Hi there. I had a thought about an interesting character... Well at least to me. Anyway I was looking to see if anyone had ways of getting to what I’m looking for, but I’m different ways.
the concept (in brief): Imagine an individual who wants respect and has decided that the best way to get it is by being a paladin. Here is the catch, they don’t really feel any divine calling. So, they train in such a way as to make it look like they are a divine warrior at least to the uninitiated. Obviously this ‘disguise’isnt going to last forever so I’m just looking for someone who can fake it for say levels 1-3. I think it could be quite interesting when the party puts together He pieces and realizes that their holy warrior isn’t quite what he seems. Obviously there would be some DM involvement in the charade so that simple things like the names of abilities don’t give it away.
My instinct is a Tiefling bard(valor), charlatan, but perhaps there is something better or more interesting. I’m also open to ways of faking the various Paladin abilities and spells. Thanks for any input!
At level 1 fighter. At level 3 and up warlock (pact of blade) or bard (whispers). Level 2 is a blind spot. It is when paladins get smite (their signature ability) and spellcasting, but no other class gets a similar ability until level 3 at the earliest.
I have considered a level of fighter (or thief...) but level 2 made me think you need to go full caster. Well that and the lay on hands ability. From a gameplay point of view I think that fighter is absolutely the way to start, but from a trying to deceive other people point of view... People are going to expect a man of the gods to drop some miracles.
I was hoping, with some creative license from the gm to hide smite in some fancy footwork and other spells. Even if the character can only keep up the illusion to the other PCs for first level that still is pretty good.
I'm not sure how you plan to handle this but for my part I would suggest he just start as a Paladin and use his charisma to fake it. He can multi-class into something without telling the party after you reach the necessary branch off level. The problem I have is you have to have proficiency with heavy armor and some other things that are only allowed by a few classes. Now your DM can allow you to have those proficiencies as another class but isn't that kinda breaking the class limitations? You get to be a bard but the DM also gives you proficiency with martial weapons, medium and heavy armor and some other stuff, and then later you just get to be a bard but with all those proficiencies? I don't know how you make that work unless the DM is prepared to explain how this works for everyone's benefit.
As a player I'm not very keen on another player having a great secret from the party unless he is playing a character for the DM and not fully a member of the party. We have a player doing just that in my campaign currently, but there was no shenanigans where the DM allowed him to alter his class outside the parameters of the game. He is a Rogue trying to pass himself off as a Bard. He has the performance background and is therefore proficient in performance and with a lute, his preferred instrument. But I quickly called him out on it because he wasn't giving out any Bardic Inspiration and constantly maneuvering to deliver a backstab in combat. He might of pulled it off for a time if he wasn't constantly arguing with the DM about his extra damage he should get. I was also playing the legitimate Bard so everything he was doing seemed out of place.
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The closest I can think is celestial warlock for healing magic, but only gets light armor and simple weapons. So maybe variant human for moderate armor feat? At level 3 pact of blade can make a martial pact weapon and make you proficient with it (which is also when you get smite).
I’m not looking for any shenanigans about what the character can or cannot use for weapons or armor or anything really. Paladins can be built viably with a dex build that would mean its better for him to wear light armor and carry a finesse weapon than deal with heavier stuff so hopefully that won’t be an instant give away. The point is to be a character within the rules but appears to be another class by using his wits.
As for secrets from the party... well I’ve never played at a table where there weren’t a few secrets, but everyone has their own preferred playstyle so I get not liking secrets. It’s just not where I’m coming from.
OK, well, I'll open up my book and see what I can find that facilitates your charade. What classes do you like? Or, what do you wish to avoid? Part of it is that your basic kit as a Paladin includes Chain Mail if I recall. Maybe we can explain that away by selling the chain mail and buying something you prefer and use leather "for the time being." Good luck.
