Paladin: field notes
Holy strikes and defensive support.
The vocation in a hunt
Use the vocation’s holy and defensive tools as a combination. Surviving contact is part of a close-range rotation, not a separate concern after damage is chosen.
Equipment and resources
Compare equipment against the encounters that actually pressure the character. A gain in attack can be a poor trade if it removes the recovery needed for repeated fights.
A useful first comparison
Start with a familiar hunting area and change one part of the build at a time. Review kills, resource use and survival. The skill tree and class-compatible equipment offer decisions, but a larger number alone does not establish a stronger overall routine.
Conviction comes from contact
Basic attacks that deal damage generate Conviction. Healing, barriers and the larger holy burst compete for those charges. Spending them immediately on recovery changes when the offensive option becomes available. The result is a resource decision within melee combat, not simply a different colour of basic attack.
Protection is a choice
Nearby companions can benefit from the vocation’s recovery tools, but healing and barriers do not stack without limit. Use the current encounter to decide whether charges should keep the character alive, support nearby allies or prepare a burst. Check mana as well as Conviction before relying on the next technique.