Paladin

The typical Paladin, note the colors, and the symbol of the eagle, an important core of their faith

PRO DM SKILLZ

Yeah, this pretty much sums it up.

Born to raze hell

Paladins are a class from Dungeons and Dragons. They are divine warriors of a somewhat more martial bent than Clerics, receiving a variety of powers generally focused around smiting the enemies of their god. Many a ficticious maiden has benefited from a Paladin's Laying On of Hands. Until 4th Edition came out, core Paladins were required to be Lawful Good and lost their powers if they strayed from this alignment, or violated the Paladinly Code of Conduct. In 4th Edition, not only was the alignment restriction removed, but also the mechanic for power loss, instead replaced with vague threats of the other faithful of the paladin's religion seeking him out to administer chastisement for his failings. 4th Edition paladins have a different alignment restriction, they must be the same alignment as their deity.

Unfortunately, the possibility of Paladins in old editions to fall is often abused by dickish DMs, who seem to derive some sort of twisted pleasure out of forcing a player's Paladin into hideously arbitrary situations where any choice they take results in falling from grace and the stripping of powers. Even otherwise reasonable DMs seem to turn into complete dicks when presented with a chance to make a paladin player's life a misery. As a result, many avoid playing paladins entirely due to bad experiences with evil DMs.

However, fallen paladins who turn to evil had the option to multiclass into the evil prestige class Blackguard, which receives bonus abilities if the character has levels of Paladin.

Some thoughts on Paladins Before 4E

'There is none of that, "Oh well if you're truly sorry, there's nothing I can do." horseshit. No, he coup de graces your ass because he's a goddamn paladin. His job is killing evil. You know what his job doesn't entail? Being a sympathetic ear for every whiny NE or CN or LE douchebag who's only being evil because the world is unfair to him or every punk that lets his own dislikes or laziness overcome his own personality. You know what unfair is? Being able to know what kind of person everyone is before you even talk to them. Smelling evil so potent on a motherfucker that you want to sink your fingers in his chest and pull that tar out until the screaming stops. Having the psychotic urge to murder people that you've never even met, for the sole reason that your God decided that you ought to be his right hand without your choice in the matter, that's unfair. But unlike Evil McBlacknails over there, that Paladin puts on his helmet, sharpens his sword, and then continues walking through crowds of people day by day, resisting the urge. Seeing evidence of injustice so black it makes him sick. Seeing murderers and rapists walk the street, watching good men hang as evil ones pull the lever. Saving his righteous violence for when the situation exactly, specifically, precisely calls for it. Surgically removing that which is most evil. Because he's a Paladin. And if he gave in to the urge, what would he be? Who will right the true wrongs if not he? It's not about not falling as a Paladin. It's about falling so fucking hard you crash through the planet and stand up on the other side.' - Dragonladieshere

Gallery

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  That's what paladins actually believe

See Also

• Sameo
• Lawful stupid
• Space Marines
• Grey Knights

External Links

• Suptg archive of the saga of Rapeguard, Part 1
• Suptg archive of the saga of Rapeguard, Part 2

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