Can Paladins Work as D&D Villains?

[@pointyhatstudios]

Please form an organized line here to swear your oath to cursed unlife :)

[@orcishdad8075]

Sounds like a good time!

[@thewritingrowlet2980]

I hereby solemnly swear to give my life in time of need to the cursed unlife of this realm.

[@Thefootqueenr]

*raises hand* Pick me Mr.Pointy Hat!

[@pauldurando9466]

I hereforeswear my everlasting soul to the Pointiest of Hats, to serve him forever in the most cursed of undeath. Long may he reign in his unending glory!

[@knuppelwuppel]

I hereby swear: no harm shall come to the pointy hat

[@kamiwriterleonardo6345]

"Even in death, I still serve" sure feels like something an Undead Paladin would say

[@Dragon66898]

True

[@user-KNP13]

_Our service, eternal._ _Our sacrifice, infinite._ _Our regrets, absent._

[@ghostfaze2301]

Blood for the blood god

[@kungknas6108]

@@user-KNP13 Is that a Gray Necromancer reference? It feels familiar, but I am uncertain

[@user-KNP13]

@@kungknas6108 You do know what quotation marks do in google right?

[@johnathanmonsen6567]

I think the Holy Sisters could be a really good example of an ACTUALLY morally complex antagonist; not just "morally indefensible but with a nametag that says HERO on it." Have Sister Ursula be correct; something on the island is discretely causing the constant strife, that they haven't been able to find, possibly because of the mindset that led to their oath. But, if the party finds out, they find the Sisters surprisingly willing to lay down their Undeath if the threat passes--because they _genuinely_ only keep it up out of obligation. The Sisters mourn for every soul they take, have memorized the names of every sacrifice, and if they found a way to fulfil their oath without continuing to pay that price, they would gladly reach for it.

[@alvaroneto6486]

I thought on it but with growing corruption by the day. They are needed to protect the island, but after so much time could loose any ties with its people, one is ther to protect the land, the other it's nature, another the history, other the simple treasures of the family it's served. With time they see the people as only sustenance to their oaths permanence, and grow in hate with this people for their weakness or not compliance on simply protect it. A order stuck in the past of millenia fighting with superspecific morality against the natural course of time.

[@mrShift_0044]

like what if they do really feel sick from killing unknowing young people to sustain themselfs, but they also been proven *multitude* of times that the whole island *_will_* fall not even 100 years after their passing if underlying threat is not eliminated. or the whole arj where people discover that after generations of guarding the members of the oath lost their humanity and actually really evil now, despite still protecting the island (but that's more of personal gain and oath) and whadda ya do with that conundrum

[@justinn8541akaDrPokemon]

When Undying Oath is taken literally.

[@MythicDragon103]

Fr tho

[@jacksonhorrocks4281]

Can the Undying Oath people die naturally?

[@MythicDragon103]

@@jacksonhorrocks4281 ...No...thats the whole point of being a lich is NOT DYING FROM OLD AGE

[@dasirrlicht5415]

@@MythicDragon103 I tought it is more about 'Not dieing, in general'

[@MythicDragon103]

@@dasirrlicht5415 well yeah, but you can still DIE

[@Scream_Lord]

Party: *Kills the Sisterhood* Yeah, take that evil Lich-Knight ladies! The Sisters: "You have made...a grave mistake. *dies* The Party: What, what? *Sudden Demonic invasion and for some reason Cthulhu is there*

[@AegixDrakan]

Feels like the best way to run that adventure is to actually have the threat that they're so afraid of... But once the threat is gone, they find if very hard to stop doing what they're doing... :P

[@RedSunUnderParadise]

My Characters who are basically Reverse Flash but for Paladins: Worth it!

[@Aaa-vp6ug]

@@RedSunUnderParadise​​⁠*(The Only Thing They Fear Is You starts to play)* Doomguy, Slayer of Hells |=======|======|=====|=======| (He has multiple healthbars stacked on top of eachother)

[@RedSunUnderParadise]

@@Aaa-vp6ug Healthbars? I thought those were his "Holding Back" Gauges?

[@Aaa-vp6ug]

@@RedSunUnderParadise each section is a holding back gauge. The whole thing is 1 healthbar. There’s 3 of them. He also has an additional invisible holding back gauge that makes him even more menacing!

[@markkiefer3243]

A small group of (practically) immortal warriors protecting an island nation for hundreds of years? *Bionicle flashbacks* This is the best "which lich?" Episode yet.

[@TheBrickMasterB]

🎶 She's my radio girl🎶 🎶 She's out of this world, she's 🎶 🎶My radio girl🎶

[@proxxyBean]

I hope the end of "Which Lich" is a Kickstarter for a setting where all of the LIches are active.

[@SanjayMerchant]

Turns out the Paladin Liches are the only thing keeping the Barbarian Liches and Ranger Liches at bay and both sides employ the Artificer and Fighter Liches....

