We didn't forget that Paladins take their name from the legendary Companions of Charlemagne, but somehow our discussion didn't make it into the final cut. Regardless, we'd love to know what Paladins inspire you!
No Aasimar? Not even an honorary mention. And Charisma is you want to power spells and aura but you go more Strength if you was to go more sword and armor.
"Surround yourself with the greatest warriors at your command, or cower in the deepest and darkest hole you can find. It matters not. I shall take your head!"
I think Inigo Montoya would be a Bardadin (Palard?) in the school of swords. Sounds like a solid build actually. You can use the Bard spells slots for a lot of extra smiting
Paladins actually make great characters to get newbies to role play. The oath gives them a great starting point for being someone else for a few hours.
Very. Everyone should know about overly religious knights and the whole honor and chivalry thing. Bushido if you so wish. Its an easy to get gimmick, the stereotype of that as a baseline. Hell, a damn jedi knight works too.
My favorite Paladin oath is used in Dragonheart: "A knight is sworn to valour, His heart knows only virtue, His blade defends the helpless, His might upholds the weak, His word speaks only truth, His wrath undoes the wicked."
I prefer Kingdom of Heaven’s oath. “Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong - that is your oath. * slap * And that's so you remember it. Rise a Knight!
Kinda I prefer the weeb Bleach advice of What you don't need in battle is fear. Nothing will come of it. When you counter, you don't let them cut you. When you protect someone, you don't let them die. And when you attack, you aim to kill. 😅
On the topic of a paladin's oath and ideals conflicting with other player's RPing, I think that it can be intrusive if done without a reason beyond 'because I'm the paladin', but it can be made into a powerful storytelling tool. It's probably best to coordinate it with other players during session 0 or discuss it during a break with the players and DM. I have seen one really good example of this during one of my games with a half elf oath of the ancients paladin and a halfling thief rogue. It started when the paladin (named Anne) witnesses the thief (named Goose) stealing something from a nobleman that was employing them (he had been stealing small items around the house for the whole conversation). Anne decided to keep quiet about it so the party wouldn't loose the contract. She decided that she would confront the Goose about it after he excused himself from the group to 'take care of something important'. The rest of us opted to go to the local market and stock up for the adventure ahead (basic exploration and dungeon delving) leading to some rp haggling before the attention was switched to the paladin and rogue. Anne followed Goose through a few dark alleys and crowds as he deftly navigated the city landscape. Though he was definitely aware that the ungraceful chainmail-clad woman was following him, goose eventually made it to his destination: a homeless shelter in the poor part of town. After witnessing him giving the stolen items to the people inside to trade and use, she finally confronted him and in a longer rp conversation it was revealed that he used to live in a homeless shelter. At the end of the conversation Anne came to the conclusion that him giving to the poorer folk was in line with her oath's tenant of 'be the light' and decided to help him distribute the items to the people in the shelter. After using her lay on hands ability to cleanse some people of their sickness, the two became best friends and all of us commended them on the excellent storytelling. They revealed that they actually coordinated the encounter with the DM and it really changed my mind on how I see coordinated RP in tabletop games as oppose to spontaneous RP.
Wow your party had a cool paladin. Most i have seen where the classic stick in the bumm paladin that would hit the thief immediately. But Anne is a great example of another kind of paladin. Might try a less strict paladin myself
Lovely. That´s some proper Luke and Han vibe I am getting here and I love it. Also, in online RP, we did a lot of those coordinated/scripted actions to flesh out characters and build relationships - it reall works out ! Better have a proficently planned out encounter then a poorly improved one.
@Mr Temporal Sorry, I guess I didn't write it descriptively enough for you to see the joke/gag/scene. (It's supposed to be a funny scene in your head, mixing Inigo Montoya & Don Quixote)
My favorite off-brand Paladin was in a futuristic one shot. His oath? “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” He was basically the postman from The Postman.
So, basically Darth Vader is a death knight? Never though about that but now that you mentioned it, he was a righteous swordsman with magic powers who got corrupted by evil powers and fell from grace. That does fit a death knight pretty damn well.
The writers of Dragonlance straight up said that the primary inspiration for Lord Soth, the archetypal Death Knight (and possibly the first one) was Darth Vader.
I started off as a paladin with a greatsword, and before getting to choose my fighting style, my paladin was... greatly humbled, lost a party member, even loosing the Greatsword he inhertited from his Father. And thus, he took up a shield and Sword, swore to -impose disadvantage- protect his allies against anyone that would attack them.
I started with that one but re-specified it quite quickly. Our DM used lots of AOE, I was the only tank and my fellow players forgot the ability a lot. While it can be clutch the flat more damage from duelist/great weapon master or the +1 ac are just better and more consistent I think.
I’m about to start a campaign with my older brother and I’ll be playing as a Black Dragonborn paladin bounty hunter with the oath of vengeance. I’m excited! 😀
I also have a black dragonborn vengence paladin, small world lol. I haven't had chance to use her yet. I made her for a friends campaign that unfortunately collapsed before starting.
Wow lol same as you two. I've been going with great weapon fighting and just hit level 5 a couple sessions ago. That extra attack with level 2 smite is ridiculous lol
Hmmm. Suggesting a paladin that says his oath as he runs into battle... and we have "Green Knights" as one name for paladin... >.> "Through brightest day and darkest night, No evil shall escape my sight, Let those who worship evil's might, Fear my power, Green Knight's smite!"
Raymond Becker maybe have a paladin/bard multi class who recites oaths to cast spells? Mostly paladin, of course, but it’d be cool. Feel free to take this.
I really feel like the Blue Lanterns would fulfill this role much better, with them giving Hope to those who need it most, helping the little guy in every situation. I can see them serving a god of the sky or a god of storms. "In fearful day, in raging night, With strong hearts full, our souls ignite. When all seems lost in the War of Light, Look to the stars, for hope burns bright!"
Oath of Ancients paladin, cross class with Circle of the Moon Druid.... "I am sorry... did that bear just Divine Smite and obliterate that demon.... F*^%& this I am out."
I miss the time when green lanterns had individual oaths. One of my favorites "you who are wicked, evil and mean, I'm the nastiest creep you've ever seen. Come one, come all, put up a fight I'll pound your butts with green lanterns light, yowza"
The rogue and the paladin is pretty much "we're going to rule the world!" "With cookies". They are an awesome and powerful combination but keep the worst of each other in check. The rogue steps on the foot of the paladin if he forgets their goals in zealous rage and the paladin pretty much lifts the rogue up and shakes out all the stolen stuff, if the rogue gets too reliant on his five finger discount.(but i actually saw a paladin asking a rogue for same discount as well. It was the sword of our paladins mentor that was for sale, and it was literally dug out of his mentors grave. It took the rogue, the cleric and the barbarian (literally throwing himself on the paladin instead of reasoning with him.) to stop the paladin from just waltzing in there, smashing the display and shove the sword up the salesman's butt. After our paladin calmed down a little he "hired" our rogue to steal the sword. It was a pretty powerful sword.+2 and 1d4 cold damage. Unfortunately we had to return it to the grave. It was one of the greater sidequests we had)
This is great for a number of reasons, in my humble opinion. Your paladin player captured the righteous fury of the class, and simultaneously gave the character a lot of personality, even in that short story. And hiring the rogue to use a Lesser evil to correct a wrongdoing is one of my favorite eays for those classes to get along. Highest of fives to your party.
I really love Conquest Paladins, and specifically how they reflect on Vengeance Paladins. Where as the Vengeance Oath is ment to avenge and right the world's various wrongs, the Conquest Oath is about preventing those wrongs in the first place. For example, I often see Batman referenced as a good archetype for the Vengeance mindset, but I think he much closer resembles that of good aligned Conquest Palidan. It's all about being so frightening that average Evil looks out its window and decides it would rather just stay in bed for the day. Of course we all know that Batman is really just history's greatest multi-classer, but the point stands.
Drake Ford no offense but Batman is every class. OP and overrated. He is a Bard, he is a paladin, he is a monk, he is a ranger, he is a rogue, he is a fighter, he is a scientist, he is a detective, he is an engineer etc...
The oath of the crown paladin I relate to Captain America. He does not necessarily fight for the government as much as for the spirit and principles of the U.S. So I look at it as like a hero/crusader fighting for their nations (hopefully benevolent) ideals. I've toyed with the ideas of an Aasimar Oath of the Crown fighting for the Heavens against evil and protecting the good.
@@destroyerinazuma96 Am I the only weird person who doesn't see Kyubey as evil? Even *after* Rebellion Story? He's very firmly True/Lawful Neutral for me
@@Archimonde259 well I'm kinda torn on that personally. I do believe Kyuubei is neutral like you said, it's just that through my personal bias that I am aware of his actions and methods are kind of immoral and evil. But your argument stands
A character that screams paladin to me is She-Ra sister to He-Man. She is almost text book Oath of Ancients Paladin with her ability to speak with animals and her oath "For the Honor of Grayskull!" Also she has the lay on hands ability of a paladin.
My son and I just got started in d&d and the party didn't have a healer. I made a paladin out of necessity and can't imagine play a different class now.
