D&D 5E The Paladin naming convention

[Kavon]

Someone mentioned somewhere, probably more than one person, that a good catch-all name for the class is Champion, and I think that puts across the appropriate vibe of being a chosen/special representative of whatever you're sworn to protect/destroy.

I'd prefer this as well.
Paladin should be the 'Good' version.
Knight is a title in a similar vein as being a baron or a count (as in, something granted to you by your lord), not so sure it would fit as a class name (and if anything, it should be more like the Warlord if it is).

 

[tuxgeo]

Special snowflake:

"Champion" as the container. I'd be okay with Knight, but I think Fighters make pretty good knights, and don't want to lose that.

Paladin as the LG version, Warden as the nature version, Blackguard as the evil version.

"Cavalier" as the CG version, in the sense of high spirited and not giving proper weight to "something important" (read: "the law").

I agree with nearly everything Lackhand said, except for the "special snowflake" bit. (Snowflakes are multitudinous, and each one is special; but actual Champions are rare.)

I don't really agree that "Knight" should be the overall class name. If they're not going to have "Paragon Paths" so-called in 5E, then the class could be named "Paragon" without loss of generality.

I think it would be funny to have a CG "Cavalier" variant -- as in funny like a joke, because the lawfulness of swearing an oath is one of the defining features of this class. That's almost a good enough reason to do it, though: there must be people out there who want to play a "joke paladin" once in a while. . . .

 

[Li Shenron]

I prefer Paladin to remain the name of the class, it's more traditional.

Make what you want with the subclasses (although "Cavalier" doesn't sound "good" to me...).

"Knight" is just plain wrong, since there is nothing magical/supernatural in being a knight. A lot of nobles are knight, and the title of knight doesn't even necessarily imply to be competent at fighting (it is still used today as a honorific titles in many countries for merits that have nothing to do with battle). Also we already have a Background using this name.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'd prefer they didn't stick so much flavor on any of these, and make them campaign-specific. The Neutrality = Nature thing is incredibly lame.

 

[tuxgeo]

I prefer Paladin to remain the name of the class, it's more traditional.

Yes; but the Lawful Good alignment restriction of the Paladin is equally traditional.

If WotC chooses to allow a different umbrella name (e.g. "The Poppins") to include the variants, then we get to keep the traditional LG alignment for all Paladins, as they were before.

 

[Stilvan]

Special snowflake:

"Champion" as the container. I'd be okay with Knight, but I think Fighters make pretty good knights, and don't want to lose that.

Paladin as the LG version, Warden as the nature version, Blackguard as the evil version.

"Cavalier" as the CG version, in the sense of high spirited and not giving proper weight to "something important" (read: "the law").

I voted Knight but I agree more with this. I'm also not convinced that Knight is a good fit with the Warden.

 

[Larrin]

A GRID: I MUST FILL IT!!

But not a law/chaos, good/evil 2D grid. We can throw race in there! ....and 'power source equivalent'!!

This isn't sarcasm, this is what I want to be able to do (and enjoy doing). I'm not saying there should/must be a unique 'lawful evil arcane half-orc knight' subclass, that leads to poorly made classes filling a 'bad idea' slot in the grid, I'm just saying if a combination has a flavorful classical archetype champion (lawful dwarf, martial chaotic, good elven alchemist champion) it would be cool if they could be unique subclass based on the paladin. I see three paladins, and I want to make an army of paladin choices, and fill in the interesting points with my ideas, and leave blanks that can be filled by players with good ideas. But this is perhaps off topic.


ON TOPIC: I'm okay with the default sub-class having the same name as the over-name (Paladin). I'm also fine with it being Knight. Champion IS a good/correct over-name, but I don't like it, though I can't give a good reason, so its likely just a personal hang up. (I remember the "Champion of Torm" prestige class in the 'hordes of the underdark' neverwinter nights expasion and how it was such a bad choice to take it for my character, that's probably my problem.)

I hope I love the "green knight" warden, it's right up my alley, but I agree that 'neutral is not nature', and hope that 'grey knights' of a 'civilized' flavor appear, likely with some alignment overlap (The Grid! THE GRID!!!!).

Cavalier doesn't ring "Lawfully good Holy knight" to me. Again this probably is related to my first d&d experience with the cavalier class in "baldurs gate II", which was a paladin kit focused on going toe-to-toe with demons and dragons (to the extent that they could not physically equip ranged weapons). This combined with the common phrase "Cavalier Attitude" (marked by lofty disregard of others' interests, rights, or feelings; given to airy dismissal of things worthy of attention.) caused me to classify the cavalier as a name for a fearless knight with probably more sword than sense. I'm not saying this is what it means or should mean to everyone, but this is my affection for it, and I really wish it was how it manifested in D&D. I'm learning to live with it. Still, my own fantasies aside, cavalier is not an obvious choice for a traditional paladin, nor a good one, IMHO.

Obviously the Blackguard is the evil knight. I feel that for Lawful evil it should be pronounced 'BLACK-guard', for neautral evil 'Black(g)-heart', and for chaotic evil use the 'Blaggard' pronouncination.

 

[sheadunne]

No to champion, but I'm fine with knight.

LG - Paladin
CE - Blackguard
LE - Anti-Paladin
CG - Cavalier
N - Warden

Or something like that

 

[Ainamacar]

For a class name I like Champion the best of all those I've heard so far. To champion a cause, and take an oath to that effect. Suggests heroic (as in "powerful") capacity, but not necessarily heroic (as in "good") intent or means.

I made a 3.5 homebrew class called the Partisan, a name I chose because I wanted it to be neutral to the exact nature of the cause the player chose. In retrospect, it doesn't convey the heroic capacity that I wanted it too, and in any case can have negative political overtones or be associated with guerrilla warfare.

Edit: The subclass names needn't be so confined, and can deal with all the connotations, overtones, allusions, and/or baggage. For "Paladin" this is especially strong, and I'd rather not murky those waters any further. I see no reason to keep all oaths anchored to alignment, however. This is perfect splat and/or campaign setting territory.

 

[hbarsquared]

Another vote for the use of "Champion."

"Knight" should remain a Background.

"Cavalier" should be a Specialty and should focus on mounted combat.

I'm fine with "Champion" or "Paladin" being the container, though I'm leaning toward "Champion."

So, the Champion class

• Paladin sub-class (LG, "white knight")
• Blackguard sub-class (LE, "black knight")
• Warden sub-class (N, "green knight")
• Justicar sub-class (LN, "grey knight")