Hello Everyone.....a new member asks for advice

[jandar]

I am really excited about joining a PW that focuses on role playing. Since I really know nothing of the world, any suggestions on the type of character that fits well into the world? I have played sorcs, battlewiz, Pally (my favorite), fighter, and even tried monk, cleric and rogue. So far I haven't found much in the way of Dieties, are there Dietie (SP?) specific weapons, armor???

I am not good at playing evil.

Thanks for your time.

[Munroe]

We use the Forgotten Realms pantheons of deities. A listing of the FR deities can be found on the forum here: frc.proboards37.com/index.cgi?board=lore&action=display&thread=1097869585

If you are completely unfamiliar with the Forgotten Realms pantheon, my advice to you would be to make a character who does not cast divine spells first so you can take some time to play and get familiar with some of the deities in-character before creating a divine spellcaster.

I'm not certain what you're asking regarding armour and such. There are some deity specific shops, if that's what you're asking.

Regarding specific classes and deities:

Clerics are expected to have appropriate domains for their deity. (If NWN does not have two domains for a deity, please contact a DM to discuss alternatives.) A cleric should be no more than one alignment step from his or her deity.

Paladins should follow an LN, LG, or NG deity or Sune (who is the singular CG exception) and obey the multi-classing rules as set-forth by the specific paladin orders listed in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (FRCS pg 26).

Druids should have a nature deity as patron as listed in Faiths and Pantheons (F&P pg 90).

Rangers should have a patron deity if they cast spells (FRCS pg 26). All divine spellcasting in Forgotten Realms requires a patron.

[jandar]

Thanks Munroe,

OK, I found how to put in an avatar. Just didn't play with it enough.

You referenced the FRCS...is that a book that I can buy or is it posted someplace? sorry to sound so lame.

I was thinking about doing a fighter/pally/COT.....does it matter which diety that I select as long as its alignment is consistent with a pally?

Sure appreciate your help

[Talus]

FRCS = Forgotten Realm Campaign Setting...you can get it almost anywhere role playing books are sold.

[Munroe]

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (FRCS) is the primary D&D book that details the game world of Forgotten Realms. It is a $40 book so I wouldn't recommend it as a casual purchase.

Paladins in D&D who take another class may no longer advance as paladins.

FRCS allows exceptions to this rule in a sidebar on page 26. The exceptions are based on which deity the paladin has.

To multi-class as a fighter/paladin/divine champion, the paladin must have a deity that allows multiclassing freely as both a fighter and a divine champion.

The information in the sidebar has been reposted by DM Richard in this thread: frc.proboards37.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=lore&thread=1099023128&page=1

[Munroe]

For purposes of paladin multi-classing, if the deity of the paladin is not listed with specific exceptions, a paladin of that deity should not multi-class on FRC at all. This is because it is harder for us to monitor whether a character is continuing to advance as a paladin after taking another class than it would be in a tabletop session.

[Driderman]

As Munroe did earlier, I'd suggest you start out with something that doesn't involve deities, seeing as you don't know anything about Forgotten Realms.
You could always create a fighter who doesn't care for gods nor know much about them but who is converted at some point and takes the paladin class, when you've learned enough about the Faerunian gods

[♥Zach♥]

I also have a list of deities, I made the information about the deities shorter so it just provides the absolute need to know parts there when you need it.
www.northforum.proboards55.com/index.cgi?board=characterconstruction&action=display&thread=1139247036

(DMs here welcom to take it now or when its done and use it on this forum if you wish)

[Munroe]

driderman said:

As Munroe did earlier, I'd suggest you start out with something that doesn't involve deities, seeing as you don't know anything about Forgotten Realms.
You could always create a fighter who doesn't care for gods nor know much about them but who is converted at some point and takes the paladin class, when you've learned enough about the Faerunian gods

Unless your deity allows his/her paladins to multi-class as a fighter, a fighter cannot multi-class into paladin since a character who takes a non-allowed class can no longer take paladin levels so the character can't take the first level of paladin.

