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The Paladin

 
 

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Character Classes	-	-	-	Unearthed Arcana

The paladin is no longer considered to be a sub-class of the fighter,
but is a sub-class of the cavalier. A paladin must have all the requisite
ability scores of the cavalier, plus a wisdom score of at least 13 and a
charisma of 17 or higher. Paladins are still devoted to the cause of the
lawful good alignment, and will follow those deities and orders that
profess that alignment. Should a paladin stray from that alignment,
he or she will become a cavalier and be stripped of all special paladin
powers. Paladins must initially be of the correct social station, or be
sponsored by local nobility. In the latter case, the paladin must advance
through Horseman and Lancer “0 levels” before gaining paladin
abilities. A paladin, as a sub-class of the cavalier, no longer has a
prime requisite ability and does not gain an experience bonus for exceptional
ability scores.

The powers, abilities, and level advancement of the paladin as described
in the Players Handbook remain unchanged. In addition, the
paladin gains the abilities and powers of the cavalier class, including
weapons of choice, parrying ability, horsemanship, saving throw bonuses,
and immunity to fear. The paladin may also increase his or her
charisma score in the same way that he or she (as a cavalier) can increase
strength, dexterity, and constitution.

Q: Our campaign includes an old-
style paladin with a long history.
With the change from fighter sub-
class to cavalier sub-class, we have
been arguing over what changes
must be made in this character's
statistics and background. The character
doesn't have the minimum
requirements for the cavalier class.
Do we have to raise his ability
scores so he can fit into the class?

Also, the new code of chivalry
would change the character drastically.
Do we have to assume that the
old teachings were part of his background
this whole time?

A: Bringing existing characters into line
with new rules is always difficult, but the
degree to which this change is mandatory
in a given campaign is a matter for the DM
and player to decide together. If the DM
wants to include the full gamut of new
rules in the campaign and wants the characters
to conform, the player and DM can discuss the
best method of working it out.
It is not mandatory that the character
change at all; your campaign is your own
game, and it can be run as you please.

[There are a few lawful-neutral dwarven
paladins running around in certain long-
term AD&D and D&D game campaigns
because of a poorly explained rule in the
old Supplement 1, Greyhawk, for the
original boxed D&D game set -- RM].

There are several methods of handling
minimum ability score requirements. First
of all, though a character must meet the
minimum requirements to start out in the
class, the character will not lose powers or
the ability to progress in the class if those
scores are later lowered by some means,
such as magic, aging, etc. Therefore, one
option is to assume that the character had
the requisite scores at the beginning of his
career, but they were later reduced to
their present status. This process can be
rationalized as much or as little as you
wish. Or, the DM can rule that the requirements
for becoming a paladin in this campaign
world were not as strict when the character
in question started, but that due
to competition the requirements were
increased at some later time. That way,
the existing character can stay as it is, but
new ones would have to confrom to the
new rules. However, the old character
would still be eligible to begin gaining the
benefits of the cavalier class at this point
due to his status within the campaign
world. The cavalier's ability to raise scores
through experience can also come in
handy; you could make it retroactive if
that would help bring the character into
line.

As for background, the chivalric code
may or may not fit in with your campaing
world. If it does not, I would recommend
not using the cavalier class at all. if it does,
the paladin character should abide by it.
But use good sense; paladins behave in a
lawful and good fashion, and do not scorn
lowly folk in need.
(118.69)