Question: Paladin class (Beta, p31-35)

[Patrick Walsh]

Are paladins required to serve a specific deity or can they serve an ideal like clerics?

Clerics are not required to serve a specific deity (see p.22 of the Beta, Domain Powers, 2nd paragraph). There is nothing in the Beta rules that explicitly states that paladins must, but nothing that explicitly states they have the option not to.

While there might be something in the 3.5 rules that answers this, Pathfinder needs to have its own answer, specifically stated. Other wise I'm playing 3.5 with some house rules and I'd rather play Pathfinder. (Note: It would be good if this was explicitly stated for clerics as well, as opposed a side mention in the class powers.)

Thank you ahead of time for your answers.

[Jal Dorak]

Interesting. The paladin class description does consistently mention "her god", but unlike the cleric, as you say, there is no stipulation for serving an ideal or cause.

I agree, I think Jason could clarify this point.

[Patrick Walsh]

Jal Dorak wrote:

I agree, I think Jason could clarify this point.

I'm rather hoping he does - I have a player interested in playing a paladin waiting on the answer. My personal answer would be paladins need to follow a specific deity, but I can see it going the other way as well.

[Kobajagrande]

Patrick Walsh wrote:

Jal Dorak wrote:

I agree, I think Jason could clarify this point.

I'm rather hoping he does - I have a player interested in playing a paladin waiting on the answer. My personal answer would be paladins need to follow a specific deity, but I can see it going the other way as well.

In PRPG it certainly seems that the idea was that paladins follow a specific deity. In 3E it was not.

[Zmar]

I think that it should remain setting-specific.

[Chobbly]

Zmar wrote:

I think that it should remain setting-specific.

The SRD doesn't mention requiring a deity to be chosen, and the Players Handbook actually says that the paladin doesn't have to devote herself to a specific deity - the righteousness of the cause is enough. 4th Edition IIRC is different, and requires the Paladin to chose a deity. The Pathfinder RPG doesn't push the need for a deity, but the need for selection of a deity appears in the changed 'Divine Bond' class feature and the new 'Holy Champion' class feature.

Thing is, this opens up the 'Holy Warrior' debate. Some think a paladin to be the martial instrument of her deity. The paladin can be, but doesn't have to be, in core 3.5. In that case should it stay the same as 3.5, allowing either a deity to be selected or just the righteousness of the paladin's cause? A slight wording change may help, but that's probably more relevant when the focus changes to looking at the classes chapter.

Keeping this flexibility would allow it to be setting-generic, much like 3.5.

Chobbly

[Patrick Walsh]

Chobbly wrote:

Zmar wrote:

I think that it should remain setting-specific.

Keeping this flexibility would allow it to be setting-generic, much like 3.5.

Chobbly

I'm good with both answers, but I'd like the PRPG book to actually state that this is an option. Right now, Divine Bond specifies a link to a deity and says nothing about the possibility of serving a cause or ideal. This implies that this option is NOT available to the paladin. Therefore, if it is supposed to be a possibility, there needs to be a sentence specifically stating such.

Paizo?

[Patrick Walsh]

Nudge.

[veector]

I would hope it would be an ideal, as like Clerics. I don't see the justification that Clerics receive powers when they serve an ideal but Paladins must serve a deity for same.