We had originally mentioned them in this video but I had to cut some important points to bring the video down. The original cut was over an hour long. We agree Aasimar are indeed one of the coolest choices. Also so appropriate for a Paladin.
@@djtigon I kinda want to make a Fallen Aasimar Paladin of Conquest. The extra AoE fear effect from the transformation is a wonderful addition to the toolkit of the Conquest pally, since you're so dependent on that fear to lock down your enemies
I know I'm late to the party, but especially if you can convince your DM to give you angel wings (either functional but requiring you to give some stuff up, or non-functional)
The Paladin that I loved was a Red Dragonborn Oath of Conquest named Zedaar. He was born royal but when his father became corrupt, his parents were killed while a villager saved Zedaar. He found a barbaric tribe and they helped him to train him to fight. One day while Zedaar was patrolling, he fell into a cave that had a portal that brought him straight to Tiamat. From there he swore an oath to become a ruler from which Tiamat would rise from. Role playing him was fun because he also hated Tiamat and was using a loop hole to keep his divine powers.
Aragorn Telcontar, King of Gondor. Definitely a Paladin. The hands of a healer, heavy armour, big sword handed down the generations, and the oath laid upon him to become king one day. He starts out as a Ranger in the movies and becomes a Paladin later. But in the books he never carried a bow at all (at least not after we meet him at The Prancing Pony). He is a Paladin all the way.
You know, up until I watched this video, the paladin was the class I felt I was LEAST likely to play. Like...ever. Yet here I am, once again, getting excited at the prospect of playing a class I would normally have no interest in, just like the druid and barbarian. Thanks, guys! :D
Try filming the episodes! I had no intention to play half the classes we have discussed but as I researched them and started coming up with role playing concepts and discussing the ideas between the two of us, I now have a stack of character concepts for every class - Kelly
I really liked your criminal background idea, as it subverts the expectation of this warrior steeped in divine tradition who has been devoted to this path and groomed for it their whole life. Instead, it just sort of happened. Really awesome concept!
My friend built my first mtg deck, which was green and white. What I was able to do with it really turned me on to paladins. Before that I always thought they were a little cringey, but I really like them in d&d
Yeah Paladins have silly damage potential. Last week, at level 12 my Paladin/Sorcerer pumped out 175 damage in a single round and one-shot a CR17 Feylord. Only one of my attacks was even a Crit! I've had to put personal limits on my character build since then... (Three 5th level Shadowblade hits with the third being a bonus action booming blade with quickened spell, then all 3 hits had 4th level smites.)
That intro was amazing. It sounded super spooky (like 2 Vaders or somethin') about halfway through, then at the end you just jump into the proper intro. Can't wait for the next class guide!
My favorite paladin from fantasy fiction is Sparhawk (David Eddings). I think this is a compelling example of the Oath of the Crown. The first book starts with the paladin returning from exile to defend the new queen.
Started a RPG project in my school, we will be introducing DnD for new players and you guys are helping a lot with how to introduce the world and the game mechanics, i wish all of new players knew english so they could come here by themselves, keep up the good work! (Sry for my english)
I wanted to note that you mentioned one outsider (tiefling) but forgot the other...Aasimar. With their immediate personnal connection to the gods of light and the sun, for example, I think they make an excellent choice for paladin play.
@Tom Williams Sanya is a great example of a paladin that doesn't have to be quoting Bible verses all the time. The idea of an agnostic paladin is fascinating.
Thank you guys for this video and you do an excellent job explaining things! I played D&D when I was a teenager in the late 80's early 90's and now our oldest son has shown interest. He wants to take on his first DM role and have a family adventure. I usually take every opportunity to share life with my kids and this time is no different. My wife and I have so much to learn and your videos are very helpful. Thank you again!
Great video! I checked a few videos talking about paladins and they were unwatchable. this is the first one I see where it's explained with clarity, intelligence, and no crazy jump cuts, visual noise, or stupid skits.
I'm playing a Fallen aasimar Paladin of vengeance, who was a pirate and spent time in jail as a result. His angelic guide left him along the way and now he is trying to redeem himself in the eyes of the angels.
Hey, Dungeon Dudes. Just found your channel. Watched most of the class guides and various other guides, wanted to let you know I love your content and style. I especially enjoy the connections you make with other fictional characters/stories. Keep being cool.
Another good Paladin: Father Alexander Anderson of Hellsing fame. He's even called The Paladin. The Iscariot Order in general actually. "We are the soldiers of Iscariot. We are the instruments of God's wrath on Earth. Together we march in lockstep to shatter the dreams of the unrighteous and unholy."
Yup. We talked about him when researching this episode. He's a FANTASTIC example of the prayer-quoting badass paladin, and really captures the supernatural occultism/ ritualism that can be used in a high level paladin.
How did I only now remember the Knights of the Cross from The Dresden Files?! Dresden and Michael Carpenter are a great example of a friendship between a Paladin and a Wizard.
Now that Baldur's Gate 3 is nearly with us I now dive in with the Paladin Guide to prepare myself in order to continue my old lineage of Divine Champions in Fäerun. It's a really cool and useful guide, specially for one such as me that haven't played D&D since 3.5 and haven't touched a D&D book ever since. Great stuff peeps! Thanks!
A spell I'd recommend always preparing is "Protection from Evil and Good." If the creatures you're fighting or are going to face are Fey, Fiends, Celestials, or Undead, and you just so happen to have a rather high AC, forcing the enemies into a small area to only target you works in your advantage due to giving those enemies disadvantage to hit. Resisting charm and fear effects are also great if you do not have "Aura of Courage" at level 10 to be immune to fear. Either way, the spell is also great if another frontline fighter like a Barbarian is up front facing such creatures, making them harder to hit as well.
I’m still pretty new to D&D, but I’ve been spending a lot of time coming up with character concepts. I most recently was thinking about how one would build a character based on Megatron from the Transformers Prime cartoon. While considering whether he’d be more a Path of the Berserker Barbarian or a (either Champion or Battle Master) Fighter with the variant Entertainer/Gladiator background, I briefly thought, “Well, what kind of class would Optimus Prime from the same cartoon be?” I, without hesitation, determined that Optimus Prime from Transformers Prime would be a Paladin with the Sage (Librarian) background. That said, I don’t really know what oath he’d take. Possibly Oath of the Ancients, to signify his being part of a long line of Primes and him getting guidance from said past Primes, but the Oath of Redemption sounds like it’d kind of fit him too (he’s pretty consistently offered Decepticons the chance to defect to the Autobots side in TFP, mostly when he sees that those particular individuals hold themselves to some degree of honour).
it's just dawned on me that magic initiate is brilliant for the paladin, with that CHA skill there's some great once per day spell options in the sorcerer bard and warlock list as well as eldritch blast
@@alexas1173 Green Flame Blade is a nice touch. I wouldn't have picked Hex, because it has concentration, so does about every smite spell.. so as soon as you cast one, you can't really use the other without breaking concentration.
My favorite Paladin build thus far has been a rogue multi class into Paladin. Makes for awesome role playing plus the damage done if built right is insane !
I've made a somewhat low intelligence/wisdom Vengeance (he thinks of it more as JUSTICE) Paladin, I'm looking forward to running. He's heavily influenced by The Tick. All about justice, and fighting evil, and companionship. Just not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Yuant-ti paladins. +2 cha +1 int, advantage against spells and spell like effects, poison spray cantrip, innate speak to snakes which can come in handy, and 1/day suggestion at level 3. Pretty powerful. Also immunity to poison as a yuan-ti AND disease when you get to higher levels as a paladin
I just hit level 6 on my Half-Elf Paladin yesterday! I LOVE playing paladins in all RPG games and even main one in World of Warcraft. It's a class I relate with and just love the class. Thanks for the breakdown into the class, loved watching this!
One of the more interesting role play ideas I've been working with my DM on is my current Paladin who started as a super lawful good aasimar devotion paladin but he's slowly becoming increasingly jaded with the constant sin of others and society's inability to improve despite his constant sacrifices and the toll constantly defending people who don't really seem to care takes on you. It's a possibility he could shift into a conquest paladin without actually meaning to. His notion of society would simply shift to "I must defend 'good' people" to "there are no good people and the only way to save society is to MAKE it good."
This is great! My Paladin had a similar struggle, only ours was due to a time loop where I kept trying to help people and save innocent people who were dying, only to have time reset and watch it happen all over again, eventually my character just lost all will to want to save anyone because nothing seemed to matter anymore. It was a weird conflict for such a noble character. Paladins might often be at odds with a society who doesn’t seem to align with what they thought they were protecting. - Kelly
Oh, cool! I've got something similar in mind for my bard in my Monday night game. She's a Lawful Evil aasimar Lore bard who is quietly rebelling against her home city due to how the elite treat their citizenry (her father was locked up for making the wrong person angry), as well as their foreign policy, which seems to be "stay out of our way or we'll grind you beneath our heel." So now she seeks out power as a way to overthrow the government, remove the corruption and warmongering, and rebuild society...in her own image, of course. I was just thinking a few days ago that a Conquest Paladin multiclass would be super appropriate :D
I've got a character doing almost the reverse. A cynical bard who was secretly a smuggler for a criminal organisation who after helping to smuggle out refugees from a demonic invasion and stealing the journal of the wannabe-lich who helped the demons cross to our world has realized the world needs people to fight for it and is going to multi-class into paladin.
