Paladin

By the power granted to you through righteous divine will, you protect and heal the innocent, drive out and destroy the servants of evil, and strive to live up to your oaths of honor and service. As witnessed before your god, you stand for justice and against the forces of corruption—usually delivered by the holy power you channel through your weapon.

You’re among the first in your group to face your foes, seemingly fearless. You're most effective in situations where your presence can draw the attention of your foes away from your allies, especially as your gods-given power can serve as a proactive defense.

Background Options

  • You were first called to service by a divine vision of a coming world-ending disaster. If you gather enough power in your god’s name, you believe you can avert it.
  • You served for years in a holy war in a faraway land, but returned home last month.
  • A few weeks ago, a seer claimed a demon was secretly attempting to corrupt you.
  • After your parents were slain by evil dragons, you took up their path to honor their lives (and slay evil dragons).
  • Last week you woke up with no memory at all of the preceding year.
  • You were discharged from the temple a year ago under a cloud of suspicion.
  • You were a simple priest until your temple was sacked. Then you took up the sword, driven by a zealous commitment to smite evil.
  • You triumphantly drove a nest of ghouls from the local graveyard a few weeks ago.

Paladin Abilities

You gain all of the following benefits: Able to take three more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add +3 to Might Pool Add +1 to Intellect Pool Add +1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use all weapons

Freely use all armor Gain one weapon of your choice At tier 3 and tier 6, choose an ability from the Fantasy Genre Abilities list

Combat Prowess: You add +1 damage to one type of weapon attack of your choice: melee weapon attacks or ranged weapon attacks. Enabler. Holy Succor (1+ Intellect): While an ally within immediate range of you has at least three moderate wounds or at least one major wound, you can extend your divine grace, granting them one free level of Effort they can apply each round to an attack or defense roll. The divine grace they are afforded lasts until the wounds are healed or they use a ten-minute or longer recovery. Each time you use Holy Succor, the Intellect cost increases by 1. The cost returns to 1 after you take a recovery. Enabler.

Free Level of Effort, page (ref)

Sacred Smite (2 Intellect): Choose one creature you can see that you want to be punished for their transgressions. Until you attack a different creature, your attacks against that creature deal +1 damage from divine energy coursing through your melee or ranged weapon. If the target is an undead creature, a demon, or of similar ilk as designated by your GM, you choose whether your successful attack inflicts +2 damage or your foe must flee from you for one turn. At tier 3, the bonus damage against undead, demons, and similar ilk increases to +3. Enabler.

[!example]

Paladin Equipment Bundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. A greatsword, appropriate clothing, chainmail armor, a holy symbol or portable shrine depicting the higher power you serve, a backpack, a bedroll, 50 feet (16 m) of rope, three torches, rations and water for three days, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.

Equipment, page (ref) Currency, page (ref) Moderately priced items, page (ref)


Part of Dungeon Fantasy