Sentinel
by Rhydderch Hael

Class: Paladin
Tag: None.

Introduction

After hearing about Hammerdins, I decided to take my favorite Ranger idea of using a crossbow-wielding Paladin and create a no-Thorns, no-BH, variant. The idea is to force one to become more dependant on the bow/crossbow as means to survive, as with tactics of positioning and retreat.

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Whether it be a simple churchyard cemetery, or the marbled terraces of the Holy Sepulcher of Duncraig, defense of these holy places from minions of darkness have always been done by the Sentinels. While the Paladins carried the Word into the wilderness, the Sentinels stood guard over where the Light had already been carried. In ancient times, when the holy strengths of these warriors could only be derived from standing with consecrated ground, these guardians faced a dilemma: their power came from standing within the boundaries of whatever holy ground they protected, but they also had to keep the evils as far away from it as possible. The only way this could be done was with archery, and hence, the Sentinels have to master the art of using bows and crossbows.

Rules

Even the mightiest Sentinel will not shirk from such a menial task as guarding a consecrated burial ground, protecting it from grave-robbers and necromancers from coming in, or for the undead from coming out. As a result, there have been many at time when a Sentinel has come into conflict with Necromancers, and an enmity has developed between them. Sentinels are not allowed to join parties where Necromancers are a member, and it must be told to any who are unlearned in the ways.

In questing, the Sentinel may start out the game with his sword and buckler, but he MUST be using approved weaponry by the time he embarks on the Blood Raven quest or enters the Stony Field. The Sentinel must face the corrupted archer Blood Raven with weapons of equal terms, and he must clear out the entire Burial Grounds, killing all Undead on the surface and within the two subterranean levels (the Crypt and Mausoleum) before exiting the area for other regions. The Sentinel cannot permit any foul Undead to remain within the cemeteries.

Items

Armor
There are no restrictions to body armor types. Any form of body armor is permitted for use with the Sentinel. All forms of gloves, belts, and boots are allowed.

Helms
However, helms do have a restriction. No Great Helms, Masks, or Bone Helms are permitted. The role of the Sentinel as defender of temples and cathedrals means that he cannot take on the visage of demons or monsters. In addition, Great Helms are signets of the barbarians, and Sentinels cannot wear those helms.

Shields
Shields are not available. This means that Sentinels cannot use shields a means of defense or offense in any capacity. The Sentinel stands proud to face the horrors of the Night while unshielded, the bite of his weapons his only means to survive.

Weapons
All crossbows, Short Bows, Hunter’s Bows, Composite Bows, Short Battle and Short War Bows are allowed, as are any of their Uniques and Exceptional versions. Long Bows, Long Battle and Long War Bows are NOT permitted, for they are too large and cumbersome for a Sentinel to deploy and use while hiding or ducking behind structures to evade detection.

Strapped to a Sentinel’s back is his reserve weapon, a two-handed sword. Two-Handed Swords, Bastard Swords, Giant Swords, Claymores, and Flamberges are permitted. One handed weapons of any variety are forbidden, and all other two-handed weapons other than swords are prohibited as well. This includes axes, mauls, and pole-arms in the prohibition. However, Staves of any variety are permitted, if a Sentinel ever chooses to equip himself with a Staff.

The reason 1-handed weapons are forbidden are to ensure that no shield is ever equipped when one is picked up on the battlefield.

Skills

Simply put, only the first branch of the Combat Skill tree is permitted for the backups sword. Sacrifice, Zeal, Vengeance, and Conversion are allowed, and they are all limited to a maximum skill level of 7. However, those skill levels can be boosted through the use of items beyond the 7 limit.

All other skills within this Combat Skills tree are forbidden. This includes Blessed Hammer and Fist of Heavens! Holy Bolt, however, is allowed - but only if the Sentinel is on holy ground.

General rule, all skills in the Offensive aura tree are allowed EXCEPT for Thorns. There is no limit to what levels can be attained by these skills. As necessity to acquire some of these skills, you may put 1 point into Thorns to open the branch, but you cannot use that Thorns even at level 1 (is there a time when a level 1 Thorns will even help?).

No restrictions at all on Defensive Auras. Any and all skills in this tree are permitted at any level.