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The only classes off the table is a Paladin and cleric. I’ve played and enjoyed most any class so any that can convince someone that they a honest to goodness holy warrior without being one is fine. Some may have more of a stretch than others (lookin at you wizard)
I’m not worried about equipment giving me away as I can just say I rolled for money or some rp related justification.
If equipment is not a problem, then I say celestial warlock pact of blade. You will get smite 1 level late, but you will get it. You will have healing. You can even get extra attack. Honestly, your problem will be all the warlock features you aren't using because it would give you away.
Paladin doesn't take their Oath until level three, so basically levels one and two ARE paladin-in-training. So just go with that, and shift at level 3 to whatever.
I made this character back in 3.5, a "paladin" that was just a fighter/rogue with high levels of use magic device and sleight of hand to "lay on hands" with cure wands up his sleeve. Of course there are plenty of ways to emulate healing with warlock yada yada, but I really feel like what you're looking for is just a mundane martial guy who's faking all the spiritual stuff, not just faking who the connection is with? Or at most, someone whose spiritual stuff comes from understanding themselves and their morality, not allegiance to a higher being (i.e. Monk).
A 13th Level Rogue (Thief) gets Use Magic Device. A 14th level Artificer gets Magic Savant, which is what you probably actually need to start abusing wands, but you might be able to talk your DM into treating Use Magic Device the same way to save you from having to be a mad scientist. Seems to me that one or the other of those is absolutely needed, and that the rest should be either Fighter or Monk (Fighter seems less cheaty). Since you're living a lie you'll want Actor to "pass yourself off as someone else," Inspiring Leader sounds thematic and like something that you might be able to pretend is a Paladin's aura to other non-paladins, Healer will let you tend to people's wounds and sort of fit that same Lay on Hands role. Rogue Sneak Attack will look like Smiting, as long as you ham it up a little bit.
I see now that you really just want to be able to fake it levels 1-3, not long term, but yeah anyway...
Start Variant Human Rogue 1, 16/14/12/10/10/15, with Actor to get to 16 Cha. Just wear Studded for now and wield a rapier and shield, and play up just being a new paladin that hasn't gotten his full armor kit yet, taken a vow of poverty, etc. You're going to get tons of feats over your life as a Fighter/Rogue, so you have plenty of time down the line to decide if you'll want to take Heavily Armored, or Medium Armor Master and bump Dex further, or what, so don't worry too much about armor for now.
At level 2, get into Fighter right away. That Second Wind is going to be part of you faking Lay on Hands, and just being a little selfish/oblivious and spending it on yourself. It also gets you Defensive fighting style if you want to boost your own AC, or Protection to play up your chivalry.
Yada yada level up in whatever order you want, probably landing on Fighter (Cavalier) 6/Rogue (Thief) 14. Some notable bechmarks in no particular order:
Levels 1 and 6 Rogue Expertise will make you better at Deception, Sleight of Hand, Religion then you would otherwise be. For the last slot... Alchemist's Tools or Herbalism Kit could be fun, brew some helpful potions so that you can slip folks Healing Potions and Antitoxins to fake some healing powers?
Level 3 Rogue (Thief) Fast Hands might allow you to use Healer's Kits as a Bonus Action in combat? Combined with Healer feat, another Lay on Hands proxy.
Level 13 Rogue (Thief) Use Magic Device probably doesn't let you use scrolls RAW, but if you're leaning into the character concept I very much doubt your DM would tell you no.
Level 5 Rogue Uncanny Dodge can be used to shrug off damage to make it look like you're tankier than you really are, or that you passed saves that you really failed, aproximating Paladin's save boost.
Level 10 Rogue Reliable Talent helps you avoid being caught in lies, and just always do a pretty good job of sleight of hands etc. Also, paladins are cool guys, and failing stuff isn't cool.
Level 14 Rogue Blind Sense can be passed off as special Paladin divine sense stuff
Fighter 2 Action Surge can be flavored and roleplayed in a way that looks like some sort of martial Channel Divinity.
