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I want to play a Paladin whose code of conduct forbids him to ever knowingly deal HP damage.
My GM has agreed to let me use a modified form of Smite Evil, granting me bonuses to my CMB and CMD (and possibly AC) so that I can benefit from the class feature without having to roll for damage.
So, how do you think I should do it? My thoughts so far:
-If you never deal damage, Power Attack and Improved Unarmed Strike are more of a feat tax than Combat Expertise, believe it or not. Thus I should focus on Disarming and Tripping. Dirty Tricks and Stealing seem quite unfit for a Paladin, though technically they aren't off the table.
-Since I don't need a weapon in my hands, I could use the Flagbearer feat. I'll have the Charisma for it.
-Free hands and solid Charisma also lends itself well to using wands. What sorts of wands would such a character need?
If anybody has anything else to add, I'm listening.
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There's an aasimar paladin archetype (the tranquil guardian)that suits this concept quite well. Additionally get a merficul weapon. Preferably a vicious merciful weapon (as you can always lay on hands on yourself to stay in a fight).
How does this merciful approach work with regards to creatures who are immune to nonlethal damage such as undead?
I'm not talking about "only nonlethal damage", I'm talking about "no damage whatsoever". If all I wanted was nonlethal damage, I'd take the Bludgeoner feat and a heavy flail and I'd be all set.
The Aasimar archetype might be worth looking at though. I hadn't picked a race yet.
Well...the Blade of Mercy trait is PFS legal.... With that alone, you could go nonlethal using any slashing weapon with no penalties to attack(and heck, it even adds +1 to the nonlethal damage caused). It requires you to worship Sarenrae...but really...is that very hard for a paladin?
Plus, there is the Iroran Paladin, which is basically a paladin that is a monk wannabe. It changes things up considerably (much like the stonelord archetype), but it does keep your spells and lay on hands, which helps a lot. Also, if you wear light armor, you can add your charisma to your AC (well, 1 point of modifier is added per level). The replacement for smite is not really bad, although you have to spend ki in order to the whole 'ignore DR thing'....but hey, it can target pretty much anything now, rather than 'just evil'.
EDIT: oh....no damage of any kind ever? that is much harder to work with.....
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Wands Hold Person and entangle.
Might want to look into taking a level of monk and get stunning fist. Then a monks robe.
The peacemaker feat from Champions of purity helps with spells to force people into submission.
Chains of light spell at high levels
edit: divine defender archetype might be up his alley. Also the redeemer archetype for half orcs but it is more about non lethal dmg and a lesser geas as a spell like ability. Also you can eventually use his smite to let others do non lethal dmg.
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You'd probably want a wand of Sanctuary or Peacebond (though you'd need your UMD high since it's not on the paladin list).
Are you including nonlethal damage in your "never knowingly deal HP damage"? If not improved unarmed strike would be a pretty good thing. If you can't do that either, focusing on grappling to restrain people would be a good way to go (though yes IUS will be a feat tax for you).
There's a feat in Faiths of Purity called Protector's Strike, where when you use your Smite ability you pick one creature other than you, and they get a bonus to their AC = your CHA mod against that target.
Definitely focus on your social skills to avoid as many combats as possible. Though make sure to work with your GM here, since you don't want to find yourself in constant combat with a pacifist character. Seems like you've already made the first step, but make sure with him that you're not shooting yourself in the foot with this idea.
Similarly, with your party to make sure they're ok with bringing a pacifist character along. Some players (especially combat optimizers) may get frustrated with someone who wants to avoid combat. Unless you're going to be the Technical Pacifist hero. Then they might love you.
I'm not sure how practical this concept is, mechanically or morally. Does the rest of your party have the same prohibition? If not, I don't see how you can be their enabler without breaking your code (for example, keeping them healthy so they can do your HP damage for you).
I would also push for a caveat in your code, that you can still deal HP damage to unintelligent and/or non-living creatures (such as Undead, Constructs, Animals, etc.)
If you're dead set on not dealing HP damage at all, I would suggest going with a Tetori Monk or a Save-Or-Lose Cleric instead. If you want to focus on combat maneuvers, go for Grapple or a refluffed Dirty Trick.
Consider later picking up the Ultimate Mercy trait- resurrection seems terribly pacifistic.
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I'm not sure how practical this concept is, mechanically or morally. Does the rest of your party have the same prohibition? If not, I don't see how you can be their enabler without breaking your code (for example, keeping them healthy so they can do your HP damage for you).
