Paladin Standard Equipment

Paladins take their equipment seriously, and seek to own the best that money can buy. Not only does their equipment reflect the honor of their station; for some it symbolizes their principles.

• The shield represents the paladin's vow to uphold his ethos.
• The sword represents the two constituencies he's sworn to defend—one edge of the sword represents the privileged class, the other the common people.
• Armor represents loyalty to the state. Just as his armor protects his body, so must he protect his monarch.
• The helmet represents loyalty to the religion. Just as his helmet protects his head, so must he protect his church.
• Clothing, well-crafted and immaculately clean, represents purity of spirit.

Standard Equipment

Following is a list of standard equipment owned (or at least desired) by most paladins. Usually, paladins purchase this equipment with their own funds. A frugal paladin tries to maintain his possessions in top condition so he seldom has to invest in replacements.

Armor

All types of armor are available to the paladin. Given a choice, most prefer the protection and prestige of full plate. However, because of the expense of plate armor, some opt for banded or splint, while others settle for the cheaper and readily available chain mail. Leather, studded leather, and padded—including magical versions—are generally avoided, as these armor types tend to be associated with characters of lesser status. A discriminating paladin may prefer to wear ordinary scale mail rather studded leather +2.

In a typical medieval campaign world, paladins favor three armor types: hauberk/helmet combinations, chain, and plate.

Hauberk and helmet

Destitute paladins, those from primitive cultures, or those just beginning their careers sometimes wear only a chain mail hauberk (a single piece that covers the chest) and a helmet. The paladin often supervises the construction of the hauberk or makes it himself, coiling wire around a rod, then cutting it down the side to make rings. He flattens the rings with a hammer, them rivets them together in the shape of a knee-length coat with a hood to cover the head. The helmet is usually round or cone-shaped, open in the front. The hauberk-helmet combination is cheaper than chain mail, but less protective, with an Armor Class of 7.

Chain mail

A hauberk supplemented with leggings and arm coverings becomes a complete set of chain mail (AC 5). A visor may be added to the helmet to protect the face. While inexpensive and relatively light, chain mail has its drawbacks. The weight of chain mail is distributed unevenly on the body, straining the shoulders in particular. Even the strongest paladin will feel fatigued after wearing chain mail for more than a day. At the DM's option, any character wearing chain mail for more than 24 hours straight suffers a –2 penalty to all attack rolls until he removes it and rests for a few hours.

At least once a week, iron chain mail must be oiled and polished, a process that can take the better part of an afternoon. Failure to properly care for chain mail results in rust (and a reduction of one level of AC for each month of neglect).

Plate Mail

Plate mail (AC 3) adds a breast plate, back plate, and strips of metal to areas of the body underprotected by chain mail, such as the knees and elbows. Metal sheets called pauldrons protect the spaces between the arms and the chest. Epaulieres (shoulder guards) protect the upper body; gauntlets (metal gloves) protect the hands.

High-level paladins occasionally decorate plate mail with gold or silver trim and fasten small jewels to the helmet or the backs of the gauntlets. These extravagances are generally compatible with the paladin's ethos, so long as they're intended to reflect the paladin's station and aren't used to flaunt wealth. Heraldic symbols may be etched or painted on any section of the armor.

Plate mail requires polishing and oiling, but because it consists of solid sections rather than tiny rings, it's more resistant to rust. Though heavier than chain mail, plate mail fits better and is more comfortable, making fatigue less a factor. The illustration in this chapter identifies various pieces of a paladin's plate mail armor, along with the basic pieces of mount barding.

Shield

Most paladins carry medium shields, which offer maximum protection against front and flank attacks and are light enough to be carried on horseback. Made of wood and covered in thick leather, the shield is shaped like a triangle with a round top and pointed bottom. Its surface curves inward. The shield extends about 4-5 feet from top to bottom and hangs from the paladin's neck by a strap. He grips it in his left hand (or right hand, if he's left-handed) with a second strap secured to the shield's inner surface.

Some paladins carry oblong, rectangular, round or even pentagonal shields. Shields may be decorated with gold or silver trim, dotted with precious jewels, emblazoned with heraldic symbols, or painted in bright colors.

