CLASS TRAITS

Role: Defender. You are a warrior of virtue, a champion of the righteous, and a defender of the weak. With your sword and your faith, you will shield the world from evil.

Power Source: Divine.

Key Abilities: Strength, Charisma

Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, leather, hide, chainmail, scale, plate; heavy shields, light shields.

Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, military melee, simple ranged, military ranged.

Implement: Holy symbols

Bonus to Defense: +1 Fortitude, +1 Reflex, +1 Will.

Hit Points at 1st Level: 15+ Constitution Score.

Hit Points per Level Gained: 6

Healing Surges per Day: 10+ Constitution Modifier.

Trained Skills: From the class skills list below, choose 4 trained skills at 1st level.

Class Skills: Athletics (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Endurance (Con), Heal (Wis), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Religion (Int).

Class features: Defender Aura, Holy Smite, Righteous Radiance, Righteous Shield, Spirit of Virtue, Valiant Strike, Virtue At-Will Power.

A cavalier is a paladin who has embraced one of the heroic virtues, such as compassion, justice, sacrifice, or valor. His or her belief in this virtue is so strong that it manifests as divine magic. Although many cavaliers pledge their faith to the gods, others follow no specific religion. Regardless of one’s divine affiliation (or lack thereof ), a cavalier’s virtue stands paramount. It guides his or her actions, pointing to the best way to protect the ever-flickering light of hope and civilization in the world.

Opposing the cavaliers and the virtues that they champion are the blackguards, who embody the dreaded vices that the cavaliers stand against. Where cavaliers embrace compassion, justice, sacrifice, and valor, blackguards epitomize fury, tyranny, greed, and terror. Since the earliest days of history, these two factions have fought each other. Both wander the land, gathering allies and working to further the cause of their virtues or vices.

At one time, cavaliers formed into chivalrous orders that were dedicated to the ideal of protecting the civilized realms. The forgotten kingdoms that ruled the land relied on cavaliers to help keep the peace. Those cavaliers maintained not only the military security of the land, but also its moral strength. A cavalier might drive off a marauding troll, but she could also mediate a dispute between two farmers, break the power of a corrupt noble, or free a wrongly accused prisoner.

As with many things from the time of the forgotten kingdoms, the cavaliers’ glory proved fleeting. The kingdoms of old grew weak, and some of their decline could be laid at the feet of cavaliers who strayed from the righteous path. All too often, cavaliers fell victim to the very evils they had sworn to combat. Power corrupts, and in many cases cavaliers served as perfect examples of how power can twist the most resolute heart.

The grand orders of cavaliers have long since faded, but their glory is not forgotten. Even as evil casts its shadow across the land, there are those who hear the call to the cavalier’s path. Many of the cavaliers of old strayed from their purpose, but that purpose and the power behind it remains strong for those who stay true to it.

PALADIN (CAVALIER) CLASS FEATURES

Level 1:

DEFENDER AURA

You gain the defender aura power.

Fighter UtilityDefender Aura

You work to occupy nearby foes using a combination of fighting skill and clever tactics to keep them distracted.

At-Will

Aura

Minor Action Personal

Effect: You activate an aura 1 that lasts until you end it as a minor action or until you fall unconscious. While in the aura, any enemy takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls when it makes an attack that does not include among its targets either you or an ally of yours who has this aura active. Marked enemies are not subject to this aura.

HOLY SMITE

You gain the holy smite power.

Paladin AttackHoly Smite

Your weapon fills with divine radiant energy, which bursts forth as you strike your enemy.

Encounter

Divine, Radiant

Free Action Personal

Trigger: You target an enemy with an at-will weapon attack power.

Effect: The target takes radiant damage equal to 2 + your Charisma modifier. If the triggering attack hits, the target is also dazed until the end of your next turn.

Level 7: 4 + Charisma modifier radiant damage.

Level 17: 7 + Charisma modifier radiant damage.

Level 27: 10 + Charisma modifier radiant damage.

RIGHTEOUS RADIANCE

You gain the righteous radiance power.

Paladin AttackRighteous Radiance

You exact divine punishment on a foe that ignores your challenge.

At-Will

Divine, Radiant

Opportunity Action Melee 1

Trigger: An enemy subject to your defender aura either shifts or makes an attack that targets an ally of yours but not you or an ally who has an active defender aura.

Target: The triggering enemy

Effect: The target takes radiant damage equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.

Level 11: 6 + Charisma modifier radiant damage.

