Class Options Volume II - Paladins Prevail is a short 11 page pdf of paladin options for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. This product is from Gun Metal Games, formerly Reality Deviant Publications, and is the second in a line of products offering new and expanded class options for the classes in the Pathfinder RPG. Class options, as the name suggests, are alternatives to existing class features, and allow one to alter or customize the flavor and mechanics of the class to better suit the players' concept of their characters. This product is written by Stefen Styrsky.

The product comes as a beautifully presented single pdf file. Cover and interior artwork is excellently provided by the talents of Jason Walton, while David Jarvis has done a good job of handling the design and layout of the product. It's pleasing to see such high production values in short pdfs - it indicates that the authors and publishers are committed to the industry and their customers/fans. Writing and editing is good as well, and I was generally pleased with all the new mechanics and the power levels the mechanics contained. Overall, a very pleasing pdf and neatly presented.

Paladins Prevail is about options, and in the pages of this product you'll find scores of new and useful options to enhance or customize your paladin character. Most of the options take the form of alternative class features, but the product also presents a large number of useful feats that build on these features or offer further customization. There's pretty much an alternative option for every paladin class feature, all presented in order of their level. I guess here is one of the few weaknesses of this product in that a table summarizing these alternative class features and the features they replace would've been really useful. All the alternative class features offer a different take on the paladin's mind and role, and the product very helpfully defines some of these roles with suggested class features. Roles such as Avenger, Champion, and Defender are explored within the scope of the alternative class features presented.

The class features themselves are generally just like-for-like alternatives to existing paladin features. So, for example, the Mercy class features can be replaced by several different options, including Justice, Sacrifices or Sword Rites, each offering to build a paladin with a different purpose and outlook. Aura of Resolve can be replaced by Aura of Radiance or Aura of Watchfulness and so on, offering a plethora of different options. Naturally certain options fit better together than others do, but that's nicely covered by the suggestions offered for paladin roles. It would've been nice to see more roles explored though, as the ones chosen are somewhat stereotypical. Something off the beaten track would've been good to see. The whole approach is very modular, which makes it easy to implement and easy to use.

I have to admit that I was pleased with this product. If you're interested in building an alternative paladin or simple don't believe the existing class features fit the concept you have in mind, this product might offer what you're looking for. I also don't believe I've seen similar class features to these before in other products under a different name, so in that sense it's an unique offering. As I said before, something off the beaten track would've been nice, but at least providing options and alternatives is an excellent way to offer customization to players and DMs alike. Good product with good production values and loads of useful advice. This product can easily become a much used product for paladin characters at the gaming table.