Admittedly I may have missed this, but it seems there's no _real_ requirement for a Paladin to declare an affinity to a deity. How do people resolve the 'holy symbol' issue if a Paladin doesn't follow a particular deity?
I ask because I have Paladin PC, that swore an Oath of Vengeance, but lost his holy symbol (I'm DMing a homespun campaign for my son and his friends). He wants to replace it and I'd rather not say, "OK, you have a new holy symbol"
The holy symbol is representation of a god or pantheon. I'd say, if you don't want to choose a specific god, the holy symbol is just a representation of your creed (it is up to the player).
If a player looses his symbol, I'd say at least the character must spend some downtime activity to replace it, somehow.
The holy symbol is representation of a god or pantheon. I'd say, if you don't want to choose a specific god, the holy symbol is just a representation of your creed (it is up to the player).
If a player looses his symbol, I'd say at least the character must spend some downtime activity to replace it, somehow.
Upon reflection this probably has more to do with /my/ baggage than the PCs. I started out in AD&D a million years ago and, at that time, Paladins choose a Deity IIRC.
I will give my player the option: let your holy symbol represent a god, or pantheon, or a representation of your creed.
This has already been answered but I want to add a little more. It's a good question - how can you have a holy symbol without a holy deity? I did some research and had fun theorizing over the different Oaths, though I've stuck to posting for the basic ones.
It says in the PHB that the power of a paladin comes as much from their commitment to justice as it does a god. Also, in the class's introduction, it lists three examples of how they swear their oath: by an altar, in a forest glade, or alone in desperation, surrounded by your fallen allies - the latter of these is clearly Vengeance. Both of these reinforce the lack of needing a deity, particularly for the Oath of Vengeance your player has.
I feel like the symbol for these paladins should be just as symbolic as they are for one with a specific deity.
- Why did they swear an Oath of Vengeance? Against who? Their symbol could show the reasoning, be a string of ears taken from the enemy to show your commitment, or anything else with some substantial meaning toward it.
- For Oath of the Ancients, perhaps you swore it not to a nature deity but to a group of druids who, through a series of unusual events, you ended up owing a great debt and this is how you're paying it - dedicating yourself to the path of a green knight. Your symbol could represent the debt, or just a very specific aspect of nature itself.
- The Oath of Devotion is trickier. It's effectively the classic super-holy paladin, seemingly very religious, but it could be fanatical devotion to the concept of justice itself - a less ruthless, more compassionate version of the Oath of Vengeance when it comes to the symbolism.
- Why did they swear an Oath of Vengeance? Against who? Their symbol could show the reasoning, be a string of ears taken from the enemy to show your commitment, or anything else with some substantial meaning toward it.
First, thanks for the great feedback, @VillainTheory.
Second, to your question: it is appropriate for the theme of the campaign I'm currently writing. My player's village was destroyed and they're on the trail to exact justice. ;-)
There is also the chance that the deity is picked first hand by the "god/goddess" and picks the paladin through the background phase of initial start up. Perhaps going more into your story about how the picked "god" showed many blessings to the character. This way, it's not so much as the paladin picking the pantheon but more the pantheon picking the player.
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Admittedly I may have missed this, but it seems there's no _real_ requirement for a Paladin to declare an affinity to a deity. How do people resolve the 'holy symbol' issue if a Paladin doesn't follow a particular deity?
I ask because I have Paladin PC, that swore an Oath of Vengeance, but lost his holy symbol (I'm DMing a homespun campaign for my son and his friends). He wants to replace it and I'd rather not say, "OK, you have a new holy symbol"
Thoughts? Suggestions?
I wear pants, short pants.
I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
The holy symbol is representation of a god or pantheon. I'd say, if you don't want to choose a specific god, the holy symbol is just a representation of your creed (it is up to the player).
If a player looses his symbol, I'd say at least the character must spend some downtime activity to replace it, somehow.
I wear pants, short pants.
I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
This has already been answered but I want to add a little more. It's a good question - how can you have a holy symbol without a holy deity? I did some research and had fun theorizing over the different Oaths, though I've stuck to posting for the basic ones.
It says in the PHB that the power of a paladin comes as much from their commitment to justice as it does a god. Also, in the class's introduction, it lists three examples of how they swear their oath: by an altar, in a forest glade, or alone in desperation, surrounded by your fallen allies - the latter of these is clearly Vengeance. Both of these reinforce the lack of needing a deity, particularly for the Oath of Vengeance your player has.
I feel like the symbol for these paladins should be just as symbolic as they are for one with a specific deity.
- Why did they swear an Oath of Vengeance? Against who? Their symbol could show the reasoning, be a string of ears taken from the enemy to show your commitment, or anything else with some substantial meaning toward it.
- For Oath of the Ancients, perhaps you swore it not to a nature deity but to a group of druids who, through a series of unusual events, you ended up owing a great debt and this is how you're paying it - dedicating yourself to the path of a green knight. Your symbol could represent the debt, or just a very specific aspect of nature itself.
- The Oath of Devotion is trickier. It's effectively the classic super-holy paladin, seemingly very religious, but it could be fanatical devotion to the concept of justice itself - a less ruthless, more compassionate version of the Oath of Vengeance when it comes to the symbolism.
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First, thanks for the great feedback, @VillainTheory.
Second, to your question: it is appropriate for the theme of the campaign I'm currently writing. My player's village was destroyed and they're on the trail to exact justice. ;-)
I wear pants, short pants.
I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
There is also the chance that the deity is picked first hand by the "god/goddess" and picks the paladin through the background phase of initial start up. Perhaps going more into your story about how the picked "god" showed many blessings to the character. This way, it's not so much as the paladin picking the pantheon but more the pantheon picking the player.