Paladins are champions of sacred oaths—steadfast warriors whose blade and faith stand as bulwarks against darkness. Whether you swore a vow before a stained‑glass altar, marched beneath a banner of righteousness, or underwent trial by sanctified fire, your power comes from unshakeable conviction and the divine spark you channel.
Core Build
- Primary Stats: Strength (drives melee combat); Body (underwrites HP/SP).
- Secondary Stats: Mind (fuels Magic skill, Insight, willpower); Dexterity (refines Dodge, Athletics, precise maneuvers).
- Signature Skills: Melee Combat, Dodge, Athletics, Persuasion or Intimidation, Insight, First Aid.
Equipment
Paladins are free to don the heaviest armor their order endorses (such as Chain Mail, Scale Mail, or Plate Armor) and wield weapons blessed by their faith—maces, flails, swords, often bearing sacred runes. They typically carry a shield bearing their oath’s symbol, and perhaps a prayer book or holy relic associated with their divine rites.
Channeling the Oath (Using Effects)
You bind divine power to your will through sacred rites and the strength of your oath, using the core Magic → Mana Points → Effects system:
- Narrative Anchor: First, work with the GM to define your specific order and oath—such as Devotion, Justice, Vengeance, the Wild Light, or another cause—and how your character proved their conviction. This provides the context for your powers.
- Initiate Magic: You must spend 20 XP to add the Magic skill to your character sheet, starting at a percentage equal to your Mind score. This grants you a Mana Pool (MP) equal to your Magic skill percentage.
- Learn Oath Effects: Each blessed power or divine manifestation is an “Effect.” To learn one, it must first be discovered or granted through gameplay (e.g., found in a ritual scroll, earned through trials, received via holy epiphany – requires GM approval). You then pay 5 XP to inscribe and learn the Effect.
- Cast Effects: To invoke a learned Effect, spend the MP cost set by the GM, roll your Magic skill (applying any situational modifiers from the Difficulty Ladder), and apply the outcome (success, failure, critical) as detailed by the Effect’s description.
Signature Oath Effects
A paladin’s sacred oath manifests as tangible divine power, granting access to specific Effects related to their vows and divine source. Common examples include:
- Lay on Hands (healing touch)
- Divine Smite (imbuing attacks with holy energy)
- Divine Shield (protective ward)
Other powers reflecting a specific oath, such as bolstering allies’ resolve (like an Aura of Resolve effect), may also be available through narrative discovery and learning. (See Appendix A or consult your GM for detailed mechanics).
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File Created: 05/05/2025 Last Modified: 05/05/2025