@@agilemind6241 now I want to make a Paladin-Barbarian multiclass character and not give him a name, just have demons call him the Doom Slayer, but lost a lot of his power and main weapon and has to earn it back and find it. Oath of Vengeance, Path of the Berserker, a lv6 Doom Slayer would be so epic
I can't believe you missed Link is a paladin when you're wearing a shirt with him on it! Think about it, especially in the later games he is acting on behalf of the gods to defeat great evil, he wields a blade of evils bane and in some games even magic which is bestowed upon him by the gods, and in every game he is tasked with upholding the righteous, and defending the princess, even to the point of his own death!
Link is definitely a Paladin. In the early games, he has a cross on his shield and everything. There was a magazine or something that had Link praying, and the caption was from the LoZ creator saying Link gets his powers from his prayers to Jesus. I always liked Link and the LoZ games, thinking he was cool, but that made me love his character even more once I found that out.
I'll surely add Fingolfin at the list of inspiring character for paladin players. The guy just take his sword and shield, mount up and say: "Hey Leader of all Evil in this World come out and lets 1x1!". And he has the "plus" of Elven paladin.. I don't know in other places but here in my region I don't see many players picking Elven paladins. Perhaps with the Oath of the Ancients this gonna change a little bit.
I look at Elves and think, "Why would you play anything else?" They're a race that you don't have to worry about growing old (I doubt most campaigns will last for 700 years) and their ability to gain the benefits of a full rest for four hours of trance is just so good for recovery. Also you don't need to post a watch since everyone is always conscious. They're also very magical, and magic gets very powerful. Of course playing an angelic type with true immortality and flight might be even better, but you'd need a very understanding GM. Flight can be very broken.
Going to your videos more and more for the best teaching, advice and commentary on D&D5e. Thank you for your hard work. It makes the hobby more enjoyable!
I am so glad you guys talked about Brienne! She's one of my favorite examples of Paladins. May I also suggest Princess Leia. She's as much of a Paladin as Luke is, only she's a more stabby-fighty Paladin as opposed to Luke's spellslinger Paladin.
Eh,tbh i think luke would fit better as a paladin while leia is a bard,ranger or something Although I think luke would likely be a paladin/divine soul sorc
i am about to start my first ever D&D playthrough as a forest gnome OotA paladin, my dm is super excited to see me as a person play this character. this video was extremely helpful in giving me ideas on who my gnome will be.
I strongly recommend reading Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson, a great inspiration for paladins and the primary original inspiration for the character class in d&d, (I must admit I was a bit disappointed that you didn't mention it) also a really good portrayal of a real human with real desires and temptations working within the paladin's oath. Also, Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett is a great inspiration for how to do non-paladins working with paladins, looking at how the other guards act toward carrot ironfoundersson (the lawful-good paladin figure) and how they get along with him
A long time ago I've briefly stumbled upon a fantasy book set in a Three Musketeers like universe. Basically three "paladins" had just saved the kid-heir apparent from the coup that claimed his family and were being tracked but the usurper's goons
I'm so glad I watched this video. I started writing a DnD inspired book and was trying to figure out which oath the paladin chose. I now know I'm making her have the oath of redemption. Anyone can be worth saving, but only if the situation calls for it. So, she has to use discernment when deciding who or what is worth saving.
That final part, when you talk about little conflicts between party members. It is inspiring. I've just started a new campaign as a LG Paladin and I'm always wondering "How do I react if my fellow rogue goes full chaotic neutral mode"... I want my pg to be that righteous warrior who inspires others and does the right thing, so from now on I'll think about Luke and Han and hopefully I'll get through harsh situations
Everyone: lawful good paladins who protect the weak and smite the evil. Me: aasimar Paladin of conquest who wants to bring back the human empire that will dominate the world of dnd.
Gaming Dealer me: variant human Paladin of Vengeance, off to kill her father, the king of an oppressive kingdom/empire who killed her sister, mother and was experimented on by the Imperial Warlocks at age 6.
I am also playing an Aasamir Oath of Conquest Paladin! But I decided to hold him accountable by having his deity be Tyr (Norse god of War) who is of the domain of Justice. So He is very smity about evil, and ferocious on the battlefield. But he is tempered and fair in social interactions.
Honestly though, if you read the monster descriptions of most non-humans (literally described as "savage races"), the text of DnD kind of frames conquering the world in favor of humanity to be a lawful good act. Good ol' colonialism!
Checking this out as my lv 10 monk is down after 2 straight years of playing him, and a new Paladin with the Oath of Devotion shall rise to take his noble place. Thanks for the vid!
Roland of Gilead from Stephen Kong’s The Dark Tower is a perfect example of a Paladin, especially when he speaks his oath. He did not forget the face of his father!
I’m playing in a one shot this coming Saturday and want to play Paladin for the first time. Thank you for the video! This really helped me brainstorm/build my character :D Had a google doc open taking notes while listening like it’s a lecture. Ya’ll got great professor voices :D
Listened to both your videos on centaurs and Paladins in preparation for a secondary character. Oath of the Ancient Paladin Centaur. Very ready to play her! Thanks for all the info
I clearly remember my paladin. He was an insane tank, of all things. Around level 11 near the end of the campaign i basically 2 hit the “final boss” character over 2 rounds, had 28 AC with haste up (thanks to +2 plate mail, a magical +2 shield and a special ring of protection) and over 150 hp. It was kind of overpowered since i would tank 5 rounds of 10+ enemies on my own without too many issues while my sorceress casually set up her big aoe dmg properly. Needless to say we were a bit bored near the end of the campaign since i would maybe get hit twice in a full combat and take a few dmg from spells with saving throw rolls. It was kind of unfortunate that i got all the AC items instead of the other melee user we had that the dm basically made the platemail and ring for, because it made me way overpowered since the other character after a couple of sessions quickly changed his entire way of doing things to more of a dmg dealing style, swapping to a 2h battleaxe instead of longsword and shield. Also it was a full on vampire campaign, soooo divine smite ftw xD
Hey guys, thanks for this video. My daughter and I have only been playing 5E for about a year. After having yet another squishy character get, well, squished, she's decided she wants to play something that kick butt and not even bother with the names. This video is really going to help her conceptualize and build her bad-ass butt kicker. On the subject of tips on how a righteous warrior can work (and build friendships) among a group of scoundrels, I think Shepherd Book from Firefly can be a great resource.
Not sure if Paladin or Darkwing Duck. Jokes aside, I once DMed for a Paladin of Artemis, and I actually offered them the ability to smite with ranged attacks as a reward at one point because it just makes gosh darn sense.
Spectre Dan that is awesome!! I’m a Paladin of Athena. My character is a human male teenage named Glenn Ashwood and he was a fighter until level 5 then I cross classed with a Paladin at level 3 and Athena guide my character with Wisdom and help out with Battle as well. My DM also loves to have Athena appear to my character as she will play the part of Athena but only Glenn can see Athena unless she chooses to make her self visible to the party. In which yet Athena has not made her self known. But swearing my Oath to Athena as I went with Oath of Devotion so she gave myself Plate Armor with her Symbol of an Owl and a Artifact Mechanical owl similar to Bubo from Clash of the Titans plus more. It is so much fun playing as a paladin.
I chose Paladin for the first time this afternoon, in a new campaign a few close friends and I setup. This video solidified a solid, mayhaps favorite, class to play. I love the content, keep it up guys!
I've watched this video several times and always wished you had gone into more depth regarding the Oathbreaker Paladin, which is the one I've always been more lured to role-play.
In one of the Adventurer’s League campaigns I’ve played, we had two characters who were a lawful good paladin and an tiefling bard who tended more towards evil. Eventually, while going through the campaign, the paladin, in character, left the campaign because of their disagreements, and came back with a different character. It’s a very niche case, but it was still pretty great. He was actually one of the few characters I’ve seen make lawful good an interesting alignment.
Artix Von Krieger from Adventure Quest, Dragonfable and other games by Artix entertainment, is my favorite paladin. Such a cheerful goofball that just really, REALLY loves slaying undead. You can't spell "paladin" without "pal". - Artix Von Krieger
Thank you so much. I’m playing D&D for the first time and am a Human Illuskan Paladin. It’s been fun so far but I have soooo much to learn. I’ve just leveled up to lvl 2.
i was just searching through the comments to see if anyone else thought of the punisher as a vengeance oath paladin, kinda the "left hand of god" type.
