Paladin 2/rogue X isn't a bad build. It's not OMG optimized or anything, but the extra 2 BAB, save bonuses, and weapon proficiencies are nothing to sneer at. I'd actually suggest paladin/ninja though, as the charisma from paladin feeds very nicely into the ninja's ki pool. The lay on hands is also rather nice, if very limited, healing.long story short, her father's hold employed almost exclusively holy soldiers and, being the youngest of 12, she was often overlooked which gave her a chance to train with the blademasters. Realizing that nobody would have her as she had no claim to her house and was no longer a maiden, she swore an oath in front of her father's gods and the court never to marry and ran off, going rogue so to speak. Travelling all across the world and assimilating into every imaginable culture, she became something of a con-artist. Although her heart remained good and kind, the deception and sin that formed the backbone of her new life meant she was no longer the paladin she once was.
soo.... how bad an idea is a rogue/ex-paladin?
This characters wont get paladin class features; just the BAB and better-than-fighter saves. (Unless I've misinterpreted)
Its not terrible, but I personally think that Fighter-Rogue with that backstory might be mechanically slightly better (loses 1 will save if one of the two bonus feats covers for iron will, gains a bonus feat).
If its just ONE level and not two though, Paladin 1/Rogue X is pretty awesome if you are planning on taking Iron Will at some point.
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To OP. If she swore "an oath in front of her father's gods", doesn't that means she still worship those gods?
Being a Paladin would requires that she get accepted into a church of a Deity. You state that she is "often overlooked which gave her a chance to train with the blademasters". Won't it make more sense if she was train as a fighter? May be even a specific Archetype?
From what is stated about her life, it seems like she was never "involved" with her family. So how could she become a Paladin? A role that requires quite a bit of participation and training with other paladins/cleric/religions people. (Of whom a number is sure to be her family members.)
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I'd totally recommend against this...Unless...
Do you plan on becoming a redeemed paladin later? Not necessarily rejoining your family's faith, but finding a new cause to support that would bring you back on the path of righteousness later in your career? if so, I think its a brilliant idea, provided you survive long enough to actually pull it off, and you really do want to take more levels as a Paladin later.
Otherwise, mechanically your better with fighter.
Or if your looking for something with a closer to a paladin's flavor you could look at cavalier. There is absolutely no reason why your con artist rogue wouldn't have stolen her favorite pet horse as she left her family behind forever. The horse then became the silent supportive family replacement. Furthermore, it would've filled the roles of earned blade work and honorable family traditions. You could even take levels in bard and roleplay a conartist that way, which could lead to a useful battle herald prestige class much later in life. I think this might be cool because you'd end up completely meshing your life long training in your family's abode with your experience earned adventuring out into the real world.
Roleplaying wise, the idea is pretty awesome. If you have a decent DM who isn't all about messing over PCs, this is still a very playable character.
The only thing you get is your hd and your bab from the paladin. Personally I wouldn't do it I would rather dip inquisitor for similar flavor and not lose class features. However if you really want to go right ahead.
Take levels of fighter. Worship gods. call yourself an ex-paladin. You dont actually need paladin levels to be a holy warrior
You're making a strictly worse fighter. You could have the same backstory and fighter levels and nobody would call "foul"; cavalier levels may be even more appropriate.
This isn't necessarily true; the paladin has a +2 to will saves at the expense of what, a bonus feat?
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+3 will saves; 2 bonus feats and bravery (or whatever you replace bravery with in your kit, more than likely). It's a bad trade; you can get +3 will +1 Ref +1 fort if that's the route you wanted to go, and still have bravery for what that is worth.
Edit: ah, you're talking about 1 level. I guess you are right; if it's only 1 level you're a fighter with your feat as iron will. Fair enough, it's a fine tradeoff with 1 level.
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You can be an ex-paladin without any paladin levels.
That is what I would do; take fighter/rogue; go into Paladin if/when redeemed.
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Assuming you have decent charisma, paladin/rogue is a fantastic combination. If you're mostly "face" rogue, the addition of two pally trades one talent and one sneak-dice for all martial proficiencies, almost unbeatable saves, and the ability to really deck something evil once/day. Ability to use a few arcane items withou UMD checks a minor bonus.
If your mostly paladin, dipping rogue2 gives you a wealth of skills and Evasion in exchange for BAB-1.
Yeah, depends a lot on whether you continue to be LG or not.
I think you said not, but talk about it with your DM and see if there's some fluff way you can keep limited Pally abilities (like maybe the Lay on Hands, but not the Smite or Detect since you've lost LG), and you can get them back when you return to LG.
If you were going "face", then this is a really cool concept and interesting character. To redeem oneself is an interesting hook if done properly.