Qralloq says:
I'm reminded in the OP vows in the Book of Exalted Deeds (3.5). Here, characters could make their vows for real, sometimes overwhelming permanent benefits, permanent as long as they held to those vows.
A part of me wants a Paladin (or champion of a non-LG diety) to be as good as a fighter in every respect, yet have some divine powers in exchange for a strict code of conduct. Maybe that is just one of those places where fantasy fiction diverges strongly from fantasy games.
I wish for that on a thematic level, for sure, same as I want a high-level wizard to be able to (narratively) destroy 100 high-level warriors, which is kind of what they have done in older editions where magic was much more powerful than muscle. Fact is, though, that it's not fun to be so weak compared to another party member.
On the other hand, I feel like it would be okay for a Paladin to be somewhat stronger by following the codes, as long as the fighter stands a pretty decent chance against him and won't just be crushed.