Gotta say I've been really loving your guides. I'm a VERY new D&D player but you guys have been very astute with your recommendations. Plus I remember Monty wore a Roots sweater so if that makes him Canadian so much the better
Thank you for the great examples and ideas since i chose paladin . I really needed this for the upcoming campaign this week. You examples definitely helped me broaden my view on how to handle my upcoming interactions with my companions I mean... not every day do i see a fallen assimar paladin work together with a warlock dhampir.. and thats only scratching the surface. The greatest part. Its somehow might work out and its probably going to end up been a good time
Last weekend the party I was in was fighting a literal god (homebrew) and my level 12 Vengeance Paladin hit it twice via extra attack, with one roll being a nat 20. I used two level 3 divine smites, one for each attack, and given the weapon I use, (which is a +1 longword that does an additional 1d6 radiant dmg on a hit), the total dmg dice including my dueling fighting style and improved divine smite was, literally, 6d8+8 and 1d6 for the first attack, and 12d8+8 and 2d6 for the second (nat 20) attack. That's 18d8 +16 and 3d6 total damage all at once. There were so many dice on the table, I was having to move minis out of the way. :)
I usually don’t play Paladins, but I made a Dragonborn Paladin with the Oath of Redemption, and I love this guy. He’s so awesome, and is nearly unkillable, thanks to Sanctuary.
Awesome! Thanks to your video I figured out which Oath best fits m Paladin, roleplay-wise. He's a Paladin whose order he swore to serve turned out to be secretly evil, and he found out, so he's on the run. Much like Captain America finding out SHIELD has been infiltrated by Hydra. I figured Vengeance would be the most fitting oath. Thank you!
I played a Dex Paladin and it was amazing. High AC with studded leather armor and the defensive fighting style. I used shortsword and had a longbow if needed range. Good initiative. I was greatly pleased. Cha- Dex- Con- Wis- Str- Int was the priority
I'd say he'd be Oath of Vengeance paladin. He's a vigilante with complex. Batman is pretty tortured if you'd as me and Oath fo Vengeance fits him in my opinion.
Found this super helpful, I’ve been playing rogues forever and just had an awesome event in our campaign that basically transformed my character into an oath of vengeance paladin for the raven queen.
Currently playing a Half-Elf Oath of the Ancients devoted to Ehlonna. Her back story involves her wanting to make her noble human family proud and wanting a connection to her wood elven ancestry and being chosen to be Ehlonna's champion. I've loved playing her as a green knight in the making, still unsure of herself because of the prejudice she's gone through (she's illegitimate) but with potential to become a great warrior and leader, with both a great connection to nature (helps her get along with the druid and the ranger) but the ability to "play the game" as we need to right now in the campaign.
Wanna thank you guys for your awesome guides on Paladins and stuff, yesterday I had a really badass combat session with the party against the evil final boss of the character arc. My character has a sword that casts Compelled Duel on the enemy when I get a critical hit, and I got a surprise round where I got a critical hit and smited my blade with a level 1 spell and a divine smite. At our table, crits do double damage rolls, so I did over 70 damage with the attack at level 8 vs a literal god, and the boss failed his wisdom save, so he was compelled to duel me. On the 2nd turn, he poisoned me but I was able to cure it with my lay on hands. On the 3rd turn, he hit the party with area of affect because he couldn't hit my party otherwise. I used Shield of Faith to up my AC to 21, and then he hit us with the area of affect spell again. Sometime after this, while the paladin was at 7 hp, the boss tried to hit me with Finger of Death with a 25 attack roll, but I managed to dodge it using Shield, making my AC 26. Basically, my paladin fought on par with him for 5 turns, and he never managed to target any of my other party members, so my Paladin was the first to go down. The cleric of the party then healed her, and she started fighting him again, but then the boss downed another party member. When the paladin turned around to go heal them with lay on hands, the boss trapped her in a forcecage, which was essentially battlefield removal, but while she was in the Forcecage, I used her final level 1 spell slot to cast Find Familiar (Magic Initiate) to summon a Raven, which has the ability to mimic sounds and speech, and I used it to mimic the speech of the benevolent god of the campaign, which scared the boss and gave advantage to the party member who ended up getting the killing blow. Due to all the preparations she made while in the forcecage, she also ended the battle with completely full health, still ready to fight the god to the very end. I'm proud because her bravery and character really came through in the fight, and she never let anyon else become the target of the god while she was still up. She swore the Oath of Devotion to protect those that couldn't protect themselves, and that came through in the ultimate way in this fight. Anyways, thank you for giving a lot of tips on Paladins!
We didn't forget that Paladins take their name from the legendary Companions of Charlemagne, but somehow our discussion didn't make it into the final cut. Regardless, we'd love to know what Paladins inspire you!
Dungeon Dudes Jeanne D'arc is also very good historical Paladin
No Aasimar? Not even an honorary mention.
And Charisma is you want to power spells and aura but you go more Strength if you was to go more sword and armor.
How about St. George the Dragonslayer? 🙂
Arthas for a oathbreaker with a good reason to break their oath, Aribeth from never winter nights.
I could see Inigo Montoya and Batman being paladins with an oath of vengeance.
A vengeance paladin dramatically saying his oath while entering combat?
"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.
"
William Jenkins “You killed my mother and squished my Walkman.”
"Surround yourself with the greatest warriors at your command, or cower in the deepest and darkest hole you can find. It matters not. I shall take your head!"
DC?
"Whether you are ready or not, my blade shall taste your foul blood!"
I think Inigo Montoya would be a Bardadin (Palard?) in the school of swords. Sounds like a solid build actually. You can use the Bard spells slots for a lot of extra smiting
Paladins actually make great characters to get newbies to role play. The oath gives them a great starting point for being someone else for a few hours.
Yes it’s my first time and this one seems the easiest and most fun at the same time
Very. Everyone should know about overly religious knights and the whole honor and chivalry thing. Bushido if you so wish. Its an easy to get gimmick, the stereotype of that as a baseline. Hell, a damn jedi knight works too.
@@mkmasterthreesixfive
Then you play as them for a few months and write up the Lawful Evil paladins. That’s where the horizon really opens
Ive never played, but im designing an amnesiac OoA paladin of Sylvanus. He doesn't know a lot, so I dont need to know a lot.
I want to be a paladin at my first DND adventure. That's why I'm here
My favorite Paladin oath is used in Dragonheart:
"A knight is sworn to valour,
His heart knows only virtue,
His blade defends the helpless,
His might upholds the weak,
His word speaks only truth,
His wrath undoes the wicked."
Yeah I dont get how they went with the nights watch instead of this. The night watch aren't even all knights.
Ahhh a man of culture I see
I prefer Kingdom of Heaven’s oath.
“Be without fear in the face of your enemies.
Be brave and upright that God may love thee.
Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death.
Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong - that is your oath.
* slap *
And that's so you remember it.
Rise a Knight!
Yo this is exactly what I was thinking about.
Well met.
Kinda I prefer the weeb Bleach advice of
What you don't need in battle is fear. Nothing will come of it. When you counter, you don't let them cut you. When you protect someone, you don't let them die. And when you attack, you aim to kill.
😅
On the topic of a paladin's oath and ideals conflicting with other player's RPing, I think that it can be intrusive if done without a reason beyond 'because I'm the paladin', but it can be made into a powerful storytelling tool. It's probably best to coordinate it with other players during session 0 or discuss it during a break with the players and DM. I have seen one really good example of this during one of my games with a half elf oath of the ancients paladin and a halfling thief rogue.
It started when the paladin (named Anne) witnesses the thief (named Goose) stealing something from a nobleman that was employing them (he had been stealing small items around the house for the whole conversation). Anne decided to keep quiet about it so the party wouldn't loose the contract. She decided that she would confront the Goose about it after he excused himself from the group to 'take care of something important'. The rest of us opted to go to the local market and stock up for the adventure ahead (basic exploration and dungeon delving) leading to some rp haggling before the attention was switched to the paladin and rogue. Anne followed Goose through a few dark alleys and crowds as he deftly navigated the city landscape. Though he was definitely aware that the ungraceful chainmail-clad woman was following him, goose eventually made it to his destination: a homeless shelter in the poor part of town.
After witnessing him giving the stolen items to the people inside to trade and use, she finally confronted him and in a longer rp conversation it was revealed that he used to live in a homeless shelter. At the end of the conversation Anne came to the conclusion that him giving to the poorer folk was in line with her oath's tenant of 'be the light' and decided to help him distribute the items to the people in the shelter. After using her lay on hands ability to cleanse some people of their sickness, the two became best friends and all of us commended them on the excellent storytelling. They revealed that they actually coordinated the encounter with the DM and it really changed my mind on how I see coordinated RP in tabletop games as oppose to spontaneous RP.
Wow your party had a cool paladin. Most i have seen where the classic stick in the bumm paladin that would hit the thief immediately. But Anne is a great example of another kind of paladin. Might try a less strict paladin myself
That’s awesome!!
Conquest Paladin: these homeless peoples agreeing with stealing? I will slaughter them all
@@gavinlopez6258 Oath of the Ancients Paladin: they spread disease, purge them! The safety of the many outweighs the lives of the few
Lovely. That´s some proper Luke and Han vibe I am getting here and I love it.
Also, in online RP, we did a lot of those coordinated/scripted actions to flesh out characters and build relationships - it reall works out !
Better have a proficently planned out encounter then a poorly improved one.
"My Name is Don Quixote, you killed my windmill, prepare to die."
