How to Create a Paladin for Dungeons & Dragons

Begin with an idea of why you want to play a paladin. A lot of people want to play paladins because of the power of the character class, but if you tell your DM you want to play a paladin for the power, the DM should shoot down the idea. Instead, have a backstory, a bit of explanation of who you were before you started training to become a knight.

Choose a deity to worship. What god your character follows should depend slightly on the morality you want for the character and what the DM has planned for the campaign, including what world the game is set in. In the Forgotten Realms, Torm is always a good choice.

Roll your stats or determine them however your DM chooses. To create a good paladin, you need high stats in several areas, especially charisma and strength. High wisdom and constitution are also good. Because a paladin is not a basic fighter class, at lower levels you will not be as effective as a fighter at smashing things, but it does equal out in the end.

Consider what, if any, prestige class you will follow. For dwarven paladins, the Hammer of Moradin prestige class is a good one. The morninglord prestige class is good for paladins who want to focus on killing undead.

Talk to your DM. One of the hardest things about playing a paladin is adhering to the ethical code a paladin's deity requires of him. Make sure before the game begins that you and the DM agree on the restrictions of the deity your character follows. It will avoid in-game arguments and misunderstandings.