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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Keldryn" data-source="post: 5798790" data-attributes="member: 11999">The word "paladin" has a meaning outside of its use in D&D, and until 4e the game concept was a pretty close match.The code of ethics and devotion to Good is intrinsic to the whole concept of a Paladin.  Without that, it's like playing a Wizard who can't cast spells or use magic in any form.Equating a Paladin to a holy warrior who serves a specific god waters down the archetype and conflates the class's role with that of the Cleric.The Paladin is a righteous warrior devoted to the ideals of Law and Good, above and beyond any specific religion or deity.The Cleric is a holy warrior who serves a particular church or deity.  They are modeled on religious orders of knighthood, not scholar-priests.This is how these classes were originally presented.  Things will of course change as the game evolves, but it is important to remember where  a concept originates from.There is room for the priest who is more focused on spell craft on not in martial training, but it isn't the Cleric class.  It could be the Cloistered Cleric, the Invoker, or simply the Priest.In my opinion, the Paladin shouldn't necessarily even be associated with gods or religion.  Good and just deeds take precedence over any religious doctrine.  That's not spelled out anywhere, but that's how I interpret the class as presented in 1e and BECMI.</blockquote>