*jumps on rocking horse & points broomstick at villain*
@Mr Temporal Sorry, I guess I didn't write it descriptively enough for you to see the joke/gag/scene. (It's supposed to be a funny scene in your head, mixing Inigo Montoya & Don Quixote)
My favorite off-brand Paladin was in a futuristic one shot. His oath? “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” He was basically the postman from The Postman.
So, basically Darth Vader is a death knight? Never though about that but now that you mentioned it, he was a righteous swordsman with magic powers who got corrupted by evil powers and fell from grace. That does fit a death knight pretty damn well.
And he was pretty like an undead too
The writers of Dragonlance straight up said that the primary inspiration for Lord Soth, the archetypal Death Knight (and possibly the first one) was Darth Vader.
Also, Lord Soth, Lord of the Sith... you get the idea. ;)
More of an Oathbreaker, he hasn’t died yet.
@@claduke iffy. He was pretty much dead, and techno-undeaded. He's not really alive at this point.
Welcome to the Paladin Lantern Corp, here's your ring....errr shield.
GL is perfect, the oath of the lanterns is a strait up paladin oath.
@@deadmanmouse2463 "no evil shall escape my sight, beware my power. green lanterns light!"
@@himboghost629 In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power, *divine smite*
Scar from Fullmetal Alchemist is the best description of a vengeance paladin I’ve ever seen.
brotherhood or the other one?
@@SirAirlessDaVacuum yes.
Just finished watching FMA: Brotherhood and couldn't agree more.
I feel like he'd be a paladin/sorcerer cross class
@@redpillow7221 I feel like alchemists are actually pretty close to wizards since they use components for everything they do
I started off as a paladin with a greatsword, and before getting to choose my fighting style, my paladin was... greatly humbled, lost a party member, even loosing the Greatsword he inhertited from his Father.
And thus, he took up a shield and Sword, swore to -impose disadvantage- protect his allies against anyone that would attack them.
I started with that one but re-specified it quite quickly. Our DM used lots of AOE, I was the only tank and my fellow players forgot the ability a lot. While it can be clutch the flat more damage from duelist/great weapon master or the +1 ac are just better and more consistent I think.
I’m about to start a campaign with my older brother and I’ll be playing as a Black Dragonborn paladin bounty hunter with the oath of vengeance. I’m excited! 😀
I also have a black dragonborn vengence paladin, small world lol. I haven't had chance to use her yet. I made her for a friends campaign that unfortunately collapsed before starting.
Wow lol same as you two. I've been going with great weapon fighting and just hit level 5 a couple sessions ago. That extra attack with level 2 smite is ridiculous lol
I just started a campaign with a black dragonborn paladin that will be an oathbreaker
Daaaaamn
I'm currently making a Bronze dragonborn with the new UA but I'm still deciding between Eldritch Knight Fighter & Oath of Vengeance Palidan.
Hmmm. Suggesting a paladin that says his oath as he runs into battle... and we have "Green Knights" as one name for paladin... >.>
"Through brightest day and darkest night,
No evil shall escape my sight,
Let those who worship evil's might,
Fear my power, Green Knight's smite!"
Raymond Becker maybe have a paladin/bard multi class who recites oaths to cast spells? Mostly paladin, of course, but it’d be cool. Feel free to take this.
I really feel like the Blue Lanterns would fulfill this role much better, with them giving Hope to those who need it most, helping the little guy in every situation. I can see them serving a god of the sky or a god of storms.
"In fearful day, in raging night,
With strong hearts full, our souls ignite.
When all seems lost in the War of Light,
Look to the stars, for hope burns bright!"
"In blackest day or brightest night
Cantaloupe, watermelon, yadda yadda
A superstitious and cowardly lot
With Liberty and Justice for all!"
Oath of Ancients paladin, cross class with Circle of the Moon Druid....
"I am sorry... did that bear just Divine Smite and obliterate that demon.... F*^%& this I am out."
I miss the time when green lanterns had individual oaths. One of my favorites "you who are wicked, evil and mean, I'm the nastiest creep you've ever seen. Come one, come all, put up a fight I'll pound your butts with green lanterns light, yowza"
The rogue and the paladin is pretty much "we're going to rule the world!" "With cookies". They are an awesome and powerful combination but keep the worst of each other in check. The rogue steps on the foot of the paladin if he forgets their goals in zealous rage and the paladin pretty much lifts the rogue up and shakes out all the stolen stuff, if the rogue gets too reliant on his five finger discount.(but i actually saw a paladin asking a rogue for same discount as well. It was the sword of our paladins mentor that was for sale, and it was literally dug out of his mentors grave. It took the rogue, the cleric and the barbarian (literally throwing himself on the paladin instead of reasoning with him.) to stop the paladin from just waltzing in there, smashing the display and shove the sword up the salesman's butt. After our paladin calmed down a little he "hired" our rogue to steal the sword. It was a pretty powerful sword.+2 and 1d4 cold damage. Unfortunately we had to return it to the grave. It was one of the greater sidequests we had)
I've heard paladin rogue multiclass is actually stupid powerful. Sneak attack + smite for huge damage
This is great for a number of reasons, in my humble opinion.
Your paladin player captured the righteous fury of the class, and simultaneously gave the character a lot of personality, even in that short story. And hiring the rogue to use a Lesser evil to correct a wrongdoing is one of my favorite eays for those classes to get along.
Highest of fives to your party.
Ahh
oh that's an awesome paladin rogue interaction
Remember Paladins
Be Lawful Good, not Lawful Stupid
Lawful good does not mean lawful nice.
This is why Oath of Conquest is awesome. "You broke the law. Had you not, you would not be soon to be broken in turn." *smash*
That is what usually gets my paladins killed =*(
My paladin is neutral
AndrewLuis CrespoDeMoura He can’t be, they’re always lawful good, just like an Antipaladin is always chaotic evil.
There are other classes besides Paladin? What is this heresy?!
It is sir delongjohnsilvrr we must kill the heretics!!!
DC??
*Laughs in warlock*
Clerics are the other class.
@@amitgabay3721 DEUS VULT
I really love Conquest Paladins, and specifically how they reflect on Vengeance Paladins.
Where as the Vengeance Oath is ment to avenge and right the world's various wrongs, the Conquest Oath is about preventing those wrongs in the first place.
For example, I often see Batman referenced as a good archetype for the Vengeance mindset, but I think he much closer resembles that of good aligned Conquest Palidan. It's all about being so frightening that average Evil looks out its window and decides it would rather just stay in bed for the day.
Of course we all know that Batman is really just history's greatest multi-classer, but the point stands.
Drake Ford no offense but Batman is every class. OP and overrated. He is a Bard, he is a paladin, he is a monk, he is a ranger, he is a rogue, he is a fighter, he is a scientist, he is a detective, he is an engineer etc...
Honhoa Ong
...
...
... You do realize that I noted that exact thing in the last sentence, right?
I would see Batman proper as a Vengeance Paladin by temperament and Justice Lord Batman from the Justice Lords episode as a Conquest Paladin.
Not to be contrary, but you do know one of the tenants is Douse the flames if hope, and another is Rule with an Iron fist yeah?
The oath of the crown paladin I relate to Captain America. He does not necessarily fight for the government as much as for the spirit and principles of the U.S. So I look at it as like a hero/crusader fighting for their nations (hopefully benevolent) ideals. I've toyed with the ideas of an Aasimar Oath of the Crown fighting for the Heavens against evil and protecting the good.
pssst... hail hydra
@@Archimonde259 evil-ish Oath of Conquest Paladin secretly working for Kyuubei as an ally of their race:) evil cackling
@@destroyerinazuma96 Am I the only weird person who doesn't see Kyubey as evil? Even *after* Rebellion Story? He's very firmly True/Lawful Neutral for me
@@Archimonde259 well I'm kinda torn on that personally. I do believe Kyuubei is neutral like you said, it's just that through my personal bias that I am aware of his actions and methods are kind of immoral and evil. But your argument stands
@@destroyerinazuma96 He's certainly immoral, because Kyubey's species has no morality or at least not in the way humanity perceives them.
A character that screams paladin to me is She-Ra sister to He-Man. She is almost text book Oath of Ancients Paladin with her ability to speak with animals and her oath "For the Honor of Grayskull!" Also she has the lay on hands ability of a paladin.
An awesome and excellent observation! I never considered that, but it fits SO well!!
The only other things I can think of. Are the Green lanterns..... And Power Rangers....
My son and I just got started in d&d and the party didn't have a healer. I made a paladin out of necessity and can't imagine play a different class now.
Medic... aka Angels of the Battlefield.
Paladin 6/Divine Soul 14 - flying healer
Aasimar make great paladins as well.
We had originally mentioned them in this video but I had to cut some important points to bring the video down. The original cut was over an hour long. We agree Aasimar are indeed one of the coolest choices. Also so appropriate for a Paladin.
Especially a Fallen Aasimar as an Oathbreaker +2 CHA +1 STR and Necrotic Shroud
Aasimar are also resistant to radiant damage, thus somewhat harder for fellow paladins to rein in with smites when they go all Walter White.