Weapons

A paladin may master any weapon, but most feel unarmed without a sword (long, two-handed, bastard, or short, in that order of preference), a lance (medium or heavy, depending on the size of the mount), and a dagger. A paladin typically keeps his sword in a wooden scabbard covered in leather, strapped to the left side of his belt (or to the right side if left-handed). The dagger hangs from his belt on the opposite side of his scabbard.

Other weapons favored by paladins include the horseman's flail, horseman's mace, horseman's pick, battle axe, and scimitar. Paladins tend to avoid using missile weapons, as they're difficult to use effectively on horseback.

A jousting lance, though desirable, may be too expensive. Instead, a paladin may opt for a lance cup, a blunted cap of wood that fits over the end of an ordinary lance, making it suitable for tournaments. Lance cups, however, are notoriously undependable; there is a 5% chance per joust (roll 1 on 1d20) that the cup will detach and fall off. When this occurs, the officials interrupt the joust and the contestants must start over. A jouster who repeatedly loses his lance cup may risk disqualification from the tournament.

Clothing and Special Items

When choosing clothes, the paladin strives for both utility and elegance. He favors bold colors (blue, red, green and violet) and, when he can afford them, rich fabrics (silk and velvet in particular). Because a paladin is often judged by his appearance, spending money on formal attire usually isn't considered an ethos violation.

An ideal wardrobe, which may be acquired a piece at a time over the course of a paladin's career, consists of the following:

• Two loose-fitting silk or linen shirts with full sleeves.
• Two pairs breeches or trousers, made of wool, cotton, or linen, tailored to fit tightly to the legs (loose-fitting breeches tend to be associated with peasants and commoners). The breeches are usually ankle-length and brightly colored.
• Armor lining (made of soft leather or padded fabric, worn beneath chain mail to prevent chafing.
• Two pairs of cotton undergarments.
• Two pairs of silken hose and garters.
• A pair of riding boots.
• A pair of leather shoes, usually pointed at the toes and fastened at the ankle with straps and buckles.
• Two knee-length tunics, usually sleeveless, slipped over the head. Tunics may be decorated with colorful patterns of stripes and circles, and possibly feathers or small gems.
• A surcoat (outer tunic), either sleeveless or head. The surcoat is usually lined with rabbit, squirrel, or other light fur, and padded at the shoulders. Tassels, ribbons, and brocade are common.
• A lightweight mantle (a sleeveless coat made from an oval piece of cloth) for the spring and summer, made of cotton or silk. The garment is rectangular or semicircular in shape, wrapped around the body, and secured at the neck with a chain or buckle.
• A heavy winter mantle lined with beaver, fox, or other thick fur.
• A full cape made of wool, cotton, or lambskin, fastened around the neck with a chain or leather strap. High-level paladins may prefer a silken cape in black, blue, red, or violet, lined with red or black velvet.
• A wide leather belt with a metal buckle.
• A wool, cotton, or felt cap.
• A ceremonial coif (a tight-fitting cap covering the hair and ears, tied beneath the chin) made of linen or silk, and decorated with embroidery, feathers, or golden lace. A ceremonial coif is often required for state banquets and other formal occasions. The equivalent for females is called a wimple.

A conscientious paladin should also consider including the following items as part of his standard gear. These are in addition to lanterns, rope, and other equipment necessary for long trips or specific quests.

• Two cotton or woolen towels (one for washing, one to use as a mat for eating).
• Formal dinnerware, including eating utensils, a cup, a plate, and a goblet. Because paladins may have to furnish their own service at formal events, they should buy quality items made of silver, crystal, and porcelain.
• Complete tack for the mount, including bit, bridle, harness, horseshoes, saddle, and full barding.
• Two heavy blankets, one used for a bed, the other to cover the mount at night.
• A mirror (necessary for grooming).

Formal Attire for Female Paladins

Female paladins are free to wear all of the above clothing (assuming no cultural reasons to the contrary). For formal occasions, a female paladin may instead wear a floor-length tunic called a kirtle, which fits snugly above the hips and billows around the legs. A surcoat and cloak may be worn as outer garments. Females may also wear hose above the knee, secured by garters or tied with ribbons. Footwear is similar for males and females, though the kirtles conceal all but the toes.

