IC Paladin looking for a couple feats

[Shiki]

Hey there. I have practically no clues as to what feat(s) should go in those few bolded spots, so I wanted to ask if anyone would have any ideas. Said character is supposed to be Paladin 20 and Initiate of Milil gives bardic music (I know the text isn't clear enough to say it does give bardic music and some people just don't agree it does, but let's assume it does give bardic music here).

(click to show/hide)

1—From Smite to Song
human—Dynamic Priest (or..?)
3—open
6—Initiate of Milil
9—Devoted Performer
12—Dragonfire Inspiration
15—Words of Creation
18—Battle Blessing?/Doomspeak?

[sirpercival]

Song of the Heart?  Or can you not manage that (no Inspire Competence)?

[Shiki]

Forgot to mention that one; I already got it through getting two instance of it when I get all kinds of songs with Initiate of Milil and Harmonious Knight sub levels.

[Shiki]

Anyone has any ideas..?

[sirpercival]

Can you give a full breakdown of the build?  You said you used a lot of sub levels.

[Shiki]

Paladin 20 that will probably use all the Harmonious Knight substitution levels from the Champion of Valor web enhancement. Still not sure if I'll trade the mount at 5th level. With all the feats mentioned above, that's about it.

[sirpercival]

Silverbrow Human for DFI?  Otherwise you need Dragontouched.

Battle Blessing is pretty good, especially depending on how it interacts with SotAO (which you could consider).  You have the feats for IC optimization already (DFI, Song of the Heart).

Unlike most of the other similar feats, I don't think you actually get anything out of Devoted Performer.  You're not planning on multiclassing, and the other part of it specifically says "If you have levels of Bard and Paladin", which you don't, and none of the other stuff you have gives you effective bard levels or anything.

If ToB stuff is available, you could take Martial Study/Martial Stance/Song of the White Raven to be able to IC as a swift action.

[betrayor]

What about Nymph's Kiss from BoED?
Since you allready have an exalted feat it is a very good choice.....

[Dictum Mortuum]

Silverbrow human + dragonic aura or power attack for level 3

[Shiki]

Silverbrow Human for DFI?  Otherwise you need Dragontouched.

Battle Blessing is pretty good, especially depending on how it interacts with SotAO (which you could consider).  You have the feats for IC optimization already (DFI, Song of the Heart).

Unlike most of the other similar feats, I don't think you actually get anything out of Devoted Performer.  You're not planning on multiclassing, and the other part of it specifically says "If you have levels of Bard and Paladin", which you don't, and none of the other stuff you have gives you effective bard levels or anything.

If ToB stuff is available, you could take Martial Study/Martial Stance/Song of the White Raven to be able to IC as a swift action.

Yes, said character is a silverbrow human.

Damn, I didn't noticed that part in Devoted Performer.. I guess this opens up one spot. Which could be Battle Blessing, or I could scroll down DFI. This might even makes me consider Extra Smiting, .

Martial Study/Stance/Song of the White Raven are good ideas, I'll look up to see if I can fit those in.

What about Nymph's Kiss from BoED?
Since you allready have an exalted feat it is a very good choice.....

Nymph's Kiss isn't that useful here considering this character main focus isn't using skills; thanks for the suggestion though.

Silverbrow human + dragonic aura or power attack for level 3

Draconic Aura and Power Attack were things I was considering but wasn't too sure about 'cause my feat list was clogged, but now that Devoted Performer is out it leaves me some more freedom which may end up being these feats; thanks for pointing those out.

[betrayor]

Silverbrow Human for DFI?  Otherwise you need Dragontouched.

Battle Blessing is pretty good, especially depending on how it interacts with SotAO (which you could consider).  You have the feats for IC optimization already (DFI, Song of the Heart).

Unlike most of the other similar feats, I don't think you actually get anything out of Devoted Performer.  You're not planning on multiclassing, and the other part of it specifically says "If you have levels of Bard and Paladin", which you don't, and none of the other stuff you have gives you effective bard levels or anything.

If ToB stuff is available, you could take Martial Study/Martial Stance/Song of the White Raven to be able to IC as a swift action.