@@djtigon I kinda want to make a Fallen Aasimar Paladin of Conquest. The extra AoE fear effect from the transformation is a wonderful addition to the toolkit of the Conquest pally, since you're so dependent on that fear to lock down your enemies
I know I'm late to the party, but especially if you can convince your DM to give you angel wings (either functional but requiring you to give some stuff up, or non-functional)
The Paladin that I loved was a Red Dragonborn Oath of Conquest named Zedaar. He was born royal but when his father became corrupt, his parents were killed while a villager saved Zedaar. He found a barbaric tribe and they helped him to train him to fight. One day while Zedaar was patrolling, he fell into a cave that had a portal that brought him straight to Tiamat. From there he swore an oath to become a ruler from which Tiamat would rise from. Role playing him was fun because he also hated Tiamat and was using a loop hole to keep his divine powers.
I actually had the idea of making an atheist paladin or cleric that has to roll on deception every time they want to use one of their divine powers
@@giacomodellanna3457 sounds kinda like the plot for saga of tanya the evil lol
dungeon dudes are my favourite dnd channel. very informative and not to complicated, Thanks :D
Aragorn Telcontar, King of Gondor. Definitely a Paladin. The hands of a healer, heavy armour, big sword handed down the generations, and the oath laid upon him to become king one day.
He starts out as a Ranger in the movies and becomes a Paladin later. But in the books he never carried a bow at all (at least not after we meet him at The Prancing Pony). He is a Paladin all the way.
Mm. you can have melee rangers, though fighter also fits early story. At the end he is definitely a paladin.
@@agilemind6241 Bro multiclassed.
You know, up until I watched this video, the paladin was the class I felt I was LEAST likely to play. Like...ever. Yet here I am, once again, getting excited at the prospect of playing a class I would normally have no interest in, just like the druid and barbarian. Thanks, guys! :D
Try filming the episodes! I had no intention to play half the classes we have discussed but as I researched them and started coming up with role playing concepts and discussing the ideas between the two of us, I now have a stack of character concepts for every class - Kelly
I really liked your criminal background idea, as it subverts the expectation of this warrior steeped in divine tradition who has been devoted to this path and groomed for it their whole life. Instead, it just sort of happened. Really awesome concept!
My friend built my first mtg deck, which was green and white. What I was able to do with it really turned me on to paladins. Before that I always thought they were a little cringey, but I really like them in d&d
Yeah Paladins have silly damage potential. Last week, at level 12 my Paladin/Sorcerer pumped out 175 damage in a single round and one-shot a CR17 Feylord. Only one of my attacks was even a Crit! I've had to put personal limits on my character build since then... (Three 5th level Shadowblade hits with the third being a bonus action booming blade with quickened spell, then all 3 hits had 4th level smites.)
That intro was amazing. It sounded super spooky (like 2 Vaders or somethin') about halfway through, then at the end you just jump into the proper intro. Can't wait for the next class guide!
My favorite paladin from fantasy fiction is Sparhawk (David Eddings). I think this is a compelling example of the Oath of the Crown. The first book starts with the paladin returning from exile to defend the new queen.
"Yeah" ~ Dungeon Dudes
Started a RPG project in my school, we will be introducing DnD for new players and you guys are helping a lot with how to introduce the world and the game mechanics, i wish all of new players knew english so they could come here by themselves, keep up the good work! (Sry for my english)
Wow! We are so flattered! I hope your school group has amazing campaigns and tons of good times, let us know how it goes.
I wanted to note that you mentioned one outsider (tiefling) but forgot the other...Aasimar. With their immediate personnal connection to the gods of light and the sun, for example, I think they make an excellent choice for paladin play.
Aasimar = Paladin, it's match made in haven.
That's why I personally prefer tiefling paladin, I see there more conflict and interesting stories.
Michael Carpenter from the Dresden file by Jim Butcher is what comes to mind when i think of paladins.
And Sanya also has the same fatalistic "Russian" outlook that Commander Susan Ivanova from Babylon 5 has. She'd be a pretty good paladin.
A truly awesome series
@Tom Williams Sanya is a great example of a paladin that doesn't have to be quoting Bible verses all the time. The idea of an agnostic paladin is fascinating.
Paladin is top tier in d&d 5e.
I love your class guides because they always inspire me to play classes I’ve never ordinarily felt drawn to. GG
Thank you guys for this video and you do an excellent job explaining things! I played D&D when I was a teenager in the late 80's early 90's and now our oldest son has shown interest. He wants to take on his first DM role and have a family adventure. I usually take every opportunity to share life with my kids and this time is no different. My wife and I have so much to learn and your videos are very helpful. Thank you again!
33:40 "Cod-ified oath", so this guys one part holy knight, and one part the fishmonger from Asterix?
I like it.
Great player character ideas here, merci!
While waving the 'stale' fish about?
Great video! I checked a few videos talking about paladins and they were unwatchable. this is the first one I see where it's explained with clarity, intelligence, and no crazy jump cuts, visual noise, or stupid skits.
I'm playing a Fallen aasimar Paladin of vengeance, who was a pirate and spent time in jail as a result. His angelic guide left him along the way and now he is trying to redeem himself in the eyes of the angels.
Hey, Dungeon Dudes. Just found your channel. Watched most of the class guides and various other guides, wanted to let you know I love your content and style. I especially enjoy the connections you make with other fictional characters/stories.
Keep being cool.
My favorite class, finally :)
Palidin is my 2nd favorite class.
Second only to the wizard.
All of your videos are so well structured, really appreciating that you mention so many bad ass female characters as references for each class!
Another good Paladin: Father Alexander Anderson of Hellsing fame. He's even called The Paladin. The Iscariot Order in general actually. "We are the soldiers of Iscariot. We are the instruments of God's wrath on Earth. Together we march in lockstep to shatter the dreams of the unrighteous and unholy."
Yup. We talked about him when researching this episode. He's a FANTASTIC example of the prayer-quoting badass paladin, and really captures the supernatural occultism/ ritualism that can be used in a high level paladin.
Dungeon Dudes please research the Abridged series for full role-playing possibilities. You'll appreciate it I swear.
How did I only now remember the Knights of the Cross from The Dresden Files?! Dresden and Michael Carpenter are a great example of a friendship between a Paladin and a Wizard.
Sounds like a conquest paladin.
@@Lobomaru02
Sanya from Dresden Files is an awesome basis for a redeemer style Paladin
Now that Baldur's Gate 3 is nearly with us I now dive in with the Paladin Guide to prepare myself in order to continue my old lineage of Divine Champions in Fäerun. It's a really cool and useful guide, specially for one such as me that haven't played D&D since 3.5 and haven't touched a D&D book ever since. Great stuff peeps! Thanks!
A spell I'd recommend always preparing is "Protection from Evil and Good." If the creatures you're fighting or are going to face are Fey, Fiends, Celestials, or Undead, and you just so happen to have a rather high AC, forcing the enemies into a small area to only target you works in your advantage due to giving those enemies disadvantage to hit. Resisting charm and fear effects are also great if you do not have "Aura of Courage" at level 10 to be immune to fear. Either way, the spell is also great if another frontline fighter like a Barbarian is up front facing such creatures, making them harder to hit as well.
I’m still pretty new to D&D, but I’ve been spending a lot of time coming up with character concepts.
I most recently was thinking about how one would build a character based on Megatron from the Transformers Prime cartoon. While considering whether he’d be more a Path of the Berserker Barbarian or a (either Champion or Battle Master) Fighter with the variant Entertainer/Gladiator background, I briefly thought, “Well, what kind of class would Optimus Prime from the same cartoon be?”
I, without hesitation, determined that Optimus Prime from Transformers Prime would be a Paladin with the Sage (Librarian) background. That said, I don’t really know what oath he’d take. Possibly Oath of the Ancients, to signify his being part of a long line of Primes and him getting guidance from said past Primes, but the Oath of Redemption sounds like it’d kind of fit him too (he’s pretty consistently offered Decepticons the chance to defect to the Autobots side in TFP, mostly when he sees that those particular individuals hold themselves to some degree of honour).
it's just dawned on me that magic initiate is brilliant for the paladin, with that CHA skill there's some great once per day spell options in the sorcerer bard and warlock list as well as eldritch blast
I rolled an oathbreaker with magic initiate. Took Eldritch blast, Green Flame blade, and hex
@@alexas1173 Green Flame Blade is a nice touch. I wouldn't have picked Hex, because it has concentration, so does about every smite spell.. so as soon as you cast one, you can't really use the other without breaking concentration.
My favorite Paladin build thus far has been a rogue multi class into Paladin. Makes for awesome role playing plus the damage done if built right is insane !
I've made a somewhat low intelligence/wisdom Vengeance (he thinks of it more as JUSTICE) Paladin, I'm looking forward to running. He's heavily influenced by The Tick. All about justice, and fighting evil, and companionship. Just not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Yuant-ti paladins. +2 cha +1 int, advantage against spells and spell like effects, poison spray cantrip, innate speak to snakes which can come in handy, and 1/day suggestion at level 3. Pretty powerful. Also immunity to poison as a yuan-ti AND disease when you get to higher levels as a paladin
Daisyhead: What oath?
