Reclaim the name of Paladin!

[Olgar Shiverstone]

You can play your Paladin any way you like, and a DM is free to determine what Paladins are like in their campaign, but I want the option of playing a Paladin the way I envisage it; a holy warrior of any faith.

"A holy warrior of any faith" ... is a cleric.

Seriously, what else do you call someone who uses the power of faith to blast enemies, who can wear armor and use shields, who smites with a mace, but a holy warrior?

I like the idea of Paladin as prestige class, assuming of course that you have that sort of mechanic.

 

[harlokin]

"A holy warrior of any faith" ... is a cleric.

Seriously, what else do you call someone who uses the power of faith to blast enemies, who can wear armor and use shields, who smites with a mace, but a holy warrior?

I like the idea of Paladin as prestige class, assuming of course that you have that sort of mechanic.

A Cleric is a Caster who serves a Deity.

A Paladin is a Warrior who serves a Deity.

There is no reason to impose narrow interpretations on either.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

A Cleric is a Caster who serves a Deity.

A Paladin is a Warrior who serves a Deity.

In that case you need to redefine the D&D cleric, since that class has traditionally been a warrior class, albeit one with less fighting ability that the fighter. Heck, the OD&D and B/X D&D clerics didn't even get spellcasting until 2d level.

For your definition I think you want a "priest" class who is a no armor, no weapons guy who relies on divine magic and has the attack capability of other casters. If that were the case, then I'd grant you the paladin as sole holy warrior, but the traditional D&D cleric still has too much warrior in him to not share the title of "holy warrior".

 

[delericho]

Strictly IMO...

If alignment is built in to the game, the Paladin should be LG-only.

If alignment is not built into the game, the Paladin should not exist.

If alignment is an optional module, the Paladin should be presented in that module, and should be LG-only.

And, IMO, alignment should not be in the core game, but should be presented as an optional module.

 

[harlokin]

In that case you need to redefine the D&D cleric, since that class has traditionally been a warrior class, albeit one with less fighting ability that the fighter. Heck, the OD&D and B/X D&D clerics didn't even get spellcasting until 2d level.

For your definition I think you want a "priest" class who is a no armor, no weapons guy who relies on divine magic and has the attack capability of other casters. If that were the case, then I'd grant you the paladin as sole holy warrior, but the traditional D&D cleric still has too much warrior in him to not share the title of "holy warrior".

No, apologies but you misunderstand me completely.

I am not trying to impose my own tastes in either Class on anyone, including whether they wear armour, are a certain alignment, or how effective they are in melee.

I am merely requesting that Paladin=Lawful Good is not forced down everybody's throats.

 

[Wormwood]

No alignment restrictions in 5e please. That includes classes.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I am merely requesting that Paladin=Lawful Good is not forced down everybody's throats.

And I'm arguing that it isn't being forced down anyone's throats ... since the "holy warrior of any faith" (your definition) already exists in the cleric.

Edit: I'd probably agree with you if you come up with a more specific definition of "paladin".

 

[harlokin]

And I'm arguing that it isn't being forced down anyone's throats ... since the "holy warrior of any faith" (your definition) already exists in the cleric.

I don't accept that Cleric = Warrior, and regard Classes having pre-imposed alignment restrictions as totally retrograde.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I don't accept that Cleric = Warrior,

Then we'll have to agree to disagree.

and regard Classes having pre-imposed alignment restrictions as totally retrograde.

And I agree with this in all cases except the Assassin (evil) and Paladin (LG). There's room for holy exemplars of other alignment in the game -- just don't call them paladins.

 

[Infiniti2000]

No alignment restrictions in 5e please. That includes classes.

This. A thousand times this. If I could give xp in tapatalk I would. The above, if adopted, makes the thread topic moot.