Best builds for a long term Paladin? (either Inquisitor or Cavalier)

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CaptRory

I'd go 2h Sword and 2h Style ** either way. Cavaliers can have ranged attacks with a melee component, so grabbing Axe** or something similar can be a good move.

If you use the tweak pack where you can use bastard swords two handed, than that would go along with everything rather well.

Flail is a good choice in BG2. There are a few good maces along the way. And hammers. Figure out what you want to give to the NPCs before deciding on your backup weapon.

Malicron

If you really want to play a paladin of any kind, get two-handed and get to dragon slaying! There's a Holy Avenger just waiting for you to pick it up.

CaptRory

Just don't kill that particular dragon til you get the stronghol quest to do so.

zur312

cavalier = tank oriented
inquisitor = antimage oriented

choose your destiny!

Alexisisinneed

I much prefer the Undead Hunter, but besides that I say it really depends on your playing style. Do you want your character to be antimage or be the tank of the party.
Has for Weapons. You want to have some slots in two handed sword and two handed style to get the best weapon for a Paladin then get a back up in a fail/mace/hammer for those pesky things that are immune to your two handed sword
But in my opinion if you choose Cavalier you should choose long sword and sword and shield style and then you can actually be a dragon slayer with the long sword of dragon slaying.

Rann

Cavalier works really well for BG1 -- besides being a pretty good tank, being immune to the siren's charming makes that area a cakewalk (my cav left the rest of the party on the east side of the siren area and cleaned it up solo), as well as removing that variable from other fights. I plan on taking mine through BG2:EE when available.

mlnevese

I always felt that the Cavalier is closer to my idea of what a Paladin should be like. The Inquisitor just does not feel like a Paladin to me, losing all his divine casting and lay on hands. So, in my opinion, if you're going for flavor choose a Cavalier, tactically the Inquisitor is your best choice in the long run.

Aasimar069

You could either choose Cavalier or inquisitor.

Inquisitor have very nice bonuses that will be VERY useful in BG2, but there is an Inquisitor NPC that would be a very welcome addition in your party.

Don't be afraid of picking him since you can give him a paladin-bastard sword an you'll wield the two handed paladin sword.

That I would say that you should make yourself a Cavalier with the following weapons prof. :

** two handed swords
** two handed weapon style
** Axe (for throwing returning magical axes)


Other ** at your leisure.

Southpaw

Blackguard. Dual wield long swords and later maces/hammers.

Pibaro

This is my inquisitor.
** 2 handed sword
** Darts (but you may choose Longbow or crossbow)
later ** bastard sword (very good bastard swords in BGEE)

In Bg2EE
** 2 weapon style
** sword and shield style

lunar

Two handed sword is a must, for Carsomyr in BG2. In BG1, two handed weapon style is very helpful, it makes quarterstaves very powerful. Yeah, you can fight well with a quarterstaff in BG1. With ** in two handed style, Aule's staff has a 0 speed factor. (this is big!) so you can swipe in to hit a target quickly, and since it has good range too, you can turn back and retreat before the enemy can retaliate. Not very paladin-like, but very effective!

I quote myself from another thread:

You can tank a slow, hard hitting enemy like this pretty easily. Taugoz Khosan, for example. With Aule's staff+3 you have the reach and speed advantage over him. You can hit him quickly, and run away before he can even lift his heavy hammer. After a few seconds, your new round will begin so you can attack again, then run away again, until he drops dead. Do not underestimate the usefulness of staves!

So investing in staves (and two handed weapon style!) in BG1 may pay off at low levels when fighting is dangerous. In BG2 you can get two handed swords.

EntropyXII

My last Paladin/Undead Slayer I actually found it fun (through BG and BG2) was to go Bastard Sword and single handed weapon style. I put points into shields for late game.

This way I could give Keldorn Carsomyr, and my PC would use that Holy Avenger Bastard sword (Can't remember it's name).

It allows you to have an interesting and 'good' party and mix it up a little from the usual Two hander Paly.

I also put points into Crossbows I think. Paly's don't look right with a composite longbow.

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mjs

i'd prefer Cav, simply because it's better for BG and then you get an inquisitor in BG2 anyway

then for profs:
two handed weapon style * (you only need 1 for double crit chance)
two handed swords **
Bastard swords **
flail * (in preparation for BG2)

then by ToB, aim for two weapon style and dual wield flail of the ages/purifier/foebane

atcDave

My favorite is a dual wielding Cavalier, start with two long swords, then add flail and eventually bastard sword. That's an effective character, and it makes good use of available weapons through the whole game.

Save the two handed sword for Keldorn.

OneAngryMushroom

As a dedicated cavalier player I will say that I found using a sword and shield combo kick quiet a large amount of ass. I like the AC and bonuses that named ones provide but it also boils down to whether or not you want to use Carsomyr. I also put a pip in Axes for the purposes of throwing then, preferably into enemy necks.
But really the choice is as zur312 said

zur312 said:

cavalier = tank oriented
inquisitor = antimage oriented

And I do love my tanks.

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Nifft

Cavalier!

Inquisitors can be great, but the lack of spellcasting really does hurt them once DUHM comes around. Keldorn fills the Inquisitor role very nicely in BG2 -- give him a try! He's also very well voiced and written as a character. The Inquisitor is a bit of a one-trick anti-magic guy, while the Cavalier is an all-around butt-kicker.

