Variant Paladins in Dragonlance - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Variant Paladins in Dragonlance

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Oct 05, 2003 6:54:40 I've just finished reading my copy of Dragon #310, and was so impressed by the new paladin classes presented for non-LG good and neutral deities that I've already begun considering how to incorporate them into my next Dragonlance campaign. That being said, I'd like to hear what other people think about this.

Anyway, Sentinels ( Neutral Good paladins ) seem to make appropriate champions for Mishakal, especially since in the wake of the War of Souls she is actively seeking out holy warriors ( as mentioned in Age of Mortals ). Also, Sentinels could be drawn to Habbakuk in their role as guardians of the wilderness and non city-dwelling folk. Avengers ( Chaotic Good paladins ), I feel, would work best as elven champions of Astra / Astarin, emphasizing the "agent of freedom" / liberating aspect of the class. They would make good allies of the Legion of Steel, but probably disdain the Knights of Solamnia as oppressively regimented. Enforcers ( Lawful Neutral ) could be the strong hand of the Church of Shinare, strictly enforcing the legal codes and defending the established mercantile routes of civilized nations. Incarnates ( True Neutral ) would fight to maintain the Balance at all costs, and Anarchs ( Chaotic Neutral ) might be rare agents of absolute freedom and change, perhaps influenced by the lingering essence of Chaos in the world.

Does anyone else consider these classes to be an appropriate addition to a Dragonlance game? I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the matter.
#2
Dragonhelm
Oct 05, 2003 8:18:52 Personally, I believe that all deities in Dragonlance would have their own divine champions, so I don't see using the variant paladins as a stretch at all.

In fact, one could use some of the existing PHB classes as divine champions. Druids would make good divine champions of Chislev, rangers would make good divine champions of Habbakuk, and bards could make good divine champions of Branchala (if you changed their magic to divine, instead of arcane).
#3
zombiegleemax
Oct 05, 2003 9:30:56 Of the variant paladins, i prefer using the Holy and Unholy Warriors from Green Ronin Publishing.
#4
Nived
Oct 05, 2003 10:14:10 One of my players has expressed an interest in Multiclassing into one of the classes presented in Dragon #310. He's a Dwarven Fighter who while distinctly Dwarven he is NOT Lawful... or Good... He's a rather Chaotic Dwarf, considers Sirrion his patron... and would like to become an Anarch, the Chaotic Neutral variant Paladin. At the end of last game I relented and let him take a level in the class, though we haven't had a chance to play out the epiphany that leads him to be a champion of Chaos.

So at least in my game, the Variant Paladins can exist... of course neither he... nor anyone else has ever really heard of an Anarch before... oh they've existed just untra rare... as in he's probably the only one in existance right this momment.

At least that's how it stands in my campaign... Sirrion doesn't feel the need for special champions very often.
#5
Dragonhelm
Oct 05, 2003 10:41:15 Remember, too, that a divine champion should be ultra-rare. Clerics are the messengers, divine champions are the sword.

While I don't know the details of the character in question, I would suggest that he not be a champion of chaos so much as he is a champion of fire. I think that would go right along with dwarves and forging. Just a thought for you.
#6
Nived
Oct 05, 2003 11:03:23 Well in the campaign for various reasons the players aren't aware of yet... the elemental planes have been thrown into an imbalance and are threatening to collapse. I see the elemental planes as a 'cosmic foundation' the material plane is built upon.

The Gods with Elemental Domains are scrambling right now to hold things together and 'fix the problem'. Sirrion needs a sword right now.

This is the way things were going anyway, the story was heading towards this elemental inbalance. The Players have chosen Sirrion as their patron quite independantly of me. Although the Dwarf Player asked for the class it actually works into the storyline!

There's a reason the Elemental Planes are threatening to crumble, certain artifacts that belong in the planes aren't there. The party has come across one, but is utterly unaware of it's importance.
#7
zombiegleemax
Oct 06, 2003 16:01:53 Zug Zug.

IMO, paladins in DL should be characters with both cleric levels and melee levels.

Cheers
#8
shugi
Oct 06, 2003 16:22:22 I definitely think there's something to be said for variant core-class abilities, up to a point. I could see monks from a certain region getting a different selection of Bonus Feats, and perhaps an ability could be exchanged with something more appropriate to that particular region or monastic order.

However, I agree with TaisharMalkier's point, in that there's little need for a "holy warrior" core class. Prestige classes, on the other hand, were made for this kind of thing.

