| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| Anouska04-06-07, 02:58 PM | Hey, I'm a relatively new player with only minor actual Eberron gaming experience, and I was wondering as to the feasibility of a Changeling Paladin? What can I do that would be unique or interesting? Any quirky neat combos? I know this runs against the mainstream changeling use, but the idea always seemed neat to me, especially for RP purposes. (I noticed that in the RoE, they don't even mention Paladin as a potential changeling class.) |
| Warforged Goblin04-06-07, 03:54 PM | A changeling paladin would probably be as rare as a goblin paladin, which isn't to say that they don't exist. Honestly, it really depends on where your PC is from. If you grew up in Thrane and became a paladin of the Flame, that'd make sense. If you and your gang buddies harshed it out on the streets of Sharn, becoming a paladin woudn't make much sense. Here's my suggestions: - Use your minor shape change ability very rarely, if at all, in public. Paladins are susposed to be paragons of truth and if you continually change your face, how will people trust you. - Pick a deity that makes sense. Please, PLEASE don't try and pull a paladin of the Traveller. Go for Dol Dorn, Dol Arrah, or the Silver Flame. - Don't ignore your natural abilities. I realize I said not to use your minor shape change in public, but while infiltrating an enemy stronghold, look like who or what you need to be. Also, I highly suggest taking the Knight's Training feat with a few levels of rogue and possibly branching into the Shadowbane Inquisitor PrC. Hope I helped. |
| Anouska04-06-07, 04:00 PM | I was planning on following the Silver Flame. The basic idea I have is that my character was a spy for House Phiarlan doing undercover work in Thrane during the last war, when he was captured and tortured. In the end, he finally collapsed and gave in, when he saw a bright burning flame that gave him life once again.(Something like that, at least) So with that background in mind, I planned on starting off as a rogue and branching off into Paladin. And yes, that did help. Thanks :) Though I'll gladly take any advice anybody else has to offer! Edit: Where can I find the Knight's Training feat? Edit: And the Shadowbane Inquisitor prestige. :P |
| Coldoneknight04-06-07, 04:22 PM | Knight training is in the ECS and Shadowbane Inquisitor is from complete adventurer. hope this helps |
| Hideous Phidias04-06-07, 05:39 PM | I would go with a story something like this; as a young changling, not a child but still young, you found yourself hurt after a miss understanding with a town guard. Maybe you use your powers or maybe it was just stuff went missing and the local changling. After exscaping from town and traveling the roads you were come apon by a Palidin of the Silver Flame. You tell your story to this paladin, they beleive you and heal you and go about setting things right in town. After feeling the power of the Flame in you you hear the calling of your heart and pleage you life to the Flame and the paladin. They take you on as a squire and at some point you have struck out on your own. The reason I say this is if you were a spy in Thrane for House Phiarlan and got captured by Thrane I don't see them as a forgiving type. I would think that after the torture you would find you head on the block as a spy. Most countries kill spies during war time. |
| Edymnion04-06-07, 10:07 PM | I was planning on following the Silver Flame. The basic idea I have is that my character was a spy for House Phiarlan doing undercover work in Thrane during the last war, when he was captured and tortured. In the end, he finally collapsed and gave in, when he saw a bright burning flame that gave him life once again.(Something like that, at least)Not knocking your idea, but the Silver Flame is specifically said *NOT* to do or encourage forced conversions of any kind. Its one reason there isn't a real Thranish Inquisition, because there are no heretics to root out. If you don't wanna follow the Flame, nobody is going to make you. They see it a very realistic light. Forced conversions almost never actually believe in their new religion, and simply become a cancer within. That said, there is no reason why a Changeling can't actually believe in the Silver Flame's mission to purge the world of evil. And there's no reason why he can't use his shapeshifting to it's full potential. The Paladin has prohibitions against lying, but if you are not impersonating another person, and each face you use is one you yourself have created, then you're not really pretending to be somebody else, now are you? The trick here is to see things from a Changeling's point of view. To them, faces and personalities are like clothes are to us. If we're wearing pajamas, armor, or a tuxedo, its still us, we've just changed our appearance to suit the situation we find ourselves in (ready for bed, ready for battle, or ready for a ball). By having a set of faces, you wear them like a human would clothes. You have your battle form, the big strong male. You have the form you like to lounge around in, say the lanky rogueish type. You have the form that you take to really indulge yourself in, say female. None of these are replicating any actual person you have ever met, so you aren't lying saying you're pretending to be someone else, you are just "changeing your clothes", and will freely tell anyone who asks that "Yeah, thats me. This is me too." |
