name: Paladin (Demon Smiter, Human)
style: Demon Smiter
concept: >
  Scored single-classed Human Paladin, levels 1-20, STR primary with CHA as a real
  secondary stat. CHA (racial +2, two level-up increases, mental headband) feeds Smite
  Evil's attack bonus and deflection AC, which apply automatically when a Paladin is the
  MC. Wields a two-handed Fauchard for its 18-20 crit range, stacked with the Weapon
  Focus/Specialization and Improved Critical/Critical Focus chains, Power Attack, and
  Divine Favor self-cast from level 4. Angel mythic path for flavor.
open_questions:
  - "Angel's Halo is not wired into the live engine."
  - "Divine Grace, Lay on Hands, Channel Positive Energy, Mercy and the auras are not modeled. Divine Bond is the Mount (paladin_horse)."
  - "Divine Favor scales off character level because Paladin caster level is not tracked separately."
  - "Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Toughness and Blind Fight have no effect in this engine."
mythic_path: Angel
mythic_rank: 10
size: medium
attack_ability: STR
race: Human
race_ability_choice: [CHA]
weapon:
  - {level: 1, weapon: "Fauchard", why: "18-20 crit range; Paladins are automatically proficient."}
setup:
  - {level: 1, main_hand: "Fauchard"}
level_up_stats: [STR, STR, STR, CHA, CHA]
abilities:
  str_: 18
  dex: 10
  con: 14
  int_: 7
  wis: 8
  cha: 16
armor:
  - {level: 1, armor: "Half Plate", why: "Heavy armor from the start (user, 2026-10-09)."}
  - {level: 4, armor: "Full Plate"}
  - {level: 6, armor: "Mithral Full Plate", why: "Counts as medium once worn, so the medium Armor Focus feats apply; level assumed (Act 2 vendors)."}
  - {level: 10, armor: "Carapace", why: "Staunton Vhane's +2 mithral full plate, worn from level 10 (user, 2026-10-09)."}
equipment:
  - arodens_wrath
  - armor_enhancement
  - amulet_of_natural_armor
  - ring_of_protection
  - weapon_enhancement
  - belt_of_physical_perfection
  - headband_of_mental_perfection
animal_companion: paladin_horse
mount:
  feats:
    - {level: 1, choice: Dodge}
    - {level: 3, choice: Improved Unarmed Strike, why: "Crane Style's prerequisite."}
    - {level: 5, choice: Crane Style}
    - {level: 7, choice: Outflank, why: "Teamwork: attacks of opportunity on the team's crits."}
    - {level: 9, choice: Combat Reflexes}
    - {level: 11, choice: "Improved Critical:Bite"}
  armor: [Chainshirt Barding, Leather Barding, Bracers of Armor +9]
  equipment: [amulet_of_agile_fists, belt_of_physical_perfection]
  spells: [Mage Armor, Barkskin, Magic Vestment, Animal Growth, Greater Magic Fang]
levels:
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
  - Paladin
picks:
  general_feat:
    - {level: 1, choice: "Power Attack"}
    - {level: 3, choice: "Armor Focus:Medium Armor", why: "+1 AC in mithral full plate and Carapace, which count as medium once worn (user, 2026-10-09)."}
    - {level: 5, choice: "Cleave"}
    - {level: 7, choice: "Combat Reflexes"}
    - {level: 9, choice: "Improved Critical:Fauchard", why: "Doubles the Fauchard's crit range."}
    - {level: 11, choice: "Critical Focus"}
    - {level: 13, choice: "Outflank", why: "+4 flanking with an Outflank ally, and teamwork attacks of opportunity."}
    - {level: 15, choice: "Combat Expertise", why: "Filler (not modeled)."}
    - {level: 17, choice: "Improved Initiative", why: "Filler (not modeled)."}
    - {level: 19, choice: "Blind Fight"}
  bonus_feat:
    - {level: 1, choice: "Weapon Focus:Fauchard", why: "+1 attack; enables Weapon Specialization at level 3."}
  mythic_hero:
    - {level: 5, choice: Close to the Abyss, mythic_rank: 1, why: "MR 1 hero power: a Gore beside the weapon and other natural attacks."}
  mythic_feat:
    - {level: 8, choice: "Mythic Armor Focus (Medium Armor) - Endurance", mythic_rank: 2, why: "+half the armor's AC in effectively medium armor; this rank-2 slot was empty (user, 2026-10-09)."}
    - {level: 12, choice: "Power Attack (Mythic)", mythic_rank: 4, why: "+3 damage per Power Attack step instead of +2."}
    - {level: 17, choice: "Improved Critical (Mythic):Fauchard", mythic_rank: 6}
    - {level: 18, choice: "Critical Focus (Mythic)", mythic_rank: 8, why: "Auto-confirms critical hits."}
    - {level: 20, choice: "Flawless Attacks", mythic_rank: 10, why: "Iterative attack penalty step drops from -5 to -4."}
  spell:
    - level: 4
      by_spell_level:
        1: ["Divine Favor"]
    - level: 13
      by_spell_level:
        4: ["Burst of Glory"]
items:
  - {name: "Engraved Lucky Bracers", level: 1, until_level: 17, why: "+1 luck AC in the free wrist slot."}
  - {name: "Embroidered Gloves", level: 18, why: "+3 luck AC in the free hands slot (replaces the bracers' +1 luck)."}