Which Prc for the Paladin?

[greycastle]

Is there any almost 'specific' Prc for the Paladin? or any Prc that almost fits that niche/role? Also what are some good Prc's for Paladins?

Cheers
Captain Rodriguez

 

[Crothian]

There are some in Defenders of the faith. Prestige classes are different from core classes, so there really isn't one the fits the exact same niche. There are some that take aspects of it and focus on them.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

The Scarred Lands setting by Sword and Sorcery has a number of PrCs for Paladin, they are scattered through the books, but I remember Mithril Knight being in Mithril: City of the Golem, Gold Knight and Iron Knight are in Ghelspad, and Keeper of the Flame in the same book is very 'paladin like'. Secrets & Societies also has Silver Knights, yet another Paladin PrCs. Divine and the Defeated, oddly doesn't have one that I can remember. They have another book comig out dedicated to Monks and Paladins sometime in the reletively near future I think.

Each stresses different Paladin abilities, sieges, crafting and healing all get a chance to shine.

Quintessential Paladin by Mongoose has a number of Paladin offshoots as well, though I think the Scarred Lands examples have more flavor.

The Auld Grump

 

[Thanee]

The Paladin in our group had the Divine Champion PrC from FRCS, I think.

But Paladin is absolutely fine as a single class. He even gets some pretty neat spells later.

Bye
Thanee

 

[reapersaurus]

Well, depending what you mean, I'd say NO, there aren't any that are adequate.

Following the examples of Wizard/Sorcerer PrC's and Cleric PrC's, an appropriate "specific" Paladin PrC would be one that had low entrance requirements, and granted almost all of the benefits of the original class, and tacked on more abilities on top of those.

There are NO Paladin PrC's that are as "specific" as that.

As I remember, the Mithral Knight was OK, but lacked punch, since it gave up some Paladin abilities for dubious stuff.
Plus, it's horribly world-centric.

 

[green slime]

I seem to recall something about the Hospitaler from the DotF.

Yep that's it. You even gain remove disease at 3rd hospitaler level.

Full Bab, Cleric spell casting, turn undead, four bonus feats. Only one good save, Fortitude though, so perhaps you feel it isn't quite up to spot.

 

[reapersaurus]

umm.. How does a Hospitaler qualify to be a Paladin PrC?

Maybe I'm off-base here, but a Paladin PrC MUST continue the advancement of most of the Paladin abilities that the Paladin player uses.

It's safe to say that these are at the least:
Smite advancement
Mount advancement
Spell advancement (as weak as his spell advancement is)
Lay On Hands

No PrC other than the Mithral Knight does this, AFAIK. (I may have missed some in the recent D20 material)
I looked again at the Mithral Knight (Mithral City of Golem), and it is pretty good, but it forces the Paladin into using a Longsword, it requires LOTS of skillpoints, and it is specific to that world.

 

[Darklone]

It's safe to say that these are at the least:
Smite advancement
Mount advancement
Spell advancement (as weak as his spell advancement is)
Lay On Hands

Cool, you mean, he does not lose anything by taking the class? Oh, I forgot, his undead turning does not grow stronger. Typical prestige class

What do we give him additionally? One bonus feat per level? Double skillpoints with thousands of class skills?

I love Prestige Classes.

 

[Li Shenron]

I have never thought that a PrCl should give advancement to all the base class abilities If you want that, the only way should be to stay in the core class. The fact that this is what happens for Sorcerers and to a lesser extent Wizards, it's a fault not a merit. Otherwise, let's just stop all core classes at level 5 and let's play PrCl everyone...

 

[green slime]

umm.. How does a Hospitaler qualify to be a Paladin PrC?

Well, The hospitaler also retains lay-on-hands, and turn undead, and has better Spell advancement (the cleric's, no less), as well as two Domains (choose Healing, War, Protection or Glory!), as well as Full BAB! None of the requirements are anything a paladin is going to regret taking: Mounted Combat, Ride-by-Attack, Ride skill and Handle Animal at the crucial 5 ranks.

Oh dear, the poor mount got left behind...It must sacrifice 4 HD, +4 NAC, +2 Str, 2 Int, and Spell resistance.

And you could still attain Smite thrice/day: + Cha bonus to hit; +10 damage is not wimpy. If thrice isn't often enough for you, if this PrC is available, the DM probably allows the Extra Smite feat as well. Given that the Hospitaler has 4 extra bonus feats, you may not find it too difficult to spend a feat on this ability, if you find it attractive.

And the measily War Domain "only" grants a Weapon Focus. Glory domain is not to be sneezed at in a game with large numbers of undead: +2 to turning check, +1d6 damage. Admittedly Healing and Protection don't really rock my boat.

IMO, the Hospitaler is one of the most powerful PrC out there. The only reason not to take it is the loss of mount progression, and I can't see that as enough of a drawback. YMMV.