So my Paladin of the Crown fell, holding the Lich on himself with Champion Challenge, while the rest of the party escaped. Six real months later, the party finally confronts a band of undead sacking towns, and discover it being led by the risen version of my Paladin. An epic battle ensues, and after near TPK, the party subdues my Paladin. They decide their new mission is to bring the Paladin back. So for the last few months, the party has tracked down a Priest able to cast the required spells, performed various tasks to convince the Priest to cast said spells, and gathered the material components the Priest asked for. The party is on the cusp of bringing my Paladin back, and if they succeed, I don't want to come back as if nothing has changed, but I also don't see him going polar opposite, and becoming an Oathbreaker.
It has been nearly a year of games my Paladin has been dead, and used as a puppet. My current intent is to play him as the watered down fighter, without any Paladin abilities. Is there another version of the broken/lost/fallen Paladin that isn't just becoming instant evil?
Are you sure you want to play it anymore. There’s certainly a lot of rp potential, but it’s kind of forced on you rather than having to do with your choices. Maybe you just say they retire to a quiet monastery somewhere to recuperate. I presume you’ve been playing another character so nice then, why not keep them around?
Alternatively, you could play it like that season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where the team brings her back after death, and she’s kind of upset about it because they ripped her soul out of heaven. The pally could be angry they didn’t just kill his body and leave him in peace.
Atonement is a thing ... and like there are centuries of Arthurian precedent for this sort of stuff, including Lancelot. And Oathbreaker, to me seems to be one who wants to own the rift with their oath and run in the opposite direction of it. I don't think you need mechanics for what is best role-played as a mindset of remorse and accountability. Restore the Paladin as they were, and have them crusade to be redeemed by their higher calling, or maybe go down swinging in the effort to do so. That's the classic arc at least IMHO. It's not so much the "powers" the Paladin has, but how the ideals the Paladin is sworn to regards the Paladin ... and it sounds like this Paladin has some work to do, which should make a cool dynamic.
So my Paladin of the Crown fell, holding the Lich on himself with Champion Challenge, while the rest of the party escaped. Six real months later, the party finally confronts a band of undead sacking towns, and discover it being led by the risen version of my Paladin. An epic battle ensues, and after near TPK, the party subdues my Paladin. They decide their new mission is to bring the Paladin back. So for the last few months, the party has tracked down a Priest able to cast the required spells, performed various tasks to convince the Priest to cast said spells, and gathered the material components the Priest asked for. The party is on the cusp of bringing my Paladin back, and if they succeed, I don't want to come back as if nothing has changed, but I also don't see him going polar opposite, and becoming an Oathbreaker.
It has been nearly a year of games my Paladin has been dead, and used as a puppet. My current intent is to play him as the watered down fighter, without any Paladin abilities. Is there another version of the broken/lost/fallen Paladin that isn't just becoming instant evil?
There isn't another one like the Oathbraker but you could be of non-evil alignment if the DM allow you.
There could otherwise be the Oath of Redemption or Oath of Vengeance that may be a close shot.
Are you sure you want to play it anymore. There’s certainly a lot of rp potential, but it’s kind of forced on you rather than having to do with your choices. Maybe you just say they retire to a quiet monastery somewhere to recuperate. I presume you’ve been playing another character so nice then, why not keep them around?
Alternatively, you could play it like that season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where the team brings her back after death, and she’s kind of upset about it because they ripped her soul out of heaven. The pally could be angry they didn’t just kill his body and leave him in peace.
Or... you could add levels of Undead Warlock... it meshes really nicely with Paladin.
I also like the idea of changing to a different Oath... perhaps Vengeance on said Litch?
Atonement is a thing ... and like there are centuries of Arthurian precedent for this sort of stuff, including Lancelot. And Oathbreaker, to me seems to be one who wants to own the rift with their oath and run in the opposite direction of it. I don't think you need mechanics for what is best role-played as a mindset of remorse and accountability. Restore the Paladin as they were, and have them crusade to be redeemed by their higher calling, or maybe go down swinging in the effort to do so. That's the classic arc at least IMHO. It's not so much the "powers" the Paladin has, but how the ideals the Paladin is sworn to regards the Paladin ... and it sounds like this Paladin has some work to do, which should make a cool dynamic.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Here is an alternative to the Oathbreaker that doesn’t have to be evil.
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/436605/The-Dark-Paladin-a-DMs-Alternative-to-the-Oathbreaker-and-Two-New-Spells
It was written by one of the regulars around these forums, and I think it’s pretty good.