Level 21: 9 + Charisma modifier radiant damage.

RIGHTEOUS SHIELD

You gain the righteous shield power.

Paladin UtilityRighteous Shield

You form golden energy around an ally, absorbing an attack against your friend and transferring the damage to yourself. As the magic fades, you become charged with righteous fury that fuels your attacks.

Encounter

Divine

Immediate Interrupt Close burst 3

Trigger: An ally within 3 squares of you is damaged by an attack.

Target: The triggering ally in the burst

Effect: You take the damage of the triggering attack instead of the target. This damage ignores your immunities and resistances. In addition, you gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

SPIRIT OF VIRTUE

You gain a benefit associated with your virtue.

Spirit of Sacrifice

You gain an additional healing surge. In addition, you can use your second wind as a minor action to heal an ally of your choice within 5 squares of you. If you do so, you gain no benefit from using your second wind, but the ally regains hit points equal to his or her healing surge value.

Spirit of Valor

You gain a +4 bonus to initiative checks, and your healing surge value increases by 2.

VALIANT STRIKE

You gain the valiant strike power.

Paladin Attack 1Valiant Strike

You attack a foe, gaining strength from your conviction as the odds against you rise.

At-Wil

l Divine, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC. You gain a bonus to the attack roll equal to the number of enemies adjacent to you.

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage.

Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage.

Update (11/16/2010)

Updated to match Essentials data.

VIRTUE AT-WILL POWER

You gain an at-will attack power associated with your virtue.

Sacrifice At-Will Power

You gain the strike of hope power.

Paladin Attack 1Strike of Hope

Your weapon flashes with divine light that sears your enemy and lifts your allies’ hearts with renewed vigor and purpose.

At-Wi

ll Divine, Radiant, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage. One ally within 5 squares of you gains temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier. If the ally is bloodied, the temporary hit points increase by 5.

Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.

Valor At-Will Power

You gain the vengeful strike power.

Paladin Attack 1Vengeful Strike

You let divine fury wash over you as you strike with your glowing weapon. Your enemy recoils in pain as the searing wound weakens its defenses.

At-W

ill Divine, Radiant, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage. If at least one bloodied ally is within 5 squares of you, the target takes extra radiant damage equal to your Charisma modifier.

Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.

Miss: You gain a +2 power bonus to your next damage roll against the target.

Level 2:

RESTORE VITALITY

You gain the restore vitality power.

Paladin Utility 2Restore Vitality

You lay your hands upon an ally, invoking the power of your virtue to restore a comrade to health and remove hindering effects.

D

aily Divine, Healing

Minor Action Melee 1

Target: One creature

Effect: The target regains hit points equal to your healing surge value and can make a saving throw.

Level 3:

LEVEL 3 EXTRA HOLY SMITE

You gain one more use of holy smite per encounter, but you can still use it only once per turn.

Level 4:

PACE OF THE VIRTUOUS CHARGER

While you are riding a mount, that creature and each allied mount within 20 squares of you gain a +2 power bonus to speed. This bonus applies only outside combat.

Level 5:

LEVEL 5 CAVALIER DAILY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Paladin Attack 5Chilling Smite

You call upon divine power to smite your foe with cold fury. A sheen of black ice forms around your weapon, draining your enemy of its strength.

Daily Cold, Divine, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. Fortitude

Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier cold damage, and the target takes a –5 penalty to damage rolls (save ends).

Miss: Half damage, and the target takes a -5 penalty to damage rolls until the end of its next turn.

Paladin Attack 5Fiery Smite

As you strike your enemy, a wave of divine fire explodes from its body, searing nearby foes.

Daily Divine, Fire, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier fire damage.

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: Each enemy adjacent to the target takes 5 fire damage.

Level 6:

LEVEL 6 CAVALIER UTILITY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Paladin Utility 6Bond of Protection

You create a spiritual link between yourself and an ally that allows you to partially shield your friend from harm

.

Daily Divine

Minor Action Close burst 5

Target: One ally in the burst

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, the target gains a +2 power bonus to all defenses and a +5 power bonus to Endurance checks. In addition, whenever the target takes damage, you can reduce that damage by 5 as a free action. If you do so, you take 5 damage. This damage ignores your immunities and resistances.

Paladin Utility 6Wrath of the Gods

You extend the power of your virtue to nearby allies, enabling you and your friends to easily strike down your enemie

s.

Daily Divine

Minor Action Close burst 1

Targets: You and each ally in the burst

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, each target gains a power bonus to damage rolls equal to your Charisma modifier.

