The Quintessential Holy Warrior

[jarlaxlecq]

With so many options for a Holy Warrior, with Races like Aasimar, Celetial Bloodlines etc, Classes like Cleric and Paladin and PrC like Divine Champion, Divine Emissary and pretty much all the things in the book of Exalted deeds I'm not sure how i should put my character together. What do you guys say?

 

[Artoomis]

With so many options for a Holy Warrior, with Races like Aasimar, Celetial Bloodlines etc, Classes like Cleric and Paladin and PrC like Divine Champion, Divine Emissary and pretty much all the things in the book of Exalted deeds I'm not sure how i should put my character together. What do you guys say?

Definately use Book of Exalted Deeds.

For best "goodness," use the Vow of Poverty to get lots of Exalted feats that you can use for even more of a feeling of "goodness."

I like the idea of a simple cleric who turn out to be a very tough holy warrior. I'd take all the vows (except maybe nonviolence and peace). Even nonviolence and peace are way cool for this - the warrior who is so pure he won't even kill his enemies.

Lots of way to go, though. Too many for a real pat answer.

What is your concept? Describe your character in non-rules terms and I'll bet you get really, really great advice.

For example:

I envision a holy warrior mounted stop his great war horse steed, both of them in shining plate armor...

 

[mhd]

Depends on what you mean with "holy". Yes, rules-wise there are lots of options, both paladin and cleric were intended as holy warriors from the beginning. Deciding between both of them is simply choosing between might and miracle. Clerics usually leave you more options for deciding your way, while paladins usually are the chosen knights on white chargers... You don't have to play them that way, but some classes just evoke a certain style more than others.

Your racial background has a huge influence on your gameplay, too. Usually humans exhibit the most zeal when it comes to fighting for their beliefs, comes with the short lifespan. Dwarves are a close second, but more prone to protect thant to convert or crusade. Gnomes and halflings are a little bit too relaxed for similar zealous pursuits, and the chaotic and long-lived nature of elves leads to a different kind of religious activity, although the follower of Corellon Larethian shouldn't be discounted, especially if you want to follow the fighter/mage/cleric route...

Aasimars are quite nice. Technically, they're born to be holy warriors -- which is both boon and bane. If your path is clear and predetermined, things are a little too easy. Without doubt there's no belief.

Personally, I find it most interesting when you have to strive for "holiness", with temptation and sin all around you. That's more the western background of martyrdom, saints and salvation speaking, but then, that's the foundation for the usual D&D holy warrior anyway.

And don't forget the power of symbols and icons. It never hurts to follow cliches. Dress in white, ride a big horse, have a holy symbol on your shield etc.

I hope I didn't miss the point completely, as this is only a small subset of the clerical class in D&D. Most paladins don't differ that much from the archetypical holy warrior, but a cleric of the god of thieves or knowledge strays from this path quite a lot.

Rules-wise: Don't front-load. Starting with all those vows seems interesting, but grant yourself a few levels where you are allowed to exhibit some doubts and occasionally give in to temptation, then strive for some kind of epiphany that sets you on a straight path to heaven. Talking with your DM helps here

 

[James McMurray]

Fist of Raziel gives spellcasting progression and fighter BAB, along with a large selection of abilities.

 

[jarlaxlecq]

Definately use Book of Exalted Deeds.

For best "goodness," use the Vow of Poverty to get lots of Exalted feats that you can use for even more of a feeling of "goodness."

I like the idea of a simple cleric who turn out to be a very tough holy warrior. I'd take all the vows (except maybe nonviolence and peace). Even nonviolence and peace are way cool for this - the warrior who is so pure he won't even kill his enemies.

Lots of way to go, though. Too many for a real pat answer.

What is your concept? Describe your character in non-rules terms and I'll bet you get really, really great advice.

For example:

I envision a holy warrior mounted stop his great war horse steed, both of them in shining plate armor...

I don't know if i could give up all my items.

My idea is also a mounted knight in shinning armor, but paladins dont get enought feats to have both mounted feats AND divine, sacred feats.

 

[mhd]

My idea is also a mounted knight in shinning armor, but paladins dont get enought feats to have both mounted feats AND divine, sacred feats.

Neither do clerics. If you really want to go through the whole mounted feat chain than fighter levels are mandatory. A viable option would be the Prestige Paladin from Unearthed Arcana. Some fighter levels, some cleric and off you go. Could be done with Clr2/Ftr3 or Ftr4/Clr1, enabling to have quite some bonus feats to have a solid grounding. After that you can load up on divine feats.

Or if you're less dependent on the Paladin's holy abilities, just continue along the Ftr/Clr route. Caster-level loss isn't as bad for clerics as for wizards, even in a high-level campaign all the buff/heal/defensive abilities are worthwile. And your fighting abilities are rather good, more feats than a paladin, though with a lower BAB -- which is a little better if you use the Unearthed Arcana multi-classing table.

Some prestige classes from the BoED are nice, but generally some DMs have problems incorporating them into their cosmology. The Anointed Knight doesn't gain spell-casting, but gets some bonus feats and special abilities, the Fisft of Raziel gets pretty much all the spell-casting of a cleric, the fighter BAB plus some Smite stuff.
Basically again the choice between paladin and cleric, either better combat aptitude or more spell-casting.

Usually another background choice is whether you want to lead by example (paladin, more fighter than cleric etc.) or want to include preaching into your daily chores (clerics). Words vs. deeds...

 

[jarlaxlecq]

Neither do clerics. If you really want to go through the whole mounted feat chain than fighter levels are mandatory. A viable option would be the Prestige Paladin from Unearthed Arcana. Some fighter levels, some cleric and off you go. Could be done with Clr2/Ftr3 or Ftr4/Clr1, enabling to have quite some bonus feats to have a solid grounding. After that you can load up on divine feats.

Or if you're less dependent on the Paladin's holy abilities, just continue along the Ftr/Clr route. Caster-level loss isn't as bad for clerics as for wizards, even in a high-level campaign all the buff/heal/defensive abilities are worthwile. And your fighting abilities are rather good, more feats than a paladin, though with a lower BAB -- which is a little better if you use the Unearthed Arcana multi-classing table.

Some prestige classes from the BoED are nice, but generally some DMs have problems incorporating them into their cosmology. The Anointed Knight doesn't gain spell-casting, but gets some bonus feats and special abilities, the Fisft of Raziel gets pretty much all the spell-casting of a cleric, the fighter BAB plus some Smite stuff.
Basically again the choice between paladin and cleric, either better combat aptitude or more spell-casting.

Usually another background choice is whether you want to lead by example (paladin, more fighter than cleric etc.) or want to include preaching into your daily chores (clerics). Words vs. deeds...

Couldn't you gust as easily call it a Fist of Torm for example if we're talking about FR? I could run that by my DM, especially since a Fighter Cleric would then keep the best BAB plus still level up his Cleric levels. Sounds like it has potential.