Fighter (Cavalier) 3 Born to the Saddle makes you look cooler on a horse, like a Paladin should.
Fighter (Cavalier) 3 Unwavering Mark lets you challenge evil doers to duels, classic Paladin stuff.
You'll get 7 feats over your life, more than enough to have some fun. Actor lets you lie your pants off, especially if you have a Paladin role model that you're impersonating. Healer lets you give succor to the sick and poor along your travels, and possibly fake lay on hands in conjunction with Fast Hands. Inspiring Leader is a must, and aproximates an aura. Either Heavily Armored or Medium Armor Master are probably on the menu. Mage Slayer might be a fun way to pretend to be doing an anti-spellcaster Smite. Lucky would be a good way to pretend to have Divine Favor. Mounted Combatant again makes you cooler on a horse, that'll go a long way because Paladins are supposed to have loyal steeds.
You do want to probably build up to be a Strength-based attacker, because Paladins are supposed to be chiseled and buff, but stick with the Rapier to make sure you're getting your Smite (Sneak Attack) dice. But you could have a much easier time with stats by dumping strength down to 10 or 12 (would give you some bonus intelligence to make sure you don't get caught in your own lies), just don't dump it too far to struggle with carrying your armor.
Anyway, I think this can be a very fun character, and it really isn't any less optimized than a two-attack per attack action high-AC melee Sneak Attacker would normally be.
I made this character back in 3.5, a "paladin" that was just a fighter/rogue with high levels of use magic device and sleight of hand to "lay on hands" with cure wands up his sleeve. Of course there are plenty of ways to emulate healing with warlock yada yada, but I really feel like what you're looking for is just a mundane martial guy who's faking all the spiritual stuff, not just faking who the connection is with? Or at most, someone whose spiritual stuff comes from understanding themselves and their morality, not allegiance to a higher being (i.e. Monk).
A 13th Level Rogue (Thief) gets Use Magic Device. A 14th level Artificer gets Magic Savant, which is what you probably actually need to start abusing wands, but you might be able to talk your DM into treating Use Magic Device the same way to save you from having to be a mad scientist. Seems to me that one or the other of those is absolutely needed, and that the rest should be either Fighter or Monk (Fighter seems less cheaty). Since you're living a lie you'll want Actor to "pass yourself off as someone else," Inspiring Leader sounds thematic and like something that you might be able to pretend is a Paladin's aura to other non-paladins, Healer will let you tend to people's wounds and sort of fit that same Lay on Hands role. Rogue Sneak Attack will look like Smiting, as long as you ham it up a little bit.
I see now that you really just want to be able to fake it levels 1-3, not long term, but yeah anyway...
Start Variant Human Rogue 1, 16/14/12/10/10/15, with Actor to get to 16 Cha. Just wear Studded for now and wield a rapier and shield, and play up just being a new paladin that hasn't gotten his full armor kit yet, taken a vow of poverty, etc. You're going to get tons of feats over your life as a Fighter/Rogue, so you have plenty of time down the line to decide if you'll want to take Heavily Armored, or Medium Armor Master and bump Dex further, or what, so don't worry too much about armor for now.
At level 2, get into Fighter right away. That Second Wind is going to be part of you faking Lay on Hands, and just being a little selfish/oblivious and spending it on yourself. It also gets you Defensive fighting style if you want to boost your own AC, or Protection to play up your chivalry.
Yada yada level up in whatever order you want, probably landing on Fighter (Cavalier) 6/Rogue (Thief) 14. Some notable bechmarks in no particular order:
Levels 1 and 6 Rogue Expertise will make you better at Deception, Sleight of Hand, Religion then you would otherwise be. For the last slot... Alchemist's Tools or Herbalism Kit could be fun, brew some helpful potions so that you can slip folks Healing Potions and Antitoxins to fake some healing powers?
Level 3 Rogue (Thief) Fast Hands might allow you to use Healer's Kits as a Bonus Action in combat? Combined with Healer feat, another Lay on Hands proxy.