| Anouska04-06-07, 10:57 PM | Not knocking your idea, but the Silver Flame is specifically said *NOT* to do or encourage forced conversions of any kind. Its one reason there isn't a real Thranish Inquisition, because there are no heretics to root out. If you don't wanna follow the Flame, nobody is going to make you. Sorry if I was implying that he was converted, that's not at all what I meant. Thrane tortured him to get information out of him(Who he worked for and such). The "Calling" to become a Paladin was a by-product of him finally giving in. But...if that doesn't work(And it still sounds somewhat shaky to me), I'll either develop further on this idea, or think of another concept entirely. Of course, ideas are always appreciated. And thanks for replying. |
| Shady31404-07-07, 01:12 AM | Personally I think it would be interesting to take a Changeling paladin that rarely used change shape and just looked like a Changeling. His language skills would still be very useful and he'd have great diplomacy to take advantage of them. I think he'd try to be a shining example to all the poor oppressed changelings everywhere. You don't have to grow up to be thieves and thugs little changelings. Or he could have more of a Passer mindset and it could be a huge secret that your paladin is actually a changeling. I'd love to play a changeling in a group and try to hide the fact I'm a changeling from the other players. Who'd ever suspect the Paladin? Tricky though. Depends how harsh your DM is with the deceitfulness. If anyone ever asked you what race you were you probably couldn't lie about it. But how many people ask other people that? I definitely wouldn't try and come up with some crazy calling backstory. He'd just be a humble hard working lad. Maybe farmer or store clerk with a deep faith that found himself suddenly unable to sit back while others suffered. I'd take a cue from Joan of Arc. He'd find a sword lying a field and suddenly knew things were expected of him when he held it in his hands. I'd try to get laughs by playing on players expectations. Like what were you expecting? What a changeling can't just be a paladin? He's got to have some checkered past? We're not all rogues ya racists! I don't know whether he'd be a pally of Dol Dorn, Dol Arrah or SF though. If I went Dol Dorn he'd be more martial than I'd like for this character type. Dol Arrah is for the more diplomatic and I see this Paladin as a charismatic leader type and less the vanquisher of supernatural evil type. So Dol Arrah most likely. Hope that gives you some ideas and inspiration. Call me powergamerish but I'd never dilute paladin levels with rogue levels. Then again I don't know how well Shadowbane inquisitor meshes. |
| Anouska04-07-07, 02:14 PM | I definitely wouldn't try and come up with some crazy calling backstory. He'd just be a humble hard working lad. Maybe farmer or store clerk with a deep faith that found himself suddenly unable to sit back while others suffered. I'd take a cue from Joan of Arc. He'd find a sword lying a field and suddenly knew things were expected of him when he held it in his hands. I'm trying to avoid the precise stereotype of a humble working lad, pure of heart, who can't sit back while others are suffering. Undoubtably a unique character in the world, but it's used by so many because it's unique that it's no longer unique. Hope that gives you some ideas and inspiration. Call me powergamerish but I'd never dilute paladin levels with rogue levels. Then again I don't know how well Shadowbane inquisitor meshes. Rather well, actually. It's a prestige designed for rogue/paladins. |
| Edymnion04-07-07, 02:20 PM | And again, don't let preconcieved notions limit you. The Rogue does *NOT* have to be a shady character. With all of his skillpoints, the Rogue makes an excellent general adventurer class, it can fill the role of Expert quite nicely, etc. If you have your Rogue max out ranks in Heal, they instantly become doctors. Their "sneak attack" having nothing to do with being sneaky, but simply knowing anatomy and knowing where to hit. Just don't take ranks in Sleight of Hand, Bluff, Move Silent, or Hide, and you'll have no problem mixing the two classes without any problems at all. |