[@johnjuben8635]

​@@SanjayMerchantwhile all of the sides are fighting on the druid liches land, and the sorcerer family lich plays both all the sides, the barf lichs i don't know though

[@derpherp1810]

I like the idea of the tragic twist being, The Forsworn themselves is what attracted the demons to the island. It makes sense, and its thematically relevant.

[@madmanarrivednow]

Or they are like the ancient winged race in Legacy of Kain. They don't know who they serve, and the being they serve is parasitizing on the circle of birth, death and rebirth.

[@CyberDrewan]

I think there are a lot of very interesting questions about that implication. For instance, is it possible for a Foresworn that sacrificing themselves and releasing their unlife is actually fulfilling their oath, or would their attachment to the Foresworn prevent them from making that choice? If they could make it, this might lead to a lot of interesting places if even one Foresworn thinks they need to eliminate the whole group in order to fulfill their oath.

[@Justadeathgod]

@@CyberDrewan or it could be possible to destroy the reason/artifact that attracts those forces to release the lich paladins from their oaths. Just any way to undermine their reason for the oath as a way to beat them without a fight sounds like a nice plan. Destroying their oath is like destroying the phylactery. And they might even thank the heroes for it.

[@RedSunUnderParadise]

I'd have Sister Milagros be totally unaware that a Devil, not some benevolent being essentially turned the island into a Banana republic/Death trap for demons and her order are basically fighting in a proxy war.

[@NevarKanzaki]

If they're right, though, there's a timing continuity issue with that. After all, they believed that something was attracting the demons to the island before making said oath in the scenario. So it certainly wasn't them as that hadn't happened yet. There are certainly many ways you could do it but it'd require tweaking the base scenario.

[@Sagewinds]

I also love how you inadvertently explained the eternal life of the crusader guarding the holy grail at the end of Indian Jones and the Last Crusade

[@X3n0nLP]

Oath of redemption forsword who is the last of his order. He is confronted about his lichdom. How he needs souls to survive. "As long as there are people in the world who will dismiss redemption for their own gain at any chance and threaten the lived of others, I will have souls to feed on" "And what if there are no longer people like that? What if you slay all the irredeemably evil people there are?" "Then my work is done and I have given all to the world that I am capable of. I will rest knowing that there is no more need for me."

[@davidkoudelka10]

I loved this! Very well-written and both sides present a good argument! Did you take inspiration from the conversation between Dr. Strange and Thanos? (And why am I kind of agreeing with the forsword minus the whole “devouring souls” thing?)

[@hithere5553]

Literally Ghost Rider.

[@villesuutari8540]

I had to pause the video to type this. I can't decide what I like the most in these videos. The edit is simply ingenious. The clips to fit the script, the humor used is clever, the puns fit and match - the whole thing is amazing. And on top of that there's the content itself: fresh and uncompromising. The reasoning behind is always thorough which allows one to understand the process and how the suggested theme works. Even the god damn adds are great. Whoever came up with this style for the adds needs a trophy. You know it's the add, but you are too intrigued to skip it because of the story and graphics designed for it. So listen up all you people selling us things: this works. Throw your dollars or pesos or euros towards this ma.. hat, towards this hat! And to end this little message: I do not write comments - ever. This is a very rare exception and reflects heavily how much I appreciate the content. Now, let's get liching!

[@troperhghar9898]

Inspecter Javier from Les Miserables is the first thing i think of as an evil paladin Enforcing the law even if its unfair and swearing oaths to the stars

[@CivilWarMan]

I wouldn't even classify Javert as evil. He's the ultimate embodiment of Lawful Neutral, to the point of either bordering or crossing the line into Lawful Stupid. He is absolutely an antagonist, and a personal nemesis to Valjean, but his characterization would not have him treat Valjean the way he did if Valjean were not a convicted felon and parole jumper. And that's why I'd say Paladins can easily be good villains. Because you don't have to be evil to be one, depending on the context of the story.

[@Doublemonk0506]

​@CivilWarMan , to be fair to Inspector Javert, 18th century policing was a lot more ****ed up

[@Shalakor]

@@CivilWarMan Yeah, if anything, he'd be less of a threat if he were Evil, since at least then he could have been bargained with by offering him something of personal gain. Evil is the selfish alignment.

[@intergalactic92]

@@CivilWarMan Javert is ultimately just doing his job and following a strict moral code, that any (hu)man who commits a crime (regardless of circumstance) is damned and incapable of redemption. Discovering that Valjean has redeemed himself rocks his world so completely that he cannot continue.

[@tbohn10]

​@Doublemonk0506 you were less likely to be shot tho

[@fornax4676]

I like the connection the Forsworn have to each other. Kinda like that sorcerer lich you did but they share it rather than being led by a single single lich.

