Gothic 2 already featured shields befitting their status for the time-honoured paladins. They not only offer protection in battle, but also symbolise their status.
Without explanation and for no comprehensible reason, the paladin shield was given a completely new design in Gothic 3. It was suddenly plain and simple instead of noble and splendid and blue instead of white and red.
In the CSP, the paladin shield is visibly based on the original from Gothic 2 and has regained its imposing appearance worthy of a paladin.