I don't see why the rest of my party would be any more of a problem for me than it would be for any other Paladin. The Paladin's code states that he can't ally himself with evil people unless circumstances force his hand, but it doesn't hold a Paladin's allies to the rest of the code. The CG Bard or Rogue can Bluff their way out of tight spots while the Paladin is bound to honesty, but that doesn't mean a Paladin is breaking his code by being there when they do. Being a Paladin means a commitment to righteousness that the common folk, and even many heroes, just aren't able to maintain. A Paladin should try to be an inspiration to those around him, and influence people away from evil, but he can't possibly expect everyone to live by the code he follows.
Dazz suggested I max out social skills in order to prevent situations from getting to the point where initiative is rolled. If that's the case, then my party isn't drawing their weapons either, at least not until making an honest go at doing it the peaceful way. If that's the limit of my ability to turn my allies away from resorting to bloodshed, then so be it. I don't need to talk the Fighter out of Weapon Specialization (Tetsubo) if I can prevent him from adding a few notches to its hilt.
I'm not sure how practical this concept is, mechanically or morally. Does the rest of your party have the same prohibition? If not, I don't see how you can be their enabler without breaking your code (for example, keeping them healthy so they can do your HP damage for you).I don't see why the rest of my party would be any more of a problem for me than it would be for any other Paladin. The Paladin's code states that he can't ally himself with evil people unless circumstances force his hand, but it doesn't hold a Paladin's allies to the rest of the code. The CG Bard or Rogue can Bluff their way out of tight spots while the Paladin is bound to honesty, but that doesn't mean a Paladin is breaking his code by being there when they do. Being a Paladin means a commitment to righteousness that the common folk, and even many heroes, just aren't able to maintain. A Paladin should try to be an inspiration to those around him, and influence people away from evil, but he can't possibly expect everyone to live by the code he follows.
Dazz suggested I max out social skills in order to prevent situations from getting to the point where initiative is rolled. If that's the case, then my party isn't drawing their weapons either, at least not until making an honest go at doing it the peaceful way. If that's the limit of my ability to turn my allies away from resorting to bloodshed, then so be it. I don't need to talk the Fighter out of Weapon Specialization (Tetsubo) if I can prevent him from adding a few notches to its hilt.
But this isn't about their conduct.
This is about their conduct relating to the paladin himself.
The problem with the paladin here isn't that the group he's travelling with disobey his code. The problem is that the paladin is an enabler for their activities, and the things they do are things HE is specifically forbidden from doing, and he enables it.
You have a tall order RAW, but I really like the concept for Paladin. I don't understand the posters upset that you don't try to shove your code down the throats of the party. Your idea and its defence is clear enough.
A one level dip to Sorcerer gives access to all kinds of useful wands, but your DC would suck if they're not buff spells. The Dirty Trick route is amusing for Palidin- "I'm doing this for your own good. Surrender now and save yourself much pain!" Add grapple for more fun. Enlarge yourself and you're more of a threat. Lunge would be a handy feat.
It's almost like you and the GM need to sit down and write an entire archetype out out for this guy as the above advice still leaves you sub-optimal. Divine Hunter with stunning/dazing arrows?
I'm working on a pacifist paladin, thought this guy will do NO hitting at all. His focus will be on buffing and healing. Sacred shield archetype. I'll post it soon.
Ok, here's the basic idea. I chose a halfling for their favored class bonus (and thus bonus healing).
Race: halfling
Favored class bonus: extra healing
Class: Paladin (sacred shield)
25 pts
Str: 12 Dex: 14 Con: 14 Int: 14 Wis: 8 Cha: 19 (all boosts into CHA)
Traits (helpful, fate's favored)
Feats:
1 Falgbearer
2
3 Adaptable Fortune
4
5 Lucky Halfling
6
7 Greater Mercy
8
9 Adaptive Fortune
10
11 Ultimate Mercy
So, this guy goes near the fray and, by his proximity, can buff allies.
Bastion of Good: This HALVES all damage done to your allies, while giving you an AC buff. Pretty cool.
Flagbearer: that's for a bit of offensive buff.
Lucky halfling: this can be a boon (though only once per day)
Halfling fortune feats: I'm undecided on these. Could trade them out.
That's the core of the thing. Any other ideas?