| Timor_Mortis |
I always detested how paladins were potrayed in 3rd ed. As described they are thematically no different from clerics (plate-wearing-able holy warriors who can heal and turn undead. Paladins were put under the warrior sub-group in 2ed for a reason...because that's where they belonged! I don't think they should be spell-casters at all.
Historical arch-types for the dnd paladin class I would include Lancelot, the 12 peers of Charlemagne, and Joan of Arc. All of these examples served secular rulers, not the church; they were the champions of Kings, not God. I grant you that all of these examples were considerably pious in their religion, but that always (to me at least) seemed ancillary, not central, to their character.
Gamewise, I see paladins as being "knights" who are so dedicated to goodness and truth and chilvary (i.e. Lawfull Goodness) that positive energy *naturally* flows through them -- no diety required. An instictive use of this positive energy is what gifts them with their abilities. Paladins as I envision them are more like Jedi Knights than they are like the knights Templar (i.e. clerics).
To revamp the Paladin class I would:(I know some of these were mentioned earlier, consider repeat ideas "seconding the motion")
Under code of conduct I would make failing to uphold an oath, or abandoning dedication to a certain cause (oath/cause determined by player, approved by DM) for losing class abilities, rather than willingly commiting an evil act, since no one seems to agree on what exactly that is.
Get rid of "wont associate with someone who offends their moral code." (Who would they possibly adventure with? Honestly?)
Possibly relax alignment requirement to just Good?
Get rid of spellcasting alltogether.
Make smite more powerfull and more often; make it usefull against non-evil enemies.
Keep detect evil and immunity to fear/disease. Add immunity to curses and/or poison also.
Add a "channel positive energy" x times per day ability and let them do all kinds of cool things with it like lay on hands, cure disease/fear/curses/poison, turn undead, auras of whatever. They should be able to use this energy to do cool things in combat (i.e. make them less gimpy as fighters) or inspire the characters to do better (like the marshal class).
Add special weapon and stalwart companion as alternatives to mount. Possibly try to make mount more appealing somehow.
Also, I think Paladins should either be a prestige class or else a negative-channeling version (Blackguard?) be added as core, for balance. >}