Looking to play this again, need some advice

[Legacy_jhubsch]

               I just picked this up out of my closet, what with the Neverwinter MMO on. I want to play as a Paladin, eventually leading into the Champion of Torm. I tried to find a good guide to pursue that path, and I thought I did, but I am confused.
 
In my character creation, there's a part that has "Packages" (not mentioned elsewhere in the guide). One of them even IS for Champion of Torm progression, but I don't really know what that means or entails; when I click it, then Configure Packages, no Skills are selected and I still have 12 Skill Points to spend. This happens no matter which I choose when I click Configure Package. Bottom line though is that I don't know what choosing one of those Packages will end up doing for me, so I figured I'd rather just manually follow a guide anyway...

Here's a guide I found:
http://www.gamefaqs....gons/faqs/33072
(CTRL+F, 10.6)
 
As you can see, the Skills I am recommended to use throughout the entirety of my play are Discipline, Persuade, Search, and Tumble. I understand the first two, but the last two confuse me. I even saw another guide (http://www.ign.com/f...guidefaq-432018) that says both of these are worthless for a Paladin. So I'm not sure why they are even selected in the guide, nor why others available to me are not. On top of that, I have 12 of the points to spend (so not sure the "spread" to go with). I am curious about this, since I don't want to screw myself over (there's no skill reset, right?) and end up weak or unable to get Champion of Torm, either. Anyway, I get the vibe that the whole Package thing was added after this guide I chose was written, and so I'm hoping to get a bit of advice proceeding forward, both in a Paladin/CoT build path, as well as what to do at character creation with my 12 starting skill points.
Thanks!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_galelabriel]

               Many people recommend to put points in to Tumble with all classes, because every 5 base ranks in that skill adds +1 AC to your PC. I wouldn't bother putting points into Search. I play a lot of Paladins and with most of them I put the skill points into Discipline, Persuade, and Taunt. Taunt is based off of CHA, so you'll get a nice boost being a Paladin. If I start off with 12 points and 3 to add every level, I max out those skills and don't bother with Tumble. That advice is if playing single player. If you are playing on a PW, then I don't think Persuade is needed in that setting.

That guide goes to character level 22. 16/6 split is pretty good if you want to stick strictly to these two classes. Paladin 16 is needed to cast level 4 Paladin spells. That should always be aimed for, at least. Keep in mind that the original NWN campaign will only take you to around level 17. SoU and HotU will take you up to level 28, in my experience.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               

jhubsch wrote...

One of them even IS for Champion of Torm progression, but I don't really know what that means or entails; when I click it, then Configure Packages, no Skills are selected and I still have 12 Skill Points to spend. This happens no matter which I choose when I click Configure Package.

Choosing "Configure Package" indicates you're going to make a custom package instead of accepting one of the default packages.  Note that you should always do so, meaning you made a good choice.

jhubsch wrote...
 
As you can see, the Skills I am recommended to use throughout the entirety of my play are Discipline, Persuade, Search, and Tumble. I understand the first two, but the last two confuse me.

As mentioned, every 5 raw points of Tumble gives +1 AC, which makes it insanely good for any character wanting high AC.  Search does seem odd, though.

jhubsch wrote...

I am curious about this, since I don't want to screw myself over (there's no skill reset, right?) and end up weak or unable to get Champion of Torm, either.

Champion of Torm doesn't depend on skills at all, simply non-evil, enough base attack, and weapon focus in a melee weapon.

jhubsch wrote...

Anyway, I get the vibe that the whole Package thing was added after this guide I chose was written, and so I'm hoping to get a bit of advice proceeding forward, both in a Paladin/CoT build path, as well as what to do at character creation with my 12 starting skill points.

I think packages have always existed, they've always just been ignored for being terrible.

This might sound strange to you, but Tumble is the main skill that matters for you, combat wise.  If this character is only for the original campaigns, you can go with Tumble/Persuade and then a third skill of your choice - nothing really uses attacks that require Discipline.  Spellcraft would help increase your saving throws further.

The main choice you need to make is whether to be a strength focused paladin or charisma focused paladin - that build is charisma focused, so it gets better special abilities (saving throws, Divine Shield, Divine Might) while a strength paladin gets higher attack bonus and a permanent damage bonus.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Empyre65]

               Try the Epic Character Search Engine to find good builds to use as-is or to base your own build on.