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I have a pbp character that, through the course of the game, has taken a serious character turn. He's a rogue, but from the way the roleplay has gone, it makes sense from an RP point-of-view for him to head down the road toward being a paladin of some sort.
A couple of problems immediately present themselves.
First, I didn't build him with this in mind. He is, in no way, suited to become a paladin. Wisdom 10, Charisma 10 - need I say more?
The wisdom I could deal with - I'd just one of the fine non-spellcasting variants available, and roll with it. Truth be told, in my experience, spellcasting rarely comes into play for a paladin, anyway, except as a poor, second-string healer.
The charisma, though... now that's a problem. All of the paladin's signature abilities are based on the attribute, and without them, I may as well play a fighter. I'd get a better set-up mechanically, that's for sure.
Fighter doesn't fill the RP need, though. I see this character as becoming... something bigger, something better. So, with paladin being a terrible choice for survivability, I started looking elsewhere - to some other "inspired to kick evil's behind" kind of character. Every one of them that fulfill the concept, even the shadowbane inquisitor and shadowbane stalker (both of whom just about have to be ex-rogues to qualify) are lawful good. Which brings me to my second problem.
My guy is neutral good.
Now why is it, that all of the "inspired to kick evil's behind" characters have to be lawful? Evil is not chaos.
I could change alignment. There's really no penalty for doing so, except that I don't feel my character has changed alignment - just focus.
I looked at alternate-alignment paladins. They all need charisma. I looked at other classes that might fulfill my needs. Almost all were either too weird, or would require an aligment shift toward chaos, which again, I didn't feel had happened.
I looked outside of the WotC library of classes, where things start to get questionable at best. I found something that might work in "the Book of Hallowed Might" - the Knight of the Pale. He might work out, if I can get him past my DM. His abilities are based on level, not on attributes, which I think might be a way to go.
Anyway, I'm open to suggestions, although I doubt that any top-down houserule revamping of the paladin is probably out of the question.
If you care about the special abilities, then you're out of luck, I'm afraid. But if it's all about the RP, just play a fighter who "acts" like a paladin. Too many people make characters about their powers - especially paladins. It's the _mindset_ that matters. One of my best characters ever was a dwarven battle priest (of Clangeddin Silverbeard in FR, FYI). I played him like a paladin, but we needed he pure healing ability of a cleric - hence, a very martial cleric. A paladin is just another side of the same coin.
This is similar to my objection to the asassin class. Asassin is a trade & mindest, not a class. Asassin "A" kills by poisoning your drink. Asassin "B" kills you by shooting you with a sniper rifle, and asassin "C" beats your brains in with a crowbar. All three asassin's have killed you....
Same way with paladins/fighters. Just play your fighter as a relgious zealout who wants to share his new found faith after his conversion experience. From an RP'ing point of view, that should be no less satisfying.
I'd go ranger. You can eventually get a mount (animal companion), you can hate fiends (favored enemy evil outsider), your skills would probably overlap fairly well, charisma is not nearly as important to a ranger, alas rangers have the same issue with spellcasting as paladins, mainly they suck at it. Though I wouldn't go one of the non-spellcasting variants, instead invest in some wands.
The RP is totally how you decide to play it. You don't need any particular class to make your character seem "touched" with greatness.
If you care about the special abilities, then you're out of luck, I'm afraid. But if it's all about the RP, just play a fighter who "acts" like a paladin. Too many people make characters about their powers - especially paladins. It's the _mindset_ that matters. One of my best characters ever was a dwarven battle priest (of Clangeddin Silverbeard in FR, FYI). I played him like a paladin, but we needed he pure healing ability of a cleric - hence, a very martial cleric. A paladin is just another side of the same coin.
I agree. You can just have a fighter(or ranger, as Pres Man suggested)and roleplay him like a knight. Every one of King Arther's knight couldn't have been paladins. A few of them might be fighters, or even rogues. After all, the PHB says that some rogues are just law-abiding locksmiths or scouts (personally, I think that the scout from CA should just be removed. Rogues fill that niche).
If you think that one of the prestige classes is perfect, but has an alignment restriction that stands in the way, talk to the DM and sell your point of view to him. He may make an exception to the alignment restriction.
Every one of King Arther's knight couldn't have been paladins.Really, only Galahad was a Paladin. The others, even Arthur, were Fighters (or 1st Ed. Cavaliers).
Rez
Or Rangers.
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Personally, I'd just stay rogue.
The character could be devoted to the cause of good, but go about it in a very ... sneaky way. Any class can really be made into a heroic good character (I mean, why wouldn't it be possible? 80% of the characters I've seen have had others' best interests in mind).
For example; one of my PbP characters is a devoutly religious Lawful Good wizard that has devoted himself to ridding the world of evil. Can he cast healing spells? No. Can he Smite Evil? No. Will he give all that he can give towards the cause of Good? Absolutely.
I'd just stay rogue and act like a paladin. Maybe dip into fighter or cleric if you want more melee power or some divine casting. There are plenty of PrCs out there that are devoted to fighting evil that don't require you to be a paladin.
I think that there was a Class Act in Dragon Magazine called 'Holy Thieves, Dirty Priests' or something that might be helpful to you.
Most importantly though, is how you play it. If you play him like a paladin, than heit won't matter if he isn't one.
I’m not sure if you’ve already gotten your answer here, but Ranger sounds like the way to go. One of my favorite characters is a ranger that I have based on the ones from Babylon 5. He is fanatically loyal to his “order.” A real gung-ho Semper-Fi type. And it’s true – it is all in the role playing. A ranger is a good class to slide into from a thief.
But here’s the question I’m surprised nobody else has asked: Exactly why does fighter not “fill the RP need?” What exactly is it about paladin that you need? Is it a Paladin specific feature or ability? Or is it strictly a RP thing? If you could be really specific, we could better help you. That is, of course, unless you already have your answer.
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If you have the book of nine swords, the crusader might be a good choice. Fun martial manuevers that refresh themselves during battle, plus all of the zeal of the paladin, just focused more on fighting. They have certain manuevers that can heal themselves, or even allies if you want; they can wear heavy armor and use all martial weapons, have a decent HD (D10) and good BAB. They only really need the same scores a frontline fighter would.
They have some neat abilities, like a delayed damage pool that lets you delay a set number of damage until the end of your next turn, and use the damage to increase your attack and damage.
I'll second the Crusader. I'm currently running a fifth level party in Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde with a Crusader as the main frontliner, and he is a MONSTER.
(personally, I think that the scout from CA should just be removed. Rogues fill that niche)
First of all, I must say that I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement. IMO, rogues can be molded into many things, but not the scout.
It is far more wilderness/survival based in both mechanics and feel. Maybe a multiclassed rogue/ranger, but even then it's still not the same.
As far as the OP, all I can say is find a class that you can work with, then role-play him to suit your needs. You want a "paladin?" Easy.
Be a upstanding, righteous defender of truth, justice, and starving kittens everywhere and you're good. Your class? Multiclassed rogue 3/ranger 2/fighter 2/knight 4/crusader 1. Or maybe even commoner 5 for all it matters.
The name of the class does not mean it fills that role by any means. In a upcoming game, I will be playing a Nezumi knight 5/Ashworm Dragoon 1. He's a paladin, just like you're wanting your PC to be.
-Kurocyn