D&D 5E Help a Paladin out Bro. AKA rewarding Paladins.

[Mistwell]

When people play their PCs true, I reward inspiration.

 

[the Jester]

Ok there been two threads about Paladins violating their oaths and how dm are icky nasty with no win situations. But let us turn the conversation on it head.
DMS how do you reward Paladins who are following their oaths?

That's what their class abilities are- a reward for service rendered.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

So I'm currently playing a paladin in one game. He is a paladin of the god of light in the campaign world and has always upheld the values of that god. He gives all his treasure away to the poor, abstains from killing people in combat, and spends 90% of his lay on hands pool on NPCs that the party comes across. The other characters hate it (though the players enjoy the banter it leads to). Anyways, throughout the entire campaign my character was absolutely righteous, until after suffering a number of personal (non-combat) defeats and doubts (due to the consistency with which his fellow paladin fall and turn to evil), he makes a mistake. The intention was good (save his companions and give them an edge in stopping a greater evil), but he still fell and sold his soul.

Long story short, my character's deity personally intervened due to his history of doing the right thing even when it was the more difficult choice. This not only provided a path to redemption, but this is a game where the gods do not really directly interfere in the mortal world. So the fact that this deity made direct contact and intervened personally meant everything to my character and bolstered his faith immensely.

TL;DR: A paladin shouldn't be rewarded all that often for following their code and values. But a good DM keeps track of it, and makes the player and character know it when they need it most.

 

[S'mon]

Ok there been two threads about Paladins violating their oaths and how dm are icky nasty with no win situations. But let us turn the conversation on it head.
DMS how do you reward Paladins who are following their oaths? aka being awfully good.
1. Free smites.
2. Smites do average damage or better. Or more if against foe of their gawd.
3. Upgrades in the world. Paladin get the luxury bed at the next inn, the rogue gets the dog blanket.
4. Upgrades in their order. If you have a kingdom order Bucky the Wonder paladin gets promoted to staff sergant. ETC.
5. Roleplaying bonuses. Too Varied to go into detail.

I don't recall ever thinking in terms of specific Paladin rewards or punishments. In-universe NPCs tend to look up to and admire traditional Paladins, and trust them, which can be very valuable. But a PC of a different class played the same way would benefit nearly as much.

I guess Paladins tend to be "roleplay Strong" characters who tend to command a large amount of 'spotlight time', but again this is dependent on stuff like backstory and how they're played. The 11,500 year old recently-destasised* Thassilonian/Azlanti Paladin Malassandra in my Runelords campaign naturally gets a lot of attention especially from Runelords, her old boss Emperor Xin, etc.

*Sorshen was using her as an energy battery for the Sunken Queen, The Matrix-style.

 

[Salthorae]

DMS how do you reward Paladins who are following their oaths? aka being awfully good.

Like other said, if they’re really playing to their Oaths?

6. inspiration

4. Upgrades in their order. If you have a kingdom order Bucky the Wonder paladin gets promoted to staff sergant. ETC.
5. Roleplaying bonuses. Too Varied to go into detail.

3. Upgrades in the world. Paladin get the luxury bed at the next inn, the rogue gets the dog blanket.

4 & 5 (Title, Lands, etc ) are rewards and things for quests not RP per se for me.

Also 3 would be an outflow of 4 and 5 for my games!

“Absolutely the best room is available Sir Muckety. But your squire (PC rogue) will have to bed down in the stables”

 

[Oofta]

Like other said, if they’re really playing to their Oaths?

6. inspiration



4 & 5 (Title, Lands, etc ) are rewards and things for quests not RP per se for me.

Also 3 would be an outflow of 4 and 5 for my games!

“Absolutely the best room is available Sir Muckety. But your squire (PC rogue) will have to bed down in the stables”

Which might be just fine for the rogue. Easier to sneak out in the middle of the night!

 

[Gladius Legis]

This thread should've been over with the first mention of inspiration.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

I guess Paladins tend to be "roleplay Strong" characters who tend to command a large amount of 'spotlight time', but again this is dependent on stuff like backstory and how they're played. The 11,500 year old recently-destasised* Thassilonian/Azlanti Paladin Malassandra in my Runelords campaign naturally gets a lot of attention especially from Runelords, her old boss Emperor Xin, etc.

*Sorshen was using her as an energy battery for the Sunken Queen, The Matrix-style.

I've found this to be true as well. I sometimes worry that my paladin character takes up too much of the spotlight. But I regularly check in with the DM and other players, and no one else sees it that way. But then, I'm not sure if that is inherent in the paladin class, or just a factor of group dynamics at the table.

 

[S'mon]

I've found this to be true as well. I sometimes worry that my paladin character takes up too much of the spotlight. But I regularly check in with the DM and other players, and no one else sees it that way.

I think if I'm playing Hawkeye and you're playing Captain America, I expect you to be getting more spotlight time! If I wanted more spotlight time I should have played Iron Man.

 

[Charlaquin]

Erm... Aren’t a paladin’s class abilities the “reward” for adhering to their Oath? Or I guess their subclass abilities. At any rate, I don’t think any additional reward is needed. To be honest, I don’t generally pay much attention to Paladin Oaths in play. I suppose if a Paladin committed a particularly egregious violation I might have some role playing consequences, which might lead to a sidequest for redemption, but I’ve never actually had that come up.