Paladin

The Pros and Cons of a Paladin

The paladin's wide range of abilities allows her to stand firm against evil of all sorts.

Paladin Assets

The paladin class provides access to a wide array of powers, from superior combat ability to divine spells. Below are several assets you have going for you when you play a paladin.

• • High Hit Points: The paladin's 10-sided Hit Dice let her absorb lots of damage and keep right on going.

  • Good Armor Class: The fact that the paladin can wear any kind of armor and use any kind of shield usually gives her an impressive Armor Class. This factor combined with her high hit points makes for a great defensive package.

  • Good Attack Bonus: A paladin's base attack bonus is +1 per level, which is the best in the game. Thus, she can dish out damage as well as she can take it.

  • Good Fortitude Saves: A paladin uses the best save progression in the game for Fortitude saves (see Table 3-1 in the Player's Handbook). This natural resilience helps her resist most effects that attack her body, such as poison, polymorphing, and energy draining.

  • Good Weapon Selection: Because a paladin can use any simple or martial weapon, she has access to some of the best weapons in the game.

  • Supernatural Powers: A paladin's many supernatural abilities provide her with both offensive and defensive benefits. She begins play with the ability to deal extra damage to evil creatures, sense evil creatures and magic nearby, and heal wounds. As she attains higher levels, she gains the ability to resist magical attacks through sheer force of will, inspire courage in her allies, and drive off or destroy undead creatures.

  • Divine Health: A paladin is immune to mundane diseases.

  • Spells: As a paladin attains higher levels, she gains the ability to cast a small number of divine spells that can improve her combat ability, ease injuries, and reveal hidden information.

  • Special Mount: At 5th level, a paladin gains the ability to summon a special mount (usually a warhorse) that is unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal.

Paladin Weaknesses

The paladin's many advantages come at a price. Here are a few of the disadvantages you should keep in mind if you're considering a paladin character.

• • Poor Reflex and Will Saves: Paladins have the worst progression in the game for Reflex and Will saves (see Table 3-1 in the Player's Handbook). Thus, they aren't so great at getting out of the way when the situation gets rough, nor can they easily shake off assaults on their minds, although the divine grace ability makes up for this weakness to some extent.

  • Low Mobility: A paladin's reliance on heavy armor makes her a slow mover on the battlefield.

  • Code of Conduct: A paladin must maintain a lawful good alignment and vow never to commit an act of evil. Furthermore, she must always respect legitimate authority, act honorably, help people in need, and punish those who harm or threaten innocents. In short, the paladin lives by rules when most of her enemies do not.