Paragon Paths: A Narrative Reward System

So, this came about as something I wanted to do at my own table. I have always been a big fan of the concept of Inspiration, but between me never remembering it, and my players having a case of but-what-if-I-need-it-later? it just wasn't the right RP reward for my table. This system is a little bit like Inspiration 2.0.

This is a system developed from the Piety scores from Mythic Odysseys of Theros, and are meant to mimic them in terms of balance. Presented here is a description and 14 Paragon Paths for Epic Fantasy settings, which the DM can use to reward players who go the extra mile.

Benefits of this system

• Easy to look for. Once you've figured out what the theme you're looking for is, you'll know the right moments when you see them, especially if they tie in with the plot.
• Let your players know you're on the same page. Having a discussion about the path their character is on, is usually very appreciated by players.
• Not just the RP stars. You can reward points for minor character moments that would have gotten lost in the shuffle otherwise, and let the players feel good about getting their character across. This is especially useful in groups with a range of playstyles.
• Flexible character progression. Being able to switch paths or pursue something outside of what was originally intended for the character gives a little more versatility to characters.
• Anticipation is its own reward. You know how players always excitedly talk about the feat they get to take or spell they'll get to cast just a few levels ahead? Slowly working toward a goal and, yes, seeing the numbers increase is a big part of the excitement of the game.
• Personal quests. Sometimes you will have characters with far reaching personal goals like "becoming immortal" or "becoming worthy of my mother's blade". If that goal cannot be translated into a class feature and you're not sure how to include its gradual completion in the campaign, you can tie it to the paragon path. If you give the wizard seeking immortality one Paragon point each time they do something that is enough like delving deeper into the arcane secrets of life and death, they will feel like their quest is progressing.
• Underline the moments of heroism. A nice Critical Hit with a good description is of course its own reward, but a Paragon point puts a nice bow on it and emphasizes that it might be a step towards becoming a legendary warrior.