Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Q&A

Ten Ton Hammer has posted a brief Q&A with Sigil Games’ Darrin McPherson about the Paladin class in the upcoming Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Check it out:

Q: Paladins are traditionally a heavy tank with small buffing and healing abilities. Since Vanguard is taking a whole new approach on some of these traditional roles how will this affect the Paladin class? Will we see Paladins as a support type role to the cleric and warrior with less damage dealing and minor heals / buffs or will the Paladin be a primary damage dealer with melee and spells?

A: The Paladin of tradition is the Paladin of Vanguard for the most part. The Paladin’s job is that of the Protective Fighter. Protective Fighters (or Tanks if you prefer) are responsible absorbing incoming damage and protecting everyone else in the party. As a protective fighter, the Paladin will be on equal footing with the Warrior, Inquisitor and the Dread Knight when it comes to tanking abilities. At that point the classes diverge into more specialized niches. The Paladin’s secondary jobs are group based buffs and heals.

The Paladin also has access to Gifts of Virtue and gains Virtue Points that govern their use. Gifts of Virtue are powerful spells with varying effects The Paladin’s first Gift of Virtue is (predictably) Lay on Hands, a powerful, instant cast heal. The use of any Gift of Virtue discharges a number of Virtue Points. Once these points are exhausted, the Paladin cannot call for divine aid until some time has passed. As the Paladin gains in strength and experience he will gain more Virtue Points and more Gifts of Virtue.