Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Callista 11-26-04, 08:24 PM	I'm currently attempting to design a gnomish paladin, who, with luck, will be a long-term NPC, and without luck, will at least play a part in the next couple of sessions. I'm thinking to put him in a position as the leader of the town guard/city militia. For reasons of plot, he has to have paladin levels. Total character levels should be something like 5 or 6. So, I'm thinking, with the gnomish propensity towards Chaos, this NPC might have trained as a Monk to learn discipline (i.e., gain or reinforce the required Lawful alignment). I need this character to have high saves, and a couple levels of Monk could go a long way. I'm also aware that a paladin who multiclasses to Monk can't gain paladin levels anymore; though that restriction doesn't apply to someone who starts out as a monk and then takes levels as a paladin. So what we have here is a very atypical gnome. First, he's Lawful; second, he's a Monk, third, he's a Paladin. 1. How would such a person act? Personality, et cetera. And how would he be received by the carefree townsfolk (who are mostly gnome, some halfling, some human)? Not to mention that the town government is aligned CG, though the mayor is NG; and while the paladin's primary allegiance is of course to his god, that could cause problems. 2. Which brings me to something else: What god would a gnomish paladin worship? (Generic D&D setting). 3. And, while the paladin's call is a personal thing (or would be in this NPC's case anyhow), how does a gnome become a paladin when gnomish paladins are almost unheard of? 4. Mechanics: This guy will probably be a party ally (or, if the BBEG has his way, an enemy... long story), so he will have to be relatively good at fighting. Does it make sense, stat-wise, to have a paladin who uses unarmed attacks or monk-style weapons? Any advice will be appreciated. And, before you say it, I will say it myself: Yes, I do have a knack for creating weird NPCs... so sue me!
Baron Stoonir Fel 11-26-04, 08:42 PM	Well as a head figure in the town, gnome or not he should have a commanding ammount of respect from the locals. If he has been there for awhile i would say that he would come off as a little arrogant, perhaps suspicious. Even if he has the same allignment the leaders of town militia, or any civil guard unit tend to be a little wary of outsiders, espicially well armed outsiders. Oh and anyone can become a paladin, be creative in that aspect, make up an intesting past for the guy. If he is going to a prodominant figure, make his character dynamic and engaging. He could be a grump, a coward, overly zelous, secretive...the point is do what is interesting. If your players are going to be seeing a lot of this guy make him intesting to be around, us him in different ways. Just go all out.
Ponderosa 11-26-04, 11:32 PM	When making a gnomish paladin, you should try playing up the "defender of the people" role. Your paladin would feel a duty to his people, and that is what motivates him to be good and destroy evil. He is a leader of the militia, so he would want to defend and protect the militia members, who in turn are dedicated to defending their home. When roleplaying him, he might be overly protective of his charges, to the point of being suspicious or slightly hostile. However, if the PCs earn his trust, then they would have a good and trustworthy ally. As for his deity, remember that the gnomish deity, Garl Glittergold, while he is chaotic and carefree, he is also a protector of the gnomes. Your paladin can be serious and dedicated while still believing that jokes and pranks can lighten one's heart. He just might not prefer to indulge in them regularly, but he can still appreciate them. Lastly, I don't recommend having him take monk levels and use monk weapons. The paladin could have been trained in a monastery but doesn't have to practice unarmed combat. He should be primarily a soldier and a paladin.
Leagle 11-27-04, 09:25 AM	A note on the monk -why? He must learn discipline and gain a lawful mindset to become a paladin anyway. Paladins are like monks in that repect, so making him a monk then a paladin is just unnecessary and even weirder than a gnomebeing any one of them.
Board_Rider 11-27-04, 11:16 AM	Is the gnome absolutely needed? Why not another race.....seems as is that is the problem. OK. Gnome it is. 1. The primary gnome populace would probably either a) hold him in awe or b) tease him for being so uptight. Usually, IMO, any race/PC/NPC that is a Paladin is held up to a higher level. If the town is chaotic good that is fine by him, because it is how the laws are made and enforced that keep this guy busy. I see him as a mature beyond his years, an "old" spirit, that watches over his people despite the fact they find him an oddity. He takes this job very seriously and actually is very good at it. 2. Couldn't tell ya....go with Ponderosa's suggestion. 3. The town he is currently in may have be attacked when he was a small boy. Seeing those Paladins, atop their horses in brilliant armor, struck a chord in the young gnome which he would listen to until adulthood and realize his potential. 4. I would drop the whole monk thing. Say that when he was growing up (again wanting to be a Paladin) he went to work for a church. This gave him the dedication, pride and most importantly knowledge to become a paladin. On the way up he also became a 1st level cleric. This also means you don't neccesarily need a gnome deity for him to worship. Hope that helps.
Bard-of-all-trades 11-27-04, 05:57 PM	Do you have Unearthed Arcana? If so you might be able to use the Paladin Prestige Class for this particular NPC. The NPC would need to be a Cleric of some levels and would preclude the need to become a Monk as you've talked about. The Deity would just be a LG Gnome that has domains of Law, Good, and Protection or something like that. You might even just use Garl Glittergold from the Player's Handbook. Otherwise, just use the Paladin as it is in the Player's Handbook. A Paladin is often a commander and could very well be the leader of the local guard. Nothing says that a Paladin has to be stuffy and gruff. You can have plenty of jokes and stories to tell and still remain LG. And if the Paladin is high enough level to have a Special Mount, that would put him in the towns good graces and the source of plenty of stories and pranks. Cool idea. Would love to hear how it goes.