Daisyhead love this idea, definitely stealing it ❤️
@Daisyhead Nice idea, I hadn't really considered that possibility, probably because I usually think of them as a good choice for a swashbuckler.
i was waiting for this video for so long, i even requested it recently, so i am very happy to see this finally out.
I just hit level 6 on my Half-Elf Paladin yesterday! I LOVE playing paladins in all RPG games and even main one in World of Warcraft. It's a class I relate with and just love the class. Thanks for the breakdown into the class, loved watching this!
One of the more interesting role play ideas I've been working with my DM on is my current Paladin who started as a super lawful good aasimar devotion paladin but he's slowly becoming increasingly jaded with the constant sin of others and society's inability to improve despite his constant sacrifices and the toll constantly defending people who don't really seem to care takes on you. It's a possibility he could shift into a conquest paladin without actually meaning to. His notion of society would simply shift to "I must defend 'good' people" to "there are no good people and the only way to save society is to MAKE it good."
This is great! My Paladin had a similar struggle, only ours was due to a time loop where I kept trying to help people and save innocent people who were dying, only to have time reset and watch it happen all over again, eventually my character just lost all will to want to save anyone because nothing seemed to matter anymore. It was a weird conflict for such a noble character. Paladins might often be at odds with a society who doesn’t seem to align with what they thought they were protecting. - Kelly
Oh, cool! I've got something similar in mind for my bard in my Monday night game. She's a Lawful Evil aasimar Lore bard who is quietly rebelling against her home city due to how the elite treat their citizenry (her father was locked up for making the wrong person angry), as well as their foreign policy, which seems to be "stay out of our way or we'll grind you beneath our heel." So now she seeks out power as a way to overthrow the government, remove the corruption and warmongering, and rebuild society...in her own image, of course. I was just thinking a few days ago that a Conquest Paladin multiclass would be super appropriate :D
I've got a character doing almost the reverse. A cynical bard who was secretly a smuggler for a criminal organisation who after helping to smuggle out refugees from a demonic invasion and stealing the journal of the wannabe-lich who helped the demons cross to our world has realized the world needs people to fight for it and is going to multi-class into paladin.
@@agilemind6241 now I want to make a Paladin-Barbarian multiclass character and not give him a name, just have demons call him the Doom Slayer, but lost a lot of his power and main weapon and has to earn it back and find it. Oath of Vengeance, Path of the Berserker, a lv6 Doom Slayer would be so epic
I can't believe you missed Link is a paladin when you're wearing a shirt with him on it! Think about it, especially in the later games he is acting on behalf of the gods to defeat great evil, he wields a blade of evils bane and in some games even magic which is bestowed upon him by the gods, and in every game he is tasked with upholding the righteous, and defending the princess, even to the point of his own death!
I always saw link as more of a Bard or Ranger but Paladin works too.
Yep I see him as the perfect example of an ancients paladin.
In the fighter video they claimed Link was a fighter with magical items.
@@boogaethje
Agreed.
He used Magic items like no other.
Link is definitely a Paladin. In the early games, he has a cross on his shield and everything. There was a magazine or something that had Link praying, and the caption was from the LoZ creator saying Link gets his powers from his prayers to Jesus. I always liked Link and the LoZ games, thinking he was cool, but that made me love his character even more once I found that out.
I'll surely add Fingolfin at the list of inspiring character for paladin players. The guy just take his sword and shield, mount up and say: "Hey Leader of all Evil in this World come out and lets 1x1!".
And he has the "plus" of Elven paladin.. I don't know in other places but here in my region I don't see many players picking Elven paladins. Perhaps with the Oath of the Ancients this gonna change a little bit.
I look at Elves and think, "Why would you play anything else?" They're a race that you don't have to worry about growing old (I doubt most campaigns will last for 700 years) and their ability to gain the benefits of a full rest for four hours of trance is just so good for recovery. Also you don't need to post a watch since everyone is always conscious.
They're also very magical, and magic gets very powerful.
Of course playing an angelic type with true immortality and flight might be even better, but you'd need a very understanding GM. Flight can be very broken.
@@freman007 guardian aasimar have a 10ft flight speed with their divine spark
Going to your videos more and more for the best teaching, advice and commentary on D&D5e. Thank you for your hard work. It makes the hobby more enjoyable!
I am so glad you guys talked about Brienne! She's one of my favorite examples of Paladins. May I also suggest Princess Leia. She's as much of a Paladin as Luke is, only she's a more stabby-fighty Paladin as opposed to Luke's spellslinger Paladin.
Nah she’s bard. Vicious Mockery, her sharp tongue knows no bounds.
Eh,tbh i think luke would fit better as a paladin while leia is a bard,ranger or something
Although I think luke would likely be a paladin/divine soul sorc
i am about to start my first ever D&D playthrough as a forest gnome OotA paladin, my dm is super excited to see me as a person play this character. this video was extremely helpful in giving me ideas on who my gnome will be.
I strongly recommend reading Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson, a great inspiration for paladins and the primary original inspiration for the character class in d&d, (I must admit I was a bit disappointed that you didn't mention it) also a really good portrayal of a real human with real desires and temptations working within the paladin's oath. Also, Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett is a great inspiration for how to do non-paladins working with paladins, looking at how the other guards act toward carrot ironfoundersson (the lawful-good paladin figure) and how they get along with him
A long time ago I've briefly stumbled upon a fantasy book set in a Three Musketeers like universe. Basically three "paladins" had just saved the kid-heir apparent from the coup that claimed his family and were being tracked but the usurper's goons
I was just thinking that Holger would be my idea of a paladin!
I'm so glad I watched this video. I started writing a DnD inspired book and was trying to figure out which oath the paladin chose. I now know I'm making her have the oath of redemption. Anyone can be worth saving, but only if the situation calls for it. So, she has to use discernment when deciding who or what is worth saving.
You guys always make every build my favorite build!
That final part, when you talk about little conflicts between party members. It is inspiring. I've just started a new campaign as a LG Paladin and I'm always wondering "How do I react if my fellow rogue goes full chaotic neutral mode"... I want my pg to be that righteous warrior who inspires others and does the right thing, so from now on I'll think about Luke and Han and hopefully I'll get through harsh situations
Everyone: lawful good paladins who protect the weak and smite the evil.
Me: aasimar Paladin of conquest who wants to bring back the human empire that will dominate the world of dnd.
Gaming Dealer me: variant human Paladin of Vengeance, off to kill her father, the king of an oppressive kingdom/empire who killed her sister, mother and was experimented on by the Imperial Warlocks at age 6.
I am also playing an Aasamir Oath of Conquest Paladin! But I decided to hold him accountable by having his deity be Tyr (Norse god of War) who is of the domain of Justice. So He is very smity about evil, and ferocious on the battlefield. But he is tempered and fair in social interactions.
I feel Thunder warrior vibes from your character
Murderhobo me: Plays as a Viashino Oathbreaker paladin from the Orzhov Syndicate causing chaos on Ravnica jajaja
Honestly though, if you read the monster descriptions of most non-humans (literally described as "savage races"), the text of DnD kind of frames conquering the world in favor of humanity to be a lawful good act. Good ol' colonialism!
Checking this out as my lv 10 monk is down after 2 straight years of playing him, and a new Paladin with the Oath of Devotion shall rise to take his noble place.
Thanks for the vid!
Roland of Gilead from Stephen Kong’s The Dark Tower is a perfect example of a Paladin, especially when he speaks his oath. He did not forget the face of his father!
I’m playing in a one shot this coming Saturday and want to play Paladin for the first time. Thank you for the video! This really helped me brainstorm/build my character :D Had a google doc open taking notes while listening like it’s a lecture. Ya’ll got great professor voices :D
The book of Eli is one of my favorite paladin movies. Also Pale Rider with Clint Eastwood.
Just excellent! Love the good paladin who is still a total bad ass who gives no mercy to evil enemies.
I think Kaladin, from the Stormlight Archive is one of the best exaples in literature of a Paladin (the name is basically paladin).
Listened to both your videos on centaurs and Paladins in preparation for a secondary character. Oath of the Ancient Paladin Centaur. Very ready to play her! Thanks for all the info
I clearly remember my paladin. He was an insane tank, of all things. Around level 11 near the end of the campaign i basically 2 hit the “final boss” character over 2 rounds, had 28 AC with haste up (thanks to +2 plate mail, a magical +2 shield and a special ring of protection) and over 150 hp. It was kind of overpowered since i would tank 5 rounds of 10+ enemies on my own without too many issues while my sorceress casually set up her big aoe dmg properly.
Needless to say we were a bit bored near the end of the campaign since i would maybe get hit twice in a full combat and take a few dmg from spells with saving throw rolls.
It was kind of unfortunate that i got all the AC items instead of the other melee user we had that the dm basically made the platemail and ring for, because it made me way overpowered since the other character after a couple of sessions quickly changed his entire way of doing things to more of a dmg dealing style, swapping to a 2h battleaxe instead of longsword and shield.
