Talk:Paladin of Nothing (3.5e Alternate Class Feature)

Thematic Problems

I always was of the option that the paladin and antipaladin are some of the funnest classes to RP. They follow a strict code of conduct, while being notably abused by a certain type of GM, can lead to a very interesting experience. The code is generally a challenge to follow, especially for the antipaladin, whose code is very ‘cut the nose to spite the face’. Now onto the archetype itself. If you told, I want to do a “Paladin of Nothing” I’d tell you to make an antipaladin. They very much fit the ‘No Gods, No Master’ and ‘Life is Worthless’ angle of the idea. The archetype presented here has no code, no restrictions on any of its class features and frankly has several thematic issues. I will list them here:

• No Code of Conduct means it’s effectively just a magic fighter. It has some void/nihilism-based abilities, but not much else. Why do they smite? Why does it affect everyone? Do they want to destroy everything?

• They have a duality kinda deal with their lay on hands, which is weird because nothing is not both, it nothing. Creation has nothing to with the ‘nothing’, if anything it opposed. I don’t know why they even have duality as an aspect here. If it was a Paladin of the Universe, then sure. But it is a nihilistic idea, good and evil does not matter to them.

• You could play a regular lawful good paladin with this archetype with no issues whatsoever and have no alignment-gated abilities. No restrictions means no restrictions. Again, magic fighter pretty much. It really needs its own code of conduct and alignment restriction.

• Does not feel like a paladin. It’s good against all foes, a little less so. The paladin and antipaladin are masters at waging war on their opposed alignment and flavorfully opposed abilities. Many of those abilities have only vague resemblance to the paladin abilities.

• Where do they draw their power from? Nothing?

Frankly I am confused what this is supposed to accomplish thematically. It seems the concept would be simply better served with an antipaladin variant code. The concept of a “mercenary” paladin is done with the Insinuator Antipaladin, who follows no strong code but still draw powers from outsiders. Anyway just my two cents. --Leziad (talk) 02:13, 8 August 2021 (UTC)