Paladins ~ do you allow other races . .

[Tadhg]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why? If yes, how did they fare? I don't see any particular issues, but I haven't ever had a request in my games.

Thanks.

[Treebore]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why? If yes, how did they fare? I don't see any particular issues, but I haven't ever had a request in my games.

Thanks.

I've allowed Dwarven Paladins. Sure, their racial bonus' give them an edge in a few instances, but over all I thought they were just fine.

[Captain_K]

CnC has no racial limits on any class as far as I've seen... why should they.. Other than the Christian Crusader stereo type a Paladin is simply a LG holy warrior... stop your image there.. so, who is LG.. great defenders of their faith and family.. Dwarves, Halflings, Gnomes (on giant badgers)... etc.

So, no limits for me if the PC concept is good and I also like it tied to the right God or Goddess, Pantheon, or "divine force" or in a pinch "extra binding rules and beliefs".

[Arduin]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why?

The class is a human only ideal.

[Captain_K]

Nope, still can't find any CnC notes in the PH on racial restrictions for class or level restrictions either.. seems to me, its your game, restrict if you like or expand your mind and let freedom and imagination reinvent a Paladin that works in a setting besides the crusades... and in races besides Humans... I would love to see a Half Orc Paladin who must constantly struggle to live in a world which judges him by half is race and appearance... yet he still holds to the highest ideals and saves those who scorn him... that's the making of a paladin to me.

[Treebore]

Nope, still can't find any CnC notes in the PH on racial restrictions for class or level restrictions either.. seems to me, its your game, restrict if you like or expand your mind and let freedom and imagination reinvent a Paladin that works in a setting besides the crusades... and in races besides Humans... I would love to see a Half Orc Paladin who must constantly struggle to live in a world which judges him by half is race and appearance... yet he still holds to the highest ideals and saves those who scorn him... that's the making of a paladin to me.

Yeah, C&C doesn't have racial requirements for each class. I don't think D&D has had that since early 2E D&D. IE the Options books removed class-race requirements.

[Tadhg]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why?

The class is a human only ideal.

Ridiculous? Who says?

"Demi humans", hello!

D&D may follow some aspects of human history, but it is after all fantasy!

And C&C says "typical classes" for a particular race!

[Arduin]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why?

The class is a human only ideal.

Ridiculous? Who says?

In my game world, I say so. And, as the arbiter of all reality in that game world, it is true.

Who did ya think said so?

[Tadhg]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why?

The class is a human only ideal.

Ridiculous? Who says?

In my game world, I say so. And, as the arbiter of all reality in that game world, it is true.

Who did ya think said so?

[Buttmonkey]

I would allow any race to be a paladin in my game if I allowed paladins.

[serleran]

Paladin, like knight, is not something a character can begin play being. It must be earned. Any deity can like any individual and bestow paladinhood unto them, and sometimes, more than one blessing can be earned. So... in short, sure, if you deserve it.

[Jyrdan Fairblade]

No - I've used the typical classes for each race as limitations since the beginning.

[Arduin]

besides half-elf and human?

If not, why?

The class is a human only ideal.

Ridiculous? Who says?

In my game world, I say so. And, as the arbiter of all reality in that game world, it is true.

Who did ya think said so?

Seriously though. In my world it is a particular God that Paladins serve and that God doesn't "call" demi-humans to service for Him.

[Omote]

All races allowed. Currently, in a game a I am running, there is a dwarf paladin of a typically human god. It's been a fun character to see develop!

~O

[Treebore]

All races allowed. Currently, in a game a I am running, there is a dwarf paladin of a typically human god. It's been a fun character to see develop!

~O

If there is a race that is meant to be Paladins, it is the Lawful Good dwarves. Of course in C&C they are Lawful Neutral, but still...

[Captain_K]

1) Was the original question "In your world, who do you let be/become paladins"? This I think we all assumed since you're experience level knows CnC has no restriction...
Once we get past #1, then its up to each of us and you're getting each CK's world/class view... do you need more detail from each of us to explain (assuming you care that much)?
So in this line, here is my "logic to paladinhood":
A) PC must be LG and therefore if linked to a direct deity or pantheon they must also be GOOD and Lawful ideally to make that divine tie. It is possible to be so tied to GOODNESS and LAW that a direct single divinity is not required as a direct patron, but all goodness and all good gods are their "patrons" - this is rare but might be allowed should the PC have a good case and a good backstory. Below is a short list of the "easy" divine ties for all LG gods typically written up in DnD/CnC literature (source: http://www.mjyoung.net/dungeon/char/deity041.html )
Amaterasu Omikami (Japanese)
Anubis (Egyptian)
Arvoreen (Hobbits)
Athena (Greek)
Bahamut (Dragons)
Berronar (Dwarfs)
Chung Kuel (Chinese)
(St.) Cuthbert (Greyhawk)
Cyrrollalee (Hobbits)
Daikoku (Japanese)
Diancecht (Celtic)
Donblas the Justice Maker (Melnibonean)
Ebisu (Japanese)
Forseti (Norse)
Garl Glittergold (Gnomes)
Girru (Babylonian)
Heimdall (Norse)
Heng (American Indian)
Ilmatar (Finnish)
Issek of the Jug (Nehwon)
Kiri-Jolith (Krynn)
Kuan Yin (Chinese)
Mishakal (Krynn)
Moradin (Dwarfs)
Osiris (Egyptian)
Paladine (Krynn)
Pholtus (Greyhawk)
Shu (Egyptian)
Solinari (Krynn)
Surya (Indian)
Tefnut (Egyptian)
Tyr (Norse)
Ukko (Finnish)
Ulaa (Greyhawk)
Vishnu (Indian)
Votishal (Nehwon)
Yondalla (Hobbits)
B) Since my CK goal is to have a game world that mirrors the "real" world in about 1,000 AD with "Middle Earth" or DnD overlaid upon it with one major change: Rome and thus Christianity did not over take the various countries and their native beliefs. This composite & diverse world really forces me to take the "Christ" and Roman Crusader out of the Paladin class and focus on LG Holy Warrior.
C) I like to work with each PC to let them play the class and race they want to play and attempt to logically stitch them into my world fabric. So far it has worked and we have all sorts of fun with it while keeping things in a reasonable level of "fantasy logic".
The above three guidelines result in Dwarven, Human & Gnome Paladins with no issue if they pick the right god and country/religion and are willing to be minorities in a far off land in many cases. Others are all possible, just takes a bit more "unique" backstory and then as noted before roll playing that backstory in say the case of the 1/2 Orc Paladin.