Level 13 Rogue (Thief) Use Magic Device probably doesn't let you use scrolls RAW, but if you're leaning into the character concept I very much doubt your DM would tell you no.
Level 5 Rogue Uncanny Dodge can be used to shrug off damage to make it look like you're tankier than you really are, or that you passed saves that you really failed, aproximating Paladin's save boost.
Level 10 Rogue Reliable Talent helps you avoid being caught in lies, and just always do a pretty good job of sleight of hands etc. Also, paladins are cool guys, and failing stuff isn't cool.
Level 14 Rogue Blind Sense can be passed off as special Paladin divine sense stuff
Fighter 2 Action Surge can be flavored and roleplayed in a way that looks like some sort of martial Channel Divinity.
Fighter (Cavalier) 3 Born to the Saddle makes you look cooler on a horse, like a Paladin should.
Fighter (Cavalier) 3 Unwavering Mark lets you challenge evil doers to duels, classic Paladin stuff.
You'll get 7 feats over your life, more than enough to have some fun. Actor lets you lie your pants off, especially if you have a Paladin role model that you're impersonating. Healer lets you give succor to the sick and poor along your travels, and possibly fake lay on hands in conjunction with Fast Hands. Inspiring Leader is a must, and aproximates an aura. Either Heavily Armored or Medium Armor Master are probably on the menu. Mage Slayer might be a fun way to pretend to be doing an anti-spellcaster Smite. Lucky would be a good way to pretend to have Divine Favor. Mounted Combatant again makes you cooler on a horse, that'll go a long way because Paladins are supposed to have loyal steeds.
You do want to probably build up to be a Strength-based attacker, because Paladins are supposed to be chiseled and buff, but stick with the Rapier to make sure you're getting your Smite (Sneak Attack) dice. But you could have a much easier time with stats by dumping strength down to 10 or 12 (would give you some bonus intelligence to make sure you don't get caught in your own lies), just don't dump it too far to struggle with carrying your armor.
Anyway, I think this can be a very fun character, and it really isn't any less optimized than a two-attack per attack action high-AC melee Sneak Attacker would normally be.
Just remember to factor your "spell slots" in when you do sneak attack. You'll give yourself away quickly if you are doing sneak attack regularly and would have run yourself out of spells. This becomes crucial if there is an actual paladin in the party or someone who is intimately knowledgeable with Paladins amongst the players. This becomes less of an issue if the other players are in the know and you're just playing the character for the NPCs. You could dual wield and only attack with your rapier when your "god" tells you to do so, inviting that god's wrath on your enemies. Otherwise, you attack with your longsword, battleaxe, morningstar, warpick, warhammer, or flail to keep your d8 damage up. Crits will trip you up if you're not careful, play the crits you get with your off weapon as moments that your "god" told you to save your strength.
Of course, that means that you aren't utilising a shield which means that you may wish to come up with something different to keep from having your smites stack too many times, especially if someone likes to buff you with do something like Guiding Bolt, knock people prone, or anything else that gives you advantage or you get a friend that likes to wade in with you thinking that your aura will help their saves.
Then either go Walock, pact of the blade. For patron, Celestial is indeed the most suitable, not only due to the healing dice, but also the spell list. For the actual Fluff patron, I suggest looking at Guardinals. They might be open to helping portray yourself as a paladin as a little white lie, if it gets you out helping people.
If you don't like warlock, take Sorcerer Divine Soul instead.
If you don't like multiclassing, you could go Bard/college of blades. They have the social skills and illusions to pull this off better if you want to impress people. I do suggest taking atleast one smite spell from the Paladin list with the Magical secrets at level 6. Otherwise you have no way to copy that.
I like the idea of using a Rogue's sneak attack as a stand-in for a Paladin's Smite ability. A lot of Paladins never use their spell slots for actually casting spells, so the sneak attacks would let you do that big damage and also explain why you never actually cast anything.
