Hello, I am a Lvl 4 Dragonborn Paladin on my 1st dnd campaign. I just hit lvl 4 and I decided to choose a feat instead of an ability score mod. However, I can't choose which feat.
If it helps: Str = 19 Dex = 12 Con = 11 Wis = 10 Int = 7 Cha = 18. I have turn the faithless, protection fighting style, and am proficient in all armour and weapons. I have 32 HP as Lvl 3 but I haven't yet rolled for Lvl 4.
I have narrowed it down to:
Inspiring Leader
Sentinel
Heavy armour master
Magic Initiate (I would choose 2 out of: Blade Ward, Eldritch Blast, Mage Hand, and Minor Illusion.)
Martial Adept (I would choose 2 out of: Commander's Strike, Maneuvering Attack, Rally, and Riposte.)
Magic Initiate might seem weird as I'm a Paladin but I find having 0 cantrips quite frustrating. Sorry that it's still quite a lot to choose from. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Since your CON is so low, I'd recommend either Inspiring Leader or Heavy Armor Master in order to buffer your hit points or reduce damage taken. Inspiring Leader would help not only you, but your allies as well, however Heavy Armor Master would also increase your STR to 20.
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I might skip the feat and take an asi to boost str and con. Get rid of those odd numbers. Do you know how high a level the campaign will go? Heavy armor master is good now, but by level 9ish the value really starts to taper off.
Also, if you’re looking for cantrips and a con boost, there’s aberrant dragonmark. Thought that’s an eberron feat, and would likely need DM approval. Just make sure you realize you can’t smite with spells, or ranged attacks in general, so attack cantrips probably won’t do you much good.
I agree with Xalthu about getting +1 STR and +1 CON over a feat but disagree about cantrips not doing much good. I feel a Paladin should have a ranged attacking cantrip because their spell slots are more limited due to them being a half caster and having to rely on spellslots to fight a aerial foe would drain the Paladin of resources most likely after 1 fight.
I'm pretty sure the campaign goes to lvl 20 as the DM has been doing this campaign with other groups for some time and is still writing the campaign. I'll ask the DM if they will allow the eberron feat if I make it to lvl 8.
It can be useful to have a couple extra options, sure. But first, I’d really suggest something to round out str and/or con.
In case you didn’t realize, your modifier goes up when an ability score hit an even number. So boosting your odd numbers at str and con will give you passive boosts to a lot of different abilities. (I’m just pointing that out because you say it’s your first campaign, and some new players miss that. Sorry if you already knew.)
If you are going to take heavy armor master, now would be the time. Just realize the damage reduction will be less useful as you level up.
Also, I’d swap out that protection fighting style. It’s usually not great. Go for either defense or something like dueling. Or blessed warrior can get you that cantrip your after.
I don’t think I’m going to take heavy armour master as you have pointed out it’s not very good at higher levels. I will add 1 to my Str & Con for lvl 4.
Also recently I realised I got some of my ability scores wrong and now also have an odd intelligence. It’s -2 mod so is it worth getting that to -1? If I got it to 8 on lvl 8 I would have to make another ability score an odd number.
Can you usually swap out the fighting style or is that something I’d have to ask my DM about?
I don’t think I’m going to take heavy armour master as you have pointed out it’s not very good at higher levels. I will add 1 to my Str & Con for lvl 4.
Also recently I realised I got some of my ability scores wrong and now also have an odd intelligence. It’s -2 mod so is it worth getting that to -1? If I got it to 8 on lvl 8 I would have to make another ability score an odd number.
Can you usually swap out the fighting style or is that something I’d have to ask my DM about?
Thank you!
There is a optional rule that lets you change your Fighting Style whenever you hit a level that grants a ASI increase. But I am sure if you just ask your DM nicely they would let you change it even if the rule did not exist.
