Paladin Stats

[Sauromon the White]

I am a cavalier to!
I would say go for at least all over 14, especialy wisdom, for your clerical spells!
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Plus put your 'weapon specialitys on
2 2-handed swords
2 bastard swords
2 sword and shield

[Dundee Slaytern]

These were the starting stats for my solo Cavalier.

STR: 18/~~
CON: 18
DEX: 18
INT: 10
WIS: 13
CHA: 17

A grand total of 94 points.

If you do not wish to spend eons rolling dice however, these will suffice.

STR: 17

This is what Keldorn has, and will suffice for Jon Irenicus's dungeon until you get out, save some money and buy the Girdle of Hill Giant Strength.

CON: 18

For maximum Hp gains.

DEX: 18

For best possible AC.

INT: 9

Your Lore value will get penalised, but this is okay. This will also enable you to survive at least two hits by Mind-Flayers too, instead of depending on Potions of Genius.

WIS: 13

Bare minimum, only pump points into here if you have maxed out the more important ones.

CHA: 17

This is very high already, and if you really want 18 CHA, get the Ring of Human Influence to get it.

[david_m11]

Thanks for all the advice, I finally went for a 94 pointer with the following stats:
STR: 18/80
CON: 18
DEX: 18
INT: 9
WIS: 13
CHA: 18

The one that worries me is my WIS, will this seriously affect the number of spells that I leearn per level (BTW - what actually determines the number and type of spells gained?)

[Jim]

No problems with that wisdom score....WIS values don't affect priest spells for paladins, only clerics and druids, so you'll have normal paladin casting abilities with a WIS of 13. For clerics and druids, high WIS values provide bonus spells per level.

[SixOfSpades]

The only problem with depending on a STR girdle is that the Belt of Inertial Barrier is SO cool. 50% resistance to magical damage is nothing to sniff at, especially when you've got the Mana Bow (which Cavaliers can't use, sorry) in your other Quick Weapon.....

On the other hand, Inertial Barrier should actually go on one of your weaker characters--a hostile Abi-Dalzim's will kill your Mage, not your Paladin.

DO NOT use the Gauntlets of Dexterity. There are already plenty of NPC's who need them, too.

[Ar-Cunin]

Concerning the STR score: my advice would be to play through BG1, start with STR 18/xx - and get STR 19 before your though + all the other tomes.

I also get more attached to my characters when I take then all the way from Candlekeep.

[Luvian]

The 3 int comment made me laught. Here is an exerpt from the old D&D player's handbook:

A semi-intelligent character (int3 or 4) can speak (with difficulty) and is apt to react instinctively and impulsively. He is not hopeless as a player character, but playing such a character corectly is not easy.

I can see a fighter having 3 int, maybe he got hit on the head too much, but a PALADIN! It is not exactly the vision I have of a paladin. DOG have 2 int! His war horse would be smarter!