Thanks all. I think my plan is to go fighter and eventually Eldritch Knight. Low level healing can be explained away with his second wind. Second level will be tough without a mechanic for smiting, but so long as no one is a rules lawyer or a previous Paladin player at the table I can hopefully fake it well enough at least for a bit. He will look and at least talk like a Paladin (charlatan background) so that should help.
My one final bit of advice is to refer to your character as a Knight. This way they can imagine he is a paladin and if he acts like a noble warrior you should be able to carry the illusion long enough to get to the level you need. A character could be born into a noble family and receive a title without being a paladin class. With your DMs permission you could even write a supporting backstory.
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Being a Tiefling, I'd think you're best bet at this ruse is to consider a Hexblade Warlock. The Dungeon Dudes on YouTube have a nice video and there are plenty of other great info threads and sites.
Perhaps your ruse is that you play the melee fighter, though perhaps a weaker one than Paladin. You are secretly be in the service of Levistus - so you can up you CON and get access to some nice defensive spells - eventually becoming his champion.
Maybe you could be a fighter/wizard, with fighter for the armour and weapon proficiency and then wizard for healing magic. You would have to be good at lying, so maybe choose a charisma-based race like tiefling or maybe drow. Obviously you would have to multi class to pull this off, so I suggest starting with fighter and at second level multiclassing to wizard since paladins only get spells at level 2 anyway. I would suggest finding a way to believably not use divine sense or lay on hands, or just hope that your party doesnt know much about paladins, because never using them would be a bit of a giveaway.
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Hi there. I had a thought about an interesting character... Well at least to me. Anyway I was looking to see if anyone had ways of getting to what I’m looking for, but I’m different ways.
the concept (in brief): Imagine an individual who wants respect and has decided that the best way to get it is by being a paladin. Here is the catch, they don’t really feel any divine calling. So, they train in such a way as to make it look like they are a divine warrior at least to the uninitiated. Obviously this ‘disguise’isnt going to last forever so I’m just looking for someone who can fake it for say levels 1-3. I think it could be quite interesting when the party puts together He pieces and realizes that their holy warrior isn’t quite what he seems. Obviously there would be some DM involvement in the charade so that simple things like the names of abilities don’t give it away.
My instinct is a Tiefling bard(valor), charlatan, but perhaps there is something better or more interesting. I’m also open to ways of faking the various Paladin abilities and spells. Thanks for any input!
At level 1 fighter. At level 3 and up warlock (pact of blade) or bard (whispers). Level 2 is a blind spot. It is when paladins get smite (their signature ability) and spellcasting, but no other class gets a similar ability until level 3 at the earliest.
I have considered a level of fighter (or thief...) but level 2 made me think you need to go full caster. Well that and the lay on hands ability. From a gameplay point of view I think that fighter is absolutely the way to start, but from a trying to deceive other people point of view... People are going to expect a man of the gods to drop some miracles.
I was hoping, with some creative license from the gm to hide smite in some fancy footwork and other spells. Even if the character can only keep up the illusion to the other PCs for first level that still is pretty good.
I'm not sure how you plan to handle this but for my part I would suggest he just start as a Paladin and use his charisma to fake it. He can multi-class into something without telling the party after you reach the necessary branch off level. The problem I have is you have to have proficiency with heavy armor and some other things that are only allowed by a few classes. Now your DM can allow you to have those proficiencies as another class but isn't that kinda breaking the class limitations? You get to be a bard but the DM also gives you proficiency with martial weapons, medium and heavy armor and some other stuff, and then later you just get to be a bard but with all those proficiencies? I don't know how you make that work unless the DM is prepared to explain how this works for everyone's benefit.