In BG2 you'll want two dots in Axes (for the returning throwing axe which you probably shouldn't be allowed to use) and two dots in Two-Handed Swords for your Holy Avenger. If you decide to take Keldorn along, and you're feeling generous, then he can use the Holy Avenger, and your Cavalier can use something else -- the Mace of Disruption is very attractive in SoA; the Flail of Ages is vastly popular in ToB.

CaptRory

@thespace You can recruit Keldorn in the second game to use the 2h sword if you want. Then you'll have the anti-mage inquisitor with the uber dispelling sword and your guy with the badarse bastard sword and a shield.

IkMarc

For powergaming purposes inquisitor with 2h swords for Carsomyr by a margin.

Southpaw

What about Dorn? He is a greatsword wielding dude in BGEE and he is bound to be also in BG2EE.
Blackguard is a paladin kit, will there be an option to get the Holy Avenger for Evil Paladins? If yes, you will have possibly 3 characters with the qualification and need to go two-handed weapons.

CaptRory

How does the Holy Bastard Sword stack up to the Holy 2h Sword?

Fighting_Ferret

Purifier +4 (Bastard sword)

STATISTICS

Equipped Abilities:
20% Magic Resistance
Combat Abilities:
Additional +4 damage versus chaotic evil opponents

THAC0: +4 bonus
Damage: 2D4 + 4
Damage type: slashing
Weight: 6
Speed Factor: 4
Proficiency Type: Bastard Sword
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 11 Strength
Usable By:
Paladins

-----Upgrades to --------

STATISTICS

Equipped Abilities:
30% Magic Resistance
Cast Dispel Magic twice per day
Cast Mass Cure once per day

Combat Abilities:
Additional +5 damage versus chaotic evil opponents

THAC0: +5 bonus
Damage: 2D4 + 5
Damage type: slashing
Weight: 5
Speed Factor: 3
Proficiency Type: Bastard Sword
Type: 1-handed
Requires: 11 Strength
Usable By:
Paladins

VS

The Holy Avenger Carsomyr +5

STATISTICS

Equipped Abilities:
50% Magic Resistance
Dispel magic 3 times per day
Combat Abilities:
+5 damage to chaotic evil opponents in addition to other bonuses.
Dispels magic whenever the sword strikes an opponent
THAC0: +5 bonus
Damage: 1D12 +5
Damage type: slashing
Weight: 7
Speed Factor: 5
Proficiency Type: Two handed sword
Type: 2-handed
Requires: 14 Strength
Usable By:
Paladins

Upgrades to:

Holy Avenger Carsomyr +6

STATISTICS

Equipped Abilities:
50% Magic Resistance
Dispel magic 3 times per day
Combat Abilities:
+6 damage to chaotic evil opponents in addition to other bonuses.
Dispels magic whenever the sword strikes an opponent
THAC0: +6 bonus
Damage: 1D12 +6
Damage type: slashing
Weight: 6
Speed Factor: 4
Proficiency Type: Two handed sword
Type: 2-handed
Requires: 14 Strength
Usable By:
Paladins

You may only upgrade 1 of these holy blades as each requires the Eye of Tyr (available in TOB)

Fighting_Ferret

As for Dorn...

Soul Reaver +4

STATISTICS

Combat Abilities: Each hit makes the target receive a cumulative 2 point penalty to their THAC0
Duration: 20 rounds
THAC0: +4 bonus
Damage: 1D10 +4
Damage type: slashing
Weight: 10
Speed Factor: 6
Proficiency Type: Two handed sword
Type: 2-handed
Requires: 14 Strength
Not Usable By:
Druid
Cleric
Mage
Thief
Good characters

...but Dorn will have to face off against Sarevok, who is also evil and uses 2-handed swords.

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Tyranus

thespace said:

Great input everyone. Thanks a bunch!

I do roleplay in my games, so Dorn hanging out with 1 or 2 characters who detect evil several times a day seems a very unlikely combo:)

"Hey guys" *waves* "Yup, i'm over here. Stop making me glow!"

Inquisitors may be one trick pony anti-mages, but lets face it, all the hardest fights in this game are against people that use magic.

MilesBeyond

CaptRory said:

How does the Holy Bastard Sword stack up to the Holy 2h Sword?

Carsomyr is the better weapon, of course - 2H weapons are almost always better. The real question is, is Carsomyr better than the Bastard Sword with a powerful shield? That's a bit more difficult and the answer really depends on what your party's composition is.


I, too, would recommend Cavalier over Inquisitor. I think that overall the Inquisitor is more powerful, but the Cavalier, being a tad more versatile, is more fun to play.

I would go against the grain and recommend Longswords over Bastard Swords. Especially in BG1, no Bastard Sword can really compete with Varscona, which is available early and easily. BG2 has got a mountain of good Longswords as well. By the time you get to the Purifier, I'm sure you'll have had more than enough pips to spec in Bastard Swords as well.

BelgarathMTH

For BG1, if you plan to fight Karoug, it is very helpful to have one or two pips in bastard sword, for the +3 vs. shapeshifters.

CaptRory

And like I said, with the tweak pack you can use bastard swords as 2h swords so you can use your two handed weapon style with them to save on points.

EntropyXII

@MilesBeyond - I don't know about that mate - Albruin is a pretty mean Bastard Sword.