[@AndyManX1226]

"There is never a lone Forsworn, only an order-" Motherfucker just made Organization XIII and I'm here for it.

[@Shalakor]

Man, trying to recreate each one using different Paladin subclasses and this Forsworn statblock could be a lot of fun. Would inevitably need a few 3rd party Oaths added to the mix, but would be nice to try to use as many of the official ones as possible first.

[@shealupkes]

I love the death knight because it's a prime example of what both a lich and a paladin isn't, their oath was shattered or relived of them and they're kept in an undead state out of punishment or forced servitude, a tragic figure in that their continued state is rarely fault of their own

[@mitchellpatterson3044]

As someone who just ran a campaign with a villainous paladin who swore an oath to the god of fear and nightmares to become an immortal dream killer and torturer. YES they can be villains! He became what i called: A Knightmare. Name of the character was Punisher Grigorey. Who was executioner of a kingdom, until he was ousted for being too cruel and searched other methods to fufill his craving for others pain. Swearing that nobody would ever be safe from him. An oath of fear

[@beancandev7818]

It’s cool, and also a pun! My favourite!

[@b.sanchez530]

The pun make cracking in laughter good

[@callmequaz9052]

The nightmare will devour your soul!

[@delinquentcat3832]

Damn, that’s cool dude!

[@topcatfan]

​@@beancandev7818if he's a centaur then that's a even stronger pun

[@StickgeneralArmy]

i’ve been running a campaign based on this series of videos called Song of Sorrows, where the party has to hunt down and kill 16 “liches” spread across the Southern Isles, an archipelago currently under a whole lot of curses that the stars themselves have abandoned. Each lich is based on a class, with some of them being based on these videos, and others being ones of my own design based on the “checklist”. For example, the artificer one, instead of requiring flesh, requires Individuality. The idea being that people have personality, have soul, have independence and such. And the Steel Song, the artificer lich, consumes that to fuel its massive hive mind, then turns the husks of the hollowed out “people” into golems, use them as sleeper agents controlled by the hive, or simply burn them as fuel. Sort of expansionist spooky stuff. For the paladin, my version is the Martyr. It goes more in the direction of the Crusades, of zealotry and such. Essentially, if a paladin wishes to become one, they must gather a group of Crusaders, other paladins who believe in their cause, before ritually forcing an innocent in some way related to the group they’re trying to crusade against to Kill the paladin in question. Doing this makes them a Martyr, and the Crusaders (any paladins who witnessed the act, in this case 7) become the phylacteries. The martyr’s spirit can possess and control any of the crusaders via a piece of the original body, and the only way to truly end them is to kill all seven crusaders. the problem, however, is the fact that, if a crusader is dead, another one can simply kill an innocent soul in order to revive the lost member of their ranks. The Martyr in this campaign was started to lead a crusade against a warring nation. however, while the martyr’s will is present, it is faint, and the crusaders have perverted it more and more into a genocide of the people of that country. Since one of the other elements of the campaign is the temptation to replace the liches they kill, the party may even create their own martyr for the purpose of destroying the sorrows. But how can they accomplish that goal in earnest once they’ve become one?

[@Teraclon]

I made a corrupt paladin as a boss. He was infected by the essence of a defeated lich as the phylactery's shards burried themselves in his flesh. His aura effect turned into a weakening miasma and by draining the corruption from the party, he'd gain health, deal damage to them or other effects, as a metaphorical tax for the "healing". They hated/loved the fight xD

[@czechmeoutbabe1997]

Oh i thought like, criminally corrupt and then thought that it was actually awesome, like maybe there was a way to combine social corruption with being a Paladin, like them being a gang boss or something.

[@SicFromTheKush]

The phylactery infected him huh, so was his consciousness the paladin but on paint fumes, or was it that old Lich from the smashed phylactery taking over?

[@Adahy_Bullet]

That's actually super cool

[@argus_lunge9026]

Idea: Ursula discovered the Forsworn Ritual while investigating the Demons as something the Demons themselves used. Fighting Fire with Fire kinda thing, not seeing another way to defeat them, and it turns out the souls of the squires were sent to the hells. Also they kept it hidden from Leona where the squires went and why she was never allowed a squire, because she wouldn't be able to "do what is necessary"

[@Maldraugedhen]

I like how the fundamental scaling limitation you used for this order is scheduling conflicts. Really feels like you went straight for a route most campaign groups would be able to keenly empathize with.

[@Spyrothecat]

On my phone rocking a baby to sleep and this drops - thank you mr hat

[@thememeilator2633]

That is incredibly wholesome and adorable.

[@Draail19]

Man, I was super excited about the concept of Paladin Liches after watching your other lich videos. I really like what you did with them.

