New to the class

[NorthernWynd]

Hey everyone... I've been playing DII for nearly 5 years now (about 3 on Bnet) and just this morning decided to try my hand at my very first Bnet paladin (mostly sorcs and amazons before this, I have a thing for ranged attacks). I've just gotten to lvl 13 and been powering up smite (although I don't have the shield for it yet). I was just wondering if what I've been doing is wise, (smite is already lvl 8 for me) or am I just wasting skill points? Unfortunately in my time on Bnet I haven't acquired much wealth, especially pally items, so I don't have anything uber to work towards. Just looking for a little guidance/suggestions.

BTW I did have a SP hammerdin, which I recently deleted because I found it to be very boring...

[HeavAngel]

Pougees Ultimate Dclone/Uber Tristam Killer Guide (Zeal/Smite)07-27-2005-By:Pougee_au (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=370389)

Welcome to the forum.
Here is the Forum Rules (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=298749)
Here is the Guide Thread (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=318026)

Here's another link. The Arreat Summit (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/classes/paladin.shtml)

Up on top there is a very handy search tool.
Type in what you're looking for and most likely you find a lot of threads on what you're looking for.

[Evrae Altana]

If you find hammerdins boring, try a zealot or an avenger. They can be pretty effective.

[waflob]

If you find hammerdins boring, try a zealot or an avenger. They can be pretty effective.
very true - I usually play caster types and found a spammerdin really really boring. My current fav pally is a standard freezealot. More fun than my avenger and totally rocks.

[Dekaroe]

I have the mindset a Holy Fire/Frost/Shock - adin to be a one trick pony. The auras are strong but immunities will kill you. But they can handle crowds easier than say an Avenger. The auras at least cause some damage / hinderance to crowds while Conviction drops defense / resistance, waiting for you to hit the monsters.

Zealots are good for taking out monsters quick in numbers, but meh ..... I'm still on the 1.08 mind :'(

Holy Shield raises total defense so a Paladin can tank better than before.

[waflob]

I have the mindset a Holy Fire/Frost/Shock - adin to be a one trick pony. The auras are strong but immunities will kill you.

I see what you mean, but can't this be said of any char that specialises in one particular damage type ?.
A freezealot has lots of cold damage, with physical damage as well. I'm not sure of it's the accepted norm, but I'm using a fire rogue merc, with a bow containing lots of poison jewels. The pally also has quite a few elemental charms, but not poison (don't want to overwrite the merc's better poison damage)
The last one died, because he was too good. A few dolls ran up and died in the aura. The resulting 'pop' was too much :-)