Does that help or is that overkill???

[Captain_K]

Oh, I like the idea of divine selection of Paladins, but my assumption is that happened earlier in life, especially if starting at higher level than 1st... but I like the idea of a fighter being divinely "converted".. likely against their will!

[AGNKim]

My character in Steve's game is a Dwarf Paladin and he is awesome and if you don't like it you can stick your hand in a wood shredder.

[Tadhg]

Captain K, thanks for the post/info. Good to see what others do and it's good for people here on this forum who may not have had any of their players ask about this.

Me, I allow any race any class and always have since the White Box. I just never had a request on the paladin and happened to notice that only 2 races are "typical" choices for this class.

I'm liberal and allow lots of things in my game - magical protection stacking with magical or expert armor, wizards can wear light armor and use swords . . among other things.

Anyway, shall we talk about gnome gknights?

[Tadhg]

My character in Steve's game is a Dwarf Paladin and he is awesome and if you don't like it you can stick your hand in a wood shredder.

Ouch! You scare me sometimes!

[Tadhg]

I would allow any race to be a paladin in my game if I allowed paladins.

Oh yeah, then you better let me play a gnome knight in yer game!!! Grrrrhh!

[Lurker]

Back in the day when I GMed, I never had anyone play a Paladin. Out of my group I was the 'good guy', so when I ran the game no one would have wanted to step up and play one. The closest was a couple of cavilers that were Lg (Meaning very lawful with a flavor of good instead of LG if you catch my meaning).

That said, I always looked a paladins a little different than the normal GM. Also, the same thing with cleric now that I think of it. A paladin doesn't worship 1 god/goddess. He personifies the holly, lawful good of that society. With that multiple gods/goddesses will be interested in him. Additionally, a cleric is the gods/goddess' representative for the community. If they need a healing spell then Apollo gets a prayer, if it is planting time then an offering to Demeter goes up to her. - I do limit the cleric to parrying to gods/goddesses that are similar/close to their alignment - no LE cleric praying to Athena etc. ... Boy I'm horrid about digressing ...

Ok, back to the original idea of the thread, other races. That is iffy ... the character must personify lawful good, so most races normally wont. elves are never lawful (neutral to chaotic) similarly halflings are more neutral good and few if any are lawful. I guess as others pointed out dwarves, and they are the only ones I can think of that are close to LG. So, dwarves possibly all others nope.

However, I'd allow an exception for a great back story. So, if you wanted to play an elf paladin. Make a great write up that explains it (but fits into the elf mindset/society) and we'll play ball. That or make up a variation on the paladin that fits the culture/society of the race and we'll see how it works. Something like an elf with an alignment of NG but leans heavily toward lawful - compared to other elves, is a paladin but limits himself to elfen chain as the best armor he can wear, uses a bow instead of a lance, honors all the good gods/goddesses of the elves properly, and they get paladin benefits.

This brings me back to the idea I had about allowing other alignments to play paladin variations - from an old dragon mag, I'd have to look up the number. with them it would be easier to make non-human paladin(ish) characters. But, it has been years sense I read that article and thought about it.

[Go0gleplex]

I have always let any race be a Paladin. Even back in 2e days.

Paladin
noun
1.
any one of the 12 legendary peers or knightly champions in attendance on Charlemagne.
2.
any knightly or heroic champion.
3.
any determined advocate or defender of a noble cause.

I see nothing in the definition that would be a basis for limiting the class by race since any member of any race could fulfill items 2 and 3 of the definition.

[Captain_K]

Gnome's got to ride a giant badger or wolverine... ;}

[serleran]

My first C&C character was a gnome paladin (with druid tendencies) who rode a razorback. This was then followed by a halfling druid who had one.

Razorbacks make great mounts for the little folk.

[slimykuotoan]

I have no good reason for this, but I always saw them as a 'humany' order. So, in my games, I'd have an appropriate story worked out as to why/how a non-human got that title.

So it could happen, but wouldn't be the norm. Kinda like a good drow, etc.

[Tadhg]

For me, it's quite easy. Demi-humans have gods. Their gods can call up them to be clerics or paladins!

[tylermo]

I allow any race to play Paladins. Are you kidding? I'm just glad to have somebody play C&C, instead of the usual brand names. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[rucker]

Glorfindel in LOTR could be considered a perfect example of Elf Paladin

[Lurker]

My first C&C character was a gnome paladin (with druid tendencies) who rode a razorback. This was then followed by a halfling druid who had one.

Razorbacks make great mounts for the little folk.

This is a bit of a tangent, but years ago I had an idea for a ranger hobbit and him being part of a order/clan that required you to catch, raise/tame a wild boar.

Sadly, the DM wouldn't buy off on it ...

That said, a boar would make a great mount for a Halfling paladin