In Dungeons & Dragons and every other roleplaying game inspired by D&D, the Paladin character class is the epitome of righteous, a holy warrior who can heal wounds with one hand and smite evil with the other, whose strength of character and strong moral principles inspire others to greatness...when they're portrayed with nuance. The line between a Paladin PC who is engagingly righteous and a Paladin PC who is frustratingly dogmatic can be very thin at times. With the following role-play tips, however, D&D players can create a Paladin character who can be complicated, layered, fun for other PCs to engage with, and a genuine ally of justice.
The word "Paladin" originally referred to 12 mythical knights from the court of King Charlemagne – heroic equestrians such as Roland, wielder of the sword called Durandal, and the war-horn called Oliphant. Dungeons & Dragons' fantasy Paladin drew inspiration from the heroic "Paladins" of Carolingian medieval romance, the Knights of the Round Table from Arthurian myth and legend, and the warrior monks of monastic orders such as the Knights Templar, which was active from the 12th to the 14th century. Mechanically, Paladin in early Dungeons & Dragons had the toughness and weapon masteries of a Fighter coupled with the healing and protecting powers of a Cleric. They were also invariably bound by a rigid chivalric oath of honor that kept them from committing "chaotic" acts or associating with "chaotic" people lest they "fall" and lose access to their holy powers.
In the early editions of Dungeons & Dragons, Paladins could be a lightning rod for all sorts of mean-spirited behavior; toxic players would portray Paladins as intolerant zealots who tried to police the actions of their fellow PCs, while toxic DMs would throw a wave of moral quandaries at Paladin PCs in an effort to get them to "fall." Newer editions of Dungeons & Dragons have since finessed the rules and themes of the Paladin character class, giving players more freedom to create holy warriors who can work with people of different beliefs and not lose their powers at the slightest deviation from their personal moral code. Over time, D&D players have also developed a new paradigm for roleplaying Paladins, presenting them less as "fanatical crusaders" and more as "parental figures."
D&D Paladin Roleplay Tips: Talk With Players & DM About The Stories They Want To Tell
A lot of problems and tensions in a session can be averted by just talking it out with the gaming group, and figuring out how to make a Paladin PC play well in D&D with other PCs is no different. If the player group as a whole is interested in a campaign about heroic heroes who heroically save the day, a classic "Oath of Devotion" or "Oath of the Ancients" Paladin will fit in with them nicely. If the other players want to play morally ambiguous scoundrels, on the other hand, an "Oath of Vengeance" or "Oath of Conquest" Paladin may work better. Generally, a creative Dungeon Master and group of players acting in good faith should be able to finesse a situation where a Paladin does Paladin-esque things, Roguish characters do Rogue-esque things, and neither of them butt heads over it.
D&D Paladin Roleplay Tips: Draw Inspiration From Fictional Heroes Who Are Also Parental Figures
If a D&D player wants to create a backstory/RP personality for their Paladin PC for their campaign, but isn't sure where to start, they could do far worse than to revisit their favorite works of media, drawing heavy inspiration from protagonists who play the role of "parental figures." The Transformers franchise has Optimus Prime, the Cybertronian Autobot leader who fought against Megatron and the Decepticons was also a surrogate father for many cartoon-watching kids in the 1980s, and even for those who encountered the character in later seasons, thanks to his strong, sad, and kind personality – a Paladin in spirit, if not in name. In general, any fictional hero who tries their best to protect their allies, lightens the mood when they're disheartened, and gently inspires them to be their best selves is excellent fodder for building a Paladin PC that other players will genuinely respect.
D&D Paladin Roleplay Tips: Paladin PCs Can Be Smart About Pursuing Goals And Upholding Oaths
A Paladin gains their divine powers in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition through the Oaths they swear to uphold, with the most iconic Paladin sub-class swearing the classic "Oath of Devotion" to protect the innocent, speak no falsehoods, and make the world a better place through compassionate deeds. A Paladin PC with an elaborate backstory may also have a more long-term ideal; liberating a conquered kingdom, hunting down the villain who hurt their loved ones, re-claiming a stolen artifact, etc. To uphold their Oaths and Ideals, a Paladin must be willing to put their life on the line, defy the will of powerful beings, and sacrifice their material wealth.
But there's no reason why a Dungeons & Dragons Paladin can't be clever AND practical in the execution of their noble deeds, whether that involves using hit-and-run attacks against powerful opponents, deceiving a guard with technically true statements, teaching villagers self-defense skills, or accepting monetary rewards from people who can afford to pay them. A Paladin PC who considers the consequences of their actions, doesn't recklessly sacrifice themself and does everything they can to protect both innocents and their party members winds up being far more interesting than a Paladin with a recklessly rigid sense of justice.
D&D Paladin Roleplay Tips: Paladins Should Be Humble And Believe In Others
A Paladin can leave a strong impression on both NPCs and players if they're genuinely humble in demeanor and deed. Paladins who bluster and brag about their righteousness or moan about their sinfulness come across as egotistical attention seekers. A Paladin character in a D&D campaign who genuinely sees no difference between fighting a village-burning dragon and helping an old lady cross the street is a figure other player characters can admire, rather than resent for being "holier-than-thou."
Furthermore, a Dungeons & Dragons Paladin PC who genuinely admires the abilities of other PCs, sympathizes with their troubles, and believes they have the potential to be great heroes is a lot more likable than a Paladin who believe they're the lead protagonist of the D&D campaign (Dale Carnegie's self-help book How To Win Friends And Influence People, though written for entrepreneurs and political leaders, has a lot of good tips along these lines for D&D gamers who want to create a likable Paladin PC).