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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kaptain_Kantrip" data-source="post: 50687" data-attributes="member: 546">Here is my new core class, the Anti-Paladin, and a variant core Paladin. Please review. Reasoning: The paladin is *weak* compared to the fighter or cleric. You're much better off being a fighter/cleric. Even high level paladins are easily killed by a fighter of the same level. The paladin doesn't have a chance, even if he has time to buff himself with his paltry spells beforehand. There is no incentive to take the paladin class past level 5 when you get your Special Mount; the only ability after that is extra uses of remove disease! (gag!)There is a distinct distaste IMC for the blackguard PrC. It favors fallen paladins overly much and offers too little too late for the feats/skill required to gain entry. My group wants an anti-paladin core class and a beefed-up paladin to match, so here goes... I'm more interested in determining if these classes are balanced than entering into a discussion on the merits of whether this is a good idea or not, LOL, or whether paladin should have been a prestige class like blackguard, or whatever. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />_________________________________________ANTI-PALADIN (core class)Ambition, Greed, Lust. These are the three mainqualities of the anti-paladin. Few are corrupt ormad enough to walk the anti-paladin’s path, butthose few are rewarded with the power to fulfiltheir twisted desires with unholy power fromdark gods. The anti-paladin is nothing short of amortal fiend.Adventures: Anti-paladins take theiradventures as excellent opportunities to advancethe agenda of their evil god and/or personalgoals to gain power and wealth. They will fightto the death if backed into a corner with no hopeof escape, but prefer to sacrifice theircompanions or take hostages to use as humanshields if that will allow them to flee. Ananti-paladin has a long memory and will plotterrible vengeance upon those who force him toabandon an adventure or mission. Characteristics: Divine power protects theanti-paladin and gives him special powers. Itwards off harm and engenders an unnatural auraof despair and menace around the anti-paladin.Finally, the anti-paladin can also use this powerto destroy others. Eventually, this power draws amighty steed to the anti-paladin and imbues thatmount with strength, intelligence and magicalprotection.Alignment: Anti-paladins must be of an evilalignment, and they lose their divine powers ifthey deviate from it. Additionally, ananti-paladin swears to follow a code of conductthat is in accordance with their alignment.Religion: Anti-Paladins need not devotethemselves to a single deity. Devotion to evil isenough for most. Those who align themselveswith particular religions form a strong defensivearm of the church. Anti-paladins devoted to agod are scrupulous in observing religious dutiesand are welcome in every associated temple.Background: Anti-paladins come in two molds:the first are evil warriors who make a pact withan evil deity, demon or devil in exchange fortheir power; the second are those who arechosen by an evil deity, demon or devil at birthto become their champion. Races: Humans, with their ambitious, powerhungry souls make the best and most frequentlyencountered anti-paladins.Other Classes: Anti-paladins see themselves assuperior to all other classes and act accordingly.They generally see other anti-paladins as rivals,but may develop some degree of comraderie ifthey share the same religion and/or goals;otherwise, they avoid each other. They get alongbest with clerics and fighters of their ownreligion. They hate paladins and clerics of goodalignment; an anti-paladin will try to kill themat the earliest and most convenient opportunityif possible. This does not mean they will attackthem on sight or even directly, but they will plottheir ruin and/or murder, possibly sendinganonymous underlings out to accomplish thetask, kidnapping their family, or by poisoningthem at an otherwise innocuous dinner party.Abilities: Charisma increases the anti-paladin’sself-protective abilities and undeadcommanding. Strength is important for ananti-paladin because of its role in combat. AWisdom score of 14 or higher is required to getaccess to the most powerful anti-paladin spells,and a score of 11 or higher is required to castany anti-paladin spells at all.Alignment: Any evil.Hit Die: d10.Class Skills: Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con),Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha),Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate(Cha), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge(Undead) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex),Sense Motive (Wis).Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier)  x4.Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Intmodifer.Weapons and Armor: Anti-Paladins areproficient with all Simple and Martial Weapons,and with Light, Medium and Heavy armor andShields.Base Attack Bonus: As Fighter.Saving Throws: As Cleric.Anti-paladins receive a number of specialabilities at levels 1-6 and at every three levelsthereafter.Level 1 Special Abilities: detect evil/good/undead (at will), Divine Grace(as paladin), Divine Health (as paladin), PoisonUse (as blackguard).Level 2 Special Abilities: Frightful Presence: Once per round you can, as afree action, use your Frightful Presence. Allopponents within 30 ft. who have fewer levelsthan you must make a Will save (DC 10 + classlevel + Cha modifier. An opponent who fails thesave is shaken, suffering a -2 penalty to attackrolls, saves and skill checks) for a number ofrounds equal to 1d6 + your Cha modifier.Heroic Surge: You may take an extra partialaction in a round, either before or after yourregular actions. You can use this ability anumber of times per day, depending on yourlevel, but never more than once per round.1st-4th level: 1/day; 5th-8th level: 2/day;9th-12th level: 3/day; 13th-16th level: 4/day;17th-20th level: 