Also it was a full on vampire campaign, soooo divine smite ftw xD
Hey guys, thanks for this video. My daughter and I have only been playing 5E for about a year. After having yet another squishy character get, well, squished, she's decided she wants to play something that kick butt and not even bother with the names. This video is really going to help her conceptualize and build her bad-ass butt kicker.
On the subject of tips on how a righteous warrior can work (and build friendships) among a group of scoundrels, I think Shepherd Book from Firefly can be a great resource.
Not sure if Paladin or Darkwing Duck.
Jokes aside, I once DMed for a Paladin of Artemis, and I actually offered them the ability to smite with ranged attacks as a reward at one point because it just makes gosh darn sense.
Spectre Dan that is awesome!! I’m a Paladin of Athena. My character is a human male teenage named Glenn Ashwood and he was a fighter until level 5 then I cross classed with a Paladin at level 3 and Athena guide my character with Wisdom and help out with Battle as well.
My DM also loves to have Athena appear to my character as she will play the part of Athena but only Glenn can see Athena unless she chooses to make her self visible to the party. In which yet Athena has not made her self known.
But swearing my Oath to Athena as I went with Oath of Devotion so she gave myself Plate Armor with her Symbol of an Owl and a Artifact Mechanical owl similar to Bubo from Clash of the Titans plus more.
It is so much fun playing as a paladin.
Greek gods paladins make a lot of sense
I chose Paladin for the first time this afternoon, in a new campaign a few close friends and I setup. This video solidified a solid, mayhaps favorite, class to play. I love the content, keep it up guys!
I've watched this video several times and always wished you had gone into more depth regarding the Oathbreaker Paladin, which is the one I've always been more lured to role-play.
Yes no love for the oathbreaker
In one of the Adventurer’s League campaigns I’ve played, we had two characters who were a lawful good paladin and an tiefling bard who tended more towards evil. Eventually, while going through the campaign, the paladin, in character, left the campaign because of their disagreements, and came back with a different character. It’s a very niche case, but it was still pretty great. He was actually one of the few characters I’ve seen make lawful good an interesting alignment.
Artix Von Krieger from Adventure Quest, Dragonfable and other games by Artix entertainment, is my favorite paladin. Such a cheerful goofball that just really, REALLY loves slaying undead.
You can't spell "paladin" without "pal".
- Artix Von Krieger
Thank you so much. I’m playing D&D for the first time and am a Human Illuskan Paladin. It’s been fun so far but I have soooo much to learn. I’ve just leveled up to lvl 2.
Which oath? I'm actually in the process of prepping a new Realms campaign after several years away from D&D.
MY inspirations for a Vengeance and Conquest paladin respectively were the Punisher and Saito Hajime (from Rurouni Kenshin)
i was just searching through the comments to see if anyone else thought of the punisher as a vengeance oath paladin, kinda the "left hand of god" type.
FINALLY! Another Frank Castle!
or maybe ghost rider?
Dudes, I have to say that every time I am making a character I revisit the relevant video from this series. Thanks for the great evergreen content!
Our pleasure!
They say “yeah” every time they switch who’s speaking.
Yeah
Yeah
I haven't realised it until u pointed that. Now I can't unhear it XF
Gotta say I've been really loving your guides. I'm a VERY new D&D player but you guys have been very astute with your recommendations. Plus I remember Monty wore a Roots sweater so if that makes him Canadian so much the better
Yet to watch the video in full but how many takes did it take to get that intro done?
We lost count somewhere after 20ish. But now I think we can recite it from memory!
It was awesome. Worth the effort. :)
Dungeon Dudes Jon Snow is proud of you all!
@@RaphaelLamour Ned Stark would have lost his head over it, though.
Thank you for the great examples and ideas since i chose paladin . I really needed this for the upcoming campaign this week. You examples definitely helped me broaden my view on how to handle my upcoming interactions with my companions
I mean... not every day do i see a fallen assimar paladin work together with a warlock dhampir.. and thats only scratching the surface. The greatest part. Its somehow might work out and its probably going to end up been a good time
Last weekend the party I was in was fighting a literal god (homebrew) and my level 12 Vengeance Paladin hit it twice via extra attack, with one roll being a nat 20. I used two level 3 divine smites, one for each attack, and given the weapon I use, (which is a +1 longword that does an additional 1d6 radiant dmg on a hit), the total dmg dice including my dueling fighting style and improved divine smite was, literally, 6d8+8 and 1d6 for the first attack, and 12d8+8 and 2d6 for the second (nat 20) attack. That's 18d8 +16 and 3d6 total damage all at once. There were so many dice on the table, I was having to move minis out of the way. :)
I usually don’t play Paladins, but I made a Dragonborn Paladin with the Oath of Redemption, and I love this guy. He’s so awesome, and is nearly unkillable, thanks to Sanctuary.
Yell in battle: SPOON!
Excellent guide . I took so many notes 🤓 I am new to DnD and this helped me craft my first character: a human Paladin.
I felt the nerd in me smile with that intro
I love the passion you two can bring up for stuff like this without being to weird
Michael Carpenter from The Dresden Files is legit my favorite Paladin, ever.
And a badass series
I'm literally going to play a character based on Michael in the next few sessions 😁
Awesome! Thanks to your video I figured out which Oath best fits m Paladin, roleplay-wise. He's a Paladin whose order he swore to serve turned out to be secretly evil, and he found out, so he's on the run. Much like Captain America finding out SHIELD has been infiltrated by Hydra. I figured Vengeance would be the most fitting oath. Thank you!
A favorite paladin oath: “and shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee...”
I played a Dex Paladin and it was amazing. High AC with studded leather armor and the defensive fighting style. I used shortsword and had a longbow if needed range. Good initiative. I was greatly pleased. Cha- Dex- Con- Wis- Str- Int was the priority
I can't be the only one who sees batman as a paladin
I'd say he'd be Oath of Vengeance paladin. He's a vigilante with complex. Batman is pretty tortured if you'd as me and Oath fo Vengeance fits him in my opinion.
agreed
Maybe a dual class paladin/rogue
@@armanddirkjacobuslerm6129 Naw pure paladin with the Skulker feat.
Nah. He's a shadow monk/rogue surely. Traveled the world learning martial arts and unarmed combat and strikes from the shadows.
Found this super helpful, I’ve been playing rogues forever and just had an awesome event in our campaign that basically transformed my character into an oath of vengeance paladin for the raven queen.
My Paladin has taken the Oath of Minmaxing :)
Please tell me more I have a game coming and from the looks of it it's going to be challenging :) (hint Underdark)
Currently playing a Half-Elf Oath of the Ancients devoted to Ehlonna. Her back story involves her wanting to make her noble human family proud and wanting a connection to her wood elven ancestry and being chosen to be Ehlonna's champion. I've loved playing her as a green knight in the making, still unsure of herself because of the prejudice she's gone through (she's illegitimate) but with potential to become a great warrior and leader, with both a great connection to nature (helps her get along with the druid and the ranger) but the ability to "play the game" as we need to right now in the campaign.
Clerics next! Clercis next! SO many to choose from thanks to Xanathar's!
The cleric guide is already up! Check it out! It should be on our channel from about 3 weeks ago. Make sure to let us know your thoughts!
Wanna thank you guys for your awesome guides on Paladins and stuff, yesterday I had a really badass combat session with the party against the evil final boss of the character arc. My character has a sword that casts Compelled Duel on the enemy when I get a critical hit, and I got a surprise round where I got a critical hit and smited my blade with a level 1 spell and a divine smite. At our table, crits do double damage rolls, so I did over 70 damage with the attack at level 8 vs a literal god, and the boss failed his wisdom save, so he was compelled to duel me. On the 2nd turn, he poisoned me but I was able to cure it with my lay on hands. On the 3rd turn, he hit the party with area of affect because he couldn't hit my party otherwise. I used Shield of Faith to up my AC to 21, and then he hit us with the area of affect spell again. Sometime after this, while the paladin was at 7 hp, the boss tried to hit me with Finger of Death with a 25 attack roll, but I managed to dodge it using Shield, making my AC 26. Basically, my paladin fought on par with him for 5 turns, and he never managed to target any of my other party members, so my Paladin was the first to go down. The cleric of the party then healed her, and she started fighting him again, but then the boss downed another party member. When the paladin turned around to go heal them with lay on hands, the boss trapped her in a forcecage, which was essentially battlefield removal, but while she was in the Forcecage, I used her final level 1 spell slot to cast Find Familiar (Magic Initiate) to summon a Raven, which has the ability to mimic sounds and speech, and I used it to mimic the speech of the benevolent god of the campaign, which scared the boss and gave advantage to the party member who ended up getting the killing blow. Due to all the preparations she made while in the forcecage, she also ended the battle with completely full health, still ready to fight the god to the very end. I'm proud because her bravery and character really came through in the fight, and she never let anyon else become the target of the god while she was still up. She swore the Oath of Devotion to protect those that couldn't protect themselves, and that came through in the ultimate way in this fight. Anyways, thank you for giving a lot of tips on Paladins!
Sam Vimes from Discworld is a good Oath of The Crown pally