Ironclad Zealot

By Save-vs.-DM

The Ironclad Zealot is a wholly defensive paladin build. The ironclad zealot focuses on taking as little damage as possible by avoiding hits while still maintaining agro with the Intimidate skill and shield bash attacks. This build will never deal a great amount of damage to opponents, but you will be a tank without peer.

Character Snapshot

Starting Abilities
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 13
Charisma: 14 (+1 4th, +1 8th = 16)

Race: Human

Hit Points: 120

Saves (Includes Ability bonuses, aura of good, and Enhancements)
Fortitude: +15
Reflex: +10
Will: +10

Class/Race Features

• 1 bonus feat at first level: Humans are quick to master specialized tasks and are varied in their talents.
• 4 extra skill points at first level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level: Humans are versatile and capable.
• Aura of Good (+2 bonus to Armor Class and saving throws)
• Bonus Feats: The Battlemage receives a bonus combat-oriented feat at Level 1 and one additional bonus combat feat at each even fighter level thereafter).
• Divine Grace (Add Charisma bonus to saving throws)
• Divine Health (Immune to magical and mundane diseases)
• Remove Disease 1/rest
• Smite Evil 2/rest
• Turn Undead 6/rest

Skills
Balance 2 ranks (+3 total)
Intimidate 13 ranks (+19 total)
Others as desired

Feats (in the order taken)
Combat Expertise: Trade attack bonus for Armor Class
Dodge: Gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class
Shield Mastery: Gain an additional +2 Armor Class and damage reduction 2/- when blocking
Improved Shield Bash: Retain shield bonus when making a shield bash attack
Skill Focus (Intimidate): +3 to Intimidate checks
Improved Shield Mastery: Gain an additional +5 Armor Class and damage reduction 5/- when blocking

Enhancements
Bulwark of Good III (Aura of Good provides an additional +3 bonus to Armor Class)
Fighter's Combat Expertise I (Gain an additional bonus to Armor Class when using combat expertise)
Paladin's Action Boost IV (Gain short term boost to Armor Class, attack bonus, or saving throws)
Resistance of Good III (Aura of Good provides an additional +3 bonus to saving throws)

Spellcasting: DC 11 + Spell Level
Spell Points: 110 (80 base + 30 ability modifier)
Typical Level 1 Spells Prepared: Cure Light Wounds, Divine Favor
Typical Level 2 Spells Prepared: Bull's Strength, Eagle's Splendor

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Detailed Progression by Level

-Character Level 1: Starting as fighter grants you an extra Feat. Added to the extra Feat for being human, the Ironclad Zealot starts with 3 Feats, a good repertoire to help you survive the low levels.

• Class trained: Fighter
• Skills: Balance x4, Intimidate x4
  
• Feats: Dodge, Combat Expertise, Shield Mastery
• Enhancements: Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Fighter's Action Boost I, Human Versatility I, Skill Tactics I
  

-Character Level 2: Now you begin your training as a paladin.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Enhancements: Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost I, Paladin's Grace I, Skill Tactics I
  

-Character Level 3: Selecting Improved Shield Bash will allow you to use your shiled as a weapon without losing its bonus to armor class.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Feat: Improved Shield Bash
  
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good I, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost I, Resistance of Good I
  

-Character Level 4: Place your Ability point into Charisma.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good I, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost II, Resistance of Good I
  

-Character Level 5: This is a farily uneventful level. You will not be changing any Enhancments or gaining any Feats.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good I, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost II, Resistance of Good I
  

-Character Level 6: Use your Feat for Skill Focus and select Intimidate as your skill. This will better enable you to pry monsters away from your party members.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Feat: Skill Focus (Intimidate)
  
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good I, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost II, Resistance of Good I
  

-Character Level 7: This level will allow you to upgrade several Enhancements.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good II, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost III, Resistance of Good II
  

-Character Level 8: Place your Ability point into Charisma to increase your modifier to +3.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good II, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost III, Resistance of Good II
  

-Character Level 9: Improved Shield Mastery will make you a defensive powerhouse behind your shield.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Feat: Improved Shield Mastery
  
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good II, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost III, Resistance of Good II
  

-Character Level 10: This final level brings about more Enhancement upgrades, completing your defenses.

• Class trained: Paladin
• Skills: Intimidate x1
• Enhancements: Bulwark of Good III, Fighter's Combat Expertise I, Paladin's Action Boost III, Resistance of Good III
  

Notes: Playing an Ironclad Zealot is really quite simple. In general, you should keep Combat Expertise on most of the time, unless you happen to be fighting hoards of creatures with a low attack bonus. When you encounter a large group of creatures, simply wade into the hoard and hit Intimidate to pull the agro. At this point, go into blocking mode and use shield bash attacks to hold the agro while your allies cut down the mob.

If you're up against an opponent with a very high armor class, hit your paladin action boost to increase your attack bonus. If you're up against an opponent with a very good attack bonus, hit your paladin action boost to increase your Armor Class.

While this build will never see a lot of glory in the dungeon's of Stormreach, you will keep your allies alive much longer and save your cleric precious spell points. This build isn't for the glory seekers – it's for the team-oriented and defensive player. For you players with slower reflexes, this is a good build for you. This build requires very little “twitch” combat, so it tends to be better for those of us who'd rather not jump around like a monkey on speed.

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