[@husarz5907]

My interpretation would be a Paladin so single-mindedly devoted to his oath that he just ignores everything else. Pleasures of flesh? Ignored. Any villanious group not connected to his oath? Ignored. Any harm done to the people or the land that is not connected to his oath? Ignored. Death? That is something that would just be an obstacle to fulfilling the oath so *ignored* The oath itself would be a philactery, so a party would have to either help the Paladin in executing his oath or trick him into breaking it.

[@tombom6643]

Great idea, and if you want to make the phylactery more tangeble it could also be a scroll whit said oath pened and signed.

[@erikkesler1739]

That was what I thought but I like his take a lot

[@Shalakor]

That is pretty much what the Barbarian Lich is like, so kinda makes sense to do something else. (Although, on the other hand, multiple of the other class lich options made so far do already use "other people living" for the phylactery, so it's a bit of a tossup.)

[@SymbioteMullet]

That's how the Oathsworn work in the Arcana Evolved setting for 3.5edition. Lots of their features are litterally "refuse x". They can refuse food, pain, sleep, even aging. And once their oath is fulfilled, they turn back in normal people. Who can swear another oath at a moment's notice and get it all back. They're actually monks rather than paladins, but the ignoring / refusing thing made me think of it.

[@MarkoSeldo]

This is how I would do it. Oath of Conquest? Perfect. Oath of Devotion? To a royal lineage? Perfect. Oath of Glory sells itself. Oath of the Crown? See also Devotion. Watchers? Perfect. Vengeance? *chef's kiss*

[@MisterDiceGuy]

This lich series of videos is my favorite D&D series on youtube. I am so excited for the eventual rogue lich.

[@CallMetheMusicMan]

It's crazy to me that we haven't seen more paladins as villains. I think Ketheric was one of the first I'd ever seen in something like officially associated with DND. They're honestly such great fountains of story! Pious, honorable, faithful, obsessive, wrathful, paladins are the perfect villains to represent that bad guys think they are the good guys.

[@sharondornhoff7563]

I believe there's a paladin villain in the early FR novel "Thornhold". IIRC, the author said she deliberately portrayed the guy as having the lowest possible Wisdom score that could still qualify him for AD&D paladinhood, to explain how misconceived his actions in what he *thought* were the best interests of Good turned out to be.

[@kooolainebulger8117]

my brother in christ, they made the oath of conquest subclass how do they NOT use that for villains??!?

[@calebleach7988]

We don’t even need an “evil” Paladin. Just throw a paladin whose whole shtick is the “repent or burn” type stuff.

[@jacksonhoiland2664]

​@@calebleach7988 conquest does that, they are all about ruling with an iron fist and becoming a beacon of fear to your enemies. They clearly don't care about mercy both because of what they have as tools and because they are thematically designed as an antithesis to the oath of mercy. They are all about becoming tyrants, ruling over the weak, and holding law and order over compassion or good.

[@АнтонДемин-ю4з]

Aribeth from nwn, Caelar Ardent from dlc of bg2

[@questioninconnu]

that's a REALLY great concept. like, you just don't miss with the liches. making your ennemies a group of knight is just absolutely peak tragic fantasy fiction.

[@El_chara]

Ketheric Thorm just existing casually in baldur's gate and working so well as a villain.

[@El_chara]

Also I'm predicting it, no he is not a liche but he could literally be a liche with the exact same scenario, he has a skeleton army, is an undead and has a goddamn magic revive wooshie washie (the nightsong)

[@mkmb2k934]

This works exactly for what I had in mind. In my campaign(actually I don't have a campaign more like a story/plot) , the balanced party with currently has a Grave Cleric and Totem Warrior. I still need to figure out the Wizard & Rogue. Why is it so hard? The Cleric Temple tasked him to stop a Conquest Paladin from obtaining a baleful artifact to prevent from creating an eternal war

[@nickperri6571]

Kraken necromancer? Sea elves? Magic orbs to collect? Man the nostalgia for Dragonfable is reaching dangerous levels right now I might go see what they’re up to when I get home

[@bloopsagain]

How could you?! Now I am also gripped by the desire to open my old account >:[

[@VaregianEisselor]

It's still there and going strong!

[@Sirius10117]

The Krakromancer!

[@annatarsoly941]

When he only talked about the archipelago and the orbs, before he mentioned the sea elves, I thought it would somehow be connected to the second temple of Uk'otoa. Yes, I watched that episode of The Mighty Nein less than a week ago.

[@Puppach1no]

Waking up to a new Pointy Hat on a Saturday morning is like waking up to Saturday morning cartoons as a kid

[@Sygless]

I love how antonio was like "yeah here is this iconic great little talking hat" and then "oh yeah im a good looking guy too" like common you can't have both!

[@steel5315]

Would that guy from Indiana Jones that guarded the chalice be a Paladin Lich? Because thats what I immediately thought of when I saw this video title. Using the Forsworn as a group is cool but I also like the idea that everyone in the order broke their oath to guard some like ancient Treasure except one who remains alone locked away at the end of a dungeon, until the party comes to loot it.

