What level should a paladin get a holy avenger?

[dreaded_beast]

Wow, thanks for all the responses!

I didn't mention it at the beginning of the post, but since I know the subject of Paladins is a bit touchy, let's keep this nice and civil.

 

[Sejs]

5th level.



But only if it's a holy avenger whip.

 

[Whimsical]

Of course, lower-level paladins would be happy with a +1 Holy weapon or a sun blade. How about a Holy Avenger spiked chain? Other weapons need your DM love, too. It's not just about the uber-sword anymore. That's a 2nd editionism.

 

[Chimera]

Never.

Too gauche'. Too cliche.

Too much to expect that EVERY Paladin gets a Holy Avenger. After all, at what level does the Fighter get his Ultimate Fighter Sword? When does the Ranger get his Ultimate Ranger Sword?

My response: You want a Holy Avenger? Commission it's creation. Find the Wizard who can manufacture it, convince him to do so, cough up the money and find all the special components he's going to ask you for.

 

[Kalendraf]

Although a bit off-topic, the Neverwinter Nights expansion, Shadows of Undrentide had a special Paladin-only quest which let them obtain a Holy Avenger. Unfortunately, it came at a fairly low level (IIRC, 7th or 8th), and after getting it, the game becomes stupidly easy. There was other special equipment available for Paladins as well, and in conjunction it made the game totally unchallenging.

In a typical D&D campaign, I'd estimate that a Paladin shouldn't get one, at least permanently, until they are well into the double-digit levels. If you want to loan one to a lower level paladin for a single session for some special quest, that might be ok under the right circumstances. Otherwise, keep it away until much, much later.

 

[Arnwyn]

Lots of options:
1) Whenever the DM decides.
2) Whenever the paladin can "afford" it and has the means and opportunity.
3) Use the DMG wealth list as a guideline (ie. 16th level+ looks appropriate).

 

[Hand of Evil]

This reminds me of a dirty joke...which I will change...

Paladin walks into a bar, right behind him is a seven foot tall monster of a man wearing a mask and cape. Bartender looks at the guy and says "what gives?" The Paladin turns to the bartender and says "Once I was walking down the beach and I found this bottle, as I rubbed it a gennie popped out and was so grateful, he gave me three wishes! The first wish was to be good looking, the second was to have fame. My third wish was to have a Holy Advenger, this is what I got!" point to the caped and masked man...

 

[Umbran]

Some say the Holy Avenger is too trite or cliche to use these days. Personally, I think it is a matter of what fits into your game. In some games it might seem cliche, while in others it would fit quite nicely. Only you and your barber know for sure...

If you are going to go the HA route, there are a couple things to consider -

If you're using the wealth guidelines - the thing really shouldn't come before 14th level and all, and 16th would be more reasonable.

Gaining a Holy Avenger is one of the more major points in a Paladin's career. Simply going out and commissioning one takes all the drama out of the thing. The aquisition should be momentous - don't include it until the storyline calls for it. And, as a followup - the only thing more important than getting the thing is what the character does with it. Don't give it out until you know you want him to be using it on the sorts of things it is designed to handle.

So, overall - the HA is thematically potent enough that it's aquisition should be more aobut hte story than about levels.

 

[drothgery]

At about the same level that the other PCs get similarly powerful cool uber-magic gear. Maybe a bit earlier, if your game is one where it's tough to be a paladin and your paladin-playing PC is roleplaying well. In any case, if you're playing at anything near by-the-DMG magic & wealth levels, most paladins probably should a have a chance to get some sort of Holy weapon, if they want one, long before a Holy Avenger is reasonable.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I'm with Umbran. Simply paying a wizard to craft you a Holy Avenger is boring. Gaining a Holy Avenger should be the objective of a quest or crusade, perhaps retrieving the hallowed weapon from an evil dragon's treasure hoard or reciving it as a gift from your god after completing a dangerous quest in service of the church.

As to the question of what level a paladin should gain a Holy Avenger, I'm gonna agree with the people who say that you should wait until at least level 16.