Regarding your ASI at level 8 I would suggest getting your CHA to 20 instead of upping your INT. Increasing your CHA improves all your saving throws by 1 from your Paladin level 6 feature as opposed to just INT saving throws from increasing INT. Just leave the INT checks to another party member.
Hello, I am a Lvl 4 Dragonborn Paladin on my 1st dnd campaign. I just hit lvl 4 and I decided to choose a feat instead of an ability score mod. However, I can't choose which feat.
If it helps: Str = 19 Dex = 12 Con = 11 Wis = 10 Int = 7 Cha = 18. I have turn the faithless, protection fighting style, and am proficient in all armour and weapons. I have 32 HP as Lvl 3 but I haven't yet rolled for Lvl 4.
I have narrowed it down to:
Inspiring Leader
Sentinel
Heavy armour master
Magic Initiate (I would choose 2 out of: Blade Ward, Eldritch Blast, Mage Hand, and Minor Illusion.)
Martial Adept (I would choose 2 out of: Commander's Strike, Maneuvering Attack, Rally, and Riposte.)
Magic Initiate might seem weird as I'm a Paladin but I find having 0 cantrips quite frustrating. Sorry that it's still quite a lot to choose from. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
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ModeratorSince your CON is so low, I'd recommend either Inspiring Leader or Heavy Armor Master in order to buffer your hit points or reduce damage taken. Inspiring Leader would help not only you, but your allies as well, however Heavy Armor Master would also increase your STR to 20.
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Thank you!
I might skip the feat and take an asi to boost str and con. Get rid of those odd numbers.
Do you know how high a level the campaign will go? Heavy armor master is good now, but by level 9ish the value really starts to taper off.
Also, if you’re looking for cantrips and a con boost, there’s aberrant dragonmark. Thought that’s an eberron feat, and would likely need DM approval.
Just make sure you realize you can’t smite with spells, or ranged attacks in general, so attack cantrips probably won’t do you much good.
I agree with Xalthu about getting +1 STR and +1 CON over a feat but disagree about cantrips not doing much good. I feel a Paladin should have a ranged attacking cantrip because their spell slots are more limited due to them being a half caster and having to rely on spellslots to fight a aerial foe would drain the Paladin of resources most likely after 1 fight.
Thank you!
I'm pretty sure the campaign goes to lvl 20 as the DM has been doing this campaign with other groups for some time and is still writing the campaign. I'll ask the DM if they will allow the eberron feat if I make it to lvl 8.
Does anyone have an idea if Martial Adept is any good for a paladin?
It can be useful to have a couple extra options, sure.
But first, I’d really suggest something to round out str and/or con.
In case you didn’t realize, your modifier goes up when an ability score hit an even number. So boosting your odd numbers at str and con will give you passive boosts to a lot of different abilities. (I’m just pointing that out because you say it’s your first campaign, and some new players miss that. Sorry if you already knew.)
If you are going to take heavy armor master, now would be the time. Just realize the damage reduction will be less useful as you level up.
Also, I’d swap out that protection fighting style. It’s usually not great. Go for either defense or something like dueling. Or blessed warrior can get you that cantrip your after.
I don’t think I’m going to take heavy armour master as you have pointed out it’s not very good at higher levels. I will add 1 to my Str & Con for lvl 4.
Also recently I realised I got some of my ability scores wrong and now also have an odd intelligence. It’s -2 mod so is it worth getting that to -1? If I got it to 8 on lvl 8 I would have to make another ability score an odd number.
Can you usually swap out the fighting style or is that something I’d have to ask my DM about?
Thank you!
There is a optional rule that lets you change your Fighting Style whenever you hit a level that grants a ASI increase. But I am sure if you just ask your DM nicely they would let you change it even if the rule did not exist.
Regarding your ASI at level 8 I would suggest getting your CHA to 20 instead of upping your INT. Increasing your CHA improves all your saving throws by 1 from your Paladin level 6 feature as opposed to just INT saving throws from increasing INT. Just leave the INT checks to another party member.
Thank you