[@SoreWristed]

As someone who's had a party member take their paladin oath **EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY** , I would argue that vanilla paladins, even those in your party, can already be full antagonists.

[@rustyshackle8000]

Even better, in some settings, it's not any specific being that grants divine power. Rather, it comes from the individual's belief in it. So in these settings, a paladin cannot break their oath so long as they believe they did not break it, and their faith remains true. Ergo, you can absolutely have a Lawful Evil Oath of Devotion Paladin

[@gachadoddles6320]

@@rustyshackle8000 Don’t give me ideas

[@rustyshackle8000]

@@gachadoddles6320 Bold of you to assume that wasn't my intention

[@Sarth1s]

PHTCARRDNSLR got me dead. thanks for another awesome video Pointy Hat.... and the human familiar too I suppose.

[@martinroman559]

THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH. I'm running a campaign where a significant group of npc's were already semi-immortal paladins and I was having a creative block on how to justify it, your video just saved my life and part of my campaign, my players are going to LOVE this.

[@jordancabe732]

Dude, I love all of your videos, but this one is the one I've been the most excited for and you did not disappoint. 10/10.

[@julianleverton7045]

Genuinely impressed you didn't find a way to put "Angel with a Shotgun" in here somewhere.

[@jonathanocchi7044]

I did a stippling piece using Lord Soth from the “Knight of the Black Rose” cover art. I can’t love Dragonlance enough lol.

[@GarlicPudding]

Having the Order's numbers serve as the phylactery, along with their appearance deteriorating as they're thinned out, was a nice touch.

[@GlitchGhost1285]

When I saw this video thumbnail: "Finally, my request has been heard!" Cheers Poiny Hat! 🥂

[@Nyghtking]

If I remember correctly in the case of Soth it wasn't just that he cheated on his wife, it was that he got paranoid at some point, then killed his mistress, killed his wife, and then killed himself. Yeah breaking his vow to his wife was part of it but the betrayal and murder of three people in addition to that is what pushed it over the edge.

[@dawoifee]

It is quite some time I read the books but I think he also had the chance to stop the cataclysmic event where the gods destroyed an entire city (Tarsis?) but on his way he turned around because he did not trust his mistress.

[@Gravy65]

He was cheating on his wife with an elf. His wife had a kid, he thought wasn't his, so he killed both of them. He then went on to marry the elf. Realizing what he's done, he tried to repent, and was given the opportunity to stop the cataclysm. On his way to Istar, he encountered three new elf women, who made him think his new wife was unfaithful. So, he returned, killing his wife and kid. He, and the 3 elf ladies burned to death, and he was cursed to live as the death knight, and the 3 elves banshees, to remind him of everything he's done.

[@gabrieldoyen692]

Soth's case is more complicated than that, and you get the order a bit wrong. I really like Soth, so let's explain it in detail. Soth was a human paladin and fell in love with an elven priestess he rescued from ogres bandits, even though he was married. He arranged his wife's death so that she wouldn't be an obstacle, but that arouse suspicion and he was jailed. Then, the other elven priestesses revealed the rest of the clergy that Soth's mistress was pregnant, which ruined his reputation for good. His lover and a few faithful soldiers freed him before he could get executed, and they took refuge in his castle. Eventually, Soth started to change because of all these events, and one day when he struck his mistress (now his wife), he realized he was changing into a monster and begged her forgiveness. His wife, still loving him, prayed the gods for a chance to redeem Soth. The gods gave Soth a task: stop the Kingpriest whose hubris (alongside the hubris of mortals in general, but the Kingpriest in particular) would lead the gods to send the Cataclysm, a meteor shower that would ravage the continent. Soth accepted, and he was determined to see this through. But on the way, he met a contingent of elven priestesses, the same priestesses his wife was part of (and who revealed his wife was pregnant), met him during his journey. He naively informed them of his mission. The priestesses were outraged: they were elves, the gods' favorite creation, the most pure and good of the races, and there were no way the gods would punish them or the Kingpriest, who was the embodiment of good (you can't hear my sarcasm, but just know that by that time, there were no cleric of the gods of good that still received power from their deity. Yeah. That should tell you all about how good they really were). So to divert Soth from his mission, they convinced him his wife was cheating on him. Soth was dominated by his passions and turned back on his mission to ride back to his castle. Right as the Cataclysm litterally started to happen, destroying the castle in a sea of flames, Soth accused his wife of infidelity and refused to help her or their newborn child from escaping the fire. His wife, in her dying breath, cursed him to suffer forever the consequence of his actions as they died together in the blaze. That curse made him an undead knight whose armor has become black from the fire he died in, charring his flesh and bones. The priestesses, for their role in his fall and the Cataclysm, became undead banshees forced to forever follow him and each night sing him (and themselves, because they are damn culprits there too) the story of his fall. So yeah. Soth is THE death knight. The one emblematic character for the entire concept, before Arthas and co later used it, and one of the best character of Dragonlance.