[Driderman]

Thats kinda silly though, innit?
Not ever being able to become a paladin if you've taken levels in other classes seems a bit too much. After all, it's not everyone who heeds the call early in life.
What about Gero Boldblade, isn't he a paladin? Technically, wouldn't all those levels of Farmer prevent him from becoming a paladin? (Well, maybe a paladin of Chauntea, but you get my point

[moulinous]

uhhhhh, no. Paladins do not heed the call later in life. Clergy do maybe or even temple guards. Dragon magazine once had an excellent article called the Making of a Paladin. You see, paladins are born. They are champions of their god, so in tuned with their deity that they serve the cuase from birth to death. A simple caravan guard who for the last 40 years has served as a fighter cannot just all of the udden say, wow, i feel like serving Tempus as a Holy Avenging Butt Kicking Scion of the Lord of Battles. If, and this is a bag if, he is pious in his followings, strong in his devotion, and lucky...he can become a divine champion. But paladins ARE born according to most articles i have read...thats why they are rare.
In pnp, htey are hard to even roll up one due to the ability requirments...

[Driderman]

moulinous said:

uhhhhh, no. Paladins do not heed the call later in life. Clergy do maybe or even temple guards. Dragon magazine once had an excellent article called the Making of a Paladin. You see, paladins are born. They are champions of their god, so in tuned with their deity that they serve the cuase from birth to death. A simple caravan guard who for the last 40 years has served as a fighter cannot just all of the udden say, wow, i feel like serving Tempus as a Holy Avenging Butt Kicking Scion of the Lord of Battles. If, and this is a bag if, he is pious in his followings, strong in his devotion, and lucky...he can become a divine champion. But paladins ARE born according to most articles i have read...thats why they are rare.
In pnp, htey are hard to even roll up one due to the ability requirments...

I guess that means Gero Boldblade doesn't exist then...
And I think you're thinking about the old AD&D game when you're talking about ability requirements for paladins, since there are none in D&D. There are ability scores that are useful, but no requirements for any class.
Tecnically, you could play a cleric with a wisdom of 8, if you wanted to...
I'm not sure I like the "paladins are born", regardless of whether it's written in articles or not. In this polytheistic world we play in, where gods bicker and fight and change moods and portfolios, I believe in the free will of humans and assorted playable races. Therefore, in my mind at least, becoming a paladin is a conscious choice where you pledge to serve your chosen deity with body and soul, until the end...

Apologies if this post is a bit messy, got massive Halloweenparty hangovers ;D

[moulinous]

where you choose to serve your deity till the end? well, the deity has to also choose you. a paladin is something special, someone that others aspire to be. a paladin is in essence a champion of their deity, a chosen one, a fanatic. So i can choose to worship Torm but i cannot choose to have his holy power of lay on hands without Torm choosing me. And yes, i am talking about old AD&D where paladins were something special and still should be something special. I see so many damm paladins IG...well, any hows, no ranting from this clone, i just think paladins are Holy Warriors and to say that you can just choose the power is ridiculous in the extreme

[Driderman]

Well I agree, paladins should be special and yes, I also meant that whatever god you chose to serve has to agree of course, to grant a small portion of its power for the paladins abilities to work and so forth.
I'm not saying going from Fighter to Paladin shouldn't be roleplayer or that it should be easy, I was merely making a suggestion as to how he could roleplay it.
And as I see it, barring somebody from roleplaying what might become an epic tale of a simple swordsman who finds a higher calling just because some articles say that paladins are born, is crazy. Thats pretty much adhering to the letter of the law and not the intent, and thats not good for promoting rp, in my opinion.

Besides, he might have been born a paladin and just found out late in life.

[Boogiedk]

This is a direct quote from the PHB :

No one ever chooses to be a paladin.
Becoming a paladin is answering a call, accepting one´s destiny . No one , no matter how diligent can become a paladin through practice. The nature is either within one or not, and it is not possible to gain the paladins nature by any act of will. It is possible, however , to fail to recognize one´s own potential, or to deny one´s destiny. Occasionally, one who is called to be a paladin denies that call and pursues some other life instead.
Most paladins do answer the call and begin training as adolesecents. Typically they become squires or assistants to experienced paladins, train for years , and finally set off on their own to further the causes of good and law. Other paladins find their calling later in life , after having pursued some other career . All paladins regardless of background, recognize in each other an eternal bond that transcends culture , race , and even religion. Any two paladins, even from opposite sides of the world consider themselves comrades.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So paladins are called, not born and can heed, and get, the call at any time in their life.

In the case of Gero Boldblade , he got the call begging Tyr for justice while in the care of the wandering paladins that saved his life , trained with them and finally set "sails" for Cormyr when he was ready to head out on his own , even though he was in his 50´ies at the time,

Be good
B.