| yrogerg04-07-07, 02:26 PM | Personally I think it would be interesting to take a Changeling paladin that rarely used change shape and just looked like a Changeling. His language skills would still be very useful and he'd have great diplomacy to take advantage of them. I think he'd try to be a shining example to all the poor oppressed changelings everywhere. You don't have to grow up to be thieves and thugs little changelings. Or he could have more of a Passer mindset and it could be a huge secret that your paladin is actually a changeling. I'd love to play a changeling in a group and try to hide the fact I'm a changeling from the other players. Who'd ever suspect the Paladin? Tricky though. Depends how harsh your DM is with the deceitfulness. If anyone ever asked you what race you were you probably couldn't lie about it. But how many people ask other people that? I definitely wouldn't try and come up with some crazy calling backstory. He'd just be a humble hard working lad. Maybe farmer or store clerk with a deep faith that found himself suddenly unable to sit back while others suffered. I'd take a cue from Joan of Arc. He'd find a sword lying a field and suddenly knew things were expected of him when he held it in his hands. I'd try to get laughs by playing on players expectations. Like what were you expecting? What a changeling can't just be a paladin? He's got to have some checkered past? We're not all rogues ya racists! I don't know whether he'd be a pally of Dol Dorn, Dol Arrah or SF though. If I went Dol Dorn he'd be more martial than I'd like for this character type. Dol Arrah is for the more diplomatic and I see this Paladin as a charismatic leader type and less the vanquisher of supernatural evil type. So Dol Arrah most likely. Hope that gives you some ideas and inspiration. Call me powergamerish but I'd never dilute paladin levels with rogue levels. Then again I don't know how well Shadowbane inquisitor meshes. Remember also that despite gaining Divine spellcasting abilities, Paladin's needn't be religious, and even if they are, they needn't follow the edicts of their church. Your Paladin could easily be a strikingly incorruptable member of Sharn's largely-somewhat-corrupt Watch, for example. |
| Shady31404-07-07, 03:36 PM | I'm trying to avoid the precise stereotype of a humble working lad, pure of heart, who can't sit back while others are suffering. Undoubtably a unique character in the world, but it's used by so many because it's unique that it's no longer unique. Maybe it's just the people I've played with but everyone's paladins have always had some sort of unusual awakening or checkered past(this one ALWAYS for changelings). Except for the powergamers who would just say "he's a Paladin. He worships some sort of god of justice uh... yeah let's fight stuff." So for me it'd be fun to have a character of more humble origins. I realize it wouldn't be "unique" I did say I'd copy Joan of Arc's story after all. But how about this? Instead of trying to keep others from suffering or even having a deep faith he has a lot of nationalistic pride. Maybe he wants to reform Galifar for the good of Khorvaire? Or maybe he's devoted to a specific nation. Maybe Breland and he is a big believer in democracy? Nationalistic paladin could be an interesting Eberron spin. Yes I realize this too is not "unique" it was inspired by the bone knights of Karnath. Rather well, actually. It's a prestige designed for rogue/paladins. :D I realize that. If you do mix rogue consider the rogue substitution levels for changelings. |
| Edymnion04-07-07, 04:50 PM | Maybe it's just the people I've played with but everyone's paladins have always had some sort of unusual awakening or checkered pastWell generally thats because it is those who are least worthy of mercy and redemption that are truely capable of appreciating it when it is given to them. Historically speaking, in almost every religion, it is the persecutor turned believer that is the most driving force. |
| Anouska04-07-07, 05:01 PM | Historically speaking, in almost every religion, it is the persecutor turned believer that is the most driving force. Saul, is a perfect example. Though most know him as Paul, the Apostle. |
| goblin_pride04-07-07, 06:53 PM | Or maybe he's devoted to a specific nation. Maybe Breland and he is a big believer in democracy? Nationalistic paladin could be an interesting Eberron spin. An "everyman" changeling as a paladin of the democratic ideal where every man counts? That's just too much, I may have to steal that idea. |
| Edymnion04-07-07, 07:16 PM | An "everyman" changeling as a paladin of the democratic ideal where every man counts? That's just too much, I may have to steal that idea.Heh, give him multiple personality disorder and have them each have their own face, and make 'em vote on what to do. Its a good aligned Two-Face! :D |
| goblin_pride04-07-07, 07:20 PM | Heh, give him multiple personality disorder and have them each have their own face, and make 'em vote on what to do. Its a good aligned Two-Face! :D Just two? Dude, it's bloody Lon Chaney and you're limiting him to two? |
| Edymnion04-07-07, 07:33 PM | Just two? Dude, it's bloody Lon Chaney and you're limiting him to two?No, just making the batman referance. To get a good democracy going on, he'd need a dozen at least. |
| ChristopherGroves04-09-07, 05:02 PM | A Changeling Paladin / Exorcist / Mindspy would be pretty spiffy and very CHA-focused. |