Let's talk about which 4th edition element comes from where

[yesnomu]

Non-AC defenses were around in 3E's Unearthed Arcana, where they had a few different ways of rolling for hits and saves (players roll all dice, attacker rolls all dice, etc.).

 

[Falling Icicle]

Non-AC defenses were around in 3E's Unearthed Arcana, where they had a few different ways of rolling for hits and saves (players roll all dice, attacker rolls all dice, etc.).

3rd edition DnD came out in 2000. Earthdawn came out in 1993. Just saying.

 

[Garthanos]

Feats: Tangential, but Hercules had a few.

Ancient Celts had them ... The Great Salmon Leap and Running on the Tips of Spears comes to mind... (this is old dude really really old)

I think I read one telling of the story of Cuh Culaine referred to them as "feats of martial prowess"

... near the bottom of the page ...
http://draeconin.com/database/godlist.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scáthach

The descriptions in story contexts actually connects them closer to the powers from 4th edition. Yes legends/myths with vivid over the top warrior/barbarian stunts. Including sprays of black blood shooting out of the warriors head and burning those around him.

 

[Garthanos]

Obviously the Paladin has been around long before the 4.0 D&D class. That's not interesting nor informative. Has the Paladin been around as a CLASS before 4.0 D&D, which was really the question? The "concept": yes. The class? Only in previous editions. Which edition was the first to have a Paladin? I dunno. There is answer, however. t.

I think arguing that the paladin as a "Class" is somehow greatly different than a Paladin as a "Legendary Archetype" is a lame argument. and is less informative than the fact Paladin was used as a term meaning the kings champion under Charlegmane and Roland and wasnt intended by Gygax to be as religious as he tends to be presented in more recent incarnations. In other words take the inspiration... Paladin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia then see how Gygax intended it (anybody have a link to an article where he discussed it?) then explore how it has changed... That is a history of Paladins and where they came from in 4e(or a sketchy outline of one).

 

[TerraDave]

I am more familiar with the AD&D paladin versus the one from supplement I version, but I think they always had a "divine defender" vibe going. Their ultimate weapon was called a holy avenger.

The cavalier was the Gygax knight.