As a player I'm not very keen on another player having a great secret from the party unless he is playing a character for the DM and not fully a member of the party. We have a player doing just that in my campaign currently, but there was no shenanigans where the DM allowed him to alter his class outside the parameters of the game. He is a Rogue trying to pass himself off as a Bard. He has the performance background and is therefore proficient in performance and with a lute, his preferred instrument. But I quickly called him out on it because he wasn't giving out any Bardic Inspiration and constantly maneuvering to deliver a backstab in combat. He might of pulled it off for a time if he wasn't constantly arguing with the DM about his extra damage he should get. I was also playing the legitimate Bard so everything he was doing seemed out of place.
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The closest I can think is celestial warlock for healing magic, but only gets light armor and simple weapons. So maybe variant human for moderate armor feat? At level 3 pact of blade can make a martial pact weapon and make you proficient with it (which is also when you get smite).
I’m not looking for any shenanigans about what the character can or cannot use for weapons or armor or anything really. Paladins can be built viably with a dex build that would mean its better for him to wear light armor and carry a finesse weapon than deal with heavier stuff so hopefully that won’t be an instant give away. The point is to be a character within the rules but appears to be another class by using his wits.
As for secrets from the party... well I’ve never played at a table where there weren’t a few secrets, but everyone has their own preferred playstyle so I get not liking secrets. It’s just not where I’m coming from.
OK, well, I'll open up my book and see what I can find that facilitates your charade. What classes do you like? Or, what do you wish to avoid? Part of it is that your basic kit as a Paladin includes Chain Mail if I recall. Maybe we can explain that away by selling the chain mail and buying something you prefer and use leather "for the time being." Good luck.
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The only classes off the table is a Paladin and cleric. I’ve played and enjoyed most any class so any that can convince someone that they a honest to goodness holy warrior without being one is fine. Some may have more of a stretch than others (lookin at you wizard)
I’m not worried about equipment giving me away as I can just say I rolled for money or some rp related justification.
If equipment is not a problem, then I say celestial warlock pact of blade. You will get smite 1 level late, but you will get it. You will have healing. You can even get extra attack. Honestly, your problem will be all the warlock features you aren't using because it would give you away.
Paladin doesn't take their Oath until level three, so basically levels one and two ARE paladin-in-training. So just go with that, and shift at level 3 to whatever.
I made this character back in 3.5, a "paladin" that was just a fighter/rogue with high levels of use magic device and sleight of hand to "lay on hands" with cure wands up his sleeve. Of course there are plenty of ways to emulate healing with warlock yada yada, but I really feel like what you're looking for is just a mundane martial guy who's faking all the spiritual stuff, not just faking who the connection is with? Or at most, someone whose spiritual stuff comes from understanding themselves and their morality, not allegiance to a higher being (i.e. Monk).
A 13th Level Rogue (Thief) gets Use Magic Device. A 14th level Artificer gets Magic Savant, which is what you probably actually need to start abusing wands, but you might be able to talk your DM into treating Use Magic Device the same way to save you from having to be a mad scientist. Seems to me that one or the other of those is absolutely needed, and that the rest should be either Fighter or Monk (Fighter seems less cheaty). Since you're living a lie you'll want Actor to "pass yourself off as someone else," Inspiring Leader sounds thematic and like something that you might be able to pretend is a Paladin's aura to other non-paladins, Healer will let you tend to people's wounds and sort of fit that same Lay on Hands role. Rogue Sneak Attack will look like Smiting, as long as you ham it up a little bit.
I see now that you really just want to be able to fake it levels 1-3, not long term, but yeah anyway...
Start Variant Human Rogue 1, 16/14/12/10/10/15, with Actor to get to 16 Cha. Just wear Studded for now and wield a rapier and shield, and play up just being a new paladin that hasn't gotten his full armor kit yet, taken a vow of poverty, etc. You're going to get tons of feats over your life as a Fighter/Rogue, so you have plenty of time down the line to decide if you'll want to take Heavily Armored, or Medium Armor Master and bump Dex further, or what, so don't worry too much about armor for now.