Edit:
------
Munroe Im curious . Where does it say that I cannot take another level in paladin if I have picked up another class ?
Cause Ive looked in , PHB , server rules and paladin sourcebooks and cannot find it anywhere

[DM the Usurper]

They way I understand it...from the FR Campaign source. p.26. It is just a shame there isn't a list of all the dieties, which diety has paladins, and such.
Under each diety listed, they list which classes a paladin can multiclass into, if any. Then it says if they are able to multi-class freely or not. Under my understanding if they can multi-class freely then it means they can pick another class, then the next time pick up paladin class afterwards. If they are not able to multiclass freely, then it is my understanding they are not able to resume paladin class levels after the multiclass.

Can another verify this?

In fact, the more I analyze this these are the only dieties that allow multi-class, which would be why the following insert is labeled "Special Paladin Orders". (diety/allowed multiclass/can multiclass free, or cannot multiclass freely)

[/td]
[td][tr]Azuth[/tr][tr]Wizard[/tr][tr]No[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Chauntea[/tr][tr]Cleric, DivineChampion, Divine Disciple[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Helm[/tr][tr]Fighter, Cleric, Divine Champion, Arcane Devotee, Purple Dragon Knight[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Ilmater[/tr][tr]Cleric, Divine Champion, Divine Disciples, Hierophant[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Kelemvor[/tr][tr]Ranger, Cleric[/tr][tr]No[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Lathander[/tr][tr]Cleric, Divine Champion, Divine Disciple, Hierophant, Purple Dragon Knight[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Moradin[/tr][tr]Cleric, Fighter, Divine Champion, Dwarven Defender, Runecaster[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Sune[/tr][tr]DivineChampion[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Torm[/tr][tr]Any one class[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Tyr[/tr][tr]Cleric, Fighter, Divine Champion[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td]
[td][tr]Yondalla[/tr][tr]Monk[/tr][tr]Yes[/tr][/td][/tr][/table]

[Munroe]

I was typing while Usurper posted.

Player's Handbook 3.5, pg 45:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like a member of any other class, a paladin may be a multiclass character, but multiclass paladins face a special restriction. A paladin who gains a level in any class other than paladin may never again raise her paladin level, though she retains all her paladin abilities. The path of the paladin requires a constant heart. If a character adopts this class, she must pursue it to the exclusion of all other careers. Once she has turned off the path, she may never return.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, pg 26:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some faiths allow paladins to gain levels in another class and still return to progression as a paladin, exactly as some orders of monks do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The list of allowed paladin multi-class options in Forgotten Realms (from FRCS page 26) is reposted here: frc.proboards37.com/index.cgi?board=lore&action=display&thread=1099023128

Any LN, LG, or NG deity (or Sune, the CG exception), may have paladins, but only the deities listed on that page allow their paladins to multiclass, and only to the classes listed on that page.

The PHB rule of paladins as per the first quoted entry above says they retain all of their paladin abilities at their current level if they leave the paladinhood. However, for enforcement reasons (because we can't see by looking if you're continuing to take paladin levels), if you multi-class out of paladin on FRC to a non-allowed class, you will be asked to remake your paladin as a fighter.

[Boogiedk]

I read it Since Tyr allow his paladins to multiclass freely as Fighter, Cleric or divine champions . . I am allowed to alternate between my classes

Thanks

Sorry for the high jack


Be good
B.

[Munroe]

No worries. As a bit of trivia for you, my first post on the forums here was asking about this very rule before I even logged into the server.

frc.proboards37.com/index.cgi?board=roleplaydiscussion&action=display&thread=1110414861

[Driderman]

All things considered, that would mean there's no rule restriction on becoming a paladin due to levels taken before becoming a paladin, right?
Its only after starting on the path of paladiny goodness that you aren't allowed to multiclass ( unless of course your deity allows it ), as far as I understand

Right?

[heimdall]

driderman said:

All things considered, that would mean there's no rule restriction on becoming a paladin due to levels taken before becoming a paladin, right?
Its only after starting on the path of paladiny goodness that you aren't allowed to multiclass ( unless of course your deity allows it ), as far as I understand

Right?

