Pillars of Eternity - Paladin Tank Build

A very defensive build, Paladin tanks aren't interested in doing more damage than they have to. The build below dedicates several talents & abilities to buffs (Exhortations) for the party, but you may find that you need to sacrifice these in order to make your Paladin even tankier.

Stats

Might
18+ more for the bonus to healing than the bonus to damage
Constitution
10
Dexterity
3
Perception
3
Intellect
18+
Resolve
18++
Paladin Order
Shieldbearers of St. Elcga They have access to a couple of order-specific abilities that are pretty awesome for tanks
Race
Human, Coastal Aumaua, Wild Orlan, Pale Elf, Mountain Dwarf, Fire Godlike, Moon Godlike, Nature Godlike
These all have bonuses that are all roughly equivalent for tanks
Culture
Old Vailia Intellect
The Living Lands Might
Ixamitl Plains Resolve
Background
Whatever you want
Skills
Lore
Survival for the +healing bonus

Talents & Abilities

1
Lay on Hands
2
Shieldbearers of St Elcga: Shielding Touch
Other Orders: ?
3
Zealous Endurance / Zealous Focus If you have another party member take the cross-class ability, your paladin should take Endurance. It's better late game anyway, once everyone gets their own +Accuracy bonuses
4
Weapon and Shield Style
5
Shieldbearers of St Elcga: Flame of Devotion
Other Orders: Liberating Exhortation
6
Shieldbearers of St Elcga: Shielding Flames
Other Orders: ?
7
Reviving Exhortation
8
Cautious Attack We care more about the +Deflection than the hit to our attack speed
9
Reinforcing Exhortation
10
Greater Lay on Hands
11
Hastening Exhortation
12
Superior Deflection
13
Sacred Immolation too good of an ability to pass up, even as a tank
14
Scien of Flame boosts Sacred Immolation, Flames of Devotion, and the Fire Godlike's passive ability
15
Coordinated Attacks / Abjuration / Behold the Martyr / Liberating Exhoration / Righteous Soul / Healing Chain
16
Deep Faith
Others
Hold the Line
Defensive Boosts (Will, Fortitude, etc.)
Wound Binding

Gear

Weapon
Anything that debuffs on hit, or weapons with "Coordinated Attacks" enhancement
Shield
We don't care about our own Accuracy, so the shield with the highest Deflection wins
Armor
The heaviest armor you can find. Enchantments like Second Chance are good

Final Gear

Company Captain's Hat
Anslög's Compass: Sold by Ponamu Bird-Scorned
Cloak of Comfort
Reward for The Weaver's Song, an average adventure in Caed Nua (after the Great Hall is restored)
Argwes Adra
Looted from the unique Fampyr, Cabiros in Level 8 of Endless Paths of Od Nua
Enchanted with +2 PERCEPTION
Gauntlets of Ogre Might
Yenwood Field: Looted from Gathbin's corpse after defeating his army during The Battle of Yenwood Field
[WM1] Russetwood: Sold by Morug outside Flames-That-Whisper Caverns, after finishing The Ogre Matron quest without killing too many ogres
[WM2] Cayron's Scar: Looted from Master Diometto to the northwest
Random loot item spawning in various locations (9×)
Iron Circle
[WM2] Looted from Chief Rending-Maw of the first Lagufaeth group at Cayron's Scar
Gwyn's Band of Union
[WM2] Secret urn near the Salt Well in the Halls of Presence, The Abbey of the Fallen Moon
Boots of Zealous Command
Sold by Winfrith in Winfrith's Arms and Armory, Dyrford Village
Arthek's Cord
[WM2] Bone pile under lingering soul, The Halls of Silence, The Abbey of the Fallen Moon
Steadfast
[WM2] Iron Flail Fort: Looted from or received as a reward from commander Adaryc during the quest The Iron Flail
The Grey Sleeper
[WM1] Longwatch Falls: Pulled from a stone pedestal at the dwarven ruins
Thy Clef
Twin Elms: Loot from Simoc in the Hall of Warriors, Elms' Reach, or reward by him for Sacrificial Bloodlines