ChaoticGod 11-27-04, 06:30 PM	Captain Karandiraninus Sparkleinghelminthesunrise Str 12(13+1), Dex 15, Con 13(11), Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 14[16]* Gnome Fighter 2 / Paladin 4(Favored Class by DM choice) F11, R8, W7, Inititative +2, Speed 20ft, HP 46 *Tabard of Charisma +2 AC 19 = 10+1 Size + 2Dex + 5Mithril Breastplate +1Mithril Buckler Feats: 1st: Iron Will F1: Combat Expertise F2: Improved Trip 3rd: Lightning Reflexes 6th: Improved Disarm BAB+6/+1 +1 Gnomish Hooked Hammer +9/+4 1d6+2 20/x3, Disarm +13, Trip +1 Paladin Spell: (1) 1st: Bless used to aid his guardsmen during times of trouble Karandiraninus always had an orderly streak. He craved stability and security in a gnomish society that was based on the whims of its people. Everyone kept changing their mind! And playing pranks on the 'stick in the mud'. When he was older Karandiraninus set out to make his way in the world. He sought to join some organization that would provide him with the stability and order that he sought while at the same time allowing him to serve the common good. Lacking magic in his blood, Karandiraninus had learned the ways of the warrior, or soldier, as he liked to think of it. After traveling some time he found himself in a human town. They were in need of guards and he was in need of gold. The recruiter was skeptical at first but when Karandiraninus managed to put the burly human on his back with his Hooked Hammer, he got the job. But on one condition, the gnome was to shorten his name to Karand Sparklehelm, at least among the humans. In a few short months Karand was promoted due to his vigilance and organization. While he was accepted as a guardsman, Karand's gnomish heritage made him impartial in human affairs, giving him a reputation for fair and just dealings with the people. But something was still missing from Karand's life. He knew that as a gnome his advancement would have its limits in a human organization. That is when he heard the call. Karand has been a dutiful follower of Garl Glittergold but never really all that pious. 'The Joker' and his teachings had always been a bit flighty to Karand's thinking. But another diety was calling to him. The Shining One called Karand into his service and with this vision the gnome went to the Temple of Pelor to confirm this with the human priests there. While Pelor was not a diety of gnomes, nor was he a diety of just humans, he was The Shining One who supported all in need and fought all that was evil. Karand left the temple that day as a Knight of the Sun, a paladin of Pelor charged to fight evil and to aid and protect those in need. As Karand's people skills grew he continued to progress in rank. When the last captain of the guard retired, many were uncertain of whether or not a gnome should be in charge of the town's defenses but now Captain Karand's leadership has put fears to rest. New comers to the town may underestimate the little gnome knight and his hooked hammer until they find their themselves flat on their back with their weapon 10 feet way.
Callista 11-27-04, 11:24 PM	(Oops, double post)
Callista 11-27-04, 11:29 PM	A note on the monk -why? He must learn discipline and gain a lawful mindset to become a paladin anyway. Paladins are like monks in that repect, so making him a monk then a paladin is just unnecessary and even weirder than a gnomebeing any one of them. Mechanics. I'd prefer for this NPC to have high saves. However, I suppose I could always give him items that do that for him... at level 5-7 that's not entirely impossible. Gnome, because the town the PCs will encounter him in is mostly gnome, some halfling, some human. The town's already been established so I can't change that. Technically, though, having him be a human in the authority structure of a gnomish city is not totally impossible. My gnomes tend to like traveling; and as such, they don't tend to be xenophobes. So if I wanted, I could even make the guy a human paladin with save-boosting items (cloak of resistance +2 would be appropriate, if a bit powerful for his level, I think). But the idea of a gnome paladin... I think he'd be more memorable to my players than the standard human knight-in-shining-armor would be. ChaoticGod... I really like that idea. Karandiraninus Sparkleinghelminthesunrise (heh!) sounds like what I'm looking for. A couple feats and items to boost saves, and I think I've got a good start.
Felonious Monk 11-27-04, 11:45 PM	With paladin getting his CHA to saves, just having an insane charisma will do the trick. And a gnome gets to add to a save stat (CON) while losing points from a non-save stat (STR). I'd go straight paladin, gnome, and have a CHA item to make his saves even sillier.
Callista 11-29-04, 01:43 AM	I used the gnomish paladin for the first time today. He went over quite well. The players know him as "the Constable", an oddly serious gnome who feels great responsibility for his town, and will do anything to protect it. His example actually pushed one player's dwarven monk (formerly LN) the rest of the way to LG (it didn't take much) when she decided to capture rather than kill a known murderer in order to give him a chance to repent and/or explain himself. Good thing, too; because eventually it will turn out that he was influenced more than halfway by a cursed intelligent weapon he had come to possess. Another player, a CN rogue, was extremely annoyed by his very presence, which is as it should be; but she actually managed to use her silver tongue (think sky-high Bluff/Diplomacy) to convince the constable to acccept the party's aid in tracking down said murderer. The rogue usually stays far, far away from anything resembling authority... so seeing her attempt to cooperate with authority for a change (for her own reasons, of course--a nice reward being one of them) was quite amusing. The paladin also made the relevant saves (some versus poison, some versus spells) nicely--which means, with my villain, that he barely survived. That also allowed me to RP him trying to be tough enough to wrap up affairs with the murderer despite a severely drained constitution and strength. Hopefully the (now LG) monk has been sufficiently impressed (I think she has; she's both a dwarf and a monk, and both will generally appreciate self-control and sheer toughness). And, if I'm lucky, she will drag the rogue to see the Constable at the appropriate times, when they need his help. In short, a good time was had by all; and thanks for the help!