Yes, said character is a silverbrow human.

Damn, I didn't noticed that part in Devoted Performer.. I guess this opens up one spot. Which could be Battle Blessing, or I could scroll down DFI. This might even makes me consider Extra Smiting, .

Martial Study/Stance/Song of the White Raven are good ideas, I'll look up to see if I can fit those in.

What about Nymph's Kiss from BoED?
Since you allready have an exalted feat it is a very good choice.....

Nymph's Kiss isn't that useful here considering this character main focus isn't using skills; thanks for the suggestion though.

Silverbrow human + dragonic aura or power attack for level 3

Draconic Aura and Power Attack were things I was considering but wasn't too sure about 'cause my feat list was clogged, but now that Devoted Performer is out it leaves me some more freedom which may end up being these feats; thanks for pointing those out.

I mainly suggested Nymph's Kiss for its +2 to all charisma checks,the +1 to skills and +1 to saves is just a nice a bonus.....
But draconic Aura is a very good choice too,especially if you somehow manage to get double draconic aura though that would be difficult for your build unless you are allowed flaws....

[Ithamar]

If you're keeping Turn Undead (assuming none of your variants get rid of it), consider something like Law Devotion, Travel Devotion, even Animal Devotion perhaps.

[Shiki]

If you're keeping Turn Undead (assuming none of your variants get rid of it), consider something like Law Devotion, Travel Devotion, even Animal Devotion perhaps.

I actually had no idea what to do with that TU, be it by keeping it or trading it for something else.. Thanks for bringing Devotion feats up.

[Ithamar]

Those feats actually make 4 levels of Paladin worth it in some builds. 

[sirpercival]

I'm mildly obsessed with DFI lately, do you think you could post the build (with some details) when it's finished?  I'd love to see how all the numbers work out.

[Shiki]

Paladin 20 (From Smite to Song feat, CoV, effective bard level of 20) = +4 Inspire Courage
Song of the Heart (feat, Eberron ACF) = +1 IC
Inspirational Boost (spell, Initiate of Milil feat, CoV) = +1 IC
Badge of Valor (magic item, MIC) = +1 IC
Battle Rattle (magic item, Dr#331) = +1 IC
Word of Creation (feat, BoED) = x2 IC

Balance here could be totally disregarded if I include Masterpiece Performance (Dr#301)... but yeah.

So... Total of +12 OR +16 if you do double everything with WoC, so +12d6/+16d6 (42/56) fire damage with DFI as a Paladin. Problem is few uses per day. So few smites/day..

I'm not sure if Initiate of Milil helps the number of uses per day? At first I thought of Devoted Performer for this but I guess it doesn't work..

And then there's that Inspire Courage from Harmonious Knight. It is technically not bardic music so most things above doesn't help it at all.. Song of the Heart does though, since it doesn't specify bardic music inspire courage, but that's twisting words around.

[Unbeliever]

Those feats actually make 4 levels of Paladin worth it in some builds. 

Just wanted to add a +1 to this.  Law Devotion is amazingly fun, sort of like a nice combat expertise like option, and Animal Devotion can give a Paladin a lot of flexibility.  Although, depending on concept, a lot of that, such as flight or mobility, can be gotten by the animal companion. 

You might also consider the Shield Bash line or some other way of getting multiple attacks, since that makes IC/DFI really worth it. 

[imoenofcandlekeep]

Devoted performer totally works, IMO.  If not, get a vest of legends, which increases your bard level from 0 to 5.

Snowflake Wardance is a gimme for this build.  Also if allowed, Custom Use-Activated Item (I prefer Lutes) of Harmonize (Races of Stone), so you can throw out music as a move action.

If you want more smite, Sapphire Smite + Psycarnum Infusion (+hidden talent) may work.... ask your DM.  Yes, huge feat tax, but it essentially means your first smite each encounter is free.

Also, there is a weapon enhancement which gives +1 Smite use, and +2/+2 on smites.

Since you use Smite to Song, you are trading out IC (the one you get from Initiate) for Inspire Awe right?  It's probably not RAW legit, but I figure it should be an okay trade.