Post by Cthulhu Colin on Nov 22, 2012 18:44:16 GMT -6
I'm just starting to draft out my alternate take on the Paladin. Here're my note so far, any thoughts welcome. I wanted to take it a serious step away from the mounted knight archetype and from the strictly good approach too, to make it more an opponent of Chaos.
PALADIN (Fighter): The paladin is a martial exemplar of the Lawful alignment. Whereas others are seduced by the temptations of a world falling to Chaos, the paladin is unyielding. Though a paragon of dedication, loyalty to the cause, and a certain sense of honour, the paladin is not necessarily benign, and many display severity, intolerance, and mercilessness towards those not of similar faith or outlook. Only in striving to undo the works of Chaos on Hyperborea can the paladin be considered a champion. To the paladin, the Word and the Law are all.
Largely unchanged, except:
Alignment: Lawful (Good or Evil)
1) All instances of Lawful Good become Lawful.
2) All instances of powers being against Evil creatures becomes against Chaotic creatures, e.g. Sense Evil becomes Sense Chaos.
3) Honour: However severe, even tyrannical, the faith of some paladins might be, they do possess a sense of honour. Not necessarily that of mercy and good conduct, but of loyalty to the cause, dedication, vigilance, unswerving service to the precepts of the faith, stoicism, unflinching opposition to Chaos, and the inviolable nature of one’s own word when given. [text about possible loss of status, etc. here]
4) Remove Healing Hands, Horsemanship, Charge, and Sacred Mount
Replace with:
Skilful Defender (as the Cataphract ability; seems apt for such unyielding warriors)
Alertness (as the Ranger ability; ever-vigilant against Chaos)
Unshakable Will (as the Monk ability, possibly to be gained at 5th level, reflects utterly indomitable will; not easily swayed from his path is the paladin)
Longevity (as the Druid/Monk ability, reflecting unchanging nature of Law and its impact on the paladin’s physical nature)
PALADIN (Fighter): The paladin is a martial exemplar of the Lawful alignment. Whereas others are seduced by the temptations of a world falling to Chaos, the paladin is unyielding. Though a paragon of dedication, loyalty to the cause, and a certain sense of honour, the paladin is not necessarily benign, and many display severity, intolerance, and mercilessness towards those not of similar faith or outlook. Only in striving to undo the works of Chaos on Hyperborea can the paladin be considered a champion. To the paladin, the Word and the Law are all.
Largely unchanged, except:
Alignment: Lawful (Good or Evil)
1) All instances of Lawful Good become Lawful.
2) All instances of powers being against Evil creatures becomes against Chaotic creatures, e.g. Sense Evil becomes Sense Chaos.
3) Honour: However severe, even tyrannical, the faith of some paladins might be, they do possess a sense of honour. Not necessarily that of mercy and good conduct, but of loyalty to the cause, dedication, vigilance, unswerving service to the precepts of the faith, stoicism, unflinching opposition to Chaos, and the inviolable nature of one’s own word when given. [text about possible loss of status, etc. here]
4) Remove Healing Hands, Horsemanship, Charge, and Sacred Mount
Replace with:
Skilful Defender (as the Cataphract ability; seems apt for such unyielding warriors)
Alertness (as the Ranger ability; ever-vigilant against Chaos)
Unshakable Will (as the Monk ability, possibly to be gained at 5th level, reflects utterly indomitable will; not easily swayed from his path is the paladin)
Longevity (as the Druid/Monk ability, reflecting unchanging nature of Law and its impact on the paladin’s physical nature)