At level 2, get into Fighter right away. That Second Wind is going to be part of you faking Lay on Hands, and just being a little selfish/oblivious and spending it on yourself. It also gets you Defensive fighting style if you want to boost your own AC, or Protection to play up your chivalry.
Yada yada level up in whatever order you want, probably landing on Fighter (Cavalier) 6/Rogue (Thief) 14. Some notable bechmarks in no particular order:
Anyway, I think this can be a very fun character, and it really isn't any less optimized than a two-attack per attack action high-AC melee Sneak Attacker would normally be.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Just remember to factor your "spell slots" in when you do sneak attack. You'll give yourself away quickly if you are doing sneak attack regularly and would have run yourself out of spells. This becomes crucial if there is an actual paladin in the party or someone who is intimately knowledgeable with Paladins amongst the players. This becomes less of an issue if the other players are in the know and you're just playing the character for the NPCs. You could dual wield and only attack with your rapier when your "god" tells you to do so, inviting that god's wrath on your enemies. Otherwise, you attack with your longsword, battleaxe, morningstar, warpick, warhammer, or flail to keep your d8 damage up. Crits will trip you up if you're not careful, play the crits you get with your off weapon as moments that your "god" told you to save your strength.
Of course, that means that you aren't utilising a shield which means that you may wish to come up with something different to keep from having your smites stack too many times, especially if someone likes to buff you with do something like Guiding Bolt, knock people prone, or anything else that gives you advantage or you get a friend that likes to wade in with you thinking that your aura will help their saves.
Fighter 1, for the armor and weapon proficiency.
Then either go Walock, pact of the blade. For patron, Celestial is indeed the most suitable, not only due to the healing dice, but also the spell list. For the actual Fluff patron, I suggest looking at Guardinals. They might be open to helping portray yourself as a paladin as a little white lie, if it gets you out helping people.
If you don't like warlock, take Sorcerer Divine Soul instead.
If you don't like multiclassing, you could go Bard/college of blades. They have the social skills and illusions to pull this off better if you want to impress people. I do suggest taking atleast one smite spell from the Paladin list with the Magical secrets at level 6. Otherwise you have no way to copy that.
I like the idea of using a Rogue's sneak attack as a stand-in for a Paladin's Smite ability. A lot of Paladins never use their spell slots for actually casting spells, so the sneak attacks would let you do that big damage and also explain why you never actually cast anything.
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Thanks all. I think my plan is to go fighter and eventually Eldritch Knight. Low level healing can be explained away with his second wind. Second level will be tough without a mechanic for smiting, but so long as no one is a rules lawyer or a previous Paladin player at the table I can hopefully fake it well enough at least for a bit. He will look and at least talk like a Paladin (charlatan background) so that should help.
thanks again!
My one final bit of advice is to refer to your character as a Knight. This way they can imagine he is a paladin and if he acts like a noble warrior you should be able to carry the illusion long enough to get to the level you need. A character could be born into a noble family and receive a title without being a paladin class. With your DMs permission you could even write a supporting backstory.
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Being a Tiefling, I'd think you're best bet at this ruse is to consider a Hexblade Warlock. The Dungeon Dudes on YouTube have a nice video and there are plenty of other great info threads and sites.
Perhaps your ruse is that you play the melee fighter, though perhaps a weaker one than Paladin. You are secretly be in the service of Levistus - so you can up you CON and get access to some nice defensive spells - eventually becoming his champion.
my 2 cents. Safe Journeys.
Targeted and Firing
Maybe you could be a fighter/wizard, with fighter for the armour and weapon proficiency and then wizard for healing magic. You would have to be good at lying, so maybe choose a charisma-based race like tiefling or maybe drow. Obviously you would have to multi class to pull this off, so I suggest starting with fighter and at second level multiclassing to wizard since paladins only get spells at level 2 anyway. I would suggest finding a way to believably not use divine sense or lay on hands, or just hope that your party doesnt know much about paladins, because never using them would be a bit of a giveaway.