by Karen Hertzberg on May 16, 2006
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.
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
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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
-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.
-Character
Level 2: Now you begin
your training as a paladin.
-Character
Level 3: Selecting
Improved Shield Bash will allow you to use your shiled as a weapon
without losing its bonus to armor class.
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Level 4: Place your
Ability point into Charisma.
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alt="Ironclad Zealot"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/Exclusive_Screenshots/Ironclad_Zealot.sized.jpg"
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Level 5: This is a
farily uneventful level. You will not be changing any Enhancments or
gaining any Feats.
-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.
-Character
Level 7: This level
will allow you to upgrade several Enhancements.
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Level 8: Place
your Ability point into Charisma to increase your modifier to +3.
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Level 9: Improved
Shield Mastery will make you a defensive powerhouse behind your shield.
-Character
Level 10: This final
level brings about more Enhancement upgrades, completing your defenses.
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.