not dip into fighter to gain 2nd fighting style pf great weapon fighting style. Medium/heavy armor.
Dragonborn - Str build with glaive or halberd and the greater weapon fighting style. Would pick up sentinel and pole master feat for the OA. Undecided on color/draconic ancestry but leaning towards either Green for the poison resistance or the Bronze for lightning damage or Silver/White for cold damage (with cone output). Heavy armor
I would like to hear which of these 3 would be better for a general campaign. I do not know if I am participating in an official or fresh first time. I am obviously open to adjustments to any of the 3 selections, but it would for sure be between these 3 races for now. I am aware of the huge benefit hexblade would bring to any of these 3, but am deciding against it for now.
Thank you for your thoughts!
I play as a strength based sword and board triton paladin with the duelist fighting style, who took oath of devotion. It's been a fun character to play, and I don't plan to multiclass. But, if you do end up dipping into fighter, I wouldn't take great weapon fighting if you're going to take dueling as a paladin because that would make your dueling fighting style obsolete (it looks like you have to be wielding the weapon with both hands to gain the benefit from great weapon fighting, versus with dueling you can only have one melee weapon in one hand to gain benefit from it). I would, instead, take defense, that way you get the benefits of +2 to your AC with the shield, +1 to your AC with your defense fighting style, and +2 to your one-handed melee damage rolls.
At paladin level 4, I took heavy armor master instead of shield master, and recommend it for you, too. It increases strength by 1 (from 19 to 20 for me), and decreases nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage by 3 per attack. While it may not have as much impact at later levels, it will help you more in earlier levels when you have lower HP. So, it makes more sense to take that feat at a lower level than a higher level.
I know this is about a month and a half after you posted, but hope it helps anyway!
There will be a strength tax to your dex tabaxi to multiclass (min 13).
As James says. If you plan to multiclass with a Paladin they have to have a minimum of 13 strength and charisma.
I like the idea of a dexterity based Tabaxi. It works well with the dueling fighting style and a rapier and shield. Because you have good dexterity you can also run with a bow. Take thieves tools as a proficiency in your background and you're basically a Paladin/Archer/Scout/Thief, and is possibly one of the most flexible builds in the game. If you take Magic Initiate: Sorcerer or Warlock you can even add a ranged cantrip like Firebolt or Eldritch Blast, along with a utility cantrip like Mage Hand. Hex or Shield make good spell choices. With proficiency in persuasion you'd even be a great party face if you don't already have someone to do that job.
8/16/14/10/10/16 is a good stat spread (just remember you won't be multiclassing).
Oops. Sorry. Didn't realize how old this post was.
Haha no worries. I do like your break down though!
I started it up again to get tips on my own Tabaxi Paladin. Thanks.
If your table uses miniatures I'd suggest this guy to represent him.
https://www.reapermini.com/miniatures/03893
Though depending where you are it might be cheaper to buy him elsewhere. I use Noble Knight Games because shipping to New Zealand is about a third of Reaper's own.
When you factor in all the racial benefits a Tabaxi gets, including a climbing speed and dash, the dexterity Paladin/scout/archer/thief is basically a one man army. Two of the Paladin Smite spells, branding smite and banishing smite, can even be used with ranged weapons. The only things you should avoid doing involve feats of strength like grappling. In combat? He's a Paladin. Maybe slightly lower AC, but he can still smite with the best of them.