5/day.Level 3 Special Abilities:Command Undead (3/day); endurance (1/day,self only, 1 hour duration).Level 4 Special Ability:Spell Use (as paladin but uses the blackguardlist) + access to one clerical domain of theanti-paladin’s choice (must be offered by hisdeity).Level 5 Special Ability:Special Mount.Level 6 Special Ability:Sacred Defense (+1 to all saving throws vs.divine spells).Level 9 Special Ability:Special Mount gains the Fiendish template.Level 12 Special Ability:Dispel Magic (1/day as a cleric of theanti-paladin’s class level).Level 15 Special Ability:Lesser planar ally (1/day, but no return serviceis required by the outsider summoned).Level 18 Special Ability:Transcendence: Through long association withhis deity’s fiendish servants, and directintervention by his deity, the anti-paladintranscends his mortal form and becomes adivine creature. His type changes to outsider,which means that he acquires certainimmunities and vulnerabilities based on his type(see Native Outsider, under the planetouchedrace description). Upon achieving transcendence, theanti-paladin’s appearance always undergoes aminor physical change appropriate to hisalignment and deity. For example, small hornsmay sprout from his forehead or his eyes mayglow red or become like those of a serpent.Anyone who shares the anti-paladin’s patrondeity, including outsider servants of his patron,immediately recognize his transcendent nature,and he gains a +2 bonus on all Charisma-basedskill and ability checks in regard to thesecreatures. ________________________________________PALADIN (variant core class)Abilities: Charisma increases the paladin’sself-protective abilities and undead turning.Strength is important for an paladin because ofits role in combat. A Wisdom score of 14 orhigher is required to get access to the mostpowerful paladin spells, and a score of 11 orhigher is required to cast paladin spells at all.Alignment: Any good.Hit Die: d10.Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Diplomacy(Cha), Gather Information (Cha), HandleAnimal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha),Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge(Undead) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex),Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier)  x4.Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Intmodifer.Base Attack Bonus: As Fighter.Saving Throws: As Cleric.Paladins receive a number of special abilities atlevels 1-6 and at every three levels thereafter.Level 1 Special Abilities: detect evil/good/undead (at will), Divine Grace,Divine Health, Lay on Hands.Level 2 Special Abilities: Aura of Courage: The paladin is immune to fearand all allies within 10 ft. of the paladin gain a+2 morale bonus to all saving throws.Heroic Surge: You may take an extra partialaction in a round, either before or after yourregular actions. You can use this ability anumber of times per day, depending on yourlevel, but never more than once per round.1st-4th level: 1/day; 5th-8th level: 2/day;9th-12th level: 3/day; 13th-16th level: 4/day;17th-20th level: 5/day.Level 3 Special Abilities:Turn Undead (3/day); endurance (1/day, selfonly, 1 hour duration).Level 4 Special Ability:Spell Use (as paladin) + access to one clericaldomain of the paladin’s choice (must be offeredby his deity).Level 5 Special Ability:Special Mount.Level 6 Special Ability:Sacred Defense (+2 to all saving throws vs.divine spells).Level 9 Special Ability:Special Mount gains the Celestial template.Level 12 Special Ability:Dispel Magic (1/day as a cleric of the paladin’sclass level).Level 15 Special Ability:Lesser planar ally (1/day, but no return serviceis required by the outsider summoned).Level 18 Special Abilities:Transcendence: Through long association withhis deity’s outsider servants, and directintervention by his deity, the paladin transcendshis mortal form and becomes a divine creature.His type changes to outsider, which means thathe acquires certain immunities andvulnerabilities based on his type (see NativeOutsider, under the planetouched racedescription). Upon achieving transcendence, the paladin’sappearance always undergoes a minor physicalchange appropriate to his alignment and deity.For example, his eyes may glow with goldenlight. Anyone who shares the paladin’s patrondeity, including outsider servants of his patron,immediately recognize his transcendent nature,and he gains a +2 bonus on all Charisma-basedskill and ability checks in regard to thesecreatures. _______________________________________Anti-Paladin/Paladin Spells Per Day:(follows the same progression as Monte Cook's alt.ranger, except for the addition of a domain spell at each level)4th Level: 0+1 1st level spells5th Level: 0+1 1st level spells6th Level: 1+1 1st level spells7th Level: 1+1 1st level spells, 0+1 2nd levelspells8th level: 1+1 1st level spells, 0+1 2nd levelspells9th level: 1+1 1st level spells, 1+1 2nd levelspells10th level: 1+1 1st level spells, 1+1 2nd levelspells, 0+1 3rd level spells11th level: 2+1 1st level spells, 1+1 2nd levelspells, 0+1 3rd level spells12th level: 2+1 1st level spells, 1+1 2nd levelspells, 1+1 3rd level spells13th level: 2+1 1st level spells, 1+1 2nd levelspells, 1+1 3rd level spells, 0+1 4th level spells14th level: 2+1 1st level spells, 2+1 2nd levelspells, 1+1 3rd level spells, 0+1 4th level spells15th level: 2+1 1st level spells, 2+1 2nd levelspells, 1+1 3rd level spells, 1+1 4th level spells16th level: 3+1 1st level spells, 2+1 2nd levelspells, 2+1 3rd level spells, 1+1 4th level spells17th level: 3+1 1st level spells, 3+1 2nd levelspells, 2+1 3rd level spells, 1+1 4th level spells18th level: 3+1 1st level spells, 3+1 2nd levelspells, 2+1 3rd level spells, 2+1 4th level spells19th level: 3+1 1st level spells, 3+1 2nd levelspells, 3+1 3rd level spells, 2+1 4th level spells20th level: 4+1 1st level spells, 3+1 2nd levelspells, 3+1 3rd level spells, 3+1 4th level spells_________________________________________NOTE: These are both REVISED from the originally posted versions!</blockquote>

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