I usually avoid these threads, so naturally its time for me to start one...
I've been thinking about playing my first Paladin, but I couldn't imagine a paladin that I'd want to roleplay. So I started thinking; "What defines a Paladin?". The simple answer in games terms are a set of ablities (of course) and a rigid code of conduct. But what if it was faith that truly made a Paladin, not just adherence to a set rules. What if the code of conduct was much looser, or at least there was much greater leeway for a Paladin to give in to his or her fallen instincts, before they actually Fell.
So I'm working on Sir John Gaulstaff (I couldn't resist...); a venal knight, petty thief, liar, schemer, occasional whoremonger, and drunk, who happens to have unshakable faith and was, in fact, chosen by God to be a champion. He's constantly battling against/giving in to his base nature. He's weak-willed, but he believes, and his whole story arc is one redemption, a moving away from a faith-in-his-heart towards a fatih-in-action.
I don't see him as a fighter who eventually becomes a Paladin (the way to do this in the RAW). I envision him as someone who can do miracles with his own hands, and still struggles with the weakness of the flesh. The whole point is that he feels unworthy, not to mentioned frightened by, this blessing. But it doesn't go away; because the blessing isn't deserved its given freely by the grace of God (or Goddess).
So this is the Paladin I want to play... opinions?
I've been thinking about playing my first Paladin, but I couldn't imagine a paladin that I'd want to roleplay. So I started thinking; "What defines a Paladin?". The simple answer in games terms are a set of ablities (of course) and a rigid code of conduct. But what if it was faith that truly made a Paladin, not just adherence to a set rules. What if the code of conduct was much looser, or at least there was much greater leeway for a Paladin to give in to his or her fallen instincts, before they actually Fell.
So I'm working on Sir John Gaulstaff (I couldn't resist...); a venal knight, petty thief, liar, schemer, occasional whoremonger, and drunk, who happens to have unshakable faith and was, in fact, chosen by God to be a champion. He's constantly battling against/giving in to his base nature. He's weak-willed, but he believes, and his whole story arc is one redemption, a moving away from a faith-in-his-heart towards a fatih-in-action.
I don't see him as a fighter who eventually becomes a Paladin (the way to do this in the RAW). I envision him as someone who can do miracles with his own hands, and still struggles with the weakness of the flesh. The whole point is that he feels unworthy, not to mentioned frightened by, this blessing. But it doesn't go away; because the blessing isn't deserved its given freely by the grace of God (or Goddess).
So this is the Paladin I want to play... opinions?