Badges, Standards, and Crests

Paladins often embellish their armor, clothing, weapons, and shields to identify them on the battlefield, indicate rank, or symbolize allegiance to a king or church. Monarchs sometime present embellishments to recognize outstanding military service. Embellishments representing the family name may be handed down from parent to child. As a rule, embellishments can't be purchased; they must be awarded or earned. Some examples:

Badge

This is an emblem representing the paladin's homeland, family, or order. A badge may be a physical object, such as pin or a medal, or it may be a small design embroidered in a tunic or engraved on a shield. Typical badge symbols include humans with animal heads, a flower or plant with a crown, or a weapon with wings.

Standard

A standard is a flag with a Y-shaped end, attached to a pole or staff. The standard bears the colors, heraldic symbols, or insignia of the paladin's government or church. A standard becomes a banner when the end is cut off to form a square. A smaller version of the standard, called a pennon, may be attached to the end of a lance.

Crest

A crest may be a bundle of short leather strips, one or more feathers, a wooden carving, a tassel, or any other small object attached to a paladin's helmet. The crest is usually the same color as the paladin's shield. Crests are often worn in tournaments to help observers tell one paladin from another, though many paladins wear their crests all the time. A crest may also be added to the halter of a war horse. An abstraction of the crest may be displayed on a shield or standard.

Additional Equipment

Canon

The canon is the sacred text of the character's faith. It included prayers, guidelines for behavior, historical summaries, expectations of the deity, and other theological material. A canon is not a spell book, nor does it possess any magical qualities.

Because a canon can be very expensive, characters can sometimes make arrangements with their church to purchase a copy on installment, adding a few extra gold pieces to their monthly tithe to pay it off. Generous churches may loan their followers a copy of the canon indefinitely. However, should the canon become lost or destroyed, the character may be responsible for the replacement cost.

Coat of arms

This term usually refers to the shield bearing the paladin's heraldic symbols, or to the symbols alone. But it's also the name for a specific article of clothing. A coat of arms is a white tunic worn over the armor, emblazoned with the paladin's insignia. The coat identifies the paladin and also protects him from the heat of the sun, which can be unbearable when wearing uncovered armor.

Cosmetic kit

Helpful when preparing for formal affairs, a typical cosmetic kit includes a vial of sheep fat to make the skin glisten, powdered rouges to tint the cheeks white or pink, lightly perfumed talc for the body, and a depilatory salve to smooth the face.

Horse grooming kit

For efficient and thorough horse grooming, the kit includes a currycomb (a brush with stiff bristles to remove dirt from the coat), a shedding blade (a flexible, serrated blade to remove loose body hair), a body brush (for dirt removal from the legs, fetlocks, and other areas where a currycomb is inappropriate), hoof picks (to remove pebbles and debris from the hooves), and a mane and tail comb (to clean and tease the hair).

Similar kits exist for griffons and other mounts.

Mantling

Resembling tufts of feathers or fans of leaves, mantling consists of cotton or linen strips lined with thin layers of metal. Mantling attaches to the sides of a helmet and shields the wearer's eyes from the bright sun. It also prevents rust and helps deflect weapon attacks. (If an opponent attempts a Called Shot against a character wearing a mantling, he suffers a –5 penalty to his attack roll instead of a –4 penalty.) Mantling is often painted the same color as the wearer's shield.

Sachet

This is a small bag containing a mixture of flower petals, herbs, and spices that adds a pleasant scent to a character's clothing (nice when no deodorant is around). A sachet can be placed in a closet or trunk, or carried in a pocket.

Spurs

With spurs, the rider can control his mount with less effort and give commands with a slight motion of his foot. The best spurs—those that avoid damage to the horse—have blunt, wheel-shaped rowels instead of points. Dressage spurs have sharp, curved points, slightly angled toward the rider to prevent accidental scrapes. Spurs with gold or silver plating are available at 5-10 times the listed price.

[Complete Paladin's Handbook]