Paladin: strength or charisma item?

[Longbow]

If you´re a Paladin what statboosting item would you get (first):

- Strength for better attack and damage

or

- Charisma for improved saves, more healing with Lay on Hands, more accurate Smites, more uses of Turn Undead (for divine feats) and more mileage with your divine feats (Divine Might more damage, divine shield more AC).

I think Charisma is the way to go, but only if you have access to divine feats. The best to have would be, of course, both.

 

[Basin?]

I usually consider strength and charisma equally important for paladins. They are pretty much tied for being their most important stats.

 

[Darklone]

I'd say it depends on: Divine Might yes/no? and whether the paladin in question uses sword&board or twohanded weapons. Twohanded weapons: strength all the way.

 

[reapersaurus]

Ya, it totally depends on the build.

Unless the paladin is taking REALLY good advantage of the few CHA-oriented feats and abilities, than it's not worth increasing CHA over STR.

IME, CHA-based Paladins are only impressive if you REALLY max out CHA from the beginning.
Of course, this is all from a rules powergaming standpoint, and this thread seems more like a Rules Forum thread....

 

[FireLance]

What role are you playing in the party?

If you're the main tank, the Strength boosting item is probably more important.

If you are the healer or the diplomat, the Charisma boosting item is probably more important.

 

[Brilbadr]

If you haven't started yet, munchkin out and take Serenity: use wisdom for Charisma, i.e. wisdom for everything. From Paladins of Rao.

 

[shilsen]

As most have said, it depends on the character concept. I've got a paladin in mind who'd jump for a Dex item first, out of all the six abilities to boost. But with no information at hand, I'd pick Cha over Str.

 

[Thanee]

Str first, Cha second.

That's mostly because at the levels you get your first stat boosting item usually, Str is more important still. Later on, Cha is extremely important, but by then you have both.

Bye
Thanee

 

[VirtualWizard]

I'll say that a lot depends on the campaign. More role-playing then Charisma, more combat then Strength. If your paladin uses any of the divine feats from the Complete Warrior, then boosting Charisma is very important. A higher Charisma will allow you to use these feats more often and for longer duration. Also, you shouldn't under estimate the power of smite and the Extra Smiting feat. If you have these feats available, I would go with a Charisma boosting item.

 

[Trainz]

It's impossible to say without seeing your build (and what you intend to do with it as it progresses).

That said, if you put it in strength, you'll regret it next time you miss a save by 1.