D&D General If faith in yourself is enough to get power, do we need Wizards and Warlocks etc?

[W'rkncacnter]

Oaths are True Magic altering the truenames of paladins and only those of conviction can have their names changed.

...wait. wait, i like that one. wait, i like that one a LOT.

 

[Minigiant]

Seriously, where does the assumption that paladins don't work as hard as any other class come from? They don't gain levels any faster.

It's not that paladins work less.

It's that some people say that all a paladin has to do is say the oath then commit to it for magic.

Which actually isn't hard for a normal person for many oaths. And if you fail, there are oath breakers.

So either there is another layer to the paladin oath or everybody and their momma can be a paladin.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

It's not that paladins work less.

It's that some people say that all a paladin has to do is say the oath then commit to it for magic.

Which actually isn't hard for a normal person for many oaths. And if you fail, there are oath breakers.

So either there is another layer to the paladin oath or everybody and their momma can be a paladin.

To quote from a beyond-centenarian in Girl Genius: "One of the problems with people here--is that they do not take sacred vows at all seriously!"

Considering the vast, vast groups of people out there who can't stay a course long enough to do something as simple as "clean up the yard this summer" or "write that novel I've been meaning to" or the like, it's frankly laughable that so many today think a Paladin getting power is some kind of trivial, miraculous, easy-as-pie wish-granting trick, a get-magic-quick scheme of the highest order, "one weird trick (WIZARDS HATE HIM)" stuff.

Making, and proving, that oath is a serious effort. It's not something you do on a Tuesday because you feel like it.

 

[CreamCloud0]

To quote from a beyond-centenarian in Girl Genius: "One of the problems with people here--is that they do not take sacred vows at all seriously!"

Considering the vast, vast groups of people out there who can't stay a course long enough to do something as simple as "clean up the yard this summer" or "write that novel I've been meaning to" or the like, it's frankly laughable that so many today think a Paladin getting power is some kind of trivial, miraculous, easy-as-pie wish-granting trick, a get-magic-quick scheme of the highest order, "one weird trick (WIZARDS HATE HIM)" stuff.

Making, and proving, that oath is a serious effort. It's not something you do on a Tuesday because you feel like it.

yeah, it's not enough to just say you'll take the vow and that you'll abide the oath, you've got to mean it in your soul.

 

[Steampunkette]

As an alternative to "True Faith" being rare:

Imposter Syndrome is just... rampant in D&D worlds. No one thinks they're actually -good- enough to do anything and is waiting for someone stronger and more talented to see through their petty attempts to accomplish anything.

After all, you've got REAL Paladins in most settings who ride dragons and lay down their lives for their oaths and who are you kidding? You're a commoner who doesn't even own a farm. How are -you- supposed to get full plate and a sword and go save beautiful elves in distress..?

The amount of conceitedness it takes to believe with all your heart that you are destined to greatness above all others, to rise from humble beginnings to being the greatest hero in the world, is phenomenal. Or that a -GOD- would believe in -you- enough to grant you even a fragment of their power just because you go to temple once a week? You can barely afford a stick of incense with your prayers, much less pounds of the stuff to burn as a pleasing sacrifice.

The only way some schlubby peasant is ever going to get any kind of real power is through bargaining with devils or reading self-help books with spells in them.

 

[Voadam]

everybody and their momma can be a paladin

Most everybody and their momma can be most any class in D&D. This is great narratively for justifying PCs and any odd NPC.

Sorcerer seems the toughest to qualify for in 5e as you either need to be born to it or have the right circumstances happen, which is easy to justify for a PC while keeping it away from the majority of the population as a possibility.

"Sorcerers carry a magical birthright conferred upon them by an exotic bloodline, some otherworldly influence, or exposure to unknown cosmic forces."

 

[Steampunkette]

Most everybody and their momma can be most any class in D&D. This is great narratively for justifying PCs and any odd NPC.

Sorcerer seems the toughest to qualify for in 5e as you either need to be born to it or have the right circumstances happen, which is easy to justify for a PC while keeping it away from the majority of the population as a possibility.

"Sorcerers carry a magical birthright conferred upon them by an exotic bloodline, some otherworldly influence, or exposure to unknown cosmic forces."

Ah, yes... The Mystical 1%!

 

[DarkCrisis]

yeah, it's not enough to just say you'll take the vow and that you'll abide the oath, you've got to mean it in your soul.

"I really want to be the best Innkeeper in all the Dales. Truely! Fluff down service and Continental Breakfast for everyone! This is my Oath!" Gains magic powers.

 

[RainOnTheSun]

"I really want to be the best Innkeeper in all the Dales. Truely! Fluff down service and Continental Breakfast for everyone! This is my Oath!" Gains magic powers.

Silly, right? Now if they read a book, or went to church, or sang a song, then gaining magic powers would make sense.

 

[TwoSix]

Most everybody and their momma can be most any class in D&D. This is great narratively for justifying PCs and any odd NPC.

Sorcerer seems the toughest to qualify for in 5e as you either need to be born to it or have the right circumstances happen, which is easy to justify for a PC while keeping it away from the majority of the population as a possibility.

"Sorcerers carry a magical birthright conferred upon them by an exotic bloodline, some otherworldly influence, or exposure to unknown cosmic forces."

I'm assuming paladins in most D&D-like settings are fairly rare, as that rarity is generally part of the paladin trope. Maybe one person in 1000 who might try actually goes through the necessary training and swears an oath with enough conviction to gain paladin status.

PC paladins are simply one of those rarities. The fact that a PC can be a paladin says nothing about the relative occurrence of paladins in the setting.

I mean, we don't want to do some kind of system where class options for PCs are actually rationed based on their frequency within the setting, right? Right?