Update (11/16/2010)

Updated to match Essentials data.

Level 7:

IMPROVED RIGHTEOUS SHIELD

Your righteous shield power gains an additional effect associated with your virtue.

Improved Righteous Shield (Sacrifice)

When you use your righteous shield, the damage you take is reduced by 10. At 23rd level, the damage you take is reduced by 20.

Improved Righteous Shield (Valor)

When you use your righteous shield, you also gain a bonus to your next damage roll before the end of your next turn. The bonus equals 2 + your Charisma modifier. At 23rd level, this bonus increases to 5 + your Charisma modifier.

Level 8:

SPIRIT OF THE VIRTUOUS CHARGER

You gain the spirit of the virtuous charger power.

Paladin Utility 8Spirit of the Virtuous Charger

You infuse the spirit of a divine steed into yourself, gaining some of its capabiliti

es.

Daily Divine

Minor Action Personal

Effect: You gain a +2 power bonus to speed. You also gain a power bonus to damage rolls with charge attacks equal to your Charisma modifier. These effects last until the end of the encounter.

Level 18: You also gain a fly speed equal to your speed.

Level 28: This power can also target each ally within 2 squares of you.

Level 9:

LEVEL 9 CAVALIER DAILY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Paladin Attack 9Thundering Smite

Thunder bursts from your weapon as you strike your foe, knocking down nearby enem

ies.

Daily Divine, Thunder, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier thunder damage.

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: Each enemy within 2 squares of the target falls prone.

Paladin Attack 9Whirling Radiance

Spurred on by divine fervor, you unleash a spinning attack that leaves a painful radiance lingering on your

foes.

Daily Divine, Radiant, Weapon

Standard Action Close burst 1

Target: Each enemy in the burst

Attack: Strength vs. Reflex

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage, and ongoing 5 radiant damage (save ends).

Miss: Half damage.

Level 10:

LEVEL 10 CAVALIER UTILITY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Paladin Utility 10Beacon of Nobility

You inspire hope in your allies through your combination of divine power and valorous

words.

Daily Divine

Minor Action Personal

Effect: Once per round until the end of the encounter, you can take a minor action to choose an ally within 5 squares of you. That ally gains 5 temporary hit points and a +2 power bonus to the next skill check he or she makes before the end of his or her next turn.

Paladin Utility 10Beacon of Penance

You sacrifice some of your own vitality to help your allies overcome their

wounds.

Daily Divine, Healing

Minor Action Personal

Effect: Once per round until the end of the encounter, you can take a minor action to restore 10 hit points to one ally within 2 squares of you. If you do so, you take 10 damage. This damage ignores your immunities and resistances.

Level 13:

LEVEL 13 EXTRA HOLY SMITE

You gain one more use of holy smite per encounter, but you can still use it only once per turn.

Level 15:

LEVEL 15 CAVALIER DAILY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Paladin Attack 15Avatar of Righteous Nobility

When you strike, your skin glows gold as radiant energy swirls around you like a gathering storm, ready for retribution against those who attack your

allies.

Daily Divine, Radiant, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 4[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: Both the radius of your defender aura and the range of your righteous radiance change to 3. This benefit lasts until the aura is deactivated or until the end of the encounter.

Paladin Attack 15Avatar of Undaunted Bravery

As you strike, your skin glows red with divine fervor and radiant energy swirls around you. Nearby enemies can’t resist the strength of your determination, and you draw them near so that you can vanqu

ish them.

Daily Divine, Radiant, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 4[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: As the first action of each of your turns until the end of the encounter, you can choose one enemy within 5 squares of you and pull it up to 2 squares as a free action.

Level 16:

LEVEL 16 CAVALIER UTILITY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice.

Paladin Utility 16Angelic Intercession

When you see an ally in harm’s way, you call upon the power of angels to teleport yourself to your friend, taking that attac

k instead.

Daily Divine, Teleportation

Immediate Interrupt Personal

Trigger: An ally within 5 squares of you is hit by an attack.

Effect: You teleport to a square adjacent to the ally, you are targeted by the attack instead of him or her, and you are hit by it.

Update (11/16/2010)

Updated to match Essentials data.

Paladin Utility 16Call from the Brink

As your ally suffers a grievous injury, you channel divine energy into your friend to banish that wound and provide renewed det

ermination.