I believed this to be the case as well...in fact I had a character who RP'd hearing the call of his diety for 6 levels before he chose to take a paladin level. (His plan was to treat it as a prestige class, taking his first pally level at lv 10)

However, he was forced to remake as a CoT, as this did not fit the 'multi-class' rules of his diety or the rules regarding multi-classing paladin's as appropriate to the FRCS.

If I was forced to remake, guess what I'm going to force you to do?

[DM Valkyrie]

Actually, it is a rule, if anyone wishes for thier character to have paladin levels, it must be the first class taken, so as to remain within the multiclassing restrictions. Hence, you may create a Paladin/Fighter of Tyr...but you cannot have a Fighter/Paladin of Tyr.....the call is given once, if it is turned down and the character pursues/starts out on another career, they cannot "change thier mind" later. Paladins must be solely devoted and focused on their god, and to refuse the call the first time, suggests they do not have the dedication they need. However, a fighter can recognize their devotion to thier god, and accept the role of Divine Champion (CoT) later in thier career.

[Traziun]

Personally, I think matters of classes before becoming a paladin should be relevant to exactly what class we're speaking of, and the character's background.

Someone like a Druid or a Bard has a profession in their class. I could certainly see gods not choosing them as paladins because of it, but other classes like Fighter and Rogue are more like sets of skills that you can have a variety of backgrounds for, aren't they?

Here's what I'm thinking; You have a character who trains extensively, and becomes good enough at combat to get fighter levels. If this character were good and pious enough to be an effective paladin, doesn't it seem a little silly that his god might decide he shouldn't be a paladin simply because of his combat skills? Just my two cents.

[heimdall]

traziun said:

Personally, I think matters of classes before becoming a paladin should be relevant to exactly what class we're speaking of, and the character's background.

Someone like a Druid or a Bard has a profession in their class. I could certainly see gods not choosing them as paladins because of it, but other classes like Fighter and Rogue are more like sets of skills that you can have a variety of backgrounds for, aren't they?

Here's what I'm thinking; You have a character who trains extensively, and becomes good enough at combat to get fighter levels. If this character were good and pious enough to be an effective paladin, doesn't it seem a little silly that his god might decide he shouldn't be a paladin simply because of his combat skills? Just my two cents.

That's fine and you can have your opinion on the matter certainly.

That said we'll be sticking to the rules we've held to for the last 3 or so years on this subject. Please follow those rules, or you will be asked to remake your character.

[moulinous]

and if they do have a good set of skills like a rogues or fighters...then divine champion instead of paladin. which i know i have been pretty clear how i feel paladins should be played and is why i do not play them as i would not be able to play them correctly in my book...i think a divine champion or CoT is a very good choice for people as it is a very realistic choice for someone chosen by their god who is not a paladin. man...just reread that? am i drunk?lol

[Munroe]

valkyrie said:

Actually, it is a rule, if anyone wishes for thier character to have paladin levels, it must be the first class taken, so as to remain within the multiclassing restrictions. Hence, you may create a Paladin/Fighter of Tyr...but you cannot have a Fighter/Paladin of Tyr

This rule is news to me. If the deity allows the paladin to multiclass freely into the class, I see no problem with the paladin multiclassing from the class as his/her starting class.

The important thing is whether the deity allows the paladin to have that class. If the deity doesn't allow the paladin free multiclassing with that class, then that class should not be able to multiclass into paladin.

[AnvilX]

I thought most clerics could multi free (at any level) as a paladin as well?

[Munroe]

No, they can't. The only clerics who can multi-class as paladins are the ones whose gods allow their paladins to multi-class as clerics.

This goes back to driderman's question about levels before paladinhood. If a paladin can't multi-class out of paladin into a class then take another paladin level, then a paladin cannot multi-class into paladin from that class, because they would not qualify for the paladin level.

[AnvilX]

Well that is what I meant. I was taking it for granted that the deity would allow the multi class change. What I was more inferring to was that a cleric could do so at a different level, they did not have to start out as a paladin at level one. At least that is what I recall from reading somewhere in Faiths and Pantheons and something of that sort in FRC (Forgotten Realms Campaign). Also, I am pretty sure Torm is one of the gods who allows this of his clergy.

Hey but I have been wrong before…

[Driderman]

So, becoming a base class is something REAL special but becoming a presige class divine champion of a deity is just something everyone can do?
I question the logic here, as I also question the fact that you have start as paladin as lvl 1 or not at all.
But I'm guessing that what it all boils down is that you're the DMs and I'm the player