Shadowdark Shadowdark Discussion Thread [+]

[Bill Zebub]

A bunch of people have made their own alternatives, since her very distinct take is not what everyone is looking for. You can't really do "A Paladin in Hell" with her class.

I'm thinking of making an anti-paladin class at some point, as part of a thing that would remake classic Dragon magazine NPC classes, and it occurs to me that I'll probably need to make an AD&D paladin class as well, since the anti-paladin otherwise will be the mirror image of a class that doesn't officially exist in Shadowdark.

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The variant I have been fiddling with gets Inspiring Presence from the official version, but otherwise has advantages specifically against Chaotic creatures. (And gets Advantage on things involving horses...)

I suppose that would make the Anti-Paladin easy: just swap "Chaotic" for "Lawful".

 

[Fenris-77]

Yeah, I want to say it was no more than what a Fighter would add anyway, but I'd have to go look at Mounts again.

Fighters can have mounts too, they just have to pay for them.

 

[Fenris-77]

I like Kelsey's Paladin but I can also see why it leaves some people cold. I think part of the problem is that some of the OG Paladin classes were overpowered compared to the basic fighter, often offset by differential experience. You can't do that with a SD class.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I like Kelsey's Paladin but I can also see why it leaves some people cold. I think part of the problem is that some of the OG Paladin classes were overpowered compared to the basic fighter, often offset by differential experience. You can't do that with a SD class.

Agreed. And I certainly don't want a D&D Paladin ported to SD. I like how Kelsey is willing to rethink what classes mean without being constrained by established tropes. I just don't like how this particular one turned out.

 

[Fenris-77]

I think some people miss that Named Blade is better than Weapon Master at low levels and only really worse at the highest levels, with the downside that it can be lost temporarily.

Agreed. And I certainly don't want a D&D Paladin ported to SD. I like how Kelsey is willing to rethink what classes mean without being constrained by established tropes. I just don't like how this particular one turned out.

What aspects of the common Paladin class features were you hoping for?

 

[Bill Zebub]

I think some people miss that Named Blade is better than Weapon Master at low levels and only really worse at the highest levels, with the downside that it can be lost temporarily.

What aspects of the common Paladin class features were you hoping for?

Well, none, really.

I think Inspiring Presence was a brilliant way to implement something related to healing, without it actually being healing.

 

[Retros_x]

What aspects of the common Paladin class features were you hoping for?

I chime in here: I think I personally would loved to be oath more than just a limitation - break it or lose abilities. I don't know what exactly. Or maybe in combination with holy quests: The paladin must always have one quest ongoing and when he succeeds he gets some sort of bonus or feat or whatever.

But I must admit there more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that the classic paladin just doesn't fit the game and Kelseys version is quite fitting for the game.

 

[Bill Zebub]

But I must admit there more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that the classic paladin just doesn't fit the game and Kelseys version is quite fitting for the game.

I guess what I've been thinking is that an Arthurian knight just doesn't fit into the dark, gritty, world of Shadowdark. I am envisioning a Paladin as a flickering flame surrounded by darkness, bearing the burden of duty. So instead of galloping around in shining plate armor, waving around a lance with a pennant, he is in a nondescript cloak and hood, going where he is not welcome, hoping to not attract notice.

So...maybe more like a Jedi in the period where they are being hunted?