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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 1511343" data-attributes="member: 3424">Apologies if this has been done before.This is an experiment in separating out the paladin's abilities into thematically related components and tying each one to a virtue which the paladin swears to abide by.  If a paladin fails to abide by a particular virtue, he loses the thematically linked abilities until he makes appropriate atonement, but still retains the others.For now, only four virtues are identified, and a paladin who swears an oath to abide by all four virtues duplicates the standard PHB paladin.  However, by developing oaths for other virtues which can be sworn instead of the four listed below, it would be possible to create a variety of paladins.  Feel free to come up with and post your own!Oath of RighteousnessConduct: The paladin must act with honor.  He loses the benefits of this oath if he causes harm or loss to any creature (even an evil creature) by lying or cheating, or if he allows a wrongdoer to escape justice through carelessness or negligence.  He will not knowingly associate with evil characters, nor will he continue an association with someone who consistently offends his moral code, unless they are repentant and trying to mend their ways. A paladin may accept only henchmen, followers, or cohorts who are lawful good.Benefits: At 1st level, the paladin gains the ability to detect evil and smite evil (and gains the ability to make additional smites per day as normal).  Starting from 3rd level, he generates an aura of courage.Oath of MercyConduct: The paladin must treat all creatures with kindness and compassion.  He loses the benefits of this oath if he causes or allows unnecessary physical, emotional or spiritual harm or pain to come to any creature (even an evil creature).  He may punish or even kill a creature if it is necessary to prevent it from committing an evil act or causing harm or loss to another creature, but it should be in proportion to the creature’s actions.Benefits: At 2nd level, the paladin gains the ability to lay on hands.  At 3rd level, he gains divine health.  At 6th level, he gains the ability to remove disease (and gains the ability to do so an additional number of times per week as normal).Oath of ServiceConduct: The paladin must help those in need, provided they do not use that help for chaotic or evil ends.  He serves all creatures, although he may have varying degrees of allegiance.  He respects and obeys legitimate authority as it is assumed to represent the interests of the greater number of people.  However, he may choose to provide help to an individual instead if he is in greater need of assistance.  As a servant, he is humble, courteous and respectful.  He loses the benefits of this oath if he does not provide help when he is able to (e.g. providing help would not violate any of his oaths and he is not on a more important mission), or if he acts in an arrogant or disrespectful manner.Benefits: At 2nd level, the paladin gains divine grace.  At 5th level, he may call for a special mount.Atonement: A paladin who has acted in an arrogant or disrespectful manner may atone by simply offering a sincere apology.Oath of FaithConduct: The paladin faces the same behavioral restrictions as a cleric of his deity, faith or philosophy and loses the benefits of this oath if he acts in a way that would cause a cleric to lose his abilities.  If he serves the forces of good in general (as opposed to a specific god, pantheon or philosophy), he loses the benefits of this oath if he performs an evil act.Benefit: At 4th level, the paladin gains the ability to turn undead and cast paladin spells.  These abilities improve as normal.</blockquote>

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