[@dawoifee]

@@gabrieldoyen692 @Gravy65 Thanks.

[@Domanese]

Didn't Soth get sent to the Demiplane of Dread for that? As I recall, he and his realm were held there for some time. Long enough for Soth to become so apathetic and accepting of his sins that the Dark Powers kicked him out. One of the few Darklords to ever escape successfully besides Vecna, I think. Didn't Soth get killed off in the new setting of Krynn? Memory is fuzzy after Soth got out of the Demiplane. So what happened next?

[@hasieretxaparekareaga3993]

The map of Dirdam is just a flipped map of Madrid, I see what you did there... (And amazing vid as always, but at this point that goes without saying. One of my favorite YT channels, period!).

[@RomLoneWolf23]

Oooh, I can already see a good twist for the Holy Sisters; the source of their Unlife is the very darkness that keeps drawing demons and other threats to Durdam.

[@AegixDrakan]

ooooohhhh that's a goooood twist. XD

[@DanielMWJ]

Of course. They needed a grand enough sacrifice to manifest in the world. And the best way was to put pressure on the paladins, then provide them with the bait to resist and grow strong and fat.

[@simply.skyler]

Pointy Hat, are you aware your Human Familiar is eating dice? That can't be healthy for the little guy no matter how scrumptious dice are.

[@korbinkepner7264]

The first thing I thought when i saw the thumbnail was "that already exists, it's a deathknight." but was still extremely excited to watch the new content from you is a testament to how good your content is. Please keep up the great work! :)

[@timr7349]

This was honestly super cool. I won't say it's my favorite cause your Intoner and Hierarch were super cool too. Honestly, this has to be my 2nd favorite series of yours only to DnD with a Twist. Amazing all around Pointyhat!

[@thatgamingkiwi1630]

I like that for this we can have an undead paladin that doesn't come with the backstory baggage of a death knight. Death knights are still sick though, imagine a game where one of these fights against or works with a death knight.

[@d3str0i3r]

good cop bad cop but it's forsworn and deathnight

[@Aaa-vp6ug]

@@d3str0i3rI like to imagine the Deathknight tried to become a Foresworn but was rejected by their god, but still serves as an honorary member of the order.

[@DanielMWJ]

For extra irony, the death knight could still be alive, throwing everyone off.

[@dredgendorchadas6770]

Can't help but imagine these two groups in numbers of 100 or so duking it out in a giant field as the kings army watches in horror. "We have to fight him!? He just pulled out that guy's femur, AND THEYRE BOTH STILL FIGHTING!"

[@quynlanvuorensyrja5484]

Now I’m imagining the final member of an order formed to hold back some terrible darkness, beginning the players to take their place before they fall.

[@amjthe_paleosquare9399]

...sigh *Opens DND campaing notes for the main setting *Frantically writes for days *Won't see the lightnif day until the mighty Pointy Hat drops another video

[@SithCats]

This might be my favorite idea you've ever come up with.

[@joekrampus1154]

I was going to make a lich-paladin npc for a spell jammer campaign as the ruler of the home planet and hero of the old war before spell jamming happened, but then I realized I was just making Warhammer 40k’s god emperor of mankind for D&D. I wouldn’t have worried about it except for the fact I play 40k with everyone in my D&D group.

[@Infamousbadge]

Thanks for posting these videos, it’s given me a plot where there will be a world wide lich war of all the classes involved

[@robertmiller6817]

“Embrace the dark beef jerky powers!” 🤣

[@arzpendragon]

I can see the post credit scenes after each sessions where the Grandmaster comes to rez the fallen comrade "Rise, Brothers and Sisters. Your Oath commands it." Man. Good stuff.

[@CivilWarMan]

I think the better undead template to think of when picturing a Paladin Lich is not a Death Knight, but a Revenant. A Revenant is usually just out for revenge, but the fact that they are in a position where they are incapable of dying while they pursue their adversary gives them that Paladin being devoted to a single purpose feel. Probably helped that one of the more well-known Revenants in 5E is Godfrey in Curse of Strahd.

[@ethanbaer65]

Holy crap Im working on a world with a group of magic hunting inquisitors that the foresworn would work PERFECTLY for.

[@PANDASANDRO]

Warlock lich : MULTI LEVEL MARKETING Would you like to buy Cthulhu's yoga pants ? I said everything ...

[@mauro4831]

oh yea, what i need after a freezing day is hot coffee and pointy explaining dnd stuff. This is life

[@VOazmstqd]

YESSS FINALLY THE ELDRITCH HAT IN THE SKY HAS HEARD MY PRAYERS

[@NageekXLII]

Your ongoing series on class-liches actually inspired me to make my own take on a Pala-lich, so I'm super excited to see this video! Thank you so much for all that you do!

