Paladin

Paladin
Pallegina, a godlike Paladin.
General
Role	Leader
Abilities	modal auras, powerful single-target support abilities, high defenses, and some offensive abilities.
Starting Stats
Skill bonus	Lore + 1, Athletics +2
Endurance	42 + 14/level(high)
Health	Endurance x 5
Deflection	20(High)
Accuracy	20(Average)
Character
Companion	Pallegina

“

Paladins are martial zealots, devoted to a god, a ruler, or even a way of life. They can be found in any culture where a fanatical group of like-minded individuals have formed a warrior society dedicated to advancing their cause. Among those aligned to their worldview, paladins are viewed with respect and admiration, if a bit of fear. Many paladins hold leadership positions in armies and mercenary companies, but in the heat of battle their fanaticism often overrules the chain of command - and common sense.

”

Paladins are one of the playable classes in Pillars of Eternity.

Paladins are extremely devoted, often fanatical, soldiers who have pledged themselves to a chosen cause, combining the zeal of a priest with the ascetic discipline of a monk. They have founded many elite fighting forces, from the original Darcozzi Paladini, a two thousand year-old order of palace guards, to the fledgling Fellows of St. Waidwen Martyr, zealous defenders of the Godhammer pilgrim trail. Often found at the vanguard of many conflicts, paladins are natural leaders and have the ability to quickly assist their allies with targeted commands. A paladin's commands can stave off impending death, overcome fatigue, or hasten the charge to close breached defenses. And though they are not always pledged to the service of a god or gods, paladins are so singularly focused on their chosen cause that their souls are continually creating a wellspring of spiritual energy from which they can blast groups of foes in their immediate vicinity. Despite their often stoic presence and explosive combat style, paladins work best alongside allies. When isolated, they can be vulnerable, especially against singular powerful foes.

Paladin Order

The power of the Faith and Conviction ability can be modified by their behavior and the reputations they develop from the choices they make. When players make a paladin, they select an order. Each choice highlights two types of behavior that are celebrated and two types of behavior that are condemned. For paladins played as the main character, their Faith and Conviction power will shift based on their behavior. Reinforcing their order's preferred behavior will gradually increase their power, while playing against type will cause a small diminishment in their power. These changes are not dramatic, but reflect a measure of dissonance between the character's stated order and how they choose to conduct themselves. Known paladin order options:

Order	Celebrated behaviour		Condemned behaviour
	1st disposition	2nd disposition	1st disposition	2nd disposition
The Shieldbearers of St. Elcga	Diplomatic	Benevolent	Aggressive	Cruel
Bleak Walkers	Cruel
Kind Wayfarers			Deceptive
Goldpact Knights
Darcozzi Paladini	Clever	Passionate

Abilities

Paladins powers are fueled by his wellspring of spiritual energy, brought through their strength and devotion to their chosen cause (not necessarily religiously-affiliated). They can enhance these abilities with modal auras, abilities which they can switch at will, such as single-target "commands" (buffs), passive buffs they grant to allies and limited healing ability.

Unique ability types

• Zealous auras – modal buffs that affect all allies within 3 meters.
• Commands – single target buffs.

Progression

Level	Ability gained	Description
1	Flames of Devotion	The paladin's next melee attack inflicts a large amount of additional burn damage if it hits.
	Zealous Focus	The paladin and all allies standing within 3m have their accuracy increased.
	Faith and Conviction	Paladins have an inherent bonus to all defenses.
2	Lay on Hands	heals stamina of a single ally.
3	Inspiring Triumph	Allies within 4m gain a temporary bonus to all defenses when the paladin downs an enemy.
4	Liberating Exhortation	The paladin can command an ally to temporarily ignore existing Hostile effects for a short duration. The effects are suspended; they do not lose any of their duration and will resume as soon as Shake It Off expires.
5	Zealous Charge	The paladin and all allies within 3m have their movement speed increased.
6	Sworn Enemy	Paladins gain Accuracy and damage bonus against one specific enemy.
7	Lay on Hands 2	heals stamina of a single ally.
8	Reinforcing Exhortation	Commands an ally to redouble their efforts, improving their Deflection.

Abilities learned on an unknown level

• Zealous Barrage (Modal) – The paladin and all allies standing within 3m have their attack and ability speed increased.
• Coordinated Attacks – The ally closest to the paladin attacking the same target as the paladin has a bonus to Accuracy.
• Reviving Exhortation – Paladins can command an unconscious ally to awaken and get back up with an immediate spike in Stamina, though the target will lose half of the regained Stamina after a short duration.
• Hastening Exhortation – Inspires urgency in one of the paladin's allies, increasing his or her Attack Speed.
• Zealous Endurance – Fills the paladin and his or her allies with unshakable confidence, increasing their Damage Threshold.

Talents

• unknown talents – widens the effects of Zealous auras.
• unknown talents – grants additional uses for Commands.
• unknown talents – increases potency for Commands.
• unknown talents – gives more direct offensive capabilities.
• unknown talents – gives more direct defensive capabilities.
• Critical Focus – Grants allies affected by a paladin's Zealous Focus a 5% Hit to Crit conversion rate.

Notable paladins

• Pallegina

Galery

• 

  A paladin in plate armor.