So role playing a paladin is hard. I need a build. Currently I just killed the first dragon in game. I have a fair amount of money. Do you guys have any build ideas and if you say anything unique can you please tell me the quest to get it also I heard that Stendarr's weapon is a war hammer or a mace. I am using a sword and shield If this is true I will gladly change. Please help! Thanks to all answers!

P.S A backstory to help me role play will also be nice

Depending on if you are on PC or console...http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Vigilant_of_Stendarr#Vigilant_of_Stendarr, this I think would be the background for a Paladin type...so most of those skills... Now as a Paladin is also a Knight, I would do heavy armor instead of robes, but keep the mage hood. Steel plate would suit best on console... tooooo many choices on PC.

Mace and spell.. mostly http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Restoration magic, but also Destruction ...Fire mostly as fire is cleansing..so to speak.

The best Mace in the game...I believe is Molag Bal's...and not really Paladin friendly, have to do some creative thinking on that one.

If on PC I would add a magic mod like http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/54899/? or http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/63246/? as they add some good restoration spell's...also http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/67891/? cause...undead.

Either way I would start of trying to get as much restoration training at the Hall of the Vigilants as possible...plus for RP value, having that as a base of operation's at the begining of the game work's well. Of course on Console it's a matter of Imagining your own room, but PC you can use http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/9557/? ( member of a guild, Vigilant) and you have a room with a chest, )

Do Dawnguard...cause...well...."spoiler"

it's a good reason to do DG...

Add in http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/24913/? which has some Deadra in it and it makes for a pretty good RP

But even on Console... Dawnguard is a good one for a Paladin of Stendarr... Some of the Deadra quest's would be ok...some not so much...really a matter of if they give you an alternate to doing their bidding...or a "good" way.

The Azura quest would be good for a Paladin...as you do have a "good" choice.. so would Meridia ... IF you have a side kick that might drink... "A night to remember" would work, as you can RP they are the one that got in the contest, not you. ( and give them the Rose..)

I'm sure their are other ones...and quest's but that is all I can think of off the top of my head atm.

I would use heavy armor, mace, restoration and destruction (fire) for range, for support I would mix in smithing and alchemy. I would be wary of using enchanting if at all, but that means you can use Elemental Fury shout freely since an enchanted weapon would prevent it from working.

Both Areial and Seidman have great ideas. I think that enchanting is out. Soul Trapping is not a "nice" thing to do to others, ie: Constant torment.

The "kind of Paladin" playthrough I did was under Stendarr's direction, collecting Daedric Artifacts. I can not recall where I got the idea in my head, but it seems that Stendarr's weapon is a 2-Handed Hammer. I could be totally wrong on this, but that is what I used

Since they are holy, restoration is a good choice. My personal taste is heavy armor, like in most "pictures/drawings." There are times when a touch of "cleansing fire" could come in handy, so a touch of destruction (flames only, maybe firebolt?) makes sense to me. Ranged would be tough, but followers could help with that

This is just my thoughts. Your thoughts may vary a little or even greatly. Remember, it's your roleplay, so do what feels right in your head

If Stendarrs Hammer is in Skyrim please let me know, I havent seen that bad boy since morrowind and I had to glitch my characters strength through the roof just to be able to carry it (it weighed 1000lbs)

If your paladin ends up using a two-handed hammer, you might consider Volendrung. It is bestowed as a reward by Malacath (the daedric lord worshiped by orcs), but it was made by the ancient Dwemer, and the quest to get it is noble enough.

Sorry. I misspoke there. I did not use Stendarr's Hammer, but had Stendarr's Hammer in mind for my Paladin

Is that the "Can't keep Giants out!" Orc quest?

Volendrung is a Daedric weapon, plus I think the Long hammer can be enchanted, but then again, all you need is stew that restores Stamina, or be a redguard.

I have played many paladin characters and am currently playing a Vigilant of Stendarr. I added a mod called steel plate robes that has vigilants armor that is exactly what it says it is: robes over steel plate armor. So far so good. I am playing as 2 handed war hammer user, as Keeper Carcette and vigilant Toland use. However, all other Vigiliants use mace with a spell in the off hand. I started off using the Alternate Start mod with the Vigilant of Stendarr start so my Vigilant began playing at the Hall of the Vigilants. His first task was to investigate the problem in Dawnstar. After that he was asked to provide back up for a veteran Vigilant in Markarth. For the Daedric quests, as long as my character does not take an obviously evil choice, he will start them, try and either ruin the Daedra's plan or get their artifact to secure it. Dawnstar was an easy choice, Markarth has a couple of options and the potential to upset two Daedric Princes. Meridia's and Azura's are acceptable and the two "fun" Daedric quests. I have taken to disposing of the items by giving them to the Vigilant patrol you come across. If you have the item equipped they will demand it. Other options could include locking it away in your manor, dumping them in the ocean, or whatever your imagination comes up with.

I kinda feel like Stendar would not think there were any good Daedra, and the Vigil certainly would see that sort of thing as consorting with them. Vaermina's quest is okay as you can ignore her, and help the priest to defy her. Some of the others you might well legitimately start (trying to help innocents, turns out there's Daedra afoot...) but I don't think you can legitimately finish as a serious paladin, let alone one devoted to Stendarr. Anything where you are explicitly named that Daedra's champion, for instance, sure, you can claim you're defying them, but will Stendarr agree?? Depends a bit on if you're associated with the Vigil or at odds with them, I guess.

I think doing a lot of the quests are a stretch... and not just a stretch of..." Is it a true good deed", but trying to get around some of the games mechanics. Is it a good deed to help rid the world of Alduin? Sure it is... but is it really a "good" deed *spoiler alert*

So a "real" Paladin, with the morals of a lilly white priest is going to have to figure out their own quests, cause going by the very narrow definition of "Paladin" that some are giving out, their really isn't a quest line that can be done....without some imagination and creative thinking going on.

But then again I played for 3+ years on the 360, carrying around firewood, an elk hide, kettle and food and used my pea-picking imagination to say that I had "made a camp & cooked my dinner", by placing things around like it would be a camp. ( I really love my PC btw... but Imagination is a good thing)

So why can't I say that I am going after a Deadric artifact to keep it out of the hands of a power mad mage and place it in a safe location? I can ignore the fact that ...... who's it said I was their "champion"...hummmmm really loudly when they say it... you didn't hear it, it didn't happen in your RP. That's my Opinion...and I'm sticking to it.