[Magness]

Here are a few examples of pallies I've played.

Aasimar: STR 18, DEX 10, CON 16, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16

Elven: STR 16, DEX 14, CON 14, INT 8, WIS 8, CHA 16
This particular pally was very amusing to play. She was a not so bright Elven Pally of Mystra (pure pally all the way thru Normal and HOF). I intentionally too a higher DEX and a less than max STR for RP reasons. Nya was a pally who was equally adept and willing to fight with long sword or the bow.


Aasimar: STR 18, DEX 10, CON 16, INT 8, WIS 14, CHA 14

Aasimar: STR 18, DEX 10, CON 18, INT 8, WIS 8, CHA 18

Aasimar: STR 18, DEX 13, CON 15, INT 8, WIS 8, CHA 18
This one is a character that I intend to use in my next party who will be a rather different sort. She's designed to be a Ftr X/pal 2. BTW, I took a DEX of 13 (and CON of 15) here because I wanted her to be able to take the Dodge feat. Maybe I'll bump it to 14 and maybe I won't. I will likely give her one of those rings that has a +1 DEX bonus, but it may not matter that much since she'll likely be wearing plate anyways.


Regarding the initial question about the best race for a pally, Aasimar is absolutely the most obvious good choice. The added stats come in very handy with only a -1 ECL for a class that doesn't really matter that much when it comes to a -1 ECL.

I don't particularly like humans in IWD2 for pallies. IMHO, humans are best used for classes where you want to accrue plenty of skill points. Ihe +1 SP/level is the rough equivalent of +2 INT. But this is not terribly important for a paladin.

I suppose that half-elves, moon elves, or wild elves wouldn't be bad for paladins. While the +2 vs Enchantment bonus isn't critical with a pally's Divine Grace, it's not bad either. The other elven bonuses really wouldn't come into play.

Drow have real potential as paladin's. All those extra stat points are really good. And the +2 vs. Enchantment, and the +2 to Will saves are nice bonuses on top of the usual Pally abilities.

BTW, keep in mind, that any elf, moon, drow, or wild, will be taking the XP penalty with many potential multiclass options for a pally. No, Pal X/Ftr 4's here without the 20% hit. I suppose an elven pally of Mystra/wizard is a viable option, but it would certainly be a stat nightmare.


There might be something to be said for a golf dwarven pally. Lots of useful bonuses. I'd suggest Gold Dwarves, since their -2 DEX penalty is less onerous than the Shield Dwarves' -2 CHA penalty.

It's hard to see a gnome or halfling pally, since there seems to be little benefit to be gained from the racial choice beyond mere roleplaying reasons. I suppose that a really adventerous player might try a gnome pally of Mystra/illusionist multiclass just for yucks.

Half-Orcs, Tieflings, Duergar, Deep Gnomes all have CHA penalties, which would tend to make than less than favorable racial options.


In the end, I think that most everyone would agree that Aasimar are the one race that cries out "Paladin" when you look at their racial bonuses.

[ 01-17-2006, 11:43 PM: Message edited by: Magness ]