All paladins are eligible to acquire these proficiencies, regardless of their character kits, providing they spend the points listed on Table 23. Characters belonging to the Crossover Groups listed at the end of each description may buy the proficiency at the indicated cost. Groups not listed may buy the proficiency by spending one additional point beyond the listed cost. All of these are nonweapon proficiencies except Jousting.
| Proficiency | # of Slots Required |
Relevant Ability | Check Modifier |
Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bureaucracy | 2 | Intelligence | +0 | Priest, Rogue |
| Diagnostics | 1 | Wisdom | -1 | Priest |
| Jousting | 1 | Dexterity | +2 | Warrior |
| Law | 1 | Wisdom | +0 | Warrior, Priest |
| Oratory | 1 | Charisma | +0 | Warrior, Priest |
| Poetry | 1 | Intelligence | -2 | General |
Law and Paladins[]
A paladin with the Law proficiency won't defend anyone he believes to be guilty, including his own companions. Though a paladin won't knowingly break the law, he may take advantage of this proficiency to defend himself if wrongly accused of a crime; a failed defense may result in his conviction.
Poetry for Paladins[]
With permission from the DM, a paladin with the Poetry proficiency may offer a composition to his church (or other designated recipient) instead of a tithe. The paladin must inform the church a month in advance if he intends to offer a composition; either lyric or narrative poetry is acceptable. If the church (that is, the DM) disapproves, the paladin must pay his normal tithe. If the church approves, the paladin may present a composition when his tithe is normally due.
The composition must be presented at the church or to a church official at a pre-arranged location. The paladin then makes a Poetry proficiency check. If the check fails, the composition is deemed unworthy; the normal tithe must be paid immediately. If the check succeeds, the DM determines the value of the composition; the value is equal to 3d20 gp. If the value is greater than or equal to the normal tithe, no tithe is required that month. The paladin doesn't receive any "change" if the value is more than his tithe; the excess value is forfeited.
If the value is less than the tithe, the paladin subtracts the value from the tithe, then pays the difference (if the paladin owes 20 gp and the value of the composition is 15 gp, he must pay 5 gp). A paladin may exercise this option as often as he likes.