[@croissantdragon24]

pointy hat: Can paladins work as dnd villains? also pointy hat: starts the video with a space marine clip. yes, yes they can.

[@GeargusArchfiend]

A small group of undying Knights, taking up squires whose oaths reflect their own ideals? Kelek's breath, it's the Heralds and Knights Radiant!

[@Erick7Greenday]

Just look at Miko Miyazaki from the Order of the Stick webcomic, she was a paladin that was lawful good (even multiclassing into monk for maximum lawful shenanigans), yet still antagonized the party and even became an actual threat to her city.

[@Kmarz48]

Got to be one of the best you’ve made so far!

[@awesomnessq]

Great video! I never understood why people didn’t think paladins could be villains. Any oath taken too far will make you a villain. One of my players is trying to, “redeem herself,” by, “bringing peace and order to all.” There’s already a state in my world demonstrating why having an immortal ruler can be super cool, so I can’t wait for her to encounter the forsworn.

[@iota-09]

probably the best twist vid and concepts you made so far ngl, especially because, being these liches and being directly intertwined with the world, it makes them recurring villains(or antiheros?) too, which is something notoriously hard to pull off well in dnd as you can't exactly show off the villains time and time again relatively safely in dnd with how dnd parties often think and act. i dig this *HARD*. if there's a concept that's gonna gimme the "constant presence and bond of the baddies withthe mc" as dmc, resident evil and mgs titles did in a ttrpg, i feel it will be this concept.

[@davidsantos1299]

Loved you in the new Ginny Di video. How did that come about? Any other partnerships in the near future? You gotta make an Eberron video. You are the perfect person to do it. But I also really wanna see how you would create Chaotic Celestials, ones that don't look like Angels at all. Same way demons are the counterpart to Devils. Just an idea. This is still one of the coolest channels about D&D.

[@derangedlynx]

man, I just love your creative homebrews are, and the lich seies has been great so far, can wait to see more of your content mate!

[@BlissyMakesVids]

Bro took the follow oath as long as possible too seriously

[@justinthomason9962]

I have been enjoying the Lich series a lot, but I think this is my favorite so far. Keep up the great work @pointyhat!

[@zodiac9732]

I'm happy the human familiar is happy about pirates.

[@lukelavigne5474]

It’s about damn time you’ve made this one! And I do dare say that you have completely blown my expectations out of the water. I absolutely loved it. Thank you for your hard work.

[@LexYeen]

0:00 This is exactly what I expected to be the answer when I saw the title, my joy is immeasurable and my day is considerably improved. *FOR THE GOD-EMPEROR!*

[@warmachine5835]

The "build your own Dreadnaught" starter pack.

[@crackerjax380]

If I could like this video twice, I would! This is such an insanely cool concept and I love the deep level of thought going into how the Forsworn would manifest not as an individual, but as a community. This takes the paladin's sense of brotherhood and comradery to an astronomically new level as each member is still their own person, but their oaths and dependency upon each other bind them together probably more so than ever before.

[@marceloescamilla8867]

Honey wake up, the funny hat just dropped a new video

[@grumpytoad86]

And Pointy Hat knocks another one out of the park! I love the idea of this subclass. I'm running a campaign and one of my players is a paladin who is struggling with the temptation of taking a different oath. I'm going to show this video to them as another potential option. Thanks Pointy!

[@andrewdowns3673]

Take a drink of apple blood each time Pointy Hat says Foresworn.

[@immystery3946]

Hi Pointy Hat, I just wanted to say I love your videos, I just started my first campaign after years of trying to schedule something, and I have told literally everyone in our group about you I even showed one player your dancer bard and shes playing one. I am excited that I may have gotten you more subs cuz you deserve it!

[@RocknRoll301199]

"I feel Death Knights aren't Lich-like because most don't choose undeath" *Laughs in Pathfinder with Grave Knight*

[@joshuaphillips4842]

Your editing and style is unmatched. Best DnD content on the web! No contest!

[@AnnaSantiago-f8k]

When i saw thsi title my first response was "of course, nobody act more evil than someone persuaded of it's own absolute morality"

[@felixrivera895]

This is truly inspiring. Each of your Liches are incredibly distinctive and unique from the Lich and Mummy.

[@Godzillanid]

Vengeance!

[@grumpygoosegg3514]

Also holy cow - the paladin order you came up with sounds like the Sisters of Battle from 40k and I love that so so freaking much!

[@JokerDino]

so idea for warlock lich, there’s a warlock who desperately clings to life. Their desire for immortality becomes so intense that they inadvertently become a patron. As a result, they can bestow their power upon other warlocks. These recipients, in turn, become the warlock’s phylacteries, storing their essence. However, the more power the warlock shares, the weaker they become.