Daily Divine, Healing

Immediate Reaction Close burst 5

Trigger: An ally within 5 squares of you drops to 0 hit points or fewer.

Target: The triggering ally in the burst

Effect: The target can spend one or two healing surges. In addition, the target gains a +2 power bonus to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

Level 17:

ENCOURAGING PRESENCE

Whenever an ally adjacent to you spends a healing surge, he or she gains temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.

Level 19:

LEVEL 19 CAVALIER DAILY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice. This new power replaces the daily attack power you gained at 5th level.

Paladin Attack 19Smite of the Flame Cage

As you attack, your weapon erupts with holy fire, which swirls around you and prevents your enemies fr

om escaping.

Daily Divine, Fire, Weapon, Zone

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 4[W] + Strength modifier fire damage.

Effect: You create a zone in a close burst 2 that lasts until the end of your next turn. Any enemy that willingly leaves the zone or that attacks a creature outside the zone takes 15 fire damage.

Paladin Attack 19Smite of Winter's Grip

You strike your foe, and frost spreads across its body from the point of impact, encasing your enemy in a layer of imp

risoning ice.

Daily Cold, Divine, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier cold damage, and the target takes ongoing 10 cold damage and is restrained (save ends both).

Miss: Half damage, and the target is restrained until the end of your next turn.

Level 22:

SHARED VIRTUE

You gain a utility power associated with your virtue.

Shared Sacrifice

You gain the shared sacrifice power.

Paladin Utility 22Shared Sacrifice

The virtue of sacrifice binds you and your allies together. An attack against one is an attack against

the strongest.

Daily Aura, Divine

Minor Action Personal

Effect: You activate an aura 5 that lasts until the end of the encounter. Whenever you or an ally in the aura would spend a healing surge, you or an ally in the aura can lose a healing surge on that character’s behalf so that he or she doesn’t have to spend the surge.

Shared Valor

You gain the shared valor power.

Paladin Utility 22Shared Valor

A golden, emboldening light flashes around you and your companions, transporting you to places where you can confront the

enemy directly.

Daily Divine, Teleportation

Free Action Close burst 5

Trigger: You and your allies roll initiative.

Target: You and each ally in the burst

Effect: Each target gains temporary hit points equal to 15 + your Charisma modifier. In addition, you can teleport each target up to 10 squares to a square adjacent to an enemy.

Level 23:

RIGHTEOUS RESCUE

Immediately after you use your righteous shield, you can take a free action to teleport up to 5 squares to a square adjacent to the target.

Level 25:

LEVEL 25 CAVALIER DAILY POWER

You gain one of the following powers of your choice. This new power replaces the daily attack power you gained at 9th level.

Paladin Attack 25Radiant Storm

A swirling thundercloud of radiant energy forms around you and trails from your weapon as it scythes through your foes. As you move away, the cloud’s lingering energy remains, lashing out at any enemy that

gets too close.

Daily Divine, Radiant, Weapon, Zone

Standard Action Close burst 1

Target: Each enemy in the burst

Attack: Strength vs. Reflex

Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: The burst creates a zone that lasts until the end of the encounter. Any enemy that enters the zone or ends its turn there takes 10 radiant damage. An enemy can take this damage only once per turn.

Update (2/17/2012)

Changed in December 2011 updates.

Paladin Attack 25Roaring Thunder

The ground shakes and cracks as you unleash the power of divine thunder, hammering your foe and knocking several enemi

es to the ground.

Daily Divine, Thunder, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. Fortitude

Hit: 4[W] + Strength modifier thunder damage, and the target is dazed (save ends).

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: Each enemy within 3 squares of the target falls prone.

Level 27:

DIVINE GRACE

You gain resist 20 necrotic and resist 20 poison.

Level 29:

AVATAR OF VIRTUE

You gain the avatar of virtue power. It replaces the daily attack power you gained at 15th level.

Paladin Attack 29Avatar of Virtue

You become a creature of divine power, an unstoppable force of faith, strength, and virtue that instills hope and brave

ry in your allies.

Daily Divine, Healing, Radiant, Weapon

Standard Action Melee weapon

Target: One creature

Attack: Strength vs. AC

Hit: 5[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.

Miss: Half damage.

Effect: You and each ally within 5 squares of you can spend a healing surge. In addition, until the end of the encounter or until you fall unconscious, you gain a power bonus to damage rolls equal to your Charisma modifier, and once per round on your turn, you can take a free action to restore 10 hit points to one bloodied ally within 5 squares of you.

Published in Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms.