Kobold Avenger
Legend
The Oath of Madness is something I thought up when I was thinking of, what would be an oath that favours the chaotic neutral alignment (in much the same ways the others favour certain alignments).
So the first idea is that many on the Oath of Madness would be connected to the Great Old Ones and the Far Realm in some way, sort of a counterpart of the GOO Warlock in much the same way the Oath of Ancients is a counterpart to the Feylock. But serving or fighting against such entities from the Far Realm wouldn't necessarily be all Paladins of this oath. Yes a Paladin that's dedicated to fighting the Far Realm's influence could be of this Oath too, as the revelations and understanding of such things might drive them towards "madness".
Then there's the idea that others who would be on the Oath of Madness, might be afflicted by more personal madness. Thinking on the subject of American McGee's Alice, where Alice Liddell was a very imaginative girl who came up with Wonderland, who basically retreated into the world of her design after tragedy struck, and she lost her grasp on reality. Some on the Oath of Madness could be like Alice, where they've somehow drawn their powers from their own imaginary personal worlds where they are their champions. Such Paladins probably have their own permanent Dreamscape that exists somewhere in the Plane of Dreams.
And I guess the 3rd idea would be that the Oath of Madness could be something a Paladin from other oaths could "fall" into. Those who are too much into their oaths and code (ie, the lawful stupid types) that they begin to become out of touch with reality might end up in the Oath of Madness, while I suggest Chaotic Neutral as the alignment of such an oath, certainly many of lawful alignments could fall into this.
Thinking of these 3 concepts what could such an Oath look like in terms of ability and place in the world? Could it be a sort of psionic subclass, or maybe more barbarian-like (keeping in mind that the Sohei which I see as a Paladin had rage-like abilities too)? Are there other concepts on what such Paladins are?
So the first idea is that many on the Oath of Madness would be connected to the Great Old Ones and the Far Realm in some way, sort of a counterpart of the GOO Warlock in much the same way the Oath of Ancients is a counterpart to the Feylock. But serving or fighting against such entities from the Far Realm wouldn't necessarily be all Paladins of this oath. Yes a Paladin that's dedicated to fighting the Far Realm's influence could be of this Oath too, as the revelations and understanding of such things might drive them towards "madness".
Then there's the idea that others who would be on the Oath of Madness, might be afflicted by more personal madness. Thinking on the subject of American McGee's Alice, where Alice Liddell was a very imaginative girl who came up with Wonderland, who basically retreated into the world of her design after tragedy struck, and she lost her grasp on reality. Some on the Oath of Madness could be like Alice, where they've somehow drawn their powers from their own imaginary personal worlds where they are their champions. Such Paladins probably have their own permanent Dreamscape that exists somewhere in the Plane of Dreams.
And I guess the 3rd idea would be that the Oath of Madness could be something a Paladin from other oaths could "fall" into. Those who are too much into their oaths and code (ie, the lawful stupid types) that they begin to become out of touch with reality might end up in the Oath of Madness, while I suggest Chaotic Neutral as the alignment of such an oath, certainly many of lawful alignments could fall into this.
Thinking of these 3 concepts what could such an Oath look like in terms of ability and place in the world? Could it be a sort of psionic subclass, or maybe more barbarian-like (keeping in mind that the Sohei which I see as a Paladin had rage-like abilities too)? Are there other concepts on what such Paladins are?
