Need help for human off-tank 2h sword paladin leveling build(No solo, Normal difficult)

[Altair717]

Hi. I'm new to the game and I want to start as paladin, but I don't want to do the tank role. I want to see my MC slash enemy with 2h sword like badass and act as a party leader like a real leader. Talk to people, trade with them. Like that? I find some build at the site and other sites like youtube, but they all didn’t really appeal to me. What is the best stat, skill and leveling guide for my MC? Can you help me? 

Also, sorry if it sounds wierd. English is not my native.

[Boeroer]

Hi, I don't think you need a detailed guide. On normal you can try things out and you an also retrain your character for a little money if you don't like what you picked.

A few pointers might help though:

Frst, for your offense, just pick up a great sword in a shop for example. Then, at level-ups, pick abilities and talents such as Flames of Devotion, Weapon Focus Soldier, Zealous Focus, Intense Flames, Two Handed Style, Scion of Flame, Savage Attack, Apprentice's Sneak Attack, later Sacred Immolation.

Get the Belt of the Royal Deadfire Cannoneer as soon as possible. Also get Forgemaster Gloves. Both give you spallcasts for the summoning spell "Firebrand" which is a giant flaming great sword which does very high damage - perfect for your Flames of Devotion.

Your attributes should be rel. balanced. You cannot dump any. Decent MIG, DEX and PER are good for your offense, MIG also for healing, decent INT is good for your support abilities (like aura size) and durations of effects (like the duration for Firebrand). It's also useful for many dialogue options. CON doesn't need to be high, okay RES is nice for solid concentration and deflection and also helps with many dialogue options. 

Maybe something like

MIG 14
CON 10
PER 13
DEX 13
INT 14
RES 14

Pick up Shod-in-Faith Boots at some point. 

If you feel you are too squishy: use thicker armor. If you survive easily enough you can try thinner armor. 

The subclass doesn't matter too much. Shieldbearers don't fit too well imo.
Bleak Walkers have nice burst dmg but are cruel and aggressive (maybe not your taste). Goldpact Knights also get some nice additional damage and are pretty neutral/rational. Kind Wayfarers are benevolent, but they don't have improved offense. However, their Flames of Devotion strikes heal allies (and themselves) and they can also heal in an AoE each time they kill an enemy. Darcozzi Paladini can give accuracy support and get a Flame shield when they use Flames of Devotion - which is nice, too.

Imporant skills: Survival at 4 at least allows you to pick an accuracy bonus against certain enemy types. If you scout ahead and find out what awaits you (and then you rest and pick your survival bonus for bonus accuracy against the enemy type that waits for you) you can make the early game a lot easier. 

 

 

 

[Altair717]

Thank you! So min-maxing isn't important on normal. But, could you also tell me which abilities I should pick at each level or pick first? That's my most difficult part in every game. And which companion is the best for my build?

[Chaospread]

11 hours ago, Boeroer said:

Hi, I don't think you need a detailed guide. On normal you can try things out and you an also retrain your character for a little money if you don't like what you picked.

A few pointers might help though:

Frst, for your offense, just pick up a great sword in a shop for example. Then, at level-ups, pick abilities and talents such as Flames of Devotion, Weapon Focus Soldier, Zealous Focus, Intense Flames, Two Handed Style, Scion of Flame, Savage Attack, Apprentice's Sneak Attack, later Sacred Immolation.

...

... and don't ally with Knights of the Crucible  

[Boeroer]

10 hours ago, Altair717 said:

Thank you! So min-maxing isn't important on normal. But, could you also tell me which abilities I should pick at each level or pick first? That's my most difficult part in every game. And which companion is the best for my build?

Min-maxing also isn't necessary on Path of the Damned. Often it's even detrimental to your overall performance.

I personally - for a damage oriented Paladin who's also a good person and leader - would pick Kind Wayfarer and then:

Abilities:

- Lvl 1: Flames of Devotion

- Lvl 3: Zealous Focus

- Lvl 5: Sworn Enemy

- Lvl 7: Inspiring Triumph

- Lvl 9: Lay on Hands

- Lvl 11: Healing Chain

- Lvl 13: Sacred Immolation 

- Lvl 15: Behold the Martyr or Abjuration

 

Talents:

- Lvl 2: Weapon Focus Soldier (+6 accuracy with great swords)

- Lvl 4: The Sword and the Shepherd

- Lvl 6: Intense Flames

- Lvl 8: Strange Mercy

- Lvl 10: Scion of Flame

- Lvl 12: Two Handed Style

- Lvl 14: Savage Attack

- Lvl 16: Apprentice's Sneak Attack or Runner's Wounding Shot

 

That way you combine your offensive output and killing capabilities with defensive support and healing power "on the fly" (which is better than just pure offense, especitwheb it doesn't take any more action time).

Also you can invest in your Might and profit twice: your damage output will go up - but also your healing power. You will need some healing for yourself anyway (like from Lay on Hands), at least from lvl. 13 on, because Sacred Immolation, while doing high AoE damage to foes, also damages you quite a lot. You want to counter that with healing from time to time.

Then you'd have a likeable, benevolent main character who can dish out some serious damage and do some buffing and healing in the process, too. All while swinging a huge flaming great sword.

Plate looks great. It will make you slow, but also improve your sturdyness a lot, especially on the early game.

You could also use something lighter such as the "Sun-Touched Mail" - imo it's one of the best looking armors in the game. And it comes with 3 casts of Sunbeam per rest which your fire-themed Paladin could also use to nice effect (kills with it will proc Strange Mercy and Inspiring Triumph). You'd have to enchant the mail to better DR quality yourself though, it doesn't come with exceptional quality.