[@telkhine_4067]

PLEASE keep doing this, I want this to be the plot hook of my next campaign, I need every class to be there for my players to try and slay 😫

[@BWiltfong1]

This is fantastic. And the story potential is off the charts. Well done.

[@socraticgambler]

Rockin' as always. Sorry to hear about the human familiar's job loss. Best of luck to you both!! ❤❤

[@mizzeti]

Watching the new liches you create feels like an O for my creativity. It makes so much sense I almost get jalous, Pointy. I am only hoping I can reach at some point in my life to your pinky toe. I am definitely going to use your creations in my personal campaigns and, should you ask for the stories that come out of it, i can happily share them.

[@newtswampi2583]

Ah! I've been waiting for this episode excitedly, I have a campaign planned of several undead bosses and have been looking forward to getting more ideas from this series. Can't wait to see more in the future!

[@MuleyGaming]

Thank you so so much for this, I have never fallen in love with D&D more than this video. Thank you Sire❤

[@fergushebbert817]

There are so many genius ideas in this! The Foresworn matches a boss I wanted to put in my game, and the story of the sisterhood is super intriguing. 10/10 work

[@Dark_Jaguar]

I think this is my new favorite of your amazing creations. Part of it is that I love paladins in the first place, but I love the simple details that interlock to make for complex storytelling. I also love the scenario you cooked up for them! But, I did imagine a variation here. It's inspired by Nen of the Hunter Times Hunter cartoon. (I maximized nerd outrage with that one and I am not sorry.) You reminded me of it going over paladins gaining power from their oaths and not necessarily from whatever gods they may or may not follow. Well, Nen is similar. There are ways to power it up, but the greatest increases come from setting strict conditions on it, and beyond that, dying makes the nen even more powerful. Nen is basically another word for aura, the physical manifestation of the human soul. Anyway, I went on that side tangent to suggest that one motivation beyond gaining immortality is that an oath sworn that sacrifices a paladin's life will itself endure and shine far brighter. Perhaps other paladins fall on their swords like the romans of old while in deep prayer to unlock a power that they believe is the only way to save what they most value. Perhaps swearing this particular oath is a variation on that theme, and that's why they endure so long. Then there's the soul feeding... Oaths are themselves a set of conditions which, when broken, shatter that power. But, if the conditions are set in a certain way, losing powers may be the least of a paladin's concerns. Perhaps a particularly powerful paladin only has that power because they have bound up their own life with that oath. Should they break it, they will lose their sword-arm, or die, or even worse, their own soul is destroyed. The more drastic the punishment they declare for breaking that oath beyond merely losing their power, the greater the boost in their abilities. Well, these paladins have sworn to grand oaths where the whole group is their own philactory. Their souls are thus all linked together, and they'd share the same punishment for violating that oath. So very many paladin oaths won't let them sacrifice innocents for power, so the condition for devouring souls must be strict. Alright, an order where some applications are convinced to willingly sacrifice their own souls? That works, but what about this? "We thus swear the only souls we shall take are those of pirate scum." This creates an interesting dynamic. The party, if they are particularly creative and unscrupulous, can now destroy the whole order utterly simply by tricking the forsworn into thinking they've just killed a pirate, rather than an innocent sailor forced to masquerade as a pirate. They violate their oath and the whole band are made vulnerable to the tastes of the DM. And... what of that deeper dark evil that led to the creation of the order in the first place? Some ancient kraken lich at sea or whatever. Well, perhaps in that moment the oath is broken, but before they can suffer the oath's punishment for breaking it, their communal order is instead hijacked by this lich and bound to it's will! Now the whole shape of the situation has changed, and what should have been an instant win condition for the party has been twisted into an even worse situation.

[@CotalCosta]

Best example story of this series! I was really immersed in that world, amazing job!

[@DaviSouza-fw5xf]

I love SO MUCH that at the very end of all of your videos you make jokes about not creating those twist for us. You are awesome and i hope your life is forever happy.

[@Trueffelzwerg]

Thank you! You gave me the perfect villain for my campaign. I wanted to use a lich so bad, but now I think I would like to use this order, but they are posing as the good guy on that of island where my group stranded. It fits perfectly 🤩

[@VulcanWolf]

Again, Pointy! Again, you manage to make something amazing that is so easily usable, compelling and thematic! And again, it just happens to be the je ne sais pas that I was missing for the homebrew setting! Amazing stuff, my guy. I'm always looking forward to your content and thoroughly enjoy both the old and the new. Edit: With regards to your comment around 9:30, might I offer another possibility? A lich vichyssoise, or lichyssoise, if you will. 😏

[@alprimario5429]

Out of all your Lich series, this was the best idea so far for me

[@andrewfinlayson4416]

This is amazing man. 😊 always love watching your work and stories. They have so much life and lore.

[@kevincandelario2573]

The concept of the for sworn is awesome. And that campaign at the end is awesome