Infantry

Kaylon, where are you seeing Enduring Flames with a fixed duration? On PoE 3.07, Enduring Flames duration goes well-above the advertised 10 seconds on my 15-Intelligence Paladin. Are you suggesting that there are four fixed ticks regardless of "duration" (e.g., 4 ticks over 16 seconds)? This still means the same damage is being done over a longer period of time, which is not compelling. Also, does Enduring Flames stack? In my experience, the Enduring Flames from one FoD is replaced (visually, at least) by the next FoD. It is underwhelming if it does not stack, particularly when the Paladin is focused on a single target and has two charges of FoD.

bleak wankers have cruel as favored, so... you get liberating exhortation for 1 ability point, which is an ability we take for any support paladin regardless. is hardly as if one is throwing away ability points to get to the accuracy boost. and yeah, particular early in the game, +10 o' accuracy is huge. accuracy is more than d&d thac0 as it also pivotal in determining graze/hit/crit which affects not only damage output but any number on-crit effects. if we were playing a main character striker paladin, we would consider goldpact. HA! Good Fun! Makes sense. What would be the benefit of Goldpact as a MC striker paladin? Would love to hear your suggestions with regard to that build as well, thanks.

Fair point. I would actually question whether either order-specific trait is worth two ability points given the fact that Liberating Exhortation isn't that compelling in light of the myriad options of avoiding / mitigating negative status effects. Two ability points for +10 accuracy...doesn't seem like an ideal use of ability points. With regard to the RP point, I was alluding to missing out on the opportunities (will not reference them to avoid spoilers) presented to characters with Cruel disposition points, which would be disfavored for all orders but Goldpact.

You're right, "best" is subjective in this case; however, I believe that is objectively better to have on-demand immunity (twice per encounter) to some of the most debilitating afflictions rather than +10 to accuracy twice per encounter. Furthermore, the roleplaying options are broader for a character that only has to avoid Aggressive and Passionate dispositions.

Thread necro, sorry. IMO Goldpact is the best paladin order post-3.0, given the fact that you are not penalized for having a Cruel reputation and that Bond of Duty provides IMMUNITY against Charmed, Confused and Dominated for ~20 seconds...this can be cast (fast) twice per encounter.