If one of my players really wants a paladin-type character, I'd either encourage the multiclass cleric (or druid), or I could consider using the Champion class from Arcana Unearthed (at the cost of a Johnny Jump-Up or two).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Oct 05, 2003 6:54:40	I've just finished reading my copy of Dragon #310, and was so impressed by the new paladin classes presented for non-LG good and neutral deities that I've already begun considering how to incorporate them into my next Dragonlance campaign. That being said, I'd like to hear what other people think about this. Anyway, Sentinels ( Neutral Good paladins ) seem to make appropriate champions for Mishakal, especially since in the wake of the War of Souls she is actively seeking out holy warriors ( as mentioned in Age of Mortals ). Also, Sentinels could be drawn to Habbakuk in their role as guardians of the wilderness and non city-dwelling folk. Avengers ( Chaotic Good paladins ), I feel, would work best as elven champions of Astra / Astarin, emphasizing the "agent of freedom" / liberating aspect of the class. They would make good allies of the Legion of Steel, but probably disdain the Knights of Solamnia as oppressively regimented. Enforcers ( Lawful Neutral ) could be the strong hand of the Church of Shinare, strictly enforcing the legal codes and defending the established mercantile routes of civilized nations. Incarnates ( True Neutral ) would fight to maintain the Balance at all costs, and Anarchs ( Chaotic Neutral ) might be rare agents of absolute freedom and change, perhaps influenced by the lingering essence of Chaos in the world. Does anyone else consider these classes to be an appropriate addition to a Dragonlance game? I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the matter.
#2 Dragonhelm Oct 05, 2003 8:18:52	Personally, I believe that all deities in Dragonlance would have their own divine champions, so I don't see using the variant paladins as a stretch at all. In fact, one could use some of the existing PHB classes as divine champions. Druids would make good divine champions of Chislev, rangers would make good divine champions of Habbakuk, and bards could make good divine champions of Branchala (if you changed their magic to divine, instead of arcane).
#3 zombiegleemax Oct 05, 2003 9:30:56	Of the variant paladins, i prefer using the Holy and Unholy Warriors from Green Ronin Publishing.
#4 Nived Oct 05, 2003 10:14:10	One of my players has expressed an interest in Multiclassing into one of the classes presented in Dragon #310. He's a Dwarven Fighter who while distinctly Dwarven he is NOT Lawful... or Good... He's a rather Chaotic Dwarf, considers Sirrion his patron... and would like to become an Anarch, the Chaotic Neutral variant Paladin. At the end of last game I relented and let him take a level in the class, though we haven't had a chance to play out the epiphany that leads him to be a champion of Chaos. So at least in my game, the Variant Paladins can exist... of course neither he... nor anyone else has ever really heard of an Anarch before... oh they've existed just untra rare... as in he's probably the only one in existance right this momment. At least that's how it stands in my campaign... Sirrion doesn't feel the need for special champions very often.
#5 Dragonhelm Oct 05, 2003 10:41:15	Remember, too, that a divine champion should be ultra-rare. Clerics are the messengers, divine champions are the sword. While I don't know the details of the character in question, I would suggest that he not be a champion of chaos so much as he is a champion of fire. I think that would go right along with dwarves and forging. Just a thought for you.
#6 Nived Oct 05, 2003 11:03:23	Well in the campaign for various reasons the players aren't aware of yet... the elemental planes have been thrown into an imbalance and are threatening to collapse. I see the elemental planes as a 'cosmic foundation' the material plane is built upon. The Gods with Elemental Domains are scrambling right now to hold things together and 'fix the problem'. Sirrion needs a sword right now. This is the way things were going anyway, the story was heading towards this elemental inbalance. The Players have chosen Sirrion as their patron quite independantly of me. Although the Dwarf Player asked for the class it actually works into the storyline! There's a reason the Elemental Planes are threatening to crumble, certain artifacts that belong in the planes aren't there. The party has come across one, but is utterly unaware of it's importance.
#7 zombiegleemax Oct 06, 2003 16:01:53	Zug Zug. IMO, paladins in DL should be characters with both cleric levels and melee levels. Cheers
#8 shugi Oct 06, 2003 16:22:22	I definitely think there's something to be said for variant core-class abilities, up to a point. I could see monks from a certain region getting a different selection of Bonus Feats, and perhaps an ability could be exchanged with something more appropriate to that particular region or monastic order. However, I agree with TaisharMalkier's point, in that there's little need for a "holy warrior" core class. Prestige classes, on the other hand, were made for this kind of thing. If one of my players really wants a paladin-type character, I'd either encourage the multiclass cleric (or druid), or I could consider using the Champion class from Arcana